Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1085: A fair deal for everyone involved

Meanwhile, a few moments prior, within the bustling auction hall.

As the dialogue between the two brothers commenced, Kwon Qianhong, with a calming gesture of his raised hands, began to pacify the assembly. "It appears a dispute has arisen with the original owner of the item. Do not worry, we shall manage this situation."

He then elaborated, "Ordinarily, we do not permit the last-second withdrawal of an item. However, given that the item's true value was only recognized at such a late stage, we did not conduct the usual consultation with the owner regarding their intent to proceed. Consequently, a portion of the responsibility rests with our Trading Company."

This declaration surprised the attendees, who had not anticipated such an earnest admission of accountability delivered so openly and directly.

Kwon Qianhong continued, "Therefore, we will suspend this transaction and settle all matters through negotiation between the highest bidder and the item's original owner at a later date."

This resolution elicited murmurs throughout the hall, placing Wei Yuanjie at a significant disadvantage. He had no certainty of obtaining the item, yet the funds he had committed to his bid were now frozen, rendering them unusable for competing in the main prize auction.

The Elders of Ember Palm Pavilion were the first to voice their objection loudly, as they stood to lose the most after Wei Yuanjie, who, for reasons unknown, remained completely composed.

Kwon Qianhong responded, "I was just about to address that point. Technically, His Highness the 9th Prince has not yet been officially declared the winner."

This statement once again caught everyone off guard, prompting him to clarify, "Due to the timing of the interruption, the item has not yet been declared sold; a complete count was not even performed, so it's far from it."

And before any further questions could be raised, he added, "His Highness remains the highest bidder for the moment. The bidding will resume shortly. As a measure of our responsibility, we will permit all who placed bids up to this point to annul them now, before the bidding recommences, without exception."

"Wait... so... you're saying we'll be bidding merely for the opportunity to purchase the item, should the dispute with the City Lord be resolved?" Wei Liheng inquired, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Essentially, yes," Kwon Qianhong confirmed with a nod. "We permit everyone to withdraw their bids without penalty. It's possible the item may not be sold at all if everyone is unwilling to bid on an item they are uncertain of obtaining."

"So, if there is a winning bid at the conclusion of the next round, that bid will be frozen until the dispute is settled with the item owners. If not, the money is returned, and if it is resolved, they receive the item at that bid price..." a voice from the audience articulated, tinged with uncertainty.

"Precisely correct. A fair arrangement for all parties involved, as everyone is now apprised of the transaction's conditions," Kwon Qianhong affirmed with another nod. "This is the sole method by which we can uphold our obligations to both our bidding clientele and the item owners under these extraordinary circumstances, as it falls outside our current sales agreement. We shall ensure a clause regarding item value reevaluation during the auction, without prior consultation with the item owner, is included in our future agreements."

Despite initially appearing as a mishap on the part of the Trading Company, this resolution garnered approval from the majority of the audience. It demonstrated that the Soaring Feather Trading Company could manage even such unforeseen and potentially detrimental situations with a degree of decorum and fairness to both sides.

"I am not withdrawing my bid," Wei Yuanjie declared, causing agitation among the Ember Palm Pavilion Elders. Their hope that the pill would not fall into the hands of either of their competitors was undermined by this decision. The three Elders began attempting to persuade the 9th Prince, but to no avail.

"Very well, we shall resume the auction in ten minutes, allowing everyone sufficient time to fully comprehend our procedure and decide whether they wish to participate," Kwon Qianhong announced with a nod, initiating the countdown. This gave others a moment to contemplate their engagement under these revised circumstances.

This ten-minute interval became a pause, during which discussions erupted throughout the assembled crowd.

The two Ko siblings were now seated on their private balcony, their expressions grim, though one bore a significantly heavier burden than the other.

The Bao Family member appeared prepared to contest for the treasure, even with the possibility it might not be sold. Suddenly, those with higher cultivation and perception detected a sound transmission directed at him.