Chapter 170


    Feeling the wound on his arm, Callum smiled softly. “I don’t know. Alright now, do you need other


    herbs?” he asked, shifting the topic because he didn’t want to bring up the past.


    Scratching her chin, Elspeth said thoughtfully, “I still need a 500-year-old ginkgo, but it can only be


    bought from the auction. We’ll have to wait until evening.”


    He scanned around. “Are you hungry? We’ll grab a bite if you’re hungry.”


    Simr to a smallmercial street, the underground ck market had all sorts of facilities within,


    including food, drinks, and entertainment, but the prices were sky-high. Checking the menu in front of


    her, Elspeth was bbergasted to see that just a te of pasta was priced at 100 dors.


    She didn’t even bat an eyelid when paying one million for herbs but felt it was daylight robbery when


    the pasta cost one hundred. Bearing the pain, she ordered the pasta. Just then, she saw a familiar


    person at the next table when she returned the menu.


    Isn’t that… Arthur? Isn’t he in Damoria? What’s he doing here? she wondered.


    However, the important thing now was he shouldn’t discover them here. In a hurry, she came up with


    an idea and fished out two pairs of sunsses from her bag. After putting on a pair, she shoved the


    other into Callum’s hand.


    “Arthur is around. Put it on quickly.”


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Callum understood it and put the sunsses on obediently. “Why is he around here?” he whispered.


    Actually, he had caught sight of Arthur earlier, too, but he wasn’t sure. It seemed like he had been right


    all along.


    “What else could it be? Most probably, he’s also here for the auction. Do you think he’s here for the


    ginkgo, too?”


    At the thought of this, Elspeth’s heart raced nervously.


    “It’s okay. The Winthrops are loaded.”


    “It’s not about the money. If Arthur is up to some hanky-panky, it will be tough to get the ginkgo this


    time.”


    She thought about it, and all of a sudden, she came up with a great n.


    At the auction, she looked around, and as she expected, she saw Arthur seated not far away with his


    head lowered and reading something. The almost unnoticeable smile on his lips made her worry,


    though.


    While she was uninterested in the items that were auctioned in the beginning, Callum was rather


    engrossed in the auction and even bought a few pieces of jewelry for her.


    Thanks to his cold, his voice sounded different from usual, and that prevented Arthur from recognizing


    him.


    Soon, it was time for the grand finale of the day—ginkgo.


    Staring at the ginkgo leaves locked in a ss incubator, Elspeth lit up.


    “500-year-old ginkgo. Starting price at 1.5 million!”


    Sure enough, Arthur, who had done nothing earlier, was just waiting for this, and he raised his paddle


    decisively, calling the price 1.5 million more than the starting price.


    After that, every time he called a price, Callum would follow closely and call a price as well, but each


    time only a dor higher.


    Yes, only a dor, which seemed like he was making enemies with Arthur on purpose.


    Noticing this weirdpetitor, Arthur twirled his head and stole a look. Elspeth hurriedly ducked, and


    Callum was wearing sunsses. In addition, the surrounding was dark, so Arthur couldn’t recognize


    them.


    He stared in their direction thoughtfully before looking away.


    Both of them continued to bid. In the beginning, others were bidding as well, but soon, many gave up


    as the price went up. In the end, only Arthur and Callum were left to bid for the ginkgo.


    As though losing patience, Arthur called directly, “100 million.”


    That amount was way over the value of the ginkgo, and Elspeth tapped Callum. “That’s enough. Give


    up the bid.”


    Ignoring her words, he raised his paddle. “200 million.”


    “Okay, is there anyone higher than 200 million?”


    Arthur gave it one final thought and decided to give up the bid.


    “200 million going once. 200 million going twice. 200 million going thrice! Congrattions, sir! This


    ginkgo is yours!”


    Elspeth rolled her eyes at him. “That’s extravagant. If I had known this would happen, I would have just


    ckmailed Grandfather for money.”


    Hearing that, Callum stroked her head. “It’s okay. I’m rich.”


    At a loss for words to describe him, she rolled her eyes and uttered reluctantly, “I have money, too. But


    some things are not worth the money, and we should be clear about which is that, okay?”


    What a spendthrift. I wonder who is so unlucky to be his wife, she grumbled silently. Oh, I’m that


    unlucky person.


    While she was filled with frustration, he suddenly turned to her and said in a serious tone, “Here’s the


    money. Watch it for me.”


    “Deal!”


    Nheless, it still lifted her spirits that he had sessfully bid the ginkgo for her. When they were at


    the door, their way was blocked by a group of people out of nowhere.


    “What now, Callum? You’re actually at a ce like this? Didn’t you mention before that the things in the


    ck market were filthy, and you’d rather die thane here?”


    Standing in the front of the group, Arthur put up an arrogant stance as he stared at Callum, which


    seemed especially ironic.


    He can be arrogant all he wants now, but wait and see what will happenter!


    “What are you nning by getting people to block our path?”


    Although Callum looked a little unwell, the cold air he exuded still sent shivers down one’s spine, and


    the people around him only dared to surround him but not do anything to him.


    “I know it’s really bad to have you surrounded like this, but…” Arthur smirked, and suddenly, his


    expression shifted. “Hand over the ginkgo.”


    Without flinching, Elspeth held the ginkgo closer to her chest. “What? Are you here to rob us when you


    didn’t call for a price in the auction earlier?”


    Arthur turned to her and grinned. “Elspeth, if you’ll date me, then I’ll give the ginkgo to you as a


    present.”


    “Present? Arthur Winthrop, Callum is the one who bought this. Aren’t you ashamed to say something


    like that?”


    Today, she learned that a person could be so shameless.


    However, he acted as though he hadn’t heard her and said casually, “If your answer is no, don’t me


    me for taking it by force.”


    The people around them started to hop provocatively like they would lunge any second to steal the


    ginkgo.


    “Hold on!”


    Suddenly, a deep voice boomed from behind, and it gave Arthur a bad feeling as he raised his hand to


    stop his men.


    Turning around, he saw a group of people approaching them, and he narrowed his eyes. “May I ask


    who this is?”


    That person sniggered. “I’m Irving Cole. How did it miss me that there’s someone else calling the shots


    in the market that I’m operating?”


    The sarcasm in his voice was exceptionally clear, and Arthur knew he had hit a hard nail. So, he kept


    away his hostility and said, “You must be kidding. This market is still under your power, and I’m just


    here to collect a debt.”


    The luck of me to bump into the boss of the ck market before I can even make a move, he thought.


    Both of them are really lucky.


    “Collect a debt? Well, tell me about it. Why are you collecting a debt from my goddaughter?”


    Goddaughter?!