Chapter 226 The Precious Seal
The auctioneer's mysterious vibe was doing the trick, sparking everyone's curiosity in the room. The Brighter Futures Ball was a charity gig, after all. The stuff up for grabs usually wasn't worth a ton of cash, but had loads of sentimental or historical value.
The crowd was buzzing with speculation. But without any hints, their guesses were pretty much shots in the dark.
The auctioneer, clearly loving the suspense, picked up a wooden tray from an assistant. On it, covered by a yellow cloth, was a square-shaped object.
"No need to keep you waiting any longer," the auctioneer said, excitement in his voice. "This, folks, is a seal, generously donated by the famous entrepreneur, Mr. Kaelen Kaelen of Skyscape City, in the name of Miss Willow Link. This seal has serious historical and collectible value. The starting bid is just 25 million dollars!"
The audience gasped in unison. "Isn't that the legendary seal, the one thought to be lost during the war?"
"A starting bid of 25 million? That's insane!"
"That seal would look perfect in my collection. I have to get it!"
The reveal that the auction item was such a rare and valuable artifact sent a buzz through the room.
"25 million is just the start. Who knows how high it'll go? And Kaelen donated it in Willow's name. That's tens of millions of dollars, given away like it's nothing. Willow must be something special!"
"Willow? I know Kaelen, but who's this Willow?"
Whispers followed Willow's every move, especially from a group of actresses, their envy obvious.
This was a charity auction. Every dollar raised would go to good causes. Having an item sell for tens of millions was like making a donation of that amount in Willow's name.
Even Willow was stunned by Kaelen's extravagant gesture. Calliope, sitting next to Oliver, could barely hide her envy.
Kaelen, soaking up the attention, turned to Willow with a triumphant smirk. "So, what do you think of your surprise? Tens of millions of dollars, donated in your honor. You'll be the talk of the Brighter Futures Ball!"
"It's a very generous gesture, Kaelen," Willow said, keeping her tone measured. "And I appreciate you supporting such a worthy cause. But isn't it a bit much?"
"Nah," Kaelen said, waving it off. "It's just a seal. I wanted to make a statement. Speaking of statements, I wonder what your dear Skyview has planned for you?"
"That's really none of your business," Skyview said coolly. "But trust me, once your little show is over, I'll be donating something far more impressive, something that'll fetch a much higher price."
"Impossible!" Kaelen scoffed. Skyview just smiled, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Skyview," Oliver whispered, leaning closer. "I have a jade statuette worth over ten million. I'd be happy to lend it to you. We could even arrange for me to buy it back for more than that seal. Just say the word."
"Your heart's in the right place, Oliver," Skyview replied, "but there's no need. Save it for Calliope. I came prepared."
"If you're sure," Oliver said, though he sounded a bit doubtful. "You always were the confident one."
The businessmen in the audience, their eyes gleaming with greed, turned their attention to the seal.
"Let the bidding begin!" the auctioneer announced, his voice echoing through the hushed room. "We are now accepting bids for this exquisite seal. The starting bid is 25 million dollars. Minimum increment: one million dollars. Let the games begin!"
The auctioneer had barely finished speaking when the bids started pouring in.
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