King of War's Dominance

Chapter 9

Everyone turned their heads toward Thom. Even the MC froze before accepting the bid.

“A new bid from the gentleman over there! Nine thousand dollars!”

The MC’s voice echoed, and the room erupted in shock.

Madam Yosie almost screamed. “What are you doing, Thom? Do you really have that much money?”

Frank stared at Thom with anger and disbelief. 

“How dare you raise your hand!” he snapped.

Benny only laughed softly with his arms crossed. “Let us just wait. He is only raising his hand. In the end, he will not be able to pay. And when that moment comes, he will embarrass himself.”

The MC lifted the next item, an antique music box decorated with gold leaf carvings. Its chime used to be Thom’s lullaby when he was a child. 

The price jumped fast, five thousand… ten thousand… twenty thousand… until it stopped at thirty thousand dollars.

And just like before, Thom raised his hand without hesitation.

“Forty thousand dollars!” the MC shouted.

The room burst into whispers and gasps.

Frank slapped his own forehead. “This man is crazy!”

Rachel grabbed her father’s arm, her face pale. “He has really lost his mind. Does he want to go to jail for failing to pay?”

And the auction did not stop there.

The third item. The fourth. The fifth. Every time the bidding reached the highest number, Thom raised his hand again, calm and steady, as if money was not a problem.

The Lanster family’s faces grew darker, but they also became more certain that Thom was only humiliating himself.

“Just wait,” Benny muttered while laughing. “When the total comes out, he will drop to his knees. I guarantee it.”

Madam Yosie covered her mouth with her fan, whispering with a sly smile, “That boy has completely lost his mind.”

Dozens of old items were sold one by one.

The painting, the music box, the porcelain vase, the moonstone necklace, the old journal, even the antique furniture set.

And each time the highest price was announced, Thom raised his hand again without expression.

The tension grew every time his hand moved.

“This is not normal,” one guest whispered.

“He does not even look nervous.”

“Does he have a sponsor?”

“No way. He is a low level soldier.”

Finally, more than an hour later, the MC’s voice echoed loudly, closing the auction with cheers from the confused guests.

“All right! Tonight’s auction has ended! All the highest bids are won by… Mr. Thom!”

There were small laughs and shocked reactions.

The MC looked down at the long list in front of him, then let out a long breath that could be heard by the nearest guests. Even he did not seem convinced.

“The total winning amount of Mr. Thom is $300 million USD!”

Silence filled the room.

A few seconds later, Rachel gasped, followed by Madam Lena’s giggling laughter.

“Please make the payment now to the Lanster family treasurer,” the MC said.

He signaled the treasurer beside the Lanster family.

Benny leaned back in his seat, folding his arms, extremely satisfied. “Finally… finally it is time for him to fall.”

Madam Lena stepped forward dramatically, smiling wide like she just won a billion dollar lottery.

“Forget it,” she said, lifting her hand, making everyone look at her. “This man will never be able to pay!”

She pointed at Thom as if pointing at a circus clown. “Let everyone know who he really is!”

“Thom is nothing but a low level soldier who just returned from a mission! No rank! No connections! No money at all!” 

Her words were followed by whispers and mocking comments from the guests.

Madam Lena lifted her chin. “And he has narcissistic personality disorder! NPD! He loves to boast! Big talk! Delusions of grandeur! He does not even have fifty thousand dollars in savings!”

Laughter broke out across the hall.

Thom looked at every single member of the Lanster family who was mocking him, as if memorizing their faces one by one.

The room grew louder with insults and ridicule.

Until Thom slowly reached into the inner pocket of his suit.

He pulled out a plain black leather wallet, opened it, and took out a card.

A pitch black card with a platinum emblem that reflected a cold shine under the crystal lights.

It was a card well known in the financial world!

The MC fell silent with his mouth slightly open.

Some high class guests stood halfway, trying to see more clearly.

Frank squinted. “What is that? Do not tell me that is…”

Rachel covered her mouth, her face turning half white. “No way… Thom? No way!”

Madam Lena stopped laughing and stepped forward, frowning deeply.

And Thom, without expression, handed the card to the Lanster family’s treasurer.

“Use this,” Thom said. “Pay for everything.”

The black card landed in the treasurer’s hand, and she immediately trembled.

“This…” her voice broke.

She swallowed hard and whispered, “Sir, this is an unlimited card!”