Leng Yan's words caused Lu Yin's gaze to turn cold.
"The Outerverse's four major corporations can recruit as many powerhouses as they want, but that's because they can only recruit Enlighters at most. It's the same for us. So what if we roam the Innerverse and Outerverse freely? Most of the money we earn is handed over to those powerful organizations, and we don't have many experts to protect us. Although my Daystar Line spans across the Innerverse and Outerverse, and it looks like we're rich and powerful, we're not as intimidating as the Outerverse's four major corporations. Once the Innerverse and Outerverse are separated, Endless Borders will instantly swallow our businesses," Leng Yan explained.
Lu Yin fell silent.
Leng Yan sighed. "Dino just gave us an ultimatum. He wants to buy over our businesses, or else he'll completely suppress us. In the Outerverse, our Daystar Line doesn't even have an Enlighter, so we can't contend against Endless Borders."
Lu Yin understood Leng Yan's words. The powers of the Innerverse were too tyrannical, but he didn't believe that the Innerverse's corporations were that miserable. Many of them were backed by great powers.
He could ask Dino about Daystar Shipping, but no matter how powerful Daystar Shipping was, it couldn't compare to a colossus like Shamrock Enterprises. Even Shamrock Enterprises and the Mavis Bank existed, so Daystar Shipping wouldn't make a difference.
Lu Yin left, as he was merely curious about the Daystar Line. Even if he had any ideas about it, he would have to remain in the Outerverse unless they had the strength of the Neohuman Alliance.
However, he still had to ask.
He quickly contacted Dino and asked about the Daystar Line.
Dino's answer was the same as Leng Yan's; the Daystar Line was indeed unable to continue operating. However, Lu Yin had received an unexpected piece of news: the Daystar Line wasn't an independent company. It was just one of the subsidiary companies that belonged to the Innerverse Giant Financial Group, one of the top financial groups in the Innerverse.
"Even with the Giant Financial Group backing you, you still dare to attack Daystar Shipping?"
On the other end of the call, Dino was helpless. "Your Highness, it's not me. It's the headquarters. They need the Daystar Line's star chart. As for the Giant Financial Group, their main business is in the Innerverse, so they won't have much of an impact on us."
Lu Yin ended the call. The Giant Financial Group?
Endless Borders was not afraid of them. Just as Leng Yan had said, the Innerverse's financial groups were not doing well. They had money but no power. Or was Endless Borders just too powerful?
Or had Endless Shipping expanded?
Lu Yin put down his gadget and stopped thinking about the Daystar Line. It had nothing to do with him for the time being. The Innerverse had undergone a huge change, and the final outcome was still unknown.
He really hoped that what Leng Yan said was true. That would be a good thing. Those consortiums were like money bags. As long as there was no one to protect them, there would always be a way to take out money.
He didn't know if his luck was good or bad today. He had just seen Leng Yan, an old friend, and now another old friend had appeared in front of him.
"Gerlaine, I'm serious about you. Don't go, Gerlaine." Gerlaine frowned impatiently. Beside her was a handsome guy who looked rich and had four cosmic rings on his hand.
Lu Yin watched with interest.
Gerlaine turned back and spat, "You're so annoying. I'll never like you, so give up."
"Gerlaine, we've known each other since we were kids. We're childhood sweethearts." "Shut up, who's your childhood sweetheart? We've only met a few times," Gerlaine raged.
"Ten thousand years in a single glance," he exaggerated.
Gerlaine was speechless, "You want to be with me because you want to use my brother's connections to enter Yu Academy. Don't think I don't know. Let me tell you, that's impossible. My brother won't play favorites."
The guy hurriedly explained, "You've misunderstood, Gerlaine. I'm serious about you and don't have any other thoughts. It doesn't matter if I go to Yu Academy or not, just give me a chance."
Helpless, Gerlaine glanced to the side and saw the auction house in the distance, "I'll give you a chance if you take me there."
The guy's expression changed and he bitterly replied, "Don't make it difficult for me, Gerlaine. There are very few people in the Great Yu Empire who are qualified to enter the auction house. Even my uncle, a courtier, can't enter. I heard that even cabinet ministers have to verify their assets if they want to enter. This place only recognizes money, not people. I-I don't have that much money."
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance. It's fine if you can't get in," Gerlaine said smugly before turning to leave.
The guy hurriedly followed, "I can't get in. No one my age in the Great Yu Empire can get in. You won't be able to find a boyfriend with this standard."
Gerlaine snorted, "This standard is only for you. It's different for the person I like."
The guy's expression changed and he gritted his teeth as he stared at her back.
"Also," Gerlaine suddenly turned around and stared at him, "The Royal Regent is younger than you, but he can get in."
The guy was speechless, "This auction house belongs to the Royal Regent."
Gerlaine snorted and was about to leave when someone blocked her path.
"You really want to go in?" Lu Yin pointed at the auction house and looked at Gerlaine in amusement.
Before she could reply, the guy grew angry and rushed over to glare at Lu Yin, "Brat, what are you trying to do?"
Gerlaine looked at Lu Yin curiously, feeling that this person was familiar. His gaze was especially mischievous.
Lu Yin looked at her and smiled, "Old friends, do you still remember the happy times when we robbed together?"
The guy was furious, "Brat, I'm talking to you."
Gerlaine's eyes lit up and she looked at Lu Yin happily, "You- you're Lu?" Lu Yin raised a finger and pointed at the auction house, "Let's go in and take a look."
She nodded, but suddenly thought of something, "I almost forgot, can we bring Jeraldine along? She wants to go in too."
"Jeraldine is coming too?
Alright, bring her along, "Lu Yin said. They were all old friends, especially Jeraldine. She was one of the first trialtakers he had met on Earth and had been his guide. They had even met once outside the prince's mansion. How nostalgic. In the blink of an eye, it had been eight years since Earth's trial.
"Gerlaine, who's this brat?" the guy asked, glaring at her.
Gerlaine contacted Jeraldine through her gadget, ignoring the guy.
The guy glared at Lu Yin, "Brat, I'm warning you to stay away from Gerlaine. My uncle is a minister of the Empire, watch out for your life."
Lu Yin looked at the guy, "Got it."
The guy was stunned, was he giving in just like that?
Jeraldine ran over from nearby and was a little reserved when she saw Lu Yin, "Long time no see."
"It hasn't been that long," Lu Yin smiled.
Jeraldine seemed to remember something and blushed, but she didn't say anything.
"Come, let's go in!" Gerlaine was very excited, pulling Jeraldine and Lu Yin towards the auction house.
Lu Yin was puzzled, "When did you two become so close?"
"We both joined Yu Academy, didn't you know?" Gerlaine rolled her eyes.
Yu Academy wasn't that big, and the two had gone through Earth's trial together. It was normal for them to be familiar with each other.
The guy quickly chased after them, "Where are you going, Gerlaine?"
Gerlaine waved, "To the auction house."
The guy was stunned, "Auction house?
The auction house?
How are you going to get in? "
Gerlaine laughed, and so did Jeraldine. With this old friend around, even the imperial palace wouldn't be a problem, let alone the auction house.
Lu Yin smoothly brought the two girls into the auction house.
The guy stared blankly, his eyes flashing. Did the auction house not need to check one's assets this time?
He hurried over, wanting to enter as well, but was stopped. This made him realize that he had to check his assets before entering. Who was that kid?
How did he get in so easily? Was he from the Empire?
Or was he from another region?
Inside the auction house, Lu Yin had Bei Qing arrange a private room for him. Bei Qing didn't dare ask about his relationship with the two girls and left after instructing the staff to take special care of the room.
"Wow, so this is the auction house. I've always been curious about what it's like inside. It's not even on the net, but I finally got to see it today. It's very normal," Gerlaine commented.
Jeraldine looked down curiously as well, seeing quite a few people rising from the ground and appearing in the hall.
This was Lu Yin's first time here as well.
"Why aren't you changing your appearance back? It's so awkward," Gerlaine grumbled.
Lu Yin restored his appearance, "Where's your brother?"
"On the first ring of the continent, he's not interested." She paused and pursed her lips, "He doesn't have any money either."
"Let me know if you see anything you like later."
Gerlaine was delighted, "You'll buy it for us?"
Lu Yin replied seriously, "I can give you a discount."
"Hey, you're the leader of the Great Eastern Alliance, can't you be a little more generous?"
Jeraldine whispered, "Gerlaine, don't spout nonsense."
Lu Yin smiled, "Can't help it, I'm short on money."
"You're short on money?
You have so much money that you don't even know where to spend it. "
Lu Yin pursed his lips but didn't explain. The amount of money he lacked couldn't be explained with words. It was a huge amount, especially when it came to the Nine Yang Cauldron. He didn't even know how much money he would need to fill this hole.
Of course, the thing he needed the most was the die; he wouldn't be able to fill the hole with Enhance and Enhance in this lifetime.
…
"Your Highness, I'll return that to you," Jeraldine whispered to Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was puzzled, "What?"
"Have you forgotten?" Her gaze dimmed.
Lu Yin thought about it, "Oh, that. I'll give it to you, you don't have to return it to me."
She had a complicated expression.
Gerlaine came over and stared at Lu Yin, "What did you give Jeraldine?
It's not a love token, is it? "
Lu Yin was about to speak when Jeraldine hurriedly interrupted, "It's starting, the auction is starting."
Gerlaine's attention was immediately diverted, and she looked down with great interest.
This was the most famous auction in the entire Outerverse, and she didn't want to miss a single item.
She sighed in relief; rings were very important to girls. Lu Yin didn't care, but she couldn't ignore it. If she found out, she would definitely spread the news, and that would be troublesome.
When the auction started, the first item brought the atmosphere to a climax. The formcast model was auctioned off without any warning. Everyone thought it was the finale, but the auction house was too capricious.