Chapter 219 A Fiery Star (2/2)
”It’ll be interesting in the future,” Hans said. ”I heard that the Japanese developed a very innovative robot? I suppose there will eventually be human-controlled robots going into the storage units.”
Li Du stroked his chin. ”We could also do that, but make Ah Meow and Crispy Noodles go in.”
The treasure hunters were disgruntled, and felt that such methods should be banned.
The auctioneer said, ”Everything will be according to the regulations. If there are any objections, please share them with the association after the auction.”
The owner of the drone said coolly, ”Yes, we’ve got to observe the regulations. Otherwise, why have them in the first place?”
Li Du and his team had finished viewing. Turis and his men came up to ask, ”Li, are you bidding?”
This was a huge storage unit with many valuable items inside, such as the polystyrene splint printed with patterns of the city. Each piece could be sold for thousands of dollars—there were dozens of them in there!
He hesitated for a moment. ”I estimate that the sale of the items in this storage unit would fetch about 50,000 dollars. So, I will participate in the auction up to 20,000 dollars.”
According to standard tradition, the leader had the priority bid; the followers could only participate if the leader withdrew.
The auction started and the auctioneer began shouting in rapid-fire mode: ”I’ll not wait, won’t give you extra time to consider, so if you want it, give your bid fast.
”The starting bid for this storage unit is 1,000 dollars. 1,000 dollars, 1,000 dollars, if anyone is interested please come forward and let me hear your bids—”
”One thousand dollars, me!”
”Good, now it’s 2,000 dollars. 2,000 dollars, 2,000 dollars—”
”I offer 2,000 dollars.”
”Then 3,000 dollars.”
”Here!”
”... five thousand dollars…”
”... eight thousand dollars…”
”Ten thousand dollars!” someone shouted.
”Fifteen thousand dollars!” another treasure hunter quickly shouted. The speed at which the bids were increasing was terrifying.
Hans quickly shouted, ”20,000 dollars!”
This was their maximum bid; if someone were willing to increase their bid, then they would withdraw. If not, they would get the storage unit.
The treasure hunters who attended this auction had brought plenty of money. As soon as he had called out his bid, someone else cried: ”22,000 dollars!”
”Twenty-three thousand dollars...”
”Thirty thousand dollars!”
”Forty thousand dollars!”
The price continued to rise; it was quiet on Li Du’s end. The treasure hunters looked at each other and smiled helplessly. ”Today, we are just here to watch the fun, right?
Forty thousand dollars was not the highest bid: people continued offering more and more money. Within thirty seconds, the price rose to 50,000 dollars.
Li Du sighed with relief and said, ”Hang in there for the battle, guys!”
Frank and York still did not offer any bids; they did not seem to be interested in this storage unit and smiled elusively at the crowd.
In the end, the price stopped at 62,000 dollars. The auctioneer waved his hand, shouting, ”62,000 dollars, 62,000 dollars, 62,000 dollars, anyone else? Nobody? Then the deal is closed!”
62,000 dollars—the auction for the first storage unit had ended!