LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 37: A Huge Profit
Jack felt a wave of relief wash over him as the auction came to a close. Finally, the seal he had bid on for three million was his. He had secured a treasure worth tens of millions for a fraction of its value. What a massive bargain!
Leo noticed Jack wiping sweat from his brow and assumed he was nervous. He smiled and clapped a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Jack, don't worry too much. It's just three million. You have to be careful with these auctions, though. In the future, you should avoid bidding unless you're at least 70% or 80% sure."
Jack nodded earnestly. "Of course, Uncle Leo."
Now that the collection had been purchased, the auction moved into its second phase—on-site treasure appraisal. The beautiful woman from the stage, poised and graceful, handed the seal over to a team of treasure appraisers. The appraiser, a man well into his fifties, inspected the seal under the scrutiny of the entire room. His furrowed brow and focused gaze indicated that he was taking his time to ensure accuracy.
Minutes ticked by as the appraisers conferred among themselves. Their expressions were serious, their whispers inaudible to the audience. Finally, the head appraiser took the microphone, his voice rough with age and experience. "After our thorough appraisal, we have confirmed that this is indeed the authentic seal of the Third King of the Sapphire Dynasty. In fact, it can be compared to a seal from the same dynasty that was auctioned last year, which sold for 18 million."
A collective gasp spread through the room like a ripple. The attendees were stunned.
The seal was real?
More than that, it was worth at least 18 million, possibly more, given its pristine condition. This seal was far better preserved than the one sold the previous year. Some even speculated that its value could reach 20 million if handled correctly. Jack had snagged it for just three million.
Leo, who had been preparing words of comfort in case things didn't go well, was now speechless. His mouth hung open as he stared at Jack, his shock apparent. He couldn't believe Jack's luck—or, rather, he now suspected it wasn't luck at all.
Could this really be luck? Once could be a fluke. Twice, maybe. But repeatedly making such accurate calls? Leo realized there had to be more to it. His eyes lit up with excitement. He had found something far more valuable than the seal—he had found Jack, someone with an extraordinary gift.
On stage, the woman smiled at Jack's direction. Her graceful demeanor never wavered. "Sir," she said sweetly, "we would like to offer to buy this seal from you for 20 million so that we can use it as an exhibit. If you think the price is too low, you are welcome to make a counteroffer."
Twenty million.
Jack felt a rush of excitement pulse through him. With that kind of money, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life. However, he have Celestial Eyes, there was no problem earning money, that's why.
Jack shook his head in refusal.
The woman's smile faltered slightly, but she maintained her grace. Leo, seeing the hesitation from the auction organizers, leaned in and whispered, "Jack, maybe it's best to accept. It would be good to help them out, and it's a guaranteed deal."
There was a subtle hint in Leo's words that suggested the auction house had powerful backing. Yet, Jack remained resolute.
"Uncle Leo," Jack said, his voice steady but loud enough to be heard by those nearby. "We agreed earlier that I would bid on this seal using the Noble Collection account. Therefore, after the sale, the seal belongs to you. You don't need my input on what to do with it."
The firmness in Jack's tone conveyed a clear message to everyone, including the auction organizers: if they wanted to purchase the seal, they should negotiate with Leo, not him.
Leo was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Jack to relinquish the seal so easily. Jack wasn't joking—he was serious. After a long pause, Leo smiled warmly, reaching out to pat Jack's shoulder.
"You're a good man, Jack," Leo said, his voice thick with emotion. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're well taken care of in the future."
Leo didn't refuse the seal, accepting it with gratitude and newfound respect for Jack. The ownership of the seal now officially belonged to Leo, and after a brief negotiation, he agreed to sell it to the auction house for 22 million. The matter was settled, for now. Moreover, according to deal, 20% is Jack's. So, Jack also earn 4.04 million. Jack's total networth is 9 millions.
The auction resumed with the third item: a vase. The woman on stage began her detailed introduction, but Jack was no longer interested in listening. He activated the Celestial Eyes again, hoping to appraise the vase directly.
However, as soon as he used his Celestial Eyes, a wave of dizziness washed over him, followed by a sharp pain in his head. His vision blurred, and his body trembled. The overwhelming sensation was nearly enough to make him pass out.
Jack immediately closed his eyes, willing the sensation to fade. His heart pounded, and sweat began to trickle down his face. It took him a few moments to collect himself, and when he finally opened his eyes, something strange happened. The appraisal function of his Celestial Eyes was no longer working. Yet, his vision was unusually clear, sharper than ever before. He could see everything in startling detail, down to the pores and hairs on the woman's arm.
Curious, Jack focused on the woman. His perspective shifted, and in an instant, her outer layers of clothing became transparent. The silk fabric of her dress seemed to peel away, layer by layer, until her red lingerie came into full view. The dress, though elegant, concealed a sensual underlayer that Jack could now see clearly. To his surprise, she wasn't wearing a bra, revealing her beautiful pink nipples.
Jack's Celestial Eyes hadn't disappeared after all, but something was clearly wrong. While he could still see with incredible clarity and see through things, the function he relied on for appraising treasures was malfunctioning. For now, all he could do was wait and hope that it would return.