Kalan knew very well that his clan’s entire total net worth was only around a hundred million gold coins, and most of that net worth was bound up in illiquid assets. Their liquid assets were, at most, around twenty million gold coins or so. The clan couldn’t possibly waste all of their liquid reserves on a single sculpture.
It was already very kind of the clan to not force Kalan and Alice to separate.
“5.3 million gold!” Someone in another second-level booth made a bid.
That golden-haired, middle-aged man began to grow excited. “5.3 million gold coins! The lowest valuation of one of the Ten Masterpieces was 5.28 million gold coins, but now, the list of the Ten Masterpieces has changed. I can formally announce that the sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’, has officially joined the ranks of the Ten Masterpieces!”
“Young master Yale of the Dawson Conglomerate bids six million gold coins!” Austoni once again announced from the third level.
Upon hearing this price, Kalan’s face was beginning to turn black.
The price had reached six million gold coins so quickly. This truly had exceeded Kalan’s expectations. Based on Kalan’s predictions, given that the cheapest of the Ten Masterpieces was valued at 5.28 million gold coins, the eight million gold coins he had prepared should have been more than enough.
But…
Kalan wasn’t a true collector. He didn’t have a deep understanding of the field of stonesculpting.
Those true connoisseurs could totally sense the unique, soul-stirring aura of this sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’, especially when viewing all five images together. Such a thing was extremely rare. In the entire history of the Yulan continent, there had never been a case of five figures carved into a single sculpture, especially in such a manner as to evoke a sad, beautiful feeling in the viewer.
What’s more, the sculptor was only sixteen years old when this was completed. And he was a genius magus!
“I cannot allow the price to continue rising like this.” Kalan frowned.
He knew that if the price continued to rise slowly, his chances of winning the auction would grow slimmer and slimmer.
“Eight million gold coins!” Kalan’s loud voice announced his bid.
From six million gold coins to eight million gold coins. A sudden increase of two million gold coins. This sort of explosive increase was enough to stun everyone present. After all, even the Ten Masterpieces were only worth so much. Even those three precious sculptures by Proulx were only worth around seven million gold each.
True collectors didn’t collect just for the sake of collecting; they had a keen eye for value as well.
Otherwise, if they just wildly threw their money around, they would bankrupt the clan.
The golden-haired, middle-aged man immediately shouted loudly, “The Debs clan bids eight million gold coins! Such a nice, tidy, neat increase to eight million gold coins. From this, one can tell that they are determined to win this auction for this sculpture! I can already imagine how, in the future, once Master Linley becomes a Saint-level combatant, this sculpture’s price will no longer just be eight million gold coins. Most likely, by then, it will be worth sixteen million gold coins!”
This golden-haired man’s promotion ability was really very fierce.
But none of those who were present were fools. All of them were pondering…after all, even if they had money, it had to be spent in a meaningful way.
….
On the third level of the auction hall, Linley, Yale, King Clayde, Cardinal Guillermo, and Cardinal Lampson were all engaged in idle chatter and laughter as they watched the below events.
“Third Bro, that Kalan has made his bid.” Yale said in a low voice.
Linley couldn’t help but turn to look at Kalan’s booth. He could clearly see Kalan holding hands with Alice inside their booth. Judging from Kalan’s expression, he was very agitated.
“Third Bro, let me give him a bit of pressure. No matter what, we can’t allow your sculpture to fall into his hands.” Yale said in a soft voice.
“No need.” Linley slowly shook his head.
Linley was staring directly at Alice. Sitting there in the booth, Alice looked like a pitiable little girl who had suffered some sort of mistreatment. All of the other members of the Debs clan were looking at Alice with a hint of dissatisfaction in their eyes. After all, their clan was spending an enormous amount of money for Alice’s sake.
“If they really want it, let them have it.” Linley said emotionlessly.
Sitting next to him, Guillermo and Lampson exchanged glances, then chuckled.
…..
Within the private booth.
All the members of the Debs clan were feeling very nervous. But of course, Alice and Kalan were the most nervous of all.
“Relax, Alice. Eight million gold coins is already an extremely high price. It won’t get any higher.” Kalan comforted Alice…but who was going to console him? Because the clan had only authorized him to bid up to eight million gold.
That golden-haired middle-aged man lifted up a small hammer. “The Debs clan has bid eight million gold. Is anyone going to outbid them? If not…I am going to begin the countdown.”
“Ten million gold.”
A rather lazy voice sounded out from one of the seats in the middle of the first level. Up till now, virtually all of the bids for this sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’, had come from those extremely powerful clans seated in the second level. They were the ones who were really engaged in this bidding war. Those nobles sitting below were just there to watch the excitement. Nobody expected one of them to make a bid as well.
“None of you have any insight. From what I can tell, this ‘Awakening From the Dream’ can be considered to be the start of an entirely new style of stonesculpting. Its carving style is totally different from every other sculpture, and what’s more, it has five images with totally unique yet connecting auras. It definitely is worth ten million gold coins.” That man who bid ten million gold coins said casually.
From the loose, baggy long robes of this thirty to forty year old man, everyone could sense his lazy, indolent nature.
“Ten million gold coins?”
Within their private booth, Alice and Kalan were both stunned.