The first conversation of interest Larisa's keen ears pick up on is one between a small group of men, one of whom she immediately recognises: Dominyk Mateikis, a well-to-do merchant specialising in the import and export of luxury furniture. He is the exact kind of person this auction event is targeting and the way he is greeted by passers-by and greets them in turn indicates that he is a regular guest. The other men clustering with him seem to be colleagues of his, other merchantmen of similar wealth but likely other business interests that ensure their friendships are not imperilled by competition.
Larisa is already almost out of eavesdropping range of the group when Mateikis touches upon what he is here for today: he wants to pick up a new pastime, something that is convenient for a busy man and can be put aside for a while whenever necessary. Something with an aura of scholarliness, because he is a man of science after all. There is some back and forth about possible options, but most of them are quickly shot down by Mateikis. He does not want to try painting and rare books are too dusty and boring to him. Then one of his friends suggests collecting butterflies, sounding as if he is making a joke, but the idea seems to have struck a nerve. Some quick skimming of the auction brochure later, the merchant finds three lots of interest to him. Ones that contain starting points for his future butterfly collection. Unfortunately, one of them is that with the name of Vakaris Dabulis on it.
The other group that catches her attention is not unlike your own coterie. Two men and one woman, who seem to fit in perfectly with their surroundings, but appear ever so slightly off to someone in a similar trade. These three are not wealthy merchants or lesser nobles, they are here with a lot more purpose than the people who came here for light entertainment and possibly a, more or less spontaneous, bid or two. Their conversation is too hushed for any eavesdropping, but there is no doubt that their presence poses a threat to your own task. Whether they are here to acquire the same thing or for something unrelated, their interference could turn things upside down at any moment. Worse, with their allegiance unknown, there is no way to tell how ruthless they are going to be in pursuit of their goals.