Chapter 86 The Storm Stirs Again (1/2)
Chapter 86: The Storm Stirs Again
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The arrangement of the items was neater than the redwood storage unit. There were ordinary benches and tables, and two thick rows of bookshelves.
There were many books on the bookshelves, and some pottery and boxes. Some pottery pieces that were outside had a layer of dust, while others were carefully protected in boxes stuffed with cushioning and styrofoam.
The treasure hunters were stunned, with Dog Tail Reginald in the deepest shock.
Diana's info was that there was valuable china in the storage unit that was packaged with cushioning and styrofoam in boxes for protection.
Clearly, this was a match to her description; but then what was up with the first unit?! Flagstaff was just a small town. National College of Flagstaff was just a diploma mill meant to trick overseas students. In such a place, the shareholders could not have been that rich.
This meant that the owner of this storage unit would not have been able to collect that much valuable china and redwood furniture. Even if he had managed to collect that much, it would not have been kept separately, but should have been carefully stored together.
”Perhaps this guy thought that he shouldn't put all his eggs in one basket?” someone mumbled.
”Fool! 'Separating' your 'eggs' was meant to reduce risks! What risk would there be when it was just storing china and not moving them?”
”D*mn, I know it now. The previous unit was a sham. He was worried about his collection being stolen, so he made a fake unit with replica china to confuse the thieves!”
Hearing this, Reginald's eyelid twitched. He did not care anymore to bid on this unit, and rushed back to check on the china he had bought.
The old auctioneer could not be bothered with the guesses of the treasure hunters. Once everyone had viewed, he raised his hand up high and bellowed, ”Now this new unit looks like a good one—I'll start with two grand!”
The appearance of two storage units filled with pottery created conflict, and the treasure hunters turned hesitant. Some of them even decided promptly to back out from this bid. They looked at Hans with a grim expression, and figured out what was happening.
”D*mn, let's go. Someone is pulling the strings!”
”Poor Reginald, do you guys think there would be some problem with that redwood unit?”
”Don't bother. We'll just watch the show, we're not bidding!”
”Right. Everyone, be careful. That cunning Chinese man has made some dirty deals with the Devil. He's a vicious one, he loves setting people up!” Rambis, who had two partners with him, took the chance to say.
The crowd turned rowdy, and the noise from the discussions turned more and more chaotic. The emotions of the treasure hunters became increasingly agitated.
Hans quietly said, ”Seems like we underestimated the IQ of these guys. Okay, operation 'Soviet Ironfist Of Revenge' has ended.”
Li Du shrugged. ”The operation is already a success.”
For a period, no one made any offers. Old Humphries had to continue shouting, ”Two grand, two grand, two grand, anyone up for this, anyone…”
Still, no one made any calls. Everyone was just observing.
Li Du calmly raised his hand up. ”Me.”
The people around him looked on suspiciously.
Humphries was elated. He pointed to him and said, ”Alright, two grand, two grand has been taken. Now we'll go to 2,100 dollars! It's 2,100! Anyone up for 2,100?”
”Two thousand one hundred, here!” Blackjack also raised his hand. He had been observing Li Du and Hans, and did not notice anything suspicious to give them away.
Thus, he felt that this was worth a risk.
The auctioneer continued reporting the bid. There were people who followed up with their offers, but it was not as crazy as the previous two.
The price had shot up to 5,000 dollars. Li Du once again raised his hand. ”Here, six thousand.”
Old Humphries was about to open his mouth when Andrew, who had been painfully deliberating, bellowed, ”Ol' Hump—ten grand!”
As Cocky Andrew was someone from the Hundred Thousand club, everyone was still trusting of his appraisal. Seeing him shooting up the offer, some treasure hunters who had backed out of the auction became uneasy.
Andrew wasn't dumb. He explained, ”I'm not sure of the value of that pottery. I made an offer because ten grand isn't that much—it was worth the risk.