The last full pill was the finale of the entire auction which everyone looked forward to.While many of them couldn’t compete for the last Rejuvenating Pill, they wanted to see who had the power and strength to rise as the winner. They also wanted to know the potential miraculous effects of a full pill. The staff soon brought the full pill on stage. Jasmine gestured at it and announced with a smile, “The last full pill for the Rejuvenating Pill will start bidding at ten billion US dollars. Every bid has to be at least a hundred billion US dollars higher. Those who are interested may start bidding!”As soon as Jasmine finished her sentence, Bernard raised his hand and made his bid at once.“I will place a bid of fifty billion!”Bernard knew the final price would be at least a dozen billion, particularly when the last quarter pill was already sold for thirty-eight billion and two hundred million US dollars. As such, he immediately raised the price as a warm-up.Jordan had waited t
Everyone was busy speculating the true identities of Number 35 Number 99. Meanwhile, Number 16, Bernard, had collapsed from his overwhelming emotions.On paper, he had the highest net worth amongst the guestlist for the night. However, he didn’t expect to be eliminated from the competition for the last Rejuvenating Pill within the first few minutes. His despair and regret led him into an immediate mental breakdown. If only he had known that this would happen! He would’ve offered up to fifty billion for the last quarter bill in the previous auction rather than wait until the last auction, where he was eliminated after a few bids.Kathleen, who was in the private room, was completely stunned by the turn of events. She couldn’t see Carlson’s face, but from the man’s tone, one hundred and ten billion US dollars seemed to mean nothing to him.Under the current circumstances, it might be difficult for her grandfather to win the Rejuvenating Pill.Kathleen wasn’t the only one surprise
Resentment flooded Jordan’s heart, coursing through his veins. He simply couldn’t fathom as to why Carlson would compete with him. The man was forcing him to the verge of collapse.Carlson clearly knew about Jordan’s circumstances. On top of that, they had been acquainted with each other for some time. Though they couldn’t be considered bosom friends, must Carlson act so ruthlessly? Jordan’s life would be coming to an end in perhaps just several days after this auction. If he missed his chance to acquire the pill, his life would be over.Carlson was only in his fifties. Why must he compete with Jordan so?If Carlson needed the Rejuvenating Pill, he could easily wait until the next year’s auction. Jordan felt that Carlson’s relentlessness was intended to kill him.Carlson, meanwhile, had his hands tied. He was quite helpless in facing the current predicament, but he had his own reasons despite knowing Jordan’s plight. As such, he had no choice but to continue competing for the p
That also meant that Jordan had reached his limit, and wouldn’t be able to continue bidding.Despite all the odds stacked against him, Jordan was reluctant to give up without a hard fight. He thought to himself, ‘The auction requires the payment to be made in half an hour. I’ll think of some way in that time. Maybe I can gather the remaining funds elsewhere!’Jordan decided to take the risk. He raised his hand again and said, “I offer two hundred and ten billion US dollars!”Jordan knew that this would be his last bidding for the night.If Carlson continued to bid, he would have no choice but to admit defeat. When that happened, he would have to prepare to face his death and funeral.His granddaughter Kathleen had gotten in touch with the owner of the Rejuvenating Pill for his sake. However, Jordan no longer pinned his hopes on Kathleen, not when the pill’s price had reached this much. If he couldn’t get it, then his granddaughter wouldn’t be able to either. However, Jordan’s as
Three hundred billion US dollars! Many in the hall almost fainted at the insane offer.However, their curiosity was roused. Who was Carlson? How was he able to pay so much money?Not only that, but he even offered an additional eighty billion US dollars just to take the pill with him. Was he buying the pill for someone else?!Jasmine began to panic. Charlie was the one who set the rule where the bidder must eat the pill immediately upon winning. However, Carlson’s offer came with an additional eighty billion US dollars. That alone had already exceeded the Moore family’s total net worth.That, and Jasmine couldn’t possibly make any decisions on Charlie’s behalf!In the control room, Isaac was completely stunned by Carlson’s offer. He turned to Charlie and gulped nervously, and asked with a stammer, “S-sir… This…What should we do…?”Charlie watched Carlson through the surveillance camera and smiled slightly. “Those who want to take the pill home only have two objectives. They eithe
‘If I can’t bring back the pill, I shouldn’t buy it for myself…’‘But I’ve finally won it and even offended Sir Jordan for it. To return home empty-handed is just… I can’t accept this!’While he hesitated and struggled to decide, Jasmine asked again, “Number 99, will you be making the payment?”Carlson hesitated for a moment and finally decided to put his dignity away. He begged, “I beg you! Please give me a chance and let me have the pill! If one hundred billion US dollars isn’t enough, I’ll top up another fifty billion!”An additional fifty billion to his existing offer would make it three hundred and seventy billion US dollars in total.Many in the hall were stunned. They wouldn’t have dreamt of someone who could come up with three hundred seventy billion US dollars in cash! Who was this man?Carlson knew he could not eat the Rejuvenating Pill himself. Otherwise, he would become a target for the rest.He only had two choices, and both didn’t look very good. Either he took the
Bernard was so emotional to hear that, he almost burst into tears there and then. He was eliminated early because of Jordan and Carlson. He didn’t expect that there was still hope left for him.He looked forward to seeing Jordan give up. The Rejuvenating Pill would be his if Jordan gave up purchasing rights. He also hoped Jordan wouldn’t be able to pay so that the pill could become his!On top of that, he wouldn’t have to pay any additional amount. He only needed to pay with the amount he made in his last bid earlier, which was only seventy-two billion US dollars.Thinking that, he changed his opinion on the organizer. Whoever he was, he wasn’t as horrible as Bernard once thought. On the contrary, his actions were reasonable and humane.Jordan had become emotional once more, on his way to a second breakdown. He ended up with a final bid of two hundred and ten billion earlier because of Carlson’s persistence. If Carlson didn’t join the bidding, would he have pushed the price up so h
Jasmine then added with a meaningful smile, “Number 35, you’re the one who made the bid at two hundred and ten billion US dollars. That means that the price is within your affordability. Besides, it’s already a dream come true for you to purchase the pill even at this price. If you are dissatisfied and keep insisting for a re-auction, I’ll have the staff escort you out.”She went on, “We can sell the Rejuvenating Pill to Number 16 at seventy-two billion US dollars. Perhaps that means we’ll suffer a huge loss. After all, it’s around three hundred billion US dollars less than the highest offer earlier.”“However, losing three hundred billion US dollars isn't important to us. Upholding the rules is the most important!”“For those who try to challenge our rule and fairness, we’ll remove them from the auction at once!”“We will do the same regardless of the offender’s wealth and status. We do not welcome them here!”Jordan’s heart skipped an anxious beat at Jasmine’s harsh reminder.H
Mr. Cardensky's forgery syndicate had made the bronze sculpture—all Zachary had done was talk Jacob into buying it, and Jacob himself had made some money after Raymond bought it.That meant the entire plot had nothing to do with Zachary as he was just a mediator at best.In other words, if the bronze sculpture was worth nothing, he didn't lose anything… although he wouldn't make a cent even if it was worth a hundred million.However, he also knew all too well what Jacob Wilson was like.In fact, in this world, he was only second to Charlie when it came to knowing what type of man Jacob Wilson really was—not even Claire or Elaine would win against them.He was a dead man.That was Zachary's immediate thought on the matter, should Jacob ever find out.After all, Jacob was precisely one of those people who didn't play by any rules—no buyer's regret? No seller's remorse? None of that applied to him.Not even the Gods could make Jacob offer a refund if he scalped them. And vice vers
As Mick Crane had established a corrupted hierarchy in Vintage Deluxe, he had to make sure his position was never threatened by Raymond Cole.That was why he wanted Raymond gone, and it was obvious from that how important self-gain was to him.However, though he plotted to protect this job with a salary of several hundred grand per annum and incentives worth just as much, he didn't think that doing so meant he had missed out on 20 million.And to add insult to injury, that 20 million had ended up in Raymond's pocket.Mick wasn't just thunderstruck—he wished he was dead.Hanging up on Trippy right then, he called Zachary directly since Zachary had told him earlier that text notifications from his number would be silenced.Zachary was just about to fall asleep when his phone began buzzing.Already annoyed when he picked up his phone, he immediately snapped at Mick when he saw who the caller was. "I told you! Text me if you have any updates, and I'll check it when I wake up! Why ar
As Ian Cash's trio turned and left Treasure Measure, Trippy was still standing there, staring blankly as they headed off to the distance, utterly dispirited.Seeing that, Raymond returned his phone and said coolly, "We had agreed on some ground rules, but not only did you break them, you even tried to sabotage me.""Since you refuse to be honorable, you can't blame me for being cold—starting now, we shall have nothing to do with each other. We'll be strangers even if we bump into each other."Trippy was already choking, and he snatched his phone back before dashing out of Treasure Measure, calling Mick Crane as soon as he left.Mick had just arrived at Vintage Deluxe and hadn't even sat down when Trippy called, and he asked as soon as he answered, "How did it go? What did you find out?"However, Trippy was so exasperated he burst into tears right then, "M-Mr. Crane… My dear Mr. Crane…"Mick was left reeling from shock, and he promptly snapped, "Can't you fucking talk? Why are you
Seeing that the transaction was complete and that the bargain deal had been taken, the other collectors all excused themselves and left.As for Ian, once he had bagged the bronze sculpture, he nodded at Raymond. "I apologize for leaving early, Mr. Cole, but I must return to Eastcliff. However, you can contact me again should you pick up another treasure. I'm quite a spendthrift, and I pay up right away if the item is good and the price is right."Raymond smiled. "Very well. I shall contact you first the next time I get something good."Ian nodded and was ready to leave with his two friends when Trippy chased after them."Please, Mr. Cash!" He cried urgently, his anxiety overcoming him. "You shouldn't buy that! It's a forgery!"Ian frowned at him. "Are you trying to sabotage Mr. Cole? Aren't you supposed to be his friend?""Hell, no!" Trippy promptly replied. "I'm no friend of his—I'm just here to watch, but I didn't think he dared to trick you for 20 million! I can't bear to see
No one except Raymond expected that the terms would be agreed upon so quickly.He was utterly confident in his judgment and even more so in his value appraisal.He was convinced that once they had a good look, any one of these collectors who could afford twenty million wouldn't miss this bargain.After all, an opportunity to secure an item worth millions more than the price they paid was very rare.In fact, when the other nine collectors heard that the first collector was buying it, it was only to be expected even if it left them all gloomy. They had all held the bronze sculpture in their hands—they knew it was definitely worth that much.However, no one in the room was more shocked than Trippy.He looked utterly flabbergasted, his eyes wide and bulging as he stared at the bronze sculpture while asking himself the same question repeatedly.Was that crap really worth twenty million? How?!While Trippy was still stunned, Raymond had already sent his payment details to the first
Unable to nitpick on the air stewardess' response, Elaine pouted, "Well, try to ask management to improve on your first-class cabins anyway. Maybe even make a premium-class or something since it's not like we can't afford it."The air stewardess quickly said, "We will definitely relay your message to the management."Nodding in satisfaction, Elaine waved her off. "Alright. You can go back to work now."Clearly relieved, the air stewardess bowed her head respectfully. "Always happy to be of service."After the air stewardess left, Jacob asked Elaine in curiosity, "Was the private jet that good?"Elaine rolled her eyes. "Didn't you see the stuff I posted in the chat group?""Not really," Jacob blurted. Elaine was ready to snap at him for not caring, but considering that they had made up now and she shouldn't fuss too much over the little things, she snorted, "Just remember to like and comment on all my posts in the chat group, otherwise, I will make you regret it!""No problem!"
While the ten collectors were taking turns studying the bronze sculpture, Jacob and Elaine were boarding their flight.As they were flying first-class, they had priority over the other passengers and boarded from the separate plug door at the first-class section.The capacity of the Boeing 777 was huge, and the wide-body aircraft could be connected to a special double corridor bridge where first class and business class passengers boarded separately from the economy class passengers.As the terminals to economy class and business class were connected, Elaine and Jacob were able to get through the first-class terminal unimpeded, but the passengers in economy class had a queue of over two hundred passengers. Even as she walked, Elaine was looking over her shoulder and exclaiming at Jacob, "Must be nice being rich! We used to have to queue like the rest of them, waiting for over thirty minutes just to board our flight." "In first class, we may be in the same plane, but we don't hav
Meanwhile, once Raymond had briefed everyone about the rules, he opened the door and invited everyone into Treasure Measure.It was not that wide but appeared spacious since the interior was mostly empty—it was not really crowded even with thirty-ish people.Then, locking the door from the inside, Raymond told them, "I can tell from everyone's faces that we are all veterans here, so I'm sure you understand the rules while appraising: no photos or videos, thank you very much."Indeed, there were many rules that governed the hobby, the most important being respecting the seller's requests and privacy.As the collectors listened, they knew that Raymond was selling but did not want the public to know too much about him.They all nodded, and those who had their phones out slid them back into their pockets.With that, Raymond took out the bronze sculpture that he had brought, leaving Trippy a little surprised.He had never seen the bronze sculpture with his own eyes before, only from
"Alright!" Trippy was at once fawning, tagging along behind Raymond like a little child.Around thirty people were waiting in front of Treasure Measure by now. The collectors came in twos or threes, and all ten numbers had since been taken.Before Raymond arrived, he had a brief look at the collectors' faces through the security cameras before walking over, and he was really relieved to see no familiar faces.Having traded Oskian antiques for years abroad, it was only natural that he was acquainted with some of the elite collectors in the country.He also knew that they were especially demanding with the quality of their collection and wanted almost flawless items. As such, the bronze sculpture which had been completely lost wouldn't interest them.Still, he was also a little concerned that amongst the elite collectors he knew, there might be some who were losing money and losing purchasing power in turn. If they happened to take an interest in the bronze sculpture on top of that,