Chapter 186: Rising Prices and Hidden Smiles
Rising Prices and Hidden Smiles
"This is a painting by William Dynasty artist Michelangelo ..."
The little old man on stage began to eloquently explain the painting’s background, setting the starting bid at thirty million.
His voice carried smoothly through the hall—steady, practiced, almost hypnotic. With every sentence, he painted not just history, but value. Not just value, but desire.
The artwork, mounted under warm amber lighting, seemed to breathe. Snow-covered mountains stretched across the silk canvas, silent and distant, a lonely road fading into pale emptiness. Even those who knew nothing about art felt a strange stillness in their chest while looking at it.
For a brief moment, the entire auction hall quieted.
Then—
"Thirty-two million."
A calm voice broke the silence.
"Thirty-five million."
Another followed, sharper, more decisive.
Quickly, bids came in one after another, and the painting was eventually sold for eighty million.
The hammer struck with a crisp echo, sealing the deal.
A few people nodded in approval. Others leaned back, mildly impressed. To them, this was just the opening act.
As a rich handsome guy, Julian D’Aurelius wasn’t particularly interested.
He didn’t even glance at the painting when it was finalized. Instead, he lazily leaned into his chair, fingers idly rolling another pistachio between them before cracking it open with a soft snap.
Spending millions on such things was just a waste.
[Art is something to look at, not something you can eat. Why spend so much money on it?]
His thoughts came dry, almost bored.
[Art that can benefit humanity, now that’s good art.]
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
[Like the art films stored in my cloud drive.]
His golden eyes flickered with amusement.
[Ahem, and they’re free, indirectly hitting the European economy.]
While Julian D’Aurelius was internally mocking these arts, Yana Tyson couldn’t help but have a black line on her face.
Her shoulders stiffened slightly, her fingers tightening around the edge of her seat.
This guy...
Was he serious?
Is this guy doing a stand-up routine in his head?
Her lips twitched faintly, caught between disbelief and irritation.
She tried to maintain her composure, but her breathing became just a little uneven.
The contrast was ridiculous.
On stage—refined elegance, culture, prestige.
In her head—this man casually dismantling it all with nonsense.
Noticing Yana Tyson’s sudden change in expression, Lucas asked with a charming smile.
He leaned slightly closer, his tone soft, attentive—perfectly crafted.
"What’s wrong, Yana, feeling unwell?"
Seeing the smile on Lucas’s face, Yana Tyson really felt uncomfortable.
That smile.
Before, she had admired it.
Now?
It felt like something oily... something that didn’t belong.
Her stomach churned slightly.
She shook her head and said, "Nothing."
"If you’re not feeling well, just tell me. Seeing you in discomfort makes my heart ache."
Lucas gently tapped his chest as he spoke, his eyes filled with exaggerated tenderness.
To anyone else, it might’ve looked sincere.
To Yana?
It felt suffocating.
Yana felt a wave of nausea.
Your heart aches, huh.
If I could beat you up right now, I’d definitely give you a stab to make you feel some real pain.
Her fingers curled slightly, nails pressing into her palm.
But outwardly—
"Thanks."
With a cold response, Yana Tyson stopped talking.
Her gaze shifted forward again, cutting off any further exchange.
Lucas didn’t mind; women who admired the strong were born to be conquered by him!
He leaned back, confidence unshaken, lips curling into that same devilish smile.
To him, resistance was just another stage of submission.
Meanwhile—
Julian casually tossed another pistachio shell into the small tray beside him, eyes half-lidded.
(Man... watching this is more entertaining than the auction itself.)
Half an hour into the auction, the lion Gem statue was finally brought onto the stage.
A subtle shift moved through the hall.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But noticeable.
The item itself wasn’t flashy. It didn’t shine like gold or glow like rare gem artifacts. It simply sat there—a quiet, pale figure carved with care, shaped into a lion with an oddly lifelike posture.
Still.
Watching.
Waiting.
Seeing this lion Gem statue, many people cast curious glances.
It seemed like it was their first time seeing such an antique?
Some leaned forward slightly. Others narrowed their eyes.
Something about it felt... off.
Not wrong.
Just—
Unfamiliar.
"Dear guests, the next item up for auction is this white gem lion, an artwork whose creator I couldn’t identify due to my limited knowledge, but I believe its artistic value is quite high."
The old man smiled as he spoke, tone light but confident.
"So the starting bid is five million. Interested guests might want to give it a try; you might just find a hidden gem."
The little old man laughed after his introduction.
A ripple of soft laughter followed across the hall.
In all the years of hosting auctions, they’d never had anyone find a hidden gem.
They had the best antique appraisers in all of China.
They could recognize artifacts from any dynasty, and very few fakes could deceive them!
The guests all laughed as well.
But beneath that laughter—
There was temptation.
Because sometimes...
Luck didn’t follow rules.
But anyone attending this auction had a
worth of at least a billion.
To them, a few million wasn’t much.
So soon, people began to bid.
"I’ll bid five and a half million."
A man in the third row raised his paddle lazily, as if tossing spare change.
"Then I’ll go six million."
Another voice followed immediately, calm but firm.
The numbers began to climb—not aggressively, but steadily. Like a quiet game.
Julian’s gaze finally settled fully on the lion Gem statue.
For the first time—
His expression sharpened.
Just a little.
(Here it comes...)
A faint smile curved his lips.
(Showtime.)
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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!
With love,
Saturn_Virgo_777
Creator of Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System
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