The grand entrance of the Jiangcheng Royal Auction House was lined with marble, polished to a mirror shine, reflecting the warm glow of crystal chandeliers.
As Li Zitan approached the glass doors, the two security guards immediately stepped into his path, their eyes sweeping over his rain-drenched hoodie and worn sneakers with blatant skepticism.
"Hold on, kid," the head guard said, raising a gloved hand. "Private event tonight. VIP cardholders or invited guests only."
Zitan stopped, his expression unbothered.
Through [Market Eye (LV. 1)], faint data tags hovered over both men:
[Security Personnel] — Monthly Salary: ¥8,000 | Status: Strict, currently looking for an excuse to kick out a 'trespasser.'
"I'm not here for the main auction," Zitan replied, his voice calm and steady. "I'm here for the appraisal desk. I have a piece for tonight's private appraisal session."
The guard chuckled dryly. "Kid, the appraisal desk handles items worth hundreds of thousands. You look like you got lost on your way to the food court."
Before the guard could usher him away, a sharp, clear voice echoed from behind them.
"Is there a problem here?"
A young woman in a tailored dark blue suit walked down the marble steps. Her hair was pulled back into a slick ponytail, and her sharp eyes swept over the scene.
A golden badge on her lapel read: Senior Appraiser & VIP Relations — Su Chen.
[Su Chen] — Status: Highly Skilled Appraiser | Current Goal: Seeking high-value artifacts to boost tonight's catalog quota | Personality: Pragmatic, values talent and profit over appearances.
"Miss Su," the guard straightened up instantly. "This young man claims he has an artifact for appraisal, but he doesn't have an appointment."
Su Chen looked at Zitan. She didn't miss his cheap clothes, but she also didn't miss the complete lack of nervousness in his eyes. Most people his age in a place like this would be shifting their weight or looking down. Zitan stood perfectly straight, clutching a cloth-wrapped package against his side.
"What do you have?" Su Chen asked, her tone professional and direct.
"A Tang Dynasty bronze ritual mirror," Zitan stated without missing a beat. "Heavy oxidation, unpolished, but the relief patterns on the reverse are intact."
Su Chen’s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. "A Tang mirror? That's a specific claim. Step inside. If it's fake, you pay the express appraisal fee of five hundred RMB. If it's real, we talk business."
"Fair," Zitan said, stepping past the security guards without giving them a second glance.
The VIP Appraisal Room
Minutes later, Zitan sat in a private, leather-lined room on the third floor. Across the glass table sat Su Chen, alongside an older master appraiser wearing white cotton gloves, holding a magnifying glass over the dark bronze mirror.
The room was silent except for the tick of a clock and the old man's soft, rhythmic breaths.
"Fascinating..." the old master murmured after five tense minutes. He used a soft brush to clear away a tiny patch of artificial grime near the edge, revealing intricate, leaf-like relief engravings beneath. "The weight, the bronze alloy ratio, the oxidation pattern... this isn't a modern casting at all. It's an authentic Tang Dynasty ritual hand mirror!"
Su Chen turned to Zitan, her polite demeanor instantly shifting to genuine respect. "My apologies for the security outside, Mr. Li. You have quite an eye. Most collectors would have dismissed this as scrap metal under that artificial grime."
"I know what I have," Zitan said simply, leaning back in his chair. "How fast can you liquidate it?"
Su Chen pulled up a tablet. "Tonight's private auction starts in an hour. We have a prominent collector of Tang artifacts attending—Mr. Zhao of the Zhao Financial Group. He’s been searching for a piece like this for six months. If we add it as an emergency lot, I estimate it will fetch at least ¥650,000 to ¥700,000."
"Put it up," Zitan said. "On one condition."
"Name it," Su Chen replied.
"An immediate cash advance on 50% of the minimum valuation right now, with the rest settled after the gavel falls. My time is tight."
Su Chen hesitated for a second, then smiled, extending her hand. "Deal, Mr. Li. Welcome to the Royal Auction House."
Quest Cleared
As Zitan signed the consignment contract, his phone vibrated sharply in his pocket.
[Industrial and Commercial Bank of China] > Notification: Your account ending in 4091 has received an advance transfer of +¥340,000.00 RMB.
Current Balance: ¥380,006.50 RMB.
At the same instant, the golden system interface flared brightly before his eyes.
[MAIN QUEST 1 COMPLETE!] > Target: Turn starting capital into ¥500,000 RMB
Total Current Net Worth: ¥720,006.50 RMB (Includes pending auction payout)
[Rewards Unlocked]
Skill Upgrade: [Market Eye (LV. 2)] — Unlocked ability to analyze financial stocks, corporate equity, and real-time short-term price fluctuations.
New System Function: [Risk Radar] — Detects high-risk financial traps, loan shark threats, and hostile corporate maneuvers in real-time.
Zitan looked out the floor-to-ceiling glass window of the private lounge, looking down at the glittering skyline of Jiangcheng.
The first step was done. He had his seed capital. Now, it was time to move out of the alleyways and dive headfirst into the high-stakes financial arena.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 25 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments