Reborn in America: I Have an Equipment Slot

Chapter 113 The Chase

"I'm not kidding. This Buddha statue should just be a work of art, worth at most around $100. I don't know why this auction house treats a work of art as a treasure."

Irving glanced around at the auction items and answered casually.

"Crafts?!"

Upon hearing Irving's words, James was taken aback, then hesitated, "That can't be right. If it's an artwork, why would the auction house put it here? Aren't they afraid of being discovered and publicly shamed?"

"Perhaps they don't know that this thing is a work of art, or perhaps it will be explained before the auction. In any case, most people come to these kinds of auctions hoping to find a bargain. Even if they find out in the end that the Buddha statue is a work of art, they probably won't make a fuss about it."

Irving shrugged and gave a quick look at the auction items in the exhibition hall as he spoke.

Seeing that most of the products in the exhibition hall were various handicrafts and there wasn't a single antique, he immediately looked disappointed.

Just as he was about to pull James away with him.

Suddenly, an inconspicuous blue porcelain piece in the corner instantly caught his attention.

"I never expected there to be such good stuff in this exhibition hall!"

Owen raised an eyebrow and walked calmly to the blue porcelain piece.

Unlike other exquisitely crafted, antique-looking handicrafts that appear noble and priceless under the exhibition hall lights, this celadon porcelain piece in front of me looks quite ordinary.

But Irving could tell at a glance that this thing was unusual.

Although this celadon bowl is covered with dense, fine cracks on its surface, its unique color and rounded shape make it increasingly pleasing to the eye.

"Hey buddy, what are you looking at?" James noticed Irving's unusual behavior and followed him.

Seeing Irving's gaze fixed on the seemingly ordinary celadon bowl, James immediately frowned. "This bowl looks so broken; it's obviously not anything of value—"

Before James could finish speaking, Irving immediately raised his hand to signal him to shut up.

"Stop talking nonsense. This is one of the few good items at this auction," Owen couldn't help but say.

"A good thing?" James was taken aback when he heard Irving say that. "How much is this porcelain bowl worth?"

""

"It's worth at least $5 —"

"$5? WTF?! You're not kidding, Kyrie?" James couldn't help but exclaim upon hearing the price.

"Shh! Keep your voice down, buddy. Do you really have to yell it out so everyone else can hear?" Irving cursed. "We've finally found something good!"

Upon hearing Irving's reminder, James quickly covered his mouth.

Seeing this, Irving didn't bother to say anything more, turned around and led James into the auction venue.

Looking at the huge screen next to him and the very luxuriously decorated auction venue, James stared wide-eyed with curiosity.

This was his first time at a formal auction, and he was very curious about everything.

James wandered around the venue curiously, but Irving wasn't interested. He went to the service desk at the auction alone and asked a waitress for a Red Bull with ice.

He then sat on the sofa in the rest area, quietly waiting for the auction to begin.

Half an hour later, the auction officially began.

Several staff members arrived at the scene and turned on the display screen above the venue to introduce the first item of the auction—a gilt bronze Maitreya Buddha statue.

"Welcome everyone to today's auction. I am Kevin, the auctioneer hosting this auction of Oriental treasures!"

A middle-aged white man dressed in a black and white suit, looking very capable, walked to the host's position, gently tapped the auction gavel in his hand, and enthusiastically introduced: "Today's first item is this gilt bronze Maitreya Buddha statue displayed on the screen. I believe many buyers have already seen this item in the exhibition hall."

Indeed, this gilt bronze Maitreya Buddha statue is said to have been unearthed during the Northern Song Dynasty, corresponding to 960-11 AD.

27 years.

It is an extremely valuable collectible. Because the owner urgently needs money, he has specially entrusted our auction house to auction it.

The starting bid is $1000, and each bid must be at least $100.

Upon hearing the price, Irving couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.

To be honest, if he hadn't known beforehand that these items were handicrafts through the skill "appraisal," he might have actually been tempted to buy them by the auctioneer.

A gilt bronze Maitreya Buddha statue from the Northern Song Dynasty is being sold by its owner in a hurry—with a starting bid of only $1000. Anyone would be tempted by such a thing, right?

As expected, the auctioneer announced the start of the bidding with the sound of the gavel.

Instantly, many people in the arena raised their number plates at the same time.

$1300.

$1500.

"$2000!"

'

1

In the blink of an eye, after more than a dozen rounds of bidding, the price of this gilt bronze Maitreya Buddha statue was raised to a high price of $5000.

The lively scene immediately made James, who was sitting to the side, widen his eyes.

"Irving, it's just a piece of art, why are so many people bidding?"

Seeing a Mexican man in the distance raise his number plate and suddenly increase the price to 7000

"Dollar," James immediately looked puzzled and whispered to Irving.

"You know this gilt bronze Maitreya Buddha statue is a work of art, so you won't act impulsively, but others may not."

Irving spoke slowly, "This is a common tactic used by auctioneers. You'll learn it after you experience it more."

James nodded, looking thoughtful.

To be honest, Irving's words seemed to open a new world for him.

He works incredibly hard, exhausting himself, diligently forging documents for different people every day, taking risks, and at most earns a few thousand dollars a day.

But these auction houses simply hold an auction, and one item might be worth more than half a month's hard-earned income.

For a moment, James felt a mix of emotions.

Seeing James remain silent, Irving suddenly remembered the incident not long ago when the two of them were chased and shot at by a pickup truck.

After hesitating for a moment, Irving finally asked, "By the way, buddy, did you find out why you were being chased last time? Was it a colleague?"

Upon hearing the word "hunt down," James's expression, which had been complex, instantly turned dejected.

"It wasn't a friendly fire attack; the gunfight a couple of days ago was purely accidental."

After letting out a long sigh, James looked up, shook his head at Irving, and stated his findings: "The three gunmen who were chasing us mistook me for a member of the Hellfire gang—"