Novel Boss
Chapter 111: Demonstrating One's Value
After wandering around the commercial district and asking a few passersby, Jeremy finally figured out where the jewelers of Nocturne City were located.
It turned out that the very heart of Nocturne City's commercial district was home to a massive, luxurious auction house.
The vast majority of jewelers make it a point to attend the auctions held at the illustrious auction house. Being featured in such a prestigious venue provides a valuable opportunity to establish connections with these jewelers.
Jeremy thanked the passerby who provided him with the information and casually handed over a diamond.
"Thank you very much for your help. Consider this a small token of appreciation."
After giving the diamond, Jeremy headed to the luxurious auction house at the center of the commercial district as quickly as possible.
The passerby who had just given Jeremy some clues stared blankly at the diamond in his hand, exclaiming, "Isn't this a bit too generous? Expressing a small token of gratitude with a diamond?!"
The passerby kept watching until Jeremy disappeared from sight before snapping back to reality.
Jeremy, of course, didn't care about the passerby's reaction because he had an abundance of gemstones.
A regular diamond wasn't valuable to him at all.
Moreover, selling that ordinary diamond to a jeweler wouldn't get him many energy crystals or soul crystals.
Following the road signs, Jeremy quickly arrived at the luxurious auction house at the center of the commercial district.
"Nocturne Auction House."
Jeremy looked up at the grand auction house building. At the very top, the name "Nocturne Auction House" was prominently displayed.
"The name is a bit odd. Naming it 'Nocturne' in Nocturne City?"
Jeremy muttered to himself as he walked towards the entrance of the auction house.
At the entrance, he was immediately stopped by the auction house guards.
"Do you have a pass?" One of the guards asked coldly, barely giving Jeremy a glance as he sized him up with a sidelong look.
"I don't have a pass, but I do have this."
Jeremy said casually, pulling out a gemstone.
The guard looked at Jeremy and let out a faint, mocking laugh.
"It seems you don't quite understand where you are. This is the Nocturne Auction House! Only prominent figures can enter here. Just having a gemstone isn't enough to get you inside." The guard said.
Jeremy didn't argue. Instead, he took out more gemstones.
"What about these?" he asked.
Seeing the bag of gemstones Jeremy presented, the guard hesitated slightly.
"Your wealth is indeed substantial, but without a pass, I still can't let you in." the guard admitted, acknowledging Jeremy's considerable wealth.
"So, where can I get a pass? Surely your auction house has a way for newcomers to obtain one, right?" Jeremy inquired.
"Of course! If you wish to obtain a pass, I'll take you there right away." the guard replied.
Turning to whisper a few words to his fellow guards, the guard then led Jeremy to a building adjacent to the Nocturne Auction House.
On the way, the guard gave Jeremy a word of caution.
"What you're doing is quite risky. Although Nocturne City is a bustling metropolis, always under the watch of Lord Sun, there are still dangers here.
You should keep your gemstones well hidden. If some nefarious individual were to steal them, it would be a great loss."
Jeremy nodded in understanding.
"After all, I've just arrived in Nocturne City. I need to show my worth to gain respect and the opportunity to collaborate with the city's prominent figures."
Jeremy said, fully aware that without proving his value, the city's elite would not pay him any attention.
Jeremy was looking to collaborate with jewelers, who were undoubtedly some of Nocturne City's most influential people.
The guard seemed to agree with Jeremy's perspective.
He nodded and said, "You're absolutely right. We're here now. You just need to submit your application and demonstrate your worth."
The guard pushed open the door to the hall for Jeremy.
Understanding the guard's implication, Jeremy pulled two gemstones from his pocket.
"Thank you very much for guiding me."
"It's my duty. I wish you the best of luck!"
The guard walked away, pleased with the gemstones.
Jeremy stepped into the hall.
The vast room was dimly lit, with a lone chandelier hanging in the center. On either side of the hall, there were faint outlines of several windows where staff seemed to be busy with their tasks.
Jeremy needed to find the window where he could apply for a pass.
Just then, a gentle and polite voice came from behind him.
"Good day, sir. How may I assist you?"
Jeremy turned to see a middle-aged man in formal attire standing there.
"I am the manager of this hall. Since you are here, it means you have gained the approval of the Nocturne Auction House guards. Are you looking to obtain a pass for the auction house or apply for a job here?" the manager asked.
"I want to obtain an auction house pass." Jeremy replied.
"Very well, please follow me."
The manager led Jeremy to the far end of the hall.
Where a massive mahogany door stood tightly shut.
The manager approached the door and knocked gently.
Moments later, the sound of gears turning came from within, and after several seconds, the door slowly opened, revealing a small clown puppet within Jeremy's view.
"Who seeks an auction house pass?"
The puppet asked in a raspy, peculiar voice.
"This gentleman here." the manager said, gesturing towards Jeremy.
"What is your name?" the puppet inquired.
"Jeremy." he answered.
"What is your purpose for obtaining an auction house pass?"
"I wish to auction my gemstones and weapons." Jeremy explained.
"Present the items you intend to auction." the puppet demanded.
Jeremy pulled out two highly valuable gemstones and a rare weapon from his pocket.
The hall manager's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of these precious items, clearly impressed by their quality.
The puppet glanced briefly at the items before handing over a pass.
"Take this pass, and you may enter the auction house. Once inside, someone will guide you further."
The hall manager respectfully handed the pass to Jeremy.
Jeremy smiled and nodded, then handed a diamond to the manager.
"You are a generous guest. I hope you have a pleasant experience at the auction house." the manager said with a smile, wishing Jeremy well.
With the pass in hand, Jeremy returned to the entrance of the Nocturne Auction House.
This time, he encountered no obstacles, the guards opened the door for him and watched as he entered the grand hall.
The interior of the Nocturne Auction House was even more opulent than its exterior.
The hall was adorned with various precious ceramics, and every seat was inlaid with gold threads. The staircase was covered with the finest silk.
As soon as Jeremy stepped into the auction hall, a young attendant approached him.
"Good day, sir. How may I assist you?" the attendant asked.
"Certainly, I intend to auction my items at the auction house."
Jeremy declared without hesitation. The attendant, without any delay, promptly escorted Jeremy to the elevator.
"What items are you interested in auctioning?" the attendant inquired.
"I wish to auction gemstones and rare weapons." Jeremy responded.
"If you're looking to auction gemstones, you should proceed to the auction room on the 16th floor. For ordinary rare weapons, you need to go to the 18th floor.
However, if the weapons you intend to auction possess extraordinary powers, you must head to the 23rd floor. Only there can such powerful weapons receive an accurate appraisal."
The attendant explained, outlining the specific functions of the different floors within the auction house.
After a moment of contemplation, Jeremy decided to head to the 16th floor first.
In his view, the gemstone auction room was the place where the majority of gemstone merchants would congregate.
"For now, let's go to the 16th floor. I'll start by auctioning some gemstones. Once that is concluded, I'll decide whether to proceed to the 18th or 23rd floor."
Jeremy articulated his decision. The attendant immediately pressed the button for the respective floor.
To Jeremy's astonishment, the elevator doors opened instantly as the button was pressed, revealing that they had arrived at the designated floor without any perceptible movement.
"This is the 16th floor. You can directly approach the floor manager and express your intentions. He will assist you in arranging everything." the attendant said before swiftly departing.
Jeremy didn't even have the chance to offer a diamond as a tip.
Upon stepping into the hall on the 16th floor, Jeremy immediately began to scrutinize the individuals present. He observed that many of them were attired in a manner characteristic of gemstone merchants.
Nevertheless, Jeremy resolved to adhere to his initial plan.
He would first auction off a sufficiently valuable gemstone to capture everyone's attention and ensure that the gemstone merchants remembered his name.
Only then would he be able to secure the attention and respect required to forge meaningful collaborations with them.