Chapter 341: Seraphina’s Next Target (5)

Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Seraphina’s Next Target (5)

"Looks like we’ll have to compete. To think, we competed when we were young, and now that we’re old with one foot in the grave, we get another chance to go at it! Today, let’s see which of us is more willing to spend!" Mr. Hale, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

"You’re here for this inkstone, too?" Walter Sterling looked at Mr. Hale in surprise. "I never would’ve thought! Our Seraphina has such a good eye, fancying the exact same thing as Mr. Hale! Not bad, not bad at all! She’s got a promising future! A very promising future!"

Seraphina Sterling felt her expression darken with exasperation. ’So when I like the same thing as Mr. Hale, it means I have a good eye? Just a moment ago, he seemed completely unimpressed with my choice! The second he hears Mr. Hale wants this inkstone, his attitude does a complete one-eighty! Grandpa, could you *be* any more fickle?’

"Starting bid, one million!" The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, paddles immediately shot up one after another.

"One million one hundred thousand!"

"One million two hundred thousand!"

"One million three hundred thousand!"

...

"Five million!"

"Five million five hundred thousand!"

"Five million seven hundred thousand!"

...

A bidding war had already erupted on the floor below. Clearly, everyone was very interested in the Snow Hall Inkstone, the third lot of the auction. Seraphina watched the lively bidding unfold, a faint smile playing on her lips. ’This is exactly the kind of scene I wanted! The higher these people push the price, the better. Once they’ve driven it up, the real bidders upstairs can finally join in.’

’Then, Apex Collections will make a name for itself, and a huge sum of capital will be secured! Today, I’ll get to witness with my own eyes just how much money this Snow Hall Inkstone, which I bought for a few hundred dollars, can actually sell for!’

"Ten million!"

"Eleven million!"

"Thirteen million!"

...

The higher the price climbed, the fewer bidders remained. However, those still in the running were all the more determined to win the inkstone, and to them, every remaining opponent seemed increasingly formidable.

"Eighteen million!" Walter Sterling finally joined the fray. However, his increment wasn’t large enough to intimidate the other competitors; many were still quite determined.

"Twenty million!" Someone raised the price again!

"Twenty-five million!" Mr. Hale made his move.

The moment everyone saw the Hale Family’s paddle go up, a large number of bidders quietly bowed out of the race. It was almost laughable. After all, how many of them could truly compete with the Hale Family’s resources? Go against the Hales? Could you possibly match their immense financial power? If you couldn’t, then you’d best sit tight and do nothing. That way, you’d avoid the double-whammy of failing to win the item *and* offending the Hale Family. The potential loss just wasn’t worth the risk.

"Twenty-six million!" Walter Sterling stuck to his own pace, raising the bid slowly and unhurriedly. With a wide grin on his face, he kept his true intentions completely hidden.

"Thirty million!" It was Mr. Hale again. If anyone had been holding onto a sliver of hope and continuing to bid, that hope was utterly crushed into dust after seeing such a massive jump from the Hales. The Hale Family was clearly determined to win this, no matter the cost. There was no point in trying their luck anymore. It was over. Besides giving up, they had no other choice.

"Thirty-one million!"

"Thirty-five million!"

"Thirty-six million!"

"Forty million!"

...

The main hall had fallen silent. Everyone present was a distinguished entrepreneur, either a scion of a wealthy family or the CEO of a major company. They were people who had seen it all. And yet, watching the two patriarchs from the Hale and Sterling families shout bids back and forth like this, they were utterly stunned.