Chapter 1408 Underground Auction

When Colin turned around, his face had regained the shrewdness that a businessman usually had. He patted Luo Feng on the shoulder.

"Speaking of which, there's an underground auction in Oucheng tonight. Mr. Luo, are you interested?"

Luo Feng raised an eyebrow, staring intently at Colin's expression, trying to find a clue.

Finding he couldn't discern anything, he couldn't help but ask, "An underground auction? What for?"

He was no stranger to this kind of occasion, but Colin's sudden mention of it must have had another purpose.

Unfortunately, Colin was very well disguised, and no one noticed anything.

"There are clues about Penglai."

Colin lowered his voice, a hint of certainty flashing in his eyes, "I've received word that someone will be bidding on a fragment of bronze at the auction."

“The patterns carved on it vaguely match the stone tablet in my hand, so it is most likely related to the other half of the stone tablet.”

Luo Feng paused for a moment.

Clues to Penglai?

This actually happened right into his plan.

However, Luo Feng wasn't stupid. If she was going to tell him this news, she must have hoped that he would go with her.

He looked up at Colin and asked bluntly, "You want me to bid?"

“It’s not just about the auction.” Colin smiled, his tone candid. “Mr. Luo’s wealth is well-known throughout the entire European City.”

"That bronze fragment will definitely be in high demand. Countless financial magnates are eyeing it. I really don't have the confidence to acquire it with my financial resources."

"With you here, our chances of winning the deal are at least 30% higher. Whatever the final price, I'll offer 60%, and you offer 40%, how about that?"

He had a clever plan; he used Luo Feng's money to increase his chances of winning.

Because it was obvious that he really had no confidence, and although he seemed to have contributed more, he was not at a loss, since Luo Feng didn't have to contribute a single penny at the beginning, and Colin took all the money.

Then, he could take the opportunity to test how much importance Luo Feng attached to the clues about Penglai.

If Luo Feng doesn't want to pay this money, it means he doesn't really believe in the Penglai clue, which is equivalent to not believing in the secret behind the stone tablet. In that case, the two of them should think twice about their cooperation.

Luo Feng saw through his thoughts but didn't expose them. She simply nodded slightly and asked, "Okay. When?"

He doesn't care if he doesn't pay; to Luo Feng, money is just a number.

However, Colin was right about one thing: as long as he made a move, the bronze fragment would definitely be theirs.

What puzzled Luo Feng was that a valuable bronze fragment containing such a mysterious secret would appear at an underground auction. It seemed rather inappropriate.

This made Luo Feng feel even less confident.

Seemingly seeing through Luo Feng's thoughts, Colin smiled mysteriously, "Mr. Luo, the auction in the old dock area after nightfall is different from other places. You'll see when you get there."

Seeing how mysterious Colin was talking about it, Luo Feng was indeed intrigued.

If he's not mistaken, Colin must have received the news a long time ago.

This seemingly elaborate scheme was designed to allow someone to accompany him to the auction and share the cost.

If that's the case, it's worth watching.

As night falls, the abandoned warehouses in the old dock area are lit up with dim yellow lights.

Luo Feng followed Colin through the rusty iron gate, and the sight before him made him pause slightly.

This doesn't look like an auction at all; it's more like a bustling night market.

Temporary stalls lined both sides of the warehouse, with stall owners holding old-fashioned flashlights and calling out to the antiques on their stalls.

"Just acquired a Republic-era vase, in perfect condition with no cracks!"

"Look at this bronze sword, the patina is absolutely perfect!"

"The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! An ancient Chinese book with over a hundred years of history! It is said that those who cultivate it can achieve immortality. Don't miss it if you pass by!"

"..."

The air was thick with the smells of dust, old wood, and cheap perfume, a stark contrast to the suited men and bidding wars he had attended before at underground auctions.

"This is the most chaotic trading market in Europe. It's openly a market, but secretly it's a place where many shady deals are conducted."

As Colin walked, he explained, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a scrutinizing gaze, deliberately lowering his voice, "The real auction will be held in the innermost secret room; all of this outside is just a decoy."

"However, there are qualifications required to enter. These people outside cannot enter."

Luo Feng's gaze swept over a bronze mirror on a stall. The mirror was blurry, but the edges were engraved with cloud patterns similar to those on the Colin Stone.

Colin stopped when he saw that Luo Feng hadn't left, and both of them turned their gazes to the bronze mirror.

The stall owner, a burly man with a thick beard, immediately approached him when he saw him stop, smiling broadly and saying, "Young man, you have a good eye! This is a mirror from the Qin Dynasty, used to ward off evil spirits and protect the home..."

"It's a fake."

Luo Feng uttered two words indifferently, directly interrupting the big man's words, and turned to follow Colin.

The cloud pattern engravings are too new; they were clearly made using modern tools.

I really don't know if the people setting up stalls here are any good at it.

Luo Feng found the way this black market was presented quite novel, like a vegetable market, but the items here were truly appalling; there was practically nothing worth showing off.

Even if there are a few genuine items, they are just very cheap things.

Colin glanced back at him, his eyes showing more approval, and gave him a thumbs-up, flattering him, "It seems Mr. Luo is very knowledgeable about antiques and has a deep understanding of them. You'll have to teach me more in the future."

"You flatter me, Mr. Colin. This isn't like you." Luo Feng glanced at him indifferently.

Are you kidding me? Who is Colin? Why would he possibly flatter someone?

Moreover, the two have been in contact for so long, and Colin had never done this before. Now, he's actually trying to curry favor with him, which is quite intriguing.

"Mr. Luo, it's mainly because you were able to tell at a glance that it was a fake. I remember that you had to touch it with your hand when you were with me before, so I'm a little shocked now, and I couldn't help it."

Colin offered a brief explanation, but it was actually better not to explain at all.

"Understood."

Passing through the noisy stalls, the two arrived at the tin gate at the end of the warehouse.

Two burly men in black suits were guarding the entrance. Upon seeing Colin, they immediately let him through.

As for Luo Feng behind Colin, they acted as if they didn't see him at all and completely ignored him.

This struck Luo Feng as odd. Logically, Colin should have arranged something beforehand for his arrival at the auction. Behind the door was a narrow passage, leading to a room with a crystal chandelier, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. A dozen or so people dressed in various styles sat around a long table, on which were several items covered with red cloth.

An elderly man wearing a monocle sat in the main seat. Seeing them enter, he nodded slightly and asked, "Mr. Colin, and who is this?"

“My friend, Luo Feng.”

The old man glanced at Luo Feng, but didn't ask any questions or treat Luo Feng as some important figure.

He simply tapped the table and said calmly, "Everyone's almost here. Let's begin."

The first item brought up was an ancient painting, which unfolded into a "Mountain Dwelling" painting with delicate brushstrokes.

But Luo Feng only glanced at it before looking away and shaking his head.

The paper looks artificially aged, and the ink is wrong too.

Colin was clearly uninterested and whispered to Luo Feng, "The bronze fragment is the last item up for auction."

Luo Feng didn't speak, but tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

He noticed a woman in a cheongsam sitting in the corner, playing with a string of amber beads in her hand, her eyes glancing at them from time to time, a faint smile on her lips.

He had seen that woman before. Last time outside Colin Manor, one of the Shadow Council members who had been following him looked a lot like her.

It seems that they are not the only ones who want to acquire the bronze fragments at this auction.

The auctioneer's voice echoed in the closed room as one item after another was brought up and sold off amidst sparse bidding.

The ancient painting was eventually sold for less than its estimated price. The buyer was a bald man who held the scroll with great excitement, as if he had gotten a great deal.

Luo Feng glanced at it and saw that the paste on the edge of the scroll smelled of modern industrial glue. It was obviously a crudely made counterfeit.

The bronze tripods and blue-and-white porcelain vases that followed were all very similar.

They're either obviously fake or common items that are so common they're not worth the effort.

The atmosphere in the secret room was somewhat dull, and many people yawned.

"so boring."

"This is really boring."

People had already started talking in hushed tones, showing little interest in the items up for auction.

Everyone here is knowledgeable; they all know these things are fake.

What's strange about this is why they're still auctioning these things.

Little did he know that the fake goods being sold at the auction were designed to deceive unsuspecting people into buying them.

Because many of the people here are experts and knowledgeable, it gives people the impression that everything here is genuine, but there are also counterfeit goods.

But the reason why these people with status don't speak up is because the power behind this underground auction house is not simple. No one wants to offend it, be blacklisted, and never be able to set foot here again, or even be banned.

"Looks like everyone's waiting for the grand finale." Colin turned his head and whispered to Luo Feng, "These are just appetizers; the real good stuff is always saved for last."

Luo Feng didn't reply, his gaze falling on the woman in the cheongsam in the corner.

She was still playing with her amber bracelet, her hands now covered in a glossy sheen from handling it.

Her smile remained unchanged, as if she were indifferent to everything around her.

However, from the occasional moment when she raised her eyes, Ke Luofeng caught a glimpse of a sharpness that was barely perceptible.

Luo Feng was all too familiar with that look.

That's the look in a hunter's eyes when he's eyeing his prey.

Finally, the auctioneer cleared his throat and signaled his assistant to bring in the last item for auction.

The red cloth was lifted, revealing a palm-sized bronze fragment covered with thick patina, its edges irregular, as if it had been forcibly broken off from some object.

"Ladies and gentlemen, here comes the grand finale." The auctioneer's voice rose a few decibels as he smiled and said, "This bronze fragment, according to research, dates back to the Warring States period. It is engraved with special patterns, but its specific purpose is currently unknown. Starting bid: five million euros."

As soon as he finished speaking, the secret room fell silent for a few seconds.

No one immediately made a bid.

Some people frowned as they examined the fragments, trying to discern something from the patina and patterns.

Some people exchanged glances with those around them, weighing the pros and cons, after all, five million is not a small amount.

Many others remained silent, as if waiting for something.

Luo Feng's fingers stopped on the table, almost touching the smooth wooden surface.

From this distance, he could clearly see the patterns on the fragment.

It does indeed match Colin's stone tablet, and is even more complete than the one on the stone tablet.

You can even vaguely make out the outline of the two characters "Penglai". This is definitely real and not a fake.

But he didn't move.

He knew that the real opponent was not the casual diners present, but the woman in the corner and the Shadow Council behind her.

Offering a price now would only alert the other party and make them immediately suspicious.

Colin also held back, picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip, but his eyes were always on Luo Feng out of the corner of his eye, as if he was sizing him up and... confirming his attitude.

"Five million, nobody wants it?"

The auctioneer smiled somewhat awkwardly, "This is a really good item!"

Actually, five million isn't a high price, it's just that nobody's bidding for it.

"Six million."

Finally, a hoarse voice rang out. The speaker was a man wearing a hat, the brim pulled low, obscuring his face.

Colin glanced at Luo Feng, and seeing that he still didn't react, he nodded slightly to his assistant.

"Eight million," the assistant immediately followed.

The man in the hat paused, seemingly surprised that someone would bid against him, and after a moment of hesitation, shouted, "Ten million."

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