Ben Bishop shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He adjusted his silk Tang suit, feeling the weight of his own mistake. He had momentarily forgotten his status in this room. He was a renowned jade appraisal expert, a man whose word could make or break a sale. By participating in the bidding, raising his paddle for the Jade Fortune Beast, he had implicitly endorsed its authenticity and value. His bid acted as a green light for the other collectors, signaling that the piece was a "must-have," inflating the price far beyond its market value.
"$265,000!"
"$270,000!"
"..."
In the end, this Late Eastern Han Dynasty Jade Fortune Beast—a tomb piece laden with Yin energy—was won by a middle-aged businessman for a staggering $320,000.
"Sigh. A fool and his money are easily parted,
