Chapter 43
1115 Words
"Talon, have you... lost your mind?" Ariya jolted when she suddenly heard Talon speak.
"This painting is a fake. Why are you spending so much money on it? Besides, this Albi is from Pennsylvania's Hussain family. Although the Hussain family is not as influential as Skysoar Group, the difference is minimal. Are you trying to embarrass the Hussain family by raising the bid now?"
"I noticed something about this painting," Talon explained calmly.
"If my verification is correct, this painting alone might be worth more than all the items sold before it combined. So, how can I let the Hussain family take it?"
Albi's face turned ugly; he didn't expect that even after revealing his identity, someone would still raise the bid.
This person was either a true tycoon or just a fool.
"One hundred ten million!" Albi gritted his teeth.
"One hundred fifty million," Talon raised the bid again.
"Two hundred million!" Albi was on the brink of madness.
That a fake could be sold for two hundred million was beyond his expectations. He gritted his teeth and said, "Friend, this painting is meant for my family's elder. Please, consider this a favor to the Hussain family and let us be friends!"
"The Hussain family isn't worthy of being my friend," Talon's indifferent voice echoed through the room.
Everyone gasped in shock.
The Hussain family wasn't worthy of his friendship? How could he say such a thing?
This person was either a genuine top-tier elite or just a pure lunatic.
"Moreover, bidding like this is meaningless. If we're going to bid, let's do it in billions. I'll offer three billion."
"You!" Albi was instantly enraged.
To say the Hussain family wasn't worthy of being his friend, did he really think he was a capital tycoon?
Even capital tycoons wouldn't dare to dismiss the Hussain family so lightly.
Albi clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he looked toward Talon's private box.
Yet, Albi restrained himself, a cold smile hanging on his lips as he said, "Alright, since you like the painting so much, the Hussain family will give it to you. But you should understand that this painting won't be easy to get."
Talon ignored his threats and said to the auctioneer, "Three billion. Let's close the bidding."
The auctioneer swallowed nervously. The painting, originally valued at thirty million, was now unexpectedly being sold for three billion, a fivefold increase.
Was there really such a foolishly wealthy person in the world?
"Alright, three billion. This painting belongs to this gentleman!" The auctioneer hurriedly announced, disregarding the usual three-strike rule.
"Haha, some people are truly fools!"
"This fake could only fetch a maximum of sixty million on the market, and yet someone is willing to pay three billion for it!"
"Tsk tsk, three billion. I wonder how many of these fakes that money could buy," Albi laughed loudly, and those around him joined in, casting mocking glances at the private box.
"Look at you, spending three billion on a fake. Are you burning money?" Ariya was also anxious, unable to understand Talon's actions.
"Even if you have Skysoar Group, money shouldn't be spent like this. Three billion, that's an absurd amount!"
"I've said it before, this painting might be worth more than all the items auctioned before it combined," Talon said with a wry smile.
"If you don't believe me, I can prove it to you. Auctioneer, could you please bring an electric heater and thoroughly heat this painting?"
"Okay, please wait a moment," the auctioneer promptly arranged for it.
The auction attendees were puzzled; why heat the painting?
"Oh? Are you trying to roast gold out of it?" Albi sneered.
"Even if the painting could somehow produce gold, it still wouldn't be worth three billion, right?"
"Haha, you're dreaming!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, thinking that the painting was bound to be worthless, with losses guaranteed.
After a while, the electric heater was brought in, and the auctioneer consulted with Talon before starting to heat the painting.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes...
The painting began to melt, causing the auctioneer to panic and say, "Sir, the painting is already starting to melt."
"I think… since you've spent money on it, destroying it like this seems a bit... unnecessary..."
"Do you think we should turn off the heater?"
"If the surface of the painting doesn't melt, the genuine artwork inside won't be revealed," Talon's voice rang out across the room.
"Continue heating and set it to maximum power. If it can catch fire, that would be best."
"Uh... okay." Seeing the painting's condition, the auctioneer was pained.
This wasn't about heating the painting; it was about burning money.
Five more minutes passed, and the painting's surface turned completely black, with the image scorched.
The crowd was horrified; three billion seemed to be going up in smoke.
"Sir, please look..." The auctioneer, anxious, asked.
"Wipe off the soot and then have it appraised to see how much it's worth now," Talon remained unperturbed, his voice calm.
"Oh, alright. I'll check," the auctioneer thought this was worthless.
He walked up to the painting and carefully extended his hand. But just as he was about to touch it, a large chunk of charred material fell off, revealing something inside.
"What is this!?" The auctioneer's eyes widened in shock.
He quickly lifted his hand, cleaned the dust, and discovered another painting inside. This painting still depicted the maid picking fruits, but it was far superior in detail, from the maid's expression and clothing to the type of flowers picked.
More importantly, it bore a red stamp: [Liam Duncan.]
Liam was a famous painter of Arcanis.
Gosh!
"A painting within a painting!" The auction hall erupted in exclamation.
"Auctioneer, what is a painting within a painting?" someone asked.
"A painting within a painting was popular in previous dynasties. Wealthy collectors used special techniques to frame a real painting with a fake one to prevent theft."
The auctioneer the explained. "This painting, which seemed fake on the surface, actually contained a genuine masterpiece. Most importantly, the genuine artwork is by Liam. I conservatively estimate its market value at a minimum of one billion, and it's priceless. This is a late work by Liam, with details that reach the peak of excellence!"
Damn impressive!
Many were stunned and stood up from their seats.
This painting, bought for three billion, turned out to be a priceless treasure?
Albi's face turned dark. He didn't care whether the painting was worth one billion or two billion, but after ridiculing Talon, he was immediately slapped in the face.
This blow was hard to swallow, stuck in his chest, leaving him feeling deeply uncomfortable.
- Writer
