In an instant, the auction hall descended into chaos.
People panicked and scattered, rushing frantically toward the exits, pushing and screaming.
Amidst the confusion, not only did Giacomo's men fix their sights firmly on Carlotta, but members of the Order had also already set their eyes on Ray and the painting in his hand.
"Spare no cost to destroy that painting."
That was the absolute order they had received.
The Order members, who had been distressed over their failed mission, now finally saw a turning point. Chaos was the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters.
They exchanged glances, silently communicating, then nodded in unison.
Since they weren't wearing Order attire, even if they acted, no one could pin the blame on the Order.
Behind him, gunfire erupted abruptly.
Ray hesitated no longer, wanting to leave this dangerous place along with the crowd.
But the moment he took a step, a group of figures blocked his path.
Ray stiffened slightly, then quickly regained his composure, unobtrusively tucking the painting under his clothes.
"Gentlemen, could you make way?"
The other party barked coldly, "Hand over the painting."
Ray opened his mouth, ultimately letting out only a soft sigh.
It seemed the Order wouldn't relent until they obtained this painting today.
He slowly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, alright. If you want it, you'll have to come and get it yourselves."
The Order members frowned, unable to grasp what trick he was playing, yet still cautiously closed in step by step.
"Of course..." Ray's tone suddenly shifted, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "provided that... you have the qualifications to take it."
The moment they drew near, he erupted into action, grabbing a nearby chair and smashing it against the nearest Order member!
Crack—!
The wooden chair shattered on impact, splinters flying.
The struck Order member screamed in pain, curling up and writhing on the ground.
Seeing this, the others were instantly enraged, but Ray's movements were far quicker than theirs.
His body shot forward. A sharp side kick landed heavily in another's abdomen.
The man grunted, instantly losing strength, clutching his stomach as he knelt on the floor.
"You—!"
Another person, furious beyond measure, was just about to speak when Ray's heavy fist connected squarely with his face. He collapsed on the spot, unconscious.
"If you want a fight, just fight. Why all the talk?"
Ray glanced at the three incapacitated men on the ground, muttering under his breath. It seemed these were just ordinary clergy of the Order, not skilled in actual combat, otherwise they wouldn't have been dealt with so easily.
Meanwhile, on the stage, the gunfire remained intense.
Carlotta was clearly handling things with ease, even maneuvering with a hint of playful grace. She was right; these small fry truly couldn't touch her.
After shaking off the Order's entanglements, Ray swiftly rushed out of the auction venue. He had expected the streets to be in equal chaos, but unknown to him, the Order had already surrounded the entire venue. Numerous Inquisitors were methodically taking control of the situation.
Even more surprising, a considerable number of Montelli family members were among the crowd.
What was going on? Why had the Order arrived so quickly? And why were Montelli people here?
Before Ray could sort out his thoughts, a middle-aged man, flanked by two Vitreum Dancer, slowly approached him.
It was Capollo, Carlotta's uncle.
"I remember you," Capollo said, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze appraising Ray. "You're Carlotta's boyfriend, correct?"
Ray's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before quickly smoothing back to normal.
Although he had no fondness for this uncle who always looked down his nose, considering he was Carlotta's elder, no matter how much discontent he felt, surface-level courtesy was still necessary.
"Lord Capollo, how did you—"
Capollo cut him off without ceremony, his tone carrying an air of lofty indifference.
"I am aware of the auction situation. To prevent things from escalating, I notified the Order in advance to come and maintain order."
He shifted his focus, extending a hand toward Ray, his tone brooking no refusal.
"As for that painting... hand it over."
This attitude and behavior naturally provoked Ray's aversion.
He frowned. Although his tone still maintained basic politeness, it had grown chilly. "My apologies. The Second Young Miss specifically instructed that this painting must not be handed to anyone but her personally."
You think you can just ask for it and get it?
What about my face? Don't I need it?
If not for Carlotta's sake, Ray would have already turned hostile.
"Hmm?" Capollo's brows tightened abruptly, clearly not expecting the other party to dare defy him. "You dare refuse me? Are you unaware that I am about to become the family's next leader? Hand over the painting immediately, or else... the consequences are not something you can bear."
"Apologies, Mr. Capollo," Ray responded firmly. "I am not a member of the Montelli family. I serve only Miss Carlotta. Without her permission, I will not hand this painting to anyone. So, my apologies."
"You—!" Capollo's face darkened, ready to erupt, but his gaze suddenly caught the familiar figure behind Ray, forcing him to suppress his anger. "Carlotta, look at your fine boyfriend! Dares to defy your uncle's orders!"
Hearing Capollo utter that name, Ray abruptly turned around to see Carlotta walking over slowly. She held a handkerchief, lightly wiping away a trace of blood from her hand, her movements still composed.
"So it's you, Uncle," she casually tossed aside the bloodstained handkerchief, her tone offhand. "What a coincidence. This painting was personally requested by Grandfather. Therefore, I cannot hand it over to anyone. I hope you'll understand. If you have any objections... perhaps you could speak directly with Grandfather?"
"Don't use Father to pressure me, Carlotta," Capollo snorted coldly, clearly displeased. "A gun is certainly useful, but the one holding the gun, they are the one who decides everything. The order of seniority and juniority is a principle you should understand better than I do."
Faced with Capollo's pointed words, Carlotta showed no anger or disappointment, just as she normally would, nodding obediently. "I understand, Uncle. I have never forgotten why I possess what I have today, and I would never covet what does not belong to me."
"Even at this moment, everything I do—I do in the name of Montelli."
Her response and demeanor eased the tension in Capollo's expression somewhat.
He turned away, leaving a final remark. "That's for the best. Remember the words you spoke today, Carlotta."
The two watched Capollo leave. Only when his figure had completely disappeared did Carlotta let out a soft sigh. She then turned to Ray, that familiar faint smile reappearing on her face. "Did Uncle give you too much trouble just now?"
Ray shook his head, then looked around at the Order members present.
They seemed to have the situation completely under control.
"It's just, why did the Order act so quickly?"
Carlotta followed his gaze. "I find it strange too. Why would the Order act so swiftly. Perhaps... Uncle had a hand in it? He knew about the auction beforehand. Probably didn't want things to escalate too much, so he notified the Order in advance? Still the same as always, overly cautious. By the way, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. It's those few Order clergy—"
Before he could finish, several Order clergy were seen being assisted out of the auction house by Inquisitors.
They held their injured parts, shooting resentful glances at Ray as they passed.
But with the situation now settled, they couldn't very well act.
In response, Ray openly spread his hands, offering them a smile.
"Oh, right, we—"
Before Carlotta could finish, her terminal chimed with an incoming call, interrupting her. She glanced down at the caller's name, slightly startled, then silently stepped aside to answer.
Ray remained quietly where he was, watching the young woman's back without a word.
"Huh? Want to meet him?"
"Tom... tomorrow?"
"Alright, alright, I understand. I'll make arrangements."
A moment later, Carlotta ended the call and slowly returned to Ray's side. She gently nudged his waist with her elbow, her tone deliberately light. "Are you free tomorrow?"
Ray stood there in a daze for a while before finally curving his lips into a slightly amused smile. "Doesn't that depend on whether the Second Young Miss assigns me a task?"
"That's true," Carlotta also smiled faintly, mirroring his expression. "In that case—"
She raised her head, stood on tiptoe, and lightly pressed her index finger against his lips, speaking softly to him.
"Then come to the family home tomorrow. Grandfather... he wants to meet you."
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