Conan Rick's Investigator

Qin Zhibo couldn't believe that he could meet this old face here.

It has been a long time since I last saw Carl Sandefur since I left the United States and infiltrated the Black Organization.

But if you think about it carefully, this person's public identity is an antique dealer, so there is no reason not to appear at this top art auction.

"4 million~!"

"VIP No. 709 bids $4 million!"

The price, having already reached the critical point, broke through the limit again, and even the experienced auctioneer's voice trembled.

"Are there any buyers here who want to continue bidding?"

Although the auctioneer asked all the bidders present, his eyes were only on Suzuki Jirokichi on the second floor.

When the price reaches $4 million, it is far beyond the reach of the ordinary bidders in the seats below.

The people below also tactfully placed their number plates on their knees and focused on watching the money game between the big guys.

In the VIP room 705, Suzuki Jirokichi stood up angrily, thought for a second, and immediately raised his palm high with five fingers extended.

"I'll pay 5 billion!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience immediately shouted "Oh" in unison.

As expected of the wealthy Suzuki Group, 5 million US dollars is enough to buy all the items auctioned before today.

"5 million!"

The auctioneer's pupils trembled with excitement and his head was buzzing. Just as he was about to ask if anyone else wanted to raise the price, a calm but loud voice came from the other side.

"6."

"VIP No. 709 has bid $6 million!"

When this price was announced, everyone present had their hearts stopped for a moment.

6 million yuan, even more than the total wealth of 90% of the buyers present!

But in front of the real big boss, he just wanted to buy a painting that looked good but was useless!

Although world famous paintings are priceless treasures, they actually have a price. Even Van Gogh's most representative works have a market price of only about US$2 million.

The current price of this "Sunflowers" is more than three times the highest value of Van Gogh's famous paintings!

Now it is no longer a rational competition that matches the price of the item itself, but two big guys bidding against each other in a fit of anger.

All the photographers in the audience turned their heads and looked behind them. This price was completely out of their reach, and they could only look up as if they were watching a "fight between gods".

In the VIP room of box 705, the base of Suzuki Jirokichi's neck turned slightly red, and the blood rushing in his body began to heat up.

Seeing this, Suzuki Sonoko next to him quickly advised: "Uncle, if it really doesn't work, just give up..."

In response, Suzuki Jirokichi did not respond, his brows furrowed, still thinking in his mind.

Although Suzuki Jirokichi seems to be extravagant in spending money, sponsoring competitions around the world and attending auctions in a high-profile manner, he is actually very meticulous and does not just spend money.

The role distribution between him and his younger brother Shiro Suzuki is more like the relationship between face and substance.

Jirokichi Suzuki is the face of the Suzuki Group and is responsible for expanding the Suzuki Group's international reputation and promoting its projects.

Shiro Suzuki is the inner circle of the Suzuki Group and is responsible for the actual development of various projects.

If we take a mature commercial film as an example, production and promotion are both indispensable, and the Suzuki brothers play these two roles.

Including this time, Suzuki Jirokichi dared to shout out "3 million" without hesitation. It was not an act of a rich man throwing money around, but his subsequent package plan.

Just like the 2 Yuan Cooking Brother, cooking doesn’t make money, but it makes money from online traffic and popularity.

But this 2 yuan price of vegetables is enough to force competitors into a corner.

According to analysts at the Suzuki Foundation, the second "Sunflower" is worth a maximum of more than 2 million US dollars due to market and historical reasons.

But if the painting can be successfully purchased and the exhibition of seven "Sunflowers" can be successfully held, the subsequent profits will exceed 7 million US dollars.

2+3=5 million US dollars, which means that if Jiro Suzuki can get "Sunflower" within 5 million US dollars, he will make money.

We can also take this opportunity to promote the Suzuki Group internationally. Who wouldn’t like such a wealthy business partner?

However, to be on the safe side, Jiro Suzuki prepared a total of US$6 million for this auction.

$6 million is exactly three times the market price of "Sunflowers", and it is also the break-even point for the Sunflowers exhibition.

If the price exceeds this, it will become a pure loss-making business.

Now, the VIP No. 709 has just raised the price to Suzuki Jirokichi's psychological critical point.

$6 million is not a small amount. If we increase the price by another $1 million...

Suzuki Jirokichi, who was a businessman rather than a true art lover, was thinking rapidly in his mind, along with the relevant personnel in the backstage lounge.

If Jirokichi Suzuki hadn't been able to film "Sunflowers", the subsequent sunflower exhibitions would have been impossible to realize, and the professional treasure protection team would have scattered.

Especially Miyadai Natsumi, who watched the auction scene on the TV screen with her hands clasped together nervously.

Kumiko Kishi, who was in charge of planning the exhibition venue, stood beside him and comforted him, "Don't worry, Consultant Suzuki will definitely be able to take a picture..."

"Ah."

Miyadai Natsumi nodded.

……

"$6 million. The current price of this painting, 'Sunflowers,' is exactly $6 million. It was bid by VIP No. 709."

"Is there anyone else bidding higher? Is there anyone else bidding?"

No one in the audience responded, and their hands even left the signs, not daring to move.

"Okay, then let's see if there are any further bids from outside buyers..."

At this critical juncture, the auctioneer slowed down the pace of the auction and repeated the classic words over and over again.

Because he had already seen that Suzuki Jirokichi was still struggling with whether to continue bidding, the $6 million still had room to rise.

The most taboo thing at an auction is to act on impulse.

Obviously, Suzuki Jirokichi was on the verge of acting on impulse.

Qin Zhibo glanced at Suzuki Jirokichi who was still thinking in front of him. Even if his money ability failed this time, it would not have a big impact on his plan.

Just looking at Carl Sandford in box 709, Qin Zhibo didn't understand what he was planning.

Jirokichi Suzuki bought "Sunflowers" to enhance the value of the sunflower exhibition to be held next week.

What does Carl have next week? Not even a hair.

So he must have lost money by buying "Sunflower" for 6 million.

Suddenly, Qin Zhibo's eyes tightened, noticing that Carl had been sitting in the same position for a long time.

From the moment he noticed him, Carl had been leaning back in his chair, supporting the right side of his head with one hand, and he didn't even move when he made his bid.

Qin Zhibo sensed something was wrong, turned on the telescope, and finally saw some clues.

On the edge of Carl's neck was a translucent crystal signal line, which connected a pocket headset to his right ear.

If you don't look closely, you really can't tell that he used any technological equipment.

This is……

Qin Zhibo immediately realized that the person who actually made the bid was not Carl Sandford, he was also being manipulated!

And it should be remote controlled, because if it is at a close distance, the pocket headset does not need to be connected to the crystal signal cable.

Someone who can remotely control Carl Sandford...

Qin Zhibo couldn't help but think of that person, who was the boss behind the Black Organization!

Carl Sanford's relationship with the Black Organization started with him helping the Black Organization recruit new members, and later Qin Zhibo discovered more and more secrets.

Judging from the historical records and the exhibits in the Twilight Annex, the tycoon Karasuma Renya was a collector who had collected many works of art and precious collectibles.

Since he likes collecting, a centenarian would definitely not travel around the world to collect these things personally, which would arouse suspicion.

Carl Sandefur happens to be a famous antique buyer on the East Coast of the United States.

In addition, there is evidence that he is deeply trusted by the boss of the black organization and is in collusion with him.

Carl's fake Panester fragments, like the fragments of Vermouth and his predecessor Rum, were all given by the boss.

In Enkai's abyss, even if he had not designed to deceive Mr. Clock in advance, the organization boss's trap would have deceived Mr. Clock and killed him in Tsathoggua's mouth.

This is enough to prove that Carl Sandefur is the minion of the Black Organization's boss.

So, the person who really wants "Sunflower" is the boss of the Black Organization?

Suzuki Group vs. Black Organization, which one has greater financial resources?

"I'll add 5 million!"

"6 billion!"

After thinking for more than ten seconds, Suzuki Jirokichi finally bid again.

However, this time the price increase was not as generous as before. The price increase was in the unit of "billion", which proved that his psychological critical point had been reached.

As long as Carl Sandford from No. 709 dares to raise the price again, Suzuki Jirokichi will give up without hesitation.

Sometimes, a real man needs to be able to stretch and shrink.

"6 million! VIP No. 705 bids 6 million!"

"Then, VIP No. 709, you..."

The auctioneer looked directly at the VIP room No. 709 and incited opposition with his words, trying to raise the price again.

But just as his eyes fell on the remote VIP room, Carl Sandford had already stood up and walked back.

Carl Sandefur actually left the scene directly!

"Oh……"

The photographers at the scene were in an uproar, because anyone could see that Suzuki Jirokichi had almost reached his limit, and if he tried to raise the price a little more, he would be able to get "Sunflowers".

Even if it’s a huge loss even if you get it at this price, isn’t this feeling of impending victory the most satisfying moment in an auction?

6 million has been spent, is the last 6 million still needed?

But when Carl Sandford was about to achieve a great victory, he chose to stop.

Has this person ever quit smoking?!

As Carl No. 709 left the scene, the auctioneer did not hesitate any longer. He immediately raised the hammer in his hand excitedly and announced the result at the fastest speed.

"6 million for the first time!"

"6 million for the second time!"

"6 million for the third time, deal!"

clap clap clap...

The whole audience erupted in thunderous applause, congratulating the “winner”.

……

"I'm so pissed off, Rui!"

"Go check the origins of 709. Aren't they here to cause trouble?"

As soon as Suzuki Jiroyoshi returned to the lounge, he angrily gave orders to his subordinates, obviously a little angry.

Suzuki Sonoko, who was standing next to him, quickly comforted her uncle to sit down, and poured him tea and fanned him like a little sister.

Jiro Suzuki has been dominating the auction market for many years, and his trick has always been "great force makes miracles happen", but today he suffered a setback at the hands of a person whose background is unknown.

$3 million is already a very high price for Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", and it may even be suspected of price gouging and speculation.

It can be said that apart from Suzuki Jirokichi, there is no other person in the world who can pay this price for this painting.

But now he has spent an extra 3.5 million, more than double the original budget.

This is the US dollar, not the Japanese yen that depreciated after the bubble burst!

Jiro Suzuki is not a fool. He knows that this unknown mysterious person spending 6 million to buy "Sunflower" is a huge loss no matter what.

So if this isn't making trouble, then what is?