Loreen was overjoyed and she said excitedly, “Thank you so much, Charlie!”Charlie hurriedly said, “Wait a moment. I won’t force him to swallow the jade pendant but I’d still have to give him some other form of punishment. Otherwise, I’m afraid that he won’t learn his lesson.”Loreen hurriedly asked, “Charlie, what kind of punishment are you going to give him? It won’t be anything more serious than swallowing a jade pendant, right?”“No.” Charlie smiled faintly before he said, “You can rest assured that my punishment is a good thing for him.”Loreen finally relaxed as she said affectionately, “Charlie, thank you. Thank you for forgiving my brother and letting him off because of me. Then, why don’t you give me a chance to repay you then…”Charlie asked in surprise, “How are you going to repay me?”Loreen blinked as she smiled and said deliberately, “Of course, I’ll promise to marry you and give birth to a big fat baby boy for you! What do you think of it?”Charlie replied in a se
When he heard that he would have to ride a bicycle all the way from Eastcliff to Aurous Hill, and that he would have to stay in Aurous Hill as a driver for one year, Dylan really felt like dying.The main point was that the distance between Eastcliff and Aurous Hill was more than 1200 kilometres. Wouldn’t he die of exhaustion if he really were to ride a bicycle all the way there?It was already December and it was winter now. He would have to ride a bicycle all the way to the south and he was not even allowed to stay in a hotel at all. These requirements were simply too harsh, weren’t they?Dylan felt very aggrieved and tears started rolling down his face.What the hell was this…He was the third young master of the Koch family but he would have to ride a bicycle all the way to Aurous Hill? Wouldn’t he lose his life along the way there?It would be amazing if he could cycle for fifty or sixty kilometres a day.It was more than 1200 kilometres. He would be cycling for about twent
The most painful thing would just be the arduous bicycle ride from Eastcliff to Aurous Hill.However, it was still acceptable. Cycling for half a month was better compared to lying in bed for half a month after his surgery.Besides that, he had really suffered a lot of grievances during the last operation. Moreover, he had not even recovered fully yet. If he were to undergo the same operation again soon, then his pain would definitely be doubled.At this time, Charlie said, “I asked you to go to Aurous Hill to undergo a reformation and change. Do you think that I’m asking you to go to Aurous Hill to enjoy life there? Let me tell you something. You’ll only be allowed to ride the most basic Phoenix 28 bicycle and nothing else! Otherwise, I’ll make sure that you ride to Aurous Hill with a cart full of bricks then!”“In addition, after arriving in Aurous Hill, aside from the time you spend driving Loreen around, you will rent a single room in the shantytown, Cliffcouls. Your monthly li
As soon as he heard that he would have to carry cement at a construction site, Dylan immediately shook his head frantically!In comparison, he would only be enduring a little suffering and grievances if he were to live in a shanty town with a living expenses of one thousand dollars a month. If he were to go to a construction site to carry cement, then he would probably have to suffer a lot and go through a lot of hardships at the construction site then.So, he nodded immediately without thinking. “Mr. Wade, I accept all of your conditions and I won’t bargain with you anymore! Just please don’t send me to the construction site…”Charlie was very satisfied and he said coldly, “Make sure that you change and undergo a proper reformation after you arrive in Aurous Hill. Don’t cause any more trouble all day long. If you continue staying in Eastcliff, then a cynical rich heir like you might eventually cause an even greater disaster one day. You might even implicate and get the Thomas and K
Charlie took the painting that Yule had given him from Dylan’s hand before he personally handed it over to Loreen’s grandmother. After that, he said, “Grandma Thomas, this is a small token from Claire and myself. I hope that you will accept it. In addition, I would like to apologize for everything that has happened here just now when it is your birthday banquet today. I hope that you will be able to forgive me.”Lady Thomas was flattered and she hurriedly said, “Mr. Wade, you are being too polite. In fact, the incident just now had only happened because my grandson did something wrong. In the final analysis, it’s all because we had been negligent in disciplining our grandson and we’ve caused you trouble because of that.”As she spoke, she looked at the painting before she said, “Mr. Wade, this painting is simply too valuable. I cannot accept this gift from you!”Charlie hurriedly said, “Grandma Thomas, this gift is just a small token from Claire and I. The value of the gift is not i
After that, the birthday banquet officially began.Charlie was enshrined as a most distinguished guest and he sat beside Lady Thomas with Loreen and Wrigley.After that, the Thomas family members took turns to offer him a toast. Their expression, tone, and actions were all full of compliments and flattery.Charlie did not have much to say. When someone came to offer him a toast, he would simply drink in return. He also drank readily even when it was Dylan who came to offer him a toast.At this time, Wrigley also cautiously offered Charlie a toast as he flattered him and said, “Mr. Wade, there is something that I would like to ask of you…”Charlie already knew what he wanted to ask him even before he started speaking. He obviously wanted him to restore his ability and make him potent again.However, in view of all the bad things that their family of four had done towards Yule’s family of three, Charlie was certain that he would never allow them to recover right now.An adult woul
“Ahh? So soon? You’re not going to stay in Eastcliff for a few more days?”“I have already settled all of my business, and there is nothing left for me to do here. I will be leaving tomorrow.”When Loreen heard this, she said without any hesitation at all, “In that case, I will also leave Eastcliff tomorrow. Let’s go back to Aurous Hill together, okay? We can take the same plane back.”Charlie wanted to turn her down. However, when he saw the pleading expression on her face, he could not bring himself to turn her down.After all, it was normal for friends to take the same flight together. So, he could not intentionally avoid taking the same flight as her.So, Charlie said, “Okay. We can go back together, then.”Loreen hurriedly said, “Then, you can give me your identity card details later. I will buy our flight tickets together!”“Okay.”***While the birthday banquet was still in progress, Dylan’s eldest uncle and second uncle had already made the preparations for him for his
By the time the birthday banquet had ended and the guests had already left, Dylan was pushing his new Phoenix 28 bicycle.At this time, Dylan suddenly recalled a famous hit song that he had seen on a short video platform…It was called ‘Riding on My Beloved Motorcycle’…As he thought about that song, he looked at his old and ugly Phoenix 28 bicycle. He could not help but sigh as he thought to himself, ‘It would be great if I could go to Aurous Hill on a motorcycle. I would even be able to travel for about three to four hundred kilometers a day, then. I would be able to arrive in Aurous Hill as soon as possible, and I would not have to suffer so many grievances and injustice along the way…’ Nevertheless, it was a pity, for he knew that Charlie would not give him any room to bargain at all. Therefore, he could only push his bicycle as he prepared to set off.His eldest uncle, Jeryl, was holding a green helmet in his hand as he tried to put it on for Dylan. Dylan dodged the helmet a
The other antique traders who were keeping tabs on the situation were left confused by Trippy's message.[Maybe even those out-of-towners know that Raymond is a sucker? So they traveled overnight just to see what happens?][I know Raymond is in trouble, but is it really worth traveling hundreds of miles just to watch?][Maybe they know he's a sucker, so they came to sell him more counterfeits?][Shit, that must be it! Suckers are rare these days, after all!][Damn straight! Just knowing that there's one in Aurous Hill, you'd be eager to come over.]Even Mick Crane who had just woken up and saw the message immediately sent a voice message: "Those conmen are just like flies flocking around shit as soon as they smell it.""Oh, but what they don't know is that Raymond has no more money! I heard he only had a few hundred thousand for the startup, and the bronze sculpture must have cost most of it. I'm afraid those people won't even get their gas money and toll costs back after travel
Trippy rolled his eyes as he texted back: [Hell no. I need to start my business instead of wasting my time. You morons can come get a number yourself if you like. Haha!]Still, Trippy had just sent his text when a trio arrived in a hurry outside Treasure Measure.Seeing that the doors were closed, the leader asked Trippy, "Excuse me, can I ask if this is Treasure Measure? Owned by a man named Mr. Cole?"Trippy was at once surprised. "You mean Raymond Cole?"The leader quickly said, "We don't know his first name, only that his last name is Cole, and his handle name was Treasure Measure's Mr. Cole."Trippy chuckled. "That'd be him. Has to be, since he hand wrote that shop sign."Pausing, he then asked in curiosity, "So, you've come to see him being a sucker?"The leader was naturally curious as to what Trippy was talking about. However, he was also reluctant to reveal why he had come since there was a killer bargain at stake. In fact, every other collector who was coming was k
Raymond also added that the 20 million price tag wouldn't be cut or increased. To put it simply, the bronze sculpture was right there in Aurous Hill and waiting—it was a race.Hence, many reputable collectors contacted expert appraisers throughout the night, some even booking night flights straight to Aurous Hill.The best amongst them was a fanatic collector of bronze items in Eastcliff.Following a brief exchange with Raymond online, he immediately called an expert who was also a close friend. As soon as his call was answered, he asked the other man if he had time to travel to Aurous Hill so that no one else would beat them to it—and they would drive out in the night if at all possible.After all, the earliest flight was at six in the morning, and it'd be eight by the time they made it to Aurous Hill Airport and nine by the time they got to Antique Street in a cab.Therefore, the ideal way to get there was by driving over six hundred miles at top speed, and that meant reaching A
While Jacob was feeling delighted after pulling off his con, Raymond had posted details of the bronze sculpture online.The website he was using was the biggest platform for antique collectors and the antique trade where each user could set a favorite tag in the antique category and era. If a user who preferred canvas art pieces of the Tudor dynasty set that label as their favorite, they would immediately be notified with text or desktop notifications in regards to any item with the same label.As medieval bronze sculptures were rare in the first place, most who were interested had already set that label on their favorites and were immediately notified soon after Raymond posted pictures of the bronze sculpture online.The collectors were naturally eager to check it out as gilded sculptures of the medieval era were really rare, and most collectors would go a lifetime without picking one up for their collection.On top of that, the seller had even listed a major flaw and was only ask
"Nope," Jacob chuckled. "We were both working separately and just happened to get back in at the same time."Then, he immediately became smug and excited, "Guess what, dear? I made 200 thousand out of the deal! In net profits!""For real?!" Elaine gaped. "200 thousand in just one night?! That's amazing! How did you do that?"Claire was surprised to hear that too, and she came over to ask, "What deal was it, Dad?"Jacob grinned, "Oh, it's nothing to brag about. It's just that I managed to pick up a nice antique item thanks to my wisdom and then sold it for 200 thousand."Pausing, he then sighed in dismay, "However, the buyer wasn't too rich—I would have squeezed him for 400 thousand, but he couldn't afford more, so I had to settle for less."Elaine quickly exclaimed, "Shit, we're talking about a loss of 200 thousand! People would work a year and still never earn that much…"She trailed off for a moment before asking, "By the way, dear—are we still flying out first thing tomorrow?
Jacob laughed. "Put that issue behind us? Sure, but we're not becoming friends. Hell, I can't even hold a grudge now that you're shit out of luck."Then, his tone changed sharply and suddenly became icy, "But you see, Aurous Hill is not a place you can stay just because you want to. No… After this, you're not going to be able to make a living in the antique trade.""If I were you, I'd be running a thousand miles away, far away from Aurous Hill where no one would know my face to start over. That way, you just might be able to make a living."Raymond simply kept smiling, "You need not be concerned about how I'm going to survive here, Mr. Wilson. I'd be very grateful if you'd cease any form of harassment once you leave my premises."Jacob pursed his lips, staring at Raymond in disappointment. "I'm plenty magnanimous, so I won't stoop to such pettiness. Just do whatever you like!"Clicking his tongue, he huffed, "Tut, tut… And here I'd thought you're tough, but you're just yet another
Raymond chuckled at the title, humble as ever, "The Duke of Wastage? Now, that's quite the royal title, and I don't think I deserve such an honor…"Trailing off, he then made an especially curious look, "By the way, how'd you know they were calling me that?"Seeing that he was still so ignorant, Jacob scoffed. "You bought a Renaissance-era bronze sculpture earlier, didn't you?"Raymond nodded. "I did. But technically, it's medieval and not Renaissance, along with a Renaissance-era base."Jacob clutched his stomach as he laughed, "Oh, please! Medieval? Hahaha… You're killing me, Mr. Cole!"Raymond kept a serious look on his face. "It's really medieval. Why don't you take a look?""No way," Jacob snorted, pursing his lips. "Anyway, word has already spread that someone was selling a counterfeit bronze sculpture to defraud Antique Street for some serious dough. He went first to Vintage Deluxe, but their manager, Mr. Crane, saw through it and didn't buy it… and then he came to you, an
That was why most of the collectors only knew that such an item existed but they did not know in whose possession it was.After registering a new account and paying the ten thousand registration fee, Raymond got in.It was very safe as it was anonymous, and he posted a photo of the bronze sculpture and an announcement with an asking price of twenty million.In his opinion, it wasn't that expensive—if it was still gilded, it would be worth around a hundred million. Without it, it was plenty reasonable to cut the price down to just thirty million.And Raymond was cutting another ten million off that, so twenty million was plenty reasonable.Moreover, medieval bronze sculptures were exceedingly rare, and less than one specimen showed up annually at times. Collectors who desired it would therefore be willing to break the bank for it, and that was why Raymond was sure that someone would put in an order once he posted it.As he wrote the summary of the item, someone knocked on his door
Jacob frowned in disdain. "Why would I be worried? He's no longer the manager of Vintage Deluxe, and he just lost a shit ton of money for messing up his appraisal. I am also the vice president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, so why would I be worried about some loser who will soon be kicked out of Antique Street?"Straightening his collar, he snorted coldly, "I am now going to see Raymond Cole and humiliate him face-to-face! He thinks he's impressive, doesn't he? Let's see how he will keep up that facade!"Zachary chuckled, "Yes, exactly! People like him need to be given a slap in the face! As hard as you can! Don't worry—I'll be right behind you. If he gets physical, I'll rush in to help. If he doesn't dare to start a fight, you just insult him as much as possible!""Good plan!" Jacob nodded since he was concerned that Raymond might get physical when pushed too far.And with his body, there was no way he could beat anyone…Spreading his arms, he exclaimed, "Come! I'l