chapter 7 Deliberately making things difficult!

"The sword comes from the tomb of a Western Han Dynasty noble, symbolizing status. The starting price is 1 million. Let the bidding begin."
Eleanor spoke succinctly, without much introduction about the sword, probably knowing little about it herself.
"Has Miss Eleanor had an expert examine this?" asked a businessman.
"Mr. Edgar, rest assured. The three words 'Treasure Pavilion' represent not just a name, but a guarantee of credibility. The sword's collectible value far exceeds its current price."
Hearing Eleanor's words, everyone nodded in agreement, except for Abraham, because Treasure Pavilion was known for its authenticity.
"Well then, I'll start. 1 million," Mr. Edgar initiated the bidding.
"2 million."
"3 million."
Eventually, the sword was purchased by Mr. Edgar for 5 million.
Abraham hadn't expected an auction to be held inside.
Next, Eleanor opened another safe, revealing an aged scroll as she slowly unrolled it.
"This is Xu Zhang's 'Stomachache Script.'" Someone who recognized it exclaimed.
Xu Zhang, from the Song Dynasty's Jiayou era, was a lover of wine. His 'Stomachache Script' was a peak work. Xu Zhang's wild cursive, Li Bai's poetry, and Pei Min's sword dance were known as the "Three Excellences."
This highlighted the immense collectible value of Xu Zhang's 'Stomachache Script.'
"I bid 5 million."
Before Eleanor could set a starting price, the first to recognize the 'Stomachache Script' bid 5 million.
"6 million."
"8 million."
The bidding war intensified among the wealthy, all determined to acquire the 'Stomachache Script.'
Abraham was uninterested, sitting indifferently in a corner of the sofa.
"Eleanor, aren't you going to bid? Or do you find these items beneath you?" she teased.
With Eleanor's remark, all eyes turned to Abraham, showing disdain.
"Perhaps it's not disdain, but a thin wallet," someone joked.
"The threshold here is getting lower, letting anyone in," another person commented contemptuously.
"One must know their limits. Flaunting a few tens of thousands doesn't make you significant. Better to spend a few thousand on trinkets to impress naive girls. Don't pretend to be richer than you are, it's embarrassing."
They assumed Abraham was a wealthy young master with a mere tens of thousands, likely pursuing Eleanor.
"Do I have to bid upon entering?" Abraham asked calmly.
"Of course not, young brother. There's no such rule here. To bid or not is your choice," Eleanor replied with a charming laugh.
Abraham nodded, lapsing back into silence.
The others, seeing this, looked even more disdainful.
Xu Zhang's 'Stomachache Script' was finally sold for 10 million.
Eleanor opened the third safe, revealing a smaller wooden box. Inside, a crystal-clear jade stone caught everyone's eyes.
The jade was a perfect square, ten centimeters in each dimension, resembling a block of white tofu.
When Eleanor brought out the box, Abraham's eyes narrowed slightly; he had sensed spiritual energy fluctuations coming from it.
Upon seeing the jade, he instinctively sat up straight.
"Is this jade?" someone asked reflexively.
They were seeing such a pristine jade for the first time, and it looked more like tofu than jade.
"This is indeed jade," Eleanor confirmed. "Look at its shape. Doesn't it resemble an emperor's Imperial Seal?"
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"Could this be an emperor's Imperial Seal?"
Excitement surged among them at the potential value of such an item.
Eleanor shook her head, smiling. "As you know, I am merely a middleman. Everything here is on consignment."
Everyone knew this except Abraham. In Riverway City, collectors and antiquarians often brought their treasures to the Treasure Pavilion.
Because Eleanor was a famously social butterfly, she knew almost all the big shots in Riverway City. Through these connections, these items could fetch several times more than their regular auction house prices.
Moreover, most of these items couldn't be circulated in the market, making the Treasure Pavilion the best sales channel. And Eleanor, she profited from the difference in these transactions.
"According to our sources, this jade was the first choice for the first emperor's Imperial Seal of China. It was only set aside after the discovery of Mr. He's jade," Eleanor explained. "Being chosen by the first emperor, it's certainly extraordinary. Feel free to touch it and sense its uniqueness."
"Is there any difference? It's just a nicer looking piece of jade," someone expressed disbelief, stepping forward to touch the jade. Upon touching it, a look of surprise appeared on their face. "This jade is warm."
It's well known that jade is a good conductor. When skin comes into contact with jade, the jade absorbs the heat at the fastest rate and then quickly dissipates it into the air. Because of this, when people handle jade, it always feels cool to the touch.
This piece of jade was so large that its heat dissipation should be even faster. The person was surprised to feel a continuous warmth emanating from the jade upon touching it.
Most of the people here had some expertise in appraising antiques and Ming artifacts. Hearing that the jade was warm, they came forward to test it for themselves. The results left them all exclaiming in disbelief.
"This is definitely not jade, but some other material," someone suggested.
Others agreed, noting that it was completely different from any jade they were familiar with.
Abraham, without changing his expression, had a slowly intensifying gleam in his eyes. This was indeed jade, and not just any jade, but a rare treasure even in the Otherworld, known as Warm Jade.
If one were to craft ornaments from Warm Jade and activate them with true essence, wearing them would render one impervious to the extremes of cold and heat, feeling as if in an eternal spring. Moreover, this piece of Warm Jade even contained chalcedony, making it an invaluable treasure even in the Otherworld.
"Miss Eleanor, what's the starting price for this jade?" someone inquired.
Eleanor looked slightly uncomfortable, unsure if this 'white tofu' was really jade, and the consignor's asking price was a bit too high.
"The starting price is 10 million," Eleanor finally said.
"10 million? Are you out of your mind?" Someone voiced their disdain.
"This consignor must be crazy for money. Who knows what this thing is? It might just be a tampered piece of worthless stone."
"Even if it belonged to the first emperor, who would dare to auction it?"
Eleanor felt awkward indeed; no one would spend 10 million on a piece of warm 'white tofu'. If the consignor wasn't a regular, she wouldn't have accepted this consignment.
"10 million."
Just as everyone was scoffing, a lazy voice rang out.
The crowd turned to look, and it was Abraham, who had been silent since his arrival. Even Eleanor was somewhat surprised and uncertain.
"Young man, did you say you're bidding 10 million?" Eleanor asked, not quite believing it.
Abraham nodded, saying, "If no one else bids, then this item is mine, right?"
"Is this kid out of his mind?" someone whispered.
"Could he be a shill hired by the consignor?"
"I think it's likely. Look at his shabby appearance; how could he possibly have 10 million?"
"Whether he's a shill or not, we'll find out soon enough." Mr. Edgar, with a smirk on his face, called out to Eleanor, "I bid 15 million."
The crowd was stunned, then burst into approving laughter.
"Mr. Edgar's move is brilliant. If this kid is really a shill, he'll continue to bid. If not, then he'll buy this worthless stone at its original price, haha."
Understanding the situation, the crowd laughed uproariously.
Abraham frowned secretly, giving Mr. Edgar a cold look and said in a deep voice, "You're doing this on purpose."
"How can you speak like that? Are you the only one allowed to bid and no one else? Mr. Edgar is the chairman of Garden Glory Enterprises, with a net worth of several billion. Can't he spend a little pocket money on a trinket?"
Before Mr. Edgar could respond, others had already stepped up to flatter him and criticize Abraham.
"Garden Glory Enterprises, I'll remember that," Abraham said indifferently, then shifted his gaze away from the crowd to Eleanor, speaking softly, "18 million."
As soon as Abraham's words fell, Mr. Edgar followed with a laugh, "20 million."
Abraham's eyes turned slightly cold; he only had 20 million given to him by Elias.
Seeing Abraham fall silent, some immediately taunted, "Kid, why aren't you bidding now? Are you afraid the consignor will come after you for messing around?"
Mr. Edgar maintained a calm exterior but was actually nervous inside. If Abraham didn't continue to bid, he would have to spend 20 million on a useless stone.