Chapter 77 - Praeclarum Adamantino

The auction continued without a problem and several items were displayed for bidding. Most items were modern jewelries, but there were also a few ancient relics auctioned. 

The guests inside the auction house were surprised and excited after seeing lots of treasures. Most of the people invited by the Marchand Family were treasure collectors from all around the world. Thus, no one was bored at all despite the auction taking a lot of time. And with the scantily dressed woman who was always making the crowd excited, everyone inside were fairly satisfied.

"The next item is a strange stone we found on our ancestor's collection. It is only the size of a fist, but it's weight is almost a hundred kilograms. We studied the stone for many years, but we were not able to find out the chemicals that it was made of. We also tried cutting the stone, but it does not even break even after we used a diamond cutter. This stone is definitely a treasure stone that came from the space. The starting price for this stone is thirty thousand dollars! Every increment must be at least ten thousand dollars!"

Cale scrutinized the stone in great detail after feeling the same sense of longing inside him after seeing the stone. He did not bid immediately and waited for the others to bid first. 

"Why would the Marchand Family auction a useless stone for thirty thousand dollars? Are they trying to tarnish their reputation?"

"Shhh! Don't speak nonsense you idiot! If you offend the Marchand Family then forget about knowing me!"

Cale saw that no one was bidding for the stone, so he clicked his bid with slight smile.

Tyrannical Tower + 10 000 dollars

The beautiful auctioneer smiled sweetly towards Cale's VIP room. "40 000 dollars for this stone? Anyone else that wants to bid?" 

"40 000 dollars, sold!"

***

"Who was that idiot who bought that useless stone for forty thoudand dollars?"

"Lower down your voice you fool! Anyone that the Marchand Family treats as VIPs are no simple people. Their backgrounds are unfathomable and not anyone could take them lightly. Take for example the Decaux Family, they have been one of the richest and strongest families in France for many decades."

"Oh come on. I know that, but that's just a useless stone that is heavier than normal."

The other person just glanced at other speechlessly and did not bother replying.

***

After less than ten minutes, the stone was delivered to Cale's VIP room. The beautiful woman who delivered their item was surprised that Atlas simply picked up the stone with one hand as if it was just an average stone. If not for the man pushing the tray cart sweating buckets while struggling to push it, she would have believed that it was just an ordinary stone.

Atlas handed the stone to Cale who received the stone without much effort as well. 'It is indeed heavy. What could this stone be?' 

- Ding!

- Do you wish to exchange this in 'The Black Market'? 

Cale clicked the 'No' button and kept it inside the storage space. Cale already checked the room and there were no hidden cameras anywhere, so he just kept all his items inside his storage.

"I will exchange it later. Now is not the right time.

***

"The last item for today's auction is a 2789-Carat Blue Diamond! This diamond was discovered by our Marchand Diamond Firm in Africa and I can attest to it's authenticity. And with its brilliance and beauty, we named it as Praeclarum Adamantino!" The auctioneer slowly said the name and emphasized it by syllables. 

When the crowd heard that it was actually a blue diamond and one that was 2789-Carat at that, they instantly erupted into surprised exclamations. 

"That means this diamond exceeded Lesedi La Rona which was the second largest diamond in the word! And look at that exquisite edges! This diamond could go beyond one hundred million dollars!"

"Only the Cullinan diamond was much bigger than this one! But this one looks more beautiful!"

The piece of blue diamond was sparkling brilliantly, causing the guests to greedily stare at it.

"The price for this starts with forty million dollars, and every increment must be at least one million dollars!" The auctioneer announced in a passionate voice while seductively glancing at the crowd.

- 50 000 000 dollars

- 51 000 000 dollars

- 61 000 000 dollars

- 62 000 000 dollars

The price for the Praeclarum Adamantino steadily increased and even the Decaux Family who only bade once earlier clicked their bade.

"Looks like I'll have to trade my weapons with them if I want to get this item." Cale was similarly enchanted by the blue diamond's scintillating brilliance. But he only wanted to have it in order to exchange it for Black Coins. 

The bidding for the Praeclarum Adamantino became even more frenzied. The bidding did not even slow down after reaching more than a hundred million dollars.

Lhun Marchand who was watching the entire scene smiled condescendingly. "This was merely the third largest diamond we found in my Marchand Diamond Firm in Africa. What would your faces be after seeing a 7669-carat blue diamond?" He chuckled in contempt as he glanced at the excited crowd. His handsome face now contained a trace of mocking smile as if he was watching a group of monkeys on a circus.

***

Cale clicked the ten million button three times and his bid flashed on the screen. 

Tyrannical Tower + 30 000 000 dollars

Decaux Family + 10 000 000 dollars

Some other guests also clicked their bids, but when it reached a price of three hundred million dollars, the bidding slowed down and only the Decaux Family and Cale remained bidding for the blue diamond.

Tyrannical Tower - 443 000 000 dollars

The middle aged man from the Decaux Family gritted his teeth and clicked his bid.

Decaux Family - 453 000 000 dollars

Cale was still nonchalant as if he was just eating rice. He then clicked his bid and glanced on the screen calmly.

Tyrannical Tower - 463 000 000 dollars

The crowd gaped in shock at how the bid exploded until that amount. It was truly too expensive for a piece of ornament and although most of them were rich, they did not dare squander their money like Cale.

"453 000 000 dollars? Anyone else?" The auctioneer glanced towards the Decaux Family's VIP room, but she did not receive a response.

"Congratulations to our guests from the Tyrannical Tower!"