All the media reporters were watching Horace closely.
Faced only with utter silence at the scene, Horace and Kenneth exchanged glances and wore matching victorious grins on their faces.
The host cast his glance at the audience. “Six hundred million going once!”
“Going twice!”
…
Horace was already grinning from ear to ear.
It’s a mission success!
And my position as the general manager in Erudia is still secure!
“One billion!” Right before the third and final call, a loud voice suddenly rang out.
The host immediately swallowed back the words at the tip of his tongue.
Kenneth and Horace were both stunned, and so was everyone else.
…
Everyone looked behind them simultaneously.
Zoey timidly tugged on Levi’s arm because he was the one who had raised the bid!
“What? It’s them?”
Horace recognized Levi and Zoey with only a single glance.
This was something that he had never expected to happen.
He had given strict orders to Kenneth, instructing him to control the guestlist for tonight’s auction event. Hence, he never thought that these two people would be allowed in.
Horace panicked slightly and countered, “Isn’t this a little too inappropriate? I’d obviously bid six hundred million first!”
“Pfft! Haven’t you been at an auction before? The final call hasn’t been made yet!” Levi spat in return.
“You…”
His words instantly caused Horace to silence himself.
“Does anyone want to bid higher than one billion?” Levi asked.
The host reluctantly repeated Levi’s question as well.
“1.1 billion!” Horace forced the words through his lips.
“1.5 billion!” Levi yelled, determined to be the last bidder.
“You…”
Horace’s anger skyrocketed.
This guy is obviously here for me!
“1.6 billion!” Horace reluctantly raised the bid.
He had to complete the mission given to him by Park Cheon-shin.
“2 billion!”
Levi raised his paddle once again.
Gasps filled the room as everyone drew in sharp breaths.
The crowd gaped at Levi in disbelief.
This is absolute madness!
Is he going to fight Triple Group to the death?
He must be crazy!
He’s blatantly disrespecting Triple Group!
“You… You…”
Horace was going mad with fury.
Originally, he could have gotten the artifacts with a budget of six hundred million, but Levi had raised the bid up to 2 billion.
He had to top it by at least a few million if he had wanted to win.
“F*** it! 2.5 billion!” he stammered out.
Horace was giving it his all, to complete his mission.
“3 billion!” Levi shouted, with a disdainful look on his face.
“Pft!”
Horace’s blood pressure spiked.
3 billion exceeded his budget by 2.4 billion in total!
He had to cough up the money, out of his own pocket if he had wanted to outbid Levi!
Moreover, Levi had arrived fully prepared, so he would continue to raise the bid.
“I withdraw…” Horace stated in defeat.
However, he shot Kenneth a look and the latter discreetly gave him an ‘okay’ gesture in response.
Levi couldn’t be allowed to get his hands on those artifacts!
Even if they had to kill him to make sure that he didn’t get them, they would commit as such.
This was Park Cheon-shin’s orders.
Otherwise, it would be the end for Horace.
…
“3 billion, sold!”
“These ten items now belong to Levi Garrison!”
“Mr. Garrison and Ms. Lopez, please come backstage to settle the payment!”
The staff led Levi and Zoey to the backstage.
However, before leaving, Levi discreetly brought with him a copy of the auction’s catalog.
“Congratulations, Mr. Garrison for becoming the owner of these ten priceless artifacts. You’ll have to pay a total of 20 billion! How would you like to make the payment?” Kenneth smiled politely.
“Wait…”
Levi frowned and asked, “Shouldn’t it be 3 billion? Why has it become 20 billion?”
“Sir, I think that you’re unaware that all the items tonight aren’t auctioned off in the local currency! So, after converting and including the handling fees, the 3 billion you’d bid would come to a total of 20 billion!”
