The morning after, Garfield woke up to a flurry of notifications on his phone. News of his extravagant purchase had spread like wildfire. Someone had captured a video of the event that happened at the gala and posted it on SwiftSeven, the social media platform that was voted the number one platform for that year. Gar didn't have an interest in social media, but his follower count had increased; he received hundreds of messages commending his daring decision to challenge the Skye family, showing no signs of intimidation.
"I never imagined that acquiring the gallery would thrust me into the spotlight. This is huge!" Garfield thought. His phone rang, and he picked up. It was Sophia calling. "Ms. Patel, how are you doing?" Gar asked. "I'm great, Garfield. Thanks for asking, but the gallery needs its two CEOs, not one. Can you get here as soon as possible?" Sophia inquired. Garfield cleared his throat and replied, "Sure."
He went into the bathroom, had his bath, got dressed and headed downstairs. "Hey, hon." Evelyn greeted as she spotted her husband. "Morning, darling." Garfield said and walked to the dining table, where he sat. "I see you had a wonderful night." Evelyn smiled and looked at Gar's joyful face. "Oh, my night was splendid." Gar replied.
Evelyn set food on the table and they both ate. Just about to take his leave, Gar's mother-in-law waltzed in. "Good morning, Rory." Gar sat back on the chair. "How are you doing, Gar?" Rory asked. Gar and Evelyn simultaneously looked at her and exclaimed, "Whoa!". "What?" Rory questioned and frowned. "Umm... It's nothing, just, umm... This is the first time you've asked me that question, ever. So, it, umm... surprised me, us." Gar stuttered.
"Well, I've realized that you're my son-in-law, and it's time we start getting along." Rory said and laughed nervously. "Ok, if you say so, I will be taking my leave now. Sophia needs my help at the Gambit." Garfield said and left the house.
He arrived at the gallery and headed to his studio. Just as he opened the door, he saw Sophia putting down the telephone. "Oh, you're just in time." Sophia said and walked towards Gar. "We've been receiving calls from multiple customers. I must confess, if I had known that such an event would make the gallery's reputation skyrocket, I would have thought of it a long time ago." Sophia explained.
"Well, it's good we're making progress, and it's just our first day. Garfield's Gambit would be a top art gallery in a short period." Garfield said with a smile on his face. "Oh, before I forget, we were sent an invite to the Bellwethers Auction. I would have gone, but I have a family reunion to attend. Will you be able to make it?" Sophia asked. "Well, I don't have anything to sell or buy? So, it's a no." Gar said. "Well then, I'll be taking my leave now." Sophia said and walked out.
Gar's mind was a storm of thoughts as he sat alone in his studio, the dim lighting accentuating the tension in the air. His Synergy System, a tool that had both empowered and burdened him, was ever-present, waiting for his next move.
While he was lost in thought, the system sent him a notification, its interface materializing before his eyes in a translucent overlay:
"User is yet to negotiate the debt repayment process with the system".
Gar's voice was steady as he proposed, "System, I suggest allocating 30% of my earnings from the art gallery towards settling my debt."
The interface pulsed momentarily as the System processed his words. Then, it responded:
"Proposal acknowledged. Confirm agreement to allocate 30% of gallery earnings towards debt repayment."
Gar studied the glowing text, weighing the cost against the potential benefits. He knew that committing a significant portion of his income would mean tighter financial management, but it was a necessary step to keep the System's demands at bay.
With a decisive nod, he spoke aloud, "Yes, I agree to the terms."
The System's response was immediate, the text scrolling across his vision:
"Agreement confirmed."
Just then, a new notification appeared:
"Quest: Attend Bellwether's Auction."
"Objective: Gain knowledge on managing and trading artworks by observing and learning from experts."
"Hmmm, just when I wanted to explore my new gallery." Gar sighed and accepted the quest. He got into his car and drove straight to the auction house.
Gar arrived at Bellwether's Auction with a heightened sense of awareness, his Synergy System subtly enhancing his senses. The crowd, dressed in their finest attire, moved like a sea of wealth and influence. Every individual was a potential source of knowledge, and Gar intended to absorb as much as he could.
As he mingled, the System provided him with real-time analysis, highlighting key figures in the art world and feeding him information on the artworks on display. Gar used his perception skill, which allowed him to perceive the subtle nuances of the bidders' behavior—the slight hesitations, the determined glances, the unspoken strategies.
He interacted with the crowd, engaging in brief conversation and letting his charm smooth over any awkward exchanges. He noted the dynamics between collectors and curators, how reputations were leveraged to inflate prices, and how a carefully timed bid could turn the tide of an auction.
The auctioneer's voice reverberated through the grand hall, each bid a carefully calculated move in a high-stakes game. When the final piece, a Vynzent Smit called "Rebel's Ride." was announced, the tension in the room was palpable. Gar felt the weight of the moment as the starting bid of 10 million quickly escalated.
The bidding was finally over because the piece was bought by a woman who sat a few seats in front of Gar. Suddenly, there was turmoil in the room. The fire alarm went off, and the crowd began to disperse towards the exit of the building. Just as Gar was about to leave, the system chimed in and notified him of a new quest, "What could it be this time?" Gar thought.