For one suspended moment the entire auction hall fell deathly silent.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Even the auctioneer stood frozen, the smile on his face stiffening slightly.
"...One... billion?"
His voice trembled with disbelief.
The silence shattered.
A wave of astonished murmurs swept through the hall.
"Did I hear that correctly?"
"He raised it tenfold!"
"Who is that?"
"Which family is in the Sky Pavilion?"
Whispers erupted from every corner of the hall as countless pairs of eyes instinctively turned toward the highest private gallery.
The one-way glass concealed its occupants completely.
All they could see were their own reflections.
Behind Cassius, even the members of the Volkov security team exchanged subtle glances.They had witnessed Cassius spend fortunes without hesi
