Chapter 417
Chapter 417:
Ashton gave him a chilly look and retorted, “Some people stick around like persistent flies, impossible to dismiss. This kind of ‘fate’ seems more like bad luck.”
At those words, a shadow fell over Craig’s face.
Ashton’s taunts evidently pushed Craig to his limits. His forehead veins throbbed with irritation. His hands balled into fists, and Craig seemed on the brink of a physical altercation. Yet, the memory of Ashton’s formidable presence and eerie calm from yesterday made him hesitate.
With a dismissive scoff, Craig stepped back and retorted, “You excel at nothing but empty chatter. I have no time for your nonsense. And just so you know, this is Jeff Perez, a master appraiser I’ve brought in just for today. His involvement ensures that, should you somehow secure a win here, it’ll only result in your downfall! You’d be better off cooling down somewhere else, rather than making a spectacle of yourself here.”
Craig’s assertive dismissal seemed to ignite a spark of rebellion in Rosalie, though she noticed Abrial’s concerned frown.
Abrial whispered to them, “Jeff is a top-tier appraiser in Staville, known for turning events to profit. It looks like Craig has gone to great lengths—and expense—to pit him against us.”
Craig, with a smug lift of his brows, confirmed it, saying, “Exactly. I’m here to thwart you. After you took over my project, did you think I’d let you walk away without a fight? Jeff, your performance today is crucial. Impress me, and I’ll make sure your payment surpasses your usual fee.”
With a hearty laugh, Craig swaggered away, Jeff in tow. Ashton remained cool, intrigued to witness the skills of the appraiser who instilled such confidence in Craig. Together, the three of them made their way into the bustling venue.
A warehouse auction was an event where warehouses filled with unclaimed goods from expired leases were sold. The owner of these warehouses typically offered these spaces at relatively low prices to clear out inventory and for promotional purposes, allowing the auction winners to claim everything inside.
As the auction started, the warehouse manager provided a brief glimpse of the items, leaving it up to the attendees to decide if they wanted to bid. Due to the venue’s proximity to the black market, many of these warehouses might contain hidden treasures. Recently, some lucky individuals struck gold, attracting more people eager to test their luck.
𝓜𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝗱𝘁𝗵𝓮 𝗰𝗵𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 @ gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩼.c𝗈𝗺
Jeff, who had come with Craig, surveyed the growing crowd with a hint of disdain. A renowned appraiser in Staville, he considered attending such an event beneath his skills. He prided himself on being able to evaluate the contents of these warehouses with just a quick look. To him, the chance of finding genuine treasures seemed negligible. If anything truly valuable were present, wouldn’t the warehouse owner have already claimed it?
Nonetheless, persuaded by Craig and the promise of a substantial reward, Jeff decided to participate.
With the crowd sufficiently large, the warehouse manager commenced the display of goods from various warehouses. Jeff quickly realized that one of the warehouses held a collection of modern art pieces, potentially quite valuable. Interest piqued, several others with an eye for value converged on this particular warehouse, eager to participate in the auction.
Yet, as the bids for this sought-after warehouse climbed to exorbitant heights, Ashton, Rosalie, and Abrial seemed completely uninterested. They stood aside, sharing jokes and laughter, seemingly detached from the frenzy. Watching them, Jeff found their indifference rather amusing. Craig had earlier cautioned him about Ashton’s cunning, but it seemed now that his worries were overblown. These young folks didn’t seem to possess the shrewdness needed for the high stakes of the auction.
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