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At this moment, the staff member spoke again:
"Sir, they have already made concessions. If you continue to pester them, I will have no choice but to ask you to leave according to the rules. The Auction is about to begin, please consider the bigger picture."
The man remained silent for a moment, then finally said:
"Alright, I'll trust you this once. But after the Auction ends, you must come with me. If I find out you've told even half a lie, I won't let you off lightly."
Zhuge Lan and Dugu Bo exchanged glances, then nodded helplessly.
...
Just as this farce settled down, the lights in the entire Auction hall suddenly changed.
The surrounding lights dimmed, all focusing on the Auction stage.
A host, dressed in a black tuxedo, walked slowly and elegantly towards the Auction stage. His posture was tall and straight, his demeanor graceful, every step steady and firm.
He wore white gloves, holding a delicate small gavel in one hand, which hung naturally, while his other hand gently waved, greeting the buyers.
When he finally stood still on the Auction stage, the lights shone even brighter on him.
He slightly raised his head, scanning the entire hall, his eyes filled with the confidence of being in control.
With a slight smile, he gently tapped the gavel in his hand, and the hall immediately fell silent.
Then, he cleared his throat and said in a magnetic voice:
"Distinguished guests, welcome to this grand Auction. In this moment filled with mystery and surprise, I am deeply honored to stand here and host this highly anticipated Auction for you."
The host's voice echoed through the hall, clear and powerful.
At this moment, everyone in the Auction hall stopped their other activities, listening intently and expectantly to the host's words, afraid of missing even a single word.
"First, I want to thank every guest for coming. Your participation makes this Auction even more exciting. Today, we gather here for a common goal: to find those unique and extraordinarily valuable treasures. Here, every item has undergone strict selection and appraisal to ensure its quality and value. Whether you are a collector, an investor, or merely an enthusiast curious about rare treasures, I believe the treasures presented at today's Auction will bring you an unforgettable experience."
As soon as his words fell, a round of applause erupted in the Auction hall.
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the hall again, as if making eye contact with every guest.
"Before the Auction officially begins, I would like to remind everyone that this Auction will adhere to the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency. Every participant will have an equal opportunity to bid on the treasure they desire. At the same time, we hope everyone can remain rational and calm, and not be swayed by momentary impulses. After all, every item has its unique value and significance, and we need to think carefully and make wise decisions."
The host elegantly raised the gavel in his hand and continued:
"Next, let us anticipate today's first item. This item will kick off the splendid curtain of this Auction, and I believe it will surely catch everyone's eye. So, what kind of treasure is it? Let's wait and see!"
As the host's words concluded, the atmosphere in the hall became even more tense and excited.
Everyone was eager to see the true appearance of the first item.
"It's here! It's here!"
Zhuge Lan excitedly shouted, craning his neck.
At this moment, the large curtain behind the Auction stage slowly opened. Under everyone's expectant gazes, a graceful etiquette lady, holding an exquisite tray with both hands, elegantly walked onto the Auction stage.
The treasure on the tray was covered by a black cloth. The host slightly turned sideways and gently removed the black cloth covering the treasure.
He smiled and said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, what you see before you now is the first item of this Auction — the ocean star necklace. This necklace is crafted from rare deep-sea gems, each gem formed by the accumulation of time deep beneath the sea. Under the light, the necklace sparkles with brilliant dark blue light, as if the mighty power of the ocean has converged within it."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the necklace on the tray, and gasps of admiration erupted.
A lady dressed in luxurious attire couldn't help but whisper:
"This necklace is truly beautiful, simply irresistible."
The gentleman next to her also nodded in agreement:
"Indeed, such a precious treasure will surely lead to intense bidding."
Another young man also said:
"Yes, I heard that deep-sea gems are formed by at least hundreds of years of accumulation, drop by drop, deep in the sea. I heard that a deep-sea gem accumulated for a hundred years is only as big as a peanut. If this entire ocean star necklace is made of deep-sea gems, then these deep-sea gems must have been continuously deposited in the sea for at least five or six hundred years!"
The host continued to introduce:
"The ocean star necklace not only has extremely high collection value, but it is also rumored to possess mysterious powers. It is said that the wearer can gain good luck and blessings, and even play an unexpected role at critical moments. Of course, this is just a legend, but it is enough to prove the extraordinary nature of this necklace."
As the host finished his introduction, the bidding officially began.
"The starting bid is 500,000 gold coins, and each increment must not be less than 50,000 gold coins."
As soon as the host's voice fell, someone eagerly raised their paddle.
"550,000 gold coins!"
Immediately after, another voice rang out:
"600,000 gold coins!"
The bidding price continued to climb, and the atmosphere in the venue became increasingly heated.
Zhuge Lan and Dugu Bo were also attracted by this necklace, and the man who had previously argued with them was now also staring intently at the necklace, a hint of longing in his eyes.
Zhuge Lan asked Dugu Bo:
"What do you think?"
Dugu Bo shook his head:
"It's just so-so. Although the formation speed of these deep-sea gems is indeed very slow, there are actually still quite a few deep-sea gems in the sea now; it's just more troublesome to find them."
Zhuge Lan nodded:
"Then let's not compete for now. Let's observe and see."
In the fierce bidding, the price quickly broke through 1,000,000 gold coins.
At this moment, the bidding speed also began to slow down gradually. Everyone was cautiously considering whether to continue raising the price.
Seeing this, the host spoke at the opportune moment:
"The ocean star necklace is currently at 1,200,000. If you miss it, you'll never have another chance. Is there anyone else willing to bid higher?"
Just then, a deep voice rang out:
"1,500,000 gold coins!"
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