I’m Someone Else

As the auction was yet to commence, Rochka guided Thomas into the VIP lounge of Miles Auction House. Inside, a handful of
distinguished figures from Irieson occupied scattered seats. Rochka then respectfully acknowledged each individual with a nod
and a greeting before settling down beside Thomas, engaging him in light-hearted conversation.
Suddenly, eyes darted across the lounge, interlocking in silent acknowledgment as surprise flickered on their faces. They
couldn’t help but question the reason behind the gathering of these prominent figures in this very space. Yet, their intrigue
deepened when Rochka, instead of engaging with the renowned figures, merely acknowledged them with a nod, opting to sit
beside a young man adorned with striking white hair.
What is the identity of this young man who has captured Rochka’s attention?
Despite Thomas being a 25-year-old man with a head full of white hair, the seasoned individuals in the VIP lounge could
instinctively sense his youthfulness. They were astounded by the fact that someone seemingly unremarkable was receiving more
prestigious treatment than their own. Despite their astonishment, none dared to take the initiative to approach and inquire.
Buzz! Buzz!
Two minutes after Thomas took a seat, his phone vibrated.
At this moment, John Morton, Samuel Peralta, Raymond Elliott, and Quincy Hofstead had individually reached out to Thomas,
each sharing the exact purpose of notifying him about the forthcoming auction of the coveted Essence Fruit. Initially, on the
previous day, they had promptly called him upon learning of the auction. Unfortunately, Thomas had unintentionally silenced his
phone to maintain an uninterrupted state during his cultivation, causing him to miss several incoming calls.
Shortly after, Raymond entered the VIP lounge with his granddaughter, Rose.
“Thomas, y-your hair!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with shock. She couldn’t fathom what had transpired. What on earth has
happened? Wasn’t Thomas perfectly fine before? Since when did he turn into an old man with white hair?
After hearing this, Thomas simply smiled in response. He had grown accustomed to the astonishment that inevitably followed the
sight of his unique hair, and he saw no need to offer any explanation. Instead, he warmly greeted Raymond and sat down.
As Rochka observed that most guests had arrived, he took the initiative to introduce Thomas to the prominent figures in the
room. Turning his attention to a distinguished individual, he proclaimed, “Thomas, allow me to present to you someone truly
remarkable. This is Shane Lewis, the entertainment tycoon of Irieson.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lewis!” Thomas took the initiative to shake hands with Shane.
Before Rochka could continue, a burly old man beside Shane took the initiative and introduced himself. “Nice to meet you,
Thomas. I’m Chris Zeller,” he said, extending his hand as he spoke.
Nevertheless, Thomas didn’t give it much thought and simply shook his hand. Eh? However, in the instant their palms touched,
he sensed something peculiar. A surge of immense internal energy transmitted from Chris’ hand, indicating his strength. He was
secretly shocked and realized he couldn’t afford to be careless. With swift reflexes, he promptly adjusted the internal energy
within his own body to resist the force exerted by Chris. Shane and Chris are unquestionably from the two low-profile families
mentioned by Rochka earlier!
“Mr. Clifford, you are truly remarkable!” Chris exclaimed sincerely. He had exerted only half of his strength, but he hadn’t
expected Thomas to handle it with such ease. This unexpected display of resilience piqued Chris’ interest even more, deepening
his intrigue in Thomas.
“You flatter me, Mr. Zeller.”
The two soon released their hands and grew curious of each other.
Then, Rochka introduced another old man to Thomas. This old man was dressed casually, making him look slightly out of place
compared to the other well-dressed individuals in the VIP lounge.
“Mr. Elio, may I ask if you’re not from Irieson, judging from your accent?” Thomas inquired, appreciating the old man’s relaxed
manner and wanting to converse with him.
“Haha!” Kim Elio chuckled heartily. “I came from Capitalis. Young man, don’t you think you’ve dressed too casually? It might not
be the most appropriate attire for this setting.”
Like Kim, Thomas opted for casual attire, not because he didn’t value the occasion but simply because he wasn’t accustomed to
wearing suits. He found comfort in casual clothing and believed it suited him better. Interestingly, he and Kim stood out from the
crowd as the only two individuals at the auction who had chosen not to attend in formal attire.
Thomas shook his head. “I don’t like wearing suits. I prefer sticking back to casual wear.”
“Oh?” Kim’s eyes brightened. He discovered that the young man in front of him was somewhat different. With a brief exchange,
the two established a friendly relationship.

Soon, Shane and Chris joined the conversation, and the four of them chatted away.
Meanwhile, Rochka led everyone out of Miles Auction House since the venue was simply a gathering place and not where they
would determine the new owner of the Essence Fruit.
Then, the three of them, Rochka, Thomas, and Rose, got into the same car. Throughout the journey, her gaze remained fixed on
Thomas, her curiosity piqued by his white hair. As she observed him closely, she found his distinctive hair quite appealing. She
felt it added an intriguing touch of mature masculinity to his appearance, causing her heart to flutter.
When the long convoy reached the outskirts, the driver distributed blindfolds to everyone. Thomas willingly complied,
understanding that each household had its own rules and customs, and as a guest, it was essential to follow the host’s lead.
On the contrary, Rose was somewhat displeased. She had accompanied the group primarily to be in Thomas’ company, and now
with the blindfold, openly admiring him would be difficult. However, she swiftly devised a plan. “I’m scared, Thomas!” she
exclaimed, leaning into his arms and seizing the opportunity to wrap her arms around his.
Nonetheless, he remained silent, understanding that it was reasonable for a young lady to feel scared, given that they were
blindfolded and taken to an unfamiliar place. Unbeknownst to him, she was not an ordinary lady but the daughter of the
influential Elliott Family, having been exposed to the world and its ways. Little did he know that she was deliberately taking
advantage of him!
Screech!
The convoy of over 20 cars came to a stop. Then, a guide led everyone forward while they kept their blindfolds on.
“You may take off your blindfolds now, everyone.”
After approximately thirty minutes of walking, a sense of unfamiliarity enveloped the group as they were unsure of their current
location. A distinct sound caught their attention, prompting everyone to remove their blindfolds and discover they had arrived at a
remodeled underground garage. They saw a staircase nearby that would lead them to a villa upstairs.
At this instant, a beautiful woman with a cold demeanor spoke to Rochka. “Mr. Nett, please proceed according to the agreed-
upon rules.” With that, she turned and ascended the staircase, elegantly departing without even glancing at Thomas and the
rest.

After that, everyone made their way up the stairs one by one. In contrast, Thomas was aware that they would be performing
medical consultations, so he chose to sit and patiently await his turn with a calm demeanor and no sense of urgency.
As the hours rolled by, attendees continued their ascent up the stairs, only to descend again later. Without exception, those who
returned wore expressions of frustration.
Meanwhile, only four people in the spacious garage had not yet ascended the stairs. Among them were Thomas, Kim, Chris, and
Shane. They exchanged glances before Chris stood up and suggested, “I’ll go and take a look!”