Mingxi, who had been studying player profiles for several days, recognized the man at first glance.

Karon · Karman, a royal descendant of the Karman Empire on Yunhai Star, and also the current Deputy Minister of Finance of the Karman Empire, is one of Karman's powerful figures, holding the title of Grand Duke, and also an SSS-level Beast Master.

The data showed that this person's personality was extremely cold and arrogant, and he was meticulous in his actions, especially stingy with money and valuables.

It is said that he often overturned tables and got into fights with people over small sums of money.

You could bully him, but you absolutely could not let him suffer a loss of even one star coin!

"What kind of trash is this! How dare it demand five hundred thousand star coins? And it's called an aurora stone, a rare treasure?

Nonsense!

There's clearly an extremely unstable life energy contained within it!"

The young man in front of Karon · Karman tightly clutched a fist-sized stone, its interior shrouded in a gloomy, misty haze.

"We just tested it, and the faint golden lines on the surface are a type of life energy! Do you know that it was just a little bit, just a little bit, that this broken aurora stone almost caused my master's pet to be severely injured!

Refund! Compensate! Immediately! Now!"

The stall owner they were questioning was a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a simple T-shirt, and jeans.

She frowned at the four people with Karon, "Guests, you were the ones who thought this stone was an aurora stone. Before you bought it, I clearly stated that I didn't know what this thing was, and you insisted on buying it yourself.

Moreover, according to Dianjin Street's rules, goods sold are not refundable or returnable." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Rules? You're talking about rules with us?"

Another follower, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, resembling a devolved ape, sneered and slapped the stall hard, making a few ordinary ores on it jump.

"Do you know who we are? Our master is the Grand Duke of the Karman Empire on Yunhai Star! A seeded player in the Starsea Cup!

You're trying to fool us with trash? And you think you're in the right!

Talking about rules with us? Are you worthy? Quickly compensate us with the star coins, we don't need much, just one million star coins, and then kneel down and kowtow to our Grand Duke to apologize, and this matter will be settled!"

He disdainfully scanned the woman's shabby clothes.

The person holding the 'aurora stone' crossed his arms, approached the female stall owner, and added in a low, cold voice, "Or you can try to take this matter to the Saint Shield City Public Security Bureau and see if they protect you or us?"

The female stall owner's expression became very ugly, and her body trembled slightly.

Her fingers dug into the wooden edge of the stall, "Don't go too far! You wanted to buy this thing; there's absolutely no reason for me to refund you and then compensate you!"

The surrounding vendors and tourists had long noticed the commotion.

Many people watched curiously, whispering to their friends, but no one actively intervened in the matter.

Not meddling in others' business is the secret to longevity.

"Stubborn!"

The monkey-faced follower was enraged and reached out as if to grab the female stall owner's collar.

Just as the tension was rising, a clear and calm voice rang out: "I'll take this stone."

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on the speaker.

Needless to say, this person was our protagonist, Mingxi.

She led her pet beasts through the crowd of onlookers and walked directly to the stall.

Her gaze first fell on the female stall owner. The face under the wide-brimmed straw hat was very ordinary, the kind that would be hard to find in a crowd, but her eyes were very beautiful.

Deep and... ethereal?

Mingxi subtly raised an eyebrow, then shifted her gaze to the 'aurora stone' in the follower's hand.

"You bought it for five hundred thousand star coins, right? I'll buy it at the original price, but as for compensation, let's forget it. A dignified Grand Duke of Karman should show some face!"

Mingxi was concise, directly opening her personal terminal to prepare for the transfer.

Perhaps because her appearance was too sudden and her actions too decisive, the follower was still a bit stunned, foolishly reaching out to hand over the stone in his hand.

"Wait!"

A cold, hoarse voice with a metallic quality rang out, carrying an undeniable authority.

It was Karon · Karman.

He pushed aside the two followers blocking his way; his well-tailored black suit made him look heroic.

His expression was blank, and his cold aura seemed to lower the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

After he spoke, the three followers immediately respectfully retreated behind him, like eunuchs greeting a monarch.

Karon did not look at the female stall owner. His cold, light brown eyes, like the most precise probes, were firmly locked on Mingxi.

"You must be Mingxi."

A very faint, yet full of mockery and arrogance, curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, "The alliance first genius of Dragonflower Country, a sixteen-year-old SS-Class Beast Master.

What? Are your pets also interested in this kind of trash that even my Elk Cang doesn't care for?"

Mingxi was not surprised that the other party recognized her.

The young lady was also a familiar face; even if she hadn't made it as a seeded player in the Starsea Cup, she had dominated the top three popular players due to her age and other factors.

Mingxi's expression remained unchanged, "It's just personal preference. Since you're not satisfied and want to return it, and I just happen to think this stone looks pretty good, can't I buy it ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) at the original price?"

"Who said I wasn't satisfied?"

Karon let out a low, cold laugh, like sandpaper rubbing, "My things, Karon · Karman's things, even a small blade of grass by my feet, no one else can touch them until I say I don't want them."

His pupils flickered slightly, scanning the golden bird on Mingxi's shoulder, the Angel Dragon peeking out to observe him, and the one-eyed monster on her head, as well as the little cat she held in her arms, as if evaluating something.

He took a step forward, and an invisible sense of oppression surged towards Mingxi like a cold tide.

"What's more, anything that can catch the eye of the alliance first genius, even if it looks like trash, must have its special qualities."

He paused, his tone full of condescending scrutiny, "You are so eager to buy it from me; it seems this stone has a great origin."

Mingxi tilted her head. Golden Yuanbao, Little Silver Flower, Bright Crystal, and Lan Yue tilted their heads in perfect unison.

Was she acting eager?

The five of them silently shook their heads (Black Pearl was invisible).

Karon's gaze lingered on Mingxi's calm face for a few seconds, seemingly trying to deduce something from her expression.

Unfortunately, when it came to maintaining a poker face, Mingxi was number one; even Shenwu wouldn't dare claim second.

Karon frowned.

He looked at the female stall owner.

Finally, the mockery at the corner of his mouth grew even stronger, "Even if it's trash, it doesn't matter. I'll keep it as a... reminder."

He meaningfully glanced at the female stall owner, his gaze like he was looking at some despicable, shameless merchant.

Female stall owner: "..."

There's a certain expletive she's wondering if she should utter.

"As for you, Mingxi," Karon's gaze returned, carrying undisguised provocation, "you should also remember that not every bargain is one you are qualified to pick up.

In this world, you're not the only smart person."