Chapter 416 The Secret
James stood there, hands behind his back, and shouted out a jaw-dropping number.
In an auction, it's all about keeping the momentum going.
You gotta crush your opponent right from the start with sheer force, so it's better to shout out the highest price in one go than to get stuck in a bidding war.
As a result, in an auction, apart from deep pockets, you also need the psychological insight to read people.
James was here today to crush Micah, so he started with an astronomical number.
"Crazy!"
"Absolutely insane!"
The crowd stared at James with mockery.
A billion dollars was already twice the value of the gem; it made no sense for James to buy it.
Plus, it would offend Micah and his family.
This was definitely a losing deal.
Everyone turned their eyes to Micah, confident he wouldn't follow this madness.
"Two billion!"
To everyone's shock, Micah doubled the price in an instant.
The room was stunned.
They couldn't believe Micah would offer such a price, ten times the starting bid.
Had he lost his mind?
Aurelia's eyelid twitched, wanting to say something but ultimately staying silent.
"Two billion dollars, first call, two billion dollars, second call..."
The auctioneer, in contrast to the crowd's shock, was thrilled, shouting loudly, "Mr. Gonzalez bids two billion dollars, any higher offers? Any..."
"Three." James raised his hand nonchalantly.
Three billion dollars!
Everyone present was either rich or powerful, but hearing this number still made their hearts race.
This was a number most people couldn't even dream of, yet James tossed it out as if it were nothing.
Mary and Poppy were in disbelief, turning to stare at James. What made him go crazy today?
Three billion dollars for some gem? Was he just throwing money away?
But what frustrated them was that James showed no sign of tension, just a calm indifference.
Silence.
The only sound was the auctioneer's trembling voice:
"Three billion dollars, first call!"
"Any higher offers?"
He looked at Micah, trying to buy time, his voice strained:
"Three billion dollars, second call..."
Many were struggling, their expressions complex, then they sighed deeply.
They knew this round of bidding was out of their league.
James seemed determined to go against Micah, and the best course of action was to stay out of it.
Time passed slowly, the auctioneer's gavel raised for the third time.
Despite his difficult smile, his flushed face showed excitement. Today would be the peak of his auction career.
Micah raised his paddle. "Four billion dollars!"
He tried to stay calm, but everyone could feel his anger.
James didn't hesitate. "Five!"
Poppy almost fainted.
At this point, Micah couldn't control his emotions, standing up and kicking over his chair.
He glared at James, who was walking over. "Can you really come up with five billion dollars?"
James smiled faintly. "I can scrape it together if I have to."
"What if I tell you I'm out?" Micah's face turned cold. "Would you regret it?"
"In my dictionary, there's no such word as regret." James remained composed. "Besides, I believe you'll raise the bid again."
"Really? You're wrong." Micah sneered. "I'm telling you, I'm out. You can take it away."
"But let me remind you, someone without the means to protect this gem won't find luck, only disaster."
"You'll lose both your life and your money, believe it or not."
Micah's tone carried a hint of threat.
The auctioneer's hand was at its highest point.
The tension in the room reached its peak.
Everyone's eyes kept darting to the auctioneer's gavel, which didn't dare move without Micah's signal.
"I believe it!" James nodded honestly. "I bet after I win this gem, you'll do whatever it takes to snatch it from me."
"You were ruthless to Mary over Cloud Top Mountain." James stared at Micah calmly. "Now that I've embarrassed you, you'll stop at nothing to kill me."
"Good to know." Micah sneered. "I can crush you anytime."
"Your only chance to live is to buy the gem for fifty billion dollars and then hand it over to me for free."
"Otherwise, you won't keep the gem until tonight, and you won't see tomorrow's sun."
He dropped all pretense. "Don't doubt me, you're not from one of the five great families. Crushing you is like crushing an ant."
James smiled noncommittally. "Is that so?"
Micah told the auctioneer. "It's over. Let him have it."
"Five billion dollars, third call!"
The auctioneer quickly brought down the gavel, declaring the gem sold to James for five billion dollars.
When many thought James might not have the money or would run away in fear of Micah, James pulled out a bank card, actually paying.
The crowd was astonished; James really had the money, but then they all looked on mockingly.
So what if he won? James couldn't keep the gem.
Many socialites looked at James with disdain, thinking he'd soon lose everything.
Micah glanced at James and returned to his seat.
Aurelia sent a few texts on her phone.
Before anyone could react, James jumped onto the auction stage, holding up the gem with a smile. "Everyone, you must be tired after such a long auction. Now, a good show will begin, please enjoy."
Micah looked up and sneered. "A good show? "
"Don't worry, this will be unforgettable for you all." James laughed, then pulled out a hammer.
"Everyone, get ready to witness something amazing."
Micah's face changed dramatically. Was he going to smash the gem?
Hearing this, not only did Micah stop, but Mary and others also looked up in shock.
Was he really going to smash the gem he bought for fifty billion dollars?
Smashing it would be beyond wasteful; it would be insane.
Micah couldn't help but ask, "What did you say?"
"I said, I'm going to smash this gem." James's smile was bright.
"For years, I've wanted to do something unforgettable, but I never got the chance. Today would be perfect for it."
"Destroying something beautiful is not just a tragedy, it will be remembered forever."
"So, in front of three hundred people, I'm going to smash this five billion dollar gem."
James pointed at the crowd and shouted, "Are you ready?"
The room erupted.
Crazy!
Absolutely crazy!
Smashing something bought for five billion dollars for everyone to see?
Was he rich or just out of his mind?
Many thought James was crazy, but their blood was boiling. They took out their phones, ready to capture the moment.
Witnessing a five billion dollar gem being smashed was something they could brag about forever.
Poppy grabbed Mary and asked, "Ms. Smith, what happened to Mr. Williams?"
Mary shook her head with a bitter smile. "I don't know."
At this moment, Micah's smile froze, his body slightly hunched.
"Mr. Gonzalez, I didn't want to smash it, but you threatened me." James looked at Micah and smiled. "You want me to pay and give it to you, and you threaten my life."
"Instead of keeping a treasure and inviting disaster, I'd rather smash it in public. At least it will be a great entertainment."
Micah's eyes turned cold.
"James, if you smash the gem, I swear, I'll make sure you die without a grave." He threatened James directly. "Even those around you will suffer."
"Even if I don't smash the gem and give it to you, you won't let me go." James showed no fear. "So let's end it here."
Micah's eyelid twitched, sensing James's determination, his fists clenched.
At the same time, he felt a pang of doubt, wondering where James's confidence came from.
Did he know the origin and secret of "Chicken crowing throughout the world"?
The thought made his heart skip a beat.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
