Chapter 874 Let the Fight Begin (1/2)
Chris Bell was a nice guy. He was a treasure hunter from California and a member of California's $10,000,000 club.
The Arizona state government's warehouse auction attracted a large number of senior treasure collectors. The state government, through the state warehousing auction association, issued invitations specifically to these people, inviting them to participate in the auction.
The state government tried to bring home the state's only $10,000,000 club member, but it turned out that George Anthony was too arrogant to come in person. He sent his son and one of his men instead. The state of Arizona had invited George Anthony, so they let his son attend the press conference when they discovered he was attending in his father's place.
Conrad Anthony, along with Li Du and Hans, were the only featured treasure collectors not in the $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 clubs. They were only $100,000 club members while the others were at least $1,000,000 club members.
The news was revealed in a chat between Chris Bell and Johnson. Bell meant that Li Du and Hans has been treated differently by the local state government. They definitely were different, so Bell came to make friends with them.
Somewhat surprised, Li Du asked, ”Conrad Anthony is a $1,000,000 club member? It appears the guy is good at what he does.”
”He's great among the younger generation. After all, he grew up with George in the warehouse auction business. If I had a dad who was a $1,000,000 club member, I could have joined the $1,000,000 club at his age, too,” Johnson said.
Hearing Johnson say that about Conrad, Li Du had a general understanding of his strength. This young person was quite scary. Having had contact with the warehouse auction industry since childhood, he definitely had quite a bit of experience already. However, his judgment was still lacking. Johnson meant Conrad could only join the $1,000,000 club with his father's help.
After a while, the press conference began. As invited guests, Li Du and the others sat behind the president's desk.
Besides Conrad and the four of them, there was three types of club members. The state government arranged for press officers to give background briefings on the members of the clubs. The press officers also presented the members' backgrounds to make treasure hunting appear more legendary.
Li Du gave a more low-key performance in the press conference. He would answer if a reporter asked him questions, but the rest of the time he listened quietly, leaving the spotlight for the others. Americans were very good at expressing themselves and promoting themselves, including Hans and Conrad, who were actively communicating with the journalists. These people knew that the media could be helpful in their careers.
Warehousing auctions were a broad industry in the United States with a large number of people participating in them. However, it was not a high status industry, because even those at the very top were worth only tens of millions. Tens of millions was undoubtedly a lot of money, but in other industries, top performers tended to make their way onto the global rich list, which was unlikely to happen for those involved with storage auctions.
In this case, a lot of top-class treasure collectors would cross over from treasure collection and transition into business. With the help of the media, they could build their reputation, and with a good reputation, there would be advantages if they changed their career. However, Li Du didn't care. He had already made a successful transition. It's just that he kept a low profile.
The press conference went well, and everyone knew the media was great, so the mood on stage was fun and respectful. Johnson was a good man, and when he learned that Hans, Li Du, and Conrad Anthony had had a fight, he invited Bell to sit between them.
Conrad was unhappy to see Li Du and Hans, but he was not a mindless fool, knowing that this was not the time for bickering. The media was there, as were Bell and Johnson, who were no less important than his father.
After an hour of questions, the public service department of the state capital began to introduce the warehousing auction industry and the imported goods in the auction. At the end of the press conference, Li Du and Hans walked out, talking and laughing. As they were walking, someone pushed Li Du.