bestfiction Chapter 313 Calm Madness
Chapter 313 Calm Madness
Unlike the bustling banquet hall on the first floor, the semi-open private rooms on the upper floors are relatively quiet.
The huge tropical green plants cleverly divide the space into individual booths, providing excellent privacy.
The view here is excellent, offering a panoramic view of the entire first-floor banquet hall and a clearer view of the exhibition booths in the distance.
The auction is in progress.
One by one, dazzling pieces of jewelry were presented on the exhibition stand for auction.
Several items had already been auctioned, but Zhou Chengjing did not raise his paddle to participate; he simply sat there calmly.
"Is there anything you like?" Zhou Chengjing asked Bai Li.
Bai Li shook her head and flipped through the catalog of auction items in her hand with little interest.
She wasn't there to bid today, and the first half of the auction mainly featured jewelry, such as top-quality pink and blue diamonds, or pieces inlaid with various rare gemstones, which didn't particularly attract her.
"Twelve million euros! Third time! Sold!" On the platform, the auctioneer's gavel slammed down. "Congratulations to Mr. Smithfelice for successfully winning this crown crafted from Paraiba tourmalines, pigeon blood rubies, and royal sapphires!"
On the red velvet fabric is a miniature crown, so small that it's not meant to be worn but only for collection.
It is inlaid with intricate top-quality gemstones, which are dazzling under the spotlight.
It looks very beautiful, but twelve million euros, which is nearly one hundred million RMB, is indeed an inflated price.
With the "[Master Appraiser]" tag, Bai Li can almost instantly tell the true price of all auction items.
Twelve million euros—whoever buys it will be stuck with it.
At such a high price, it's unlikely that another buyer will be found.
This crown is destined to be placed only in high places, for appreciation, admiration, and display.
It has no other value besides that.
Following the direction the auctioneer pointed, Bai Li saw Mr. Smith-Felice, the winning bidder, in a certain spot on the first floor, smiling as he accepted congratulations from those around him.
Seeing this, she quickly understood.
For the wealthy, the true value of the auctioned items is not the point; it is the act of acquiring the treasure itself.
The key is to appear at such a charity gala and demonstrate one's strength and philanthropy.
Furthermore, given the nature of charity galas, the auction items will inevitably have a certain premium.
Whether it's worth it or not is not important in a situation like today.
What they're buying is face, it's about emotions.
The next item to be auctioned is about to be brought to the stage.
It is a limited edition Patek Philippe watch from 1933, fully diamond-encrusted.
A legendary model from a long history, especially one with high-complexity features and original diamond embellishments, is extremely rare and should fetch a high price at auction.
Unfortunately, it's not a legendary, unique piece, nor does it have any historical significance, which is a waste of its age. In short, its potential is not high.
Bai Li yawned quietly out of boredom, looked away, and flipped directly to the bottom half of the manual in her hand.
Although she hadn't attended many auctions, she was fairly familiar with the rules.
It's like a banquet; the first dishes served are cold appetizers, just enough to whet your appetite, while the real main courses come later.
Tonight's auction was no different. The opening lots, though valuable, were all "hard currency" or relatively easy to value, mainly intended to liven up the atmosphere.
The big, final items, such as the national treasures that Zhou Chengjing wanted, were all in the latter half of the competition.
Bai Li had hoped to find something valuable in the manual, but even after flipping to the last page, she still couldn't find the rare treasure Zhou Chengjing had mentioned.
She put away the handbook, turned to look at Zhou Chengjing suspiciously, and met his gaze.
Zhou Chengjing clearly had little interest in the items up for auction.
Compared to these mediocre auction items, Bai Li's reaction was definitely more interesting to him.
He had noticed all of Bai Li's expressions, including but not limited to her lack of interest, disdain for the auction items, and bored yawning.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Zhou Chengjing smiled, as if he knew what she was thinking, and replied, "Some auction items are not recorded in the manual, so it is inconvenient to record them."
The bidding was fast, and before long, Bai Li understood why Zhou Chengjing had said it was "inconvenient".
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will now present the first 'no reserve' item of the evening."
As the auctioneer announced the news, the atmosphere of the auction changed dramatically in an instant.
The lights in the entire venue suddenly dimmed, leaving only a beam of light that was precisely projected onto the center of the booth.
No reserve item?
Bai Li muttered to herself.
A no-reserve auction is an auction where the auctioneer does not set a reserve price for the items, allowing bidders to freely submit bids, with the highest bidder ultimately winning the item.
In other words, the auction house is very confident that this item will fetch a high price.
The red velvet cloth was carefully lifted.
The air seemed to freeze the moment the exhibit was revealed.
On the platform stands a breathtaking masterpiece of art.
The overall shape is that of a pot, about one meter high, and the entire body of the pot is decorated with bronze-colored coiled dragon patterns.
The design is extremely magnificent, with giant hollowed-out dragon-shaped ears on both sides and double-layered lotus petals around the top, each petal blooming gracefully under the light.
The finishing touch is the crane in the center of the lotus petals, its neck outstretched and head held high, wings outstretched as if it were about to break free from its restraints and soar into the sky.
Although it is cold bronze, it is full of vitality. Having traversed thousands of years, it has returned to the world at this moment, both profound and mysterious.
An absolute national treasure!
After the silence came gasps of disbelief, followed by suppressed murmurs from the audience.
"God..."
"How...how did this thing get here?"
“National treasure…this is a true national treasure.”
"This is so amazing..."
Everyone's eyes were glued to the display stand.
Shock, fascination, and an almost reverent awe.
All the dazzling diamonds and jewels of the past paled in comparison to this bronze art treasure that carries the origins of civilization and symbolizes unparalleled craftsmanship.
The auctioneer's voice rang out: "The Spring and Autumn Period Lotus Crane Square Pot! A symbol of the pinnacle of Bronze Age art! Its exquisite craftsmanship, ingenious design, and sublime artistic value are unparalleled in the world! The lotus petals are elegant, and the crane seems ready to take flight, symbolizing auspiciousness! Starting bid—no reserve price!"
The words "no reserve price" were like sparks thrown into a hot oil pan, instantly igniting the atmosphere in the entire venue.
"Ten million euros!"
Bidding immediately erupted from the front row on the first floor, with prices starting at ten million euros, a stark contrast to the previous starting price of several million euros.
"Fifteen million!"
"Twenty million!"
……
Bidding erupted one after another, and prices soared at a fever pitch, surpassing the prices of all previous auction items in the blink of an eye.
Bai Li's expertise as an appraiser was put to the fullest at this moment.
Bronze artifacts are generally solemn and dignified, but this bronze artifact from the Spring and Autumn Period has clearly broken free from the constraints of ritual and is a crystallization of the romantic aesthetics and cutting-edge technology unique to that era.
The value of this lotus and crane square pot has long surpassed its material form.
Or rather, it shouldn't be measured by simple numbers.
No matter how high the price, it's an insult to it.
Its value is timeless.
It is an artistic treasure that can be passed down for thousands of years, a concrete embodiment of the pinnacle of a nation's aesthetics!
Bai Li finally understood what Zhou Chengjing had just said—"It's inconvenient to write it in the manual."
indeed.
It would be an insult to place it alongside those flashy but impractical jewels.
Moreover, its value is so high that it is incalculable. Its appearance will surely cause a great stir, and there is no need for the manual to introduce it in detail.
Even Bai Li felt a slight urge to participate in the auction at this moment.
The auction was still ongoing, but Zhou Chengjing had not yet placed a bid.
Bai Li couldn't help but ask, "Is this the... good show you were talking about?"
“Of course not.” Zhou Chengjing slightly rose from the back of his chair and looked towards the banquet hall on the first floor. His gaze did not linger on the auction items, but rather passed through the gaps in the crowd and landed on a middle-aged man who was surrounded by several people on the first floor. There was an indescribable, obscure light in his eyes. “Do you see that man in the white silk suit?”
Bai Li also sat up slightly and looked in the direction Zhou Chengjing pointed.
White is striking, and few men wear white suits, so Bai Li spotted it immediately.
He was a middle-aged man who looked somewhat thin compared to the bodyguards surrounding him, but he had an upright posture and a well-maintained face with a touch of refinement.
He was leaning slightly forward, raising his bidding paddle to participate in the auction.
At this point, the bidding price had reached a staggering thirty million euros.
Bai Li looked at it for a while but couldn't see anything special about it.
"I saw him. What happened to him?"
“Cui Shengzhe, chairman of the Holy Light Group in H country,” Zhou Chengjing said slowly, his voice not loud, but clear enough to reach Bai Li’s ears, carrying a kind of cold analysis, “On the surface, he is a multinational electronics giant, a philanthropist, and a devout Catholic who donates a lot of money to the Vatican and churches around the world every year.”
Listening to Zhou Chengjing's story, Bai Li looked at Cui Shengzhe again and found that he did have an almost saintly sense of balance. It was tiring to keep smiling, but he was able to maintain a smile that was 30 degrees upward.
In addition, his plain white suit, which was different from others, did indeed have a strong religious feel.
Bai Li frowned slightly: "What about behind the scenes?"
Zhou Chengjing withdrew his gaze and looked at Bai Li: "Secretly, he is the biggest financier and actual leader of the Holy Blood Brotherhood in the Far East."
"The Brotherhood of Holy Blood?" Bai Li murmured to herself.
Ugh, this name doesn't sound good at all.
"The Brotherhood of the Holy Blood is a modern cult that originated from the medieval Inquisition, now disguised as a mystical organization, engaging in money laundering, human trafficking, organ smuggling, and political-business brokerage. More importantly..."
As Zhou Chengjing recounted his story, Bai Li felt a sense of familiarity welling up inside her.
These business dealings... feel so familiar.
Looking at Bai Li's expression, Zhou Chengjing knew that she had already guessed the general idea, so he simply stopped keeping her in suspense and leaned slightly closer to Bai Li.
Bai Li immediately smelled the unique, crisp scent emanating from him, similar to that of cedar trees. She looked at Zhou Chengjing and said, word by word:
"The Brotherhood of Holy Blood is the predecessor and origin of the Underwater Organization."
Although she had expected it, Bai Li was still taken aback, and her heart skipped a beat after Zhou Chengjing finished speaking.
It really is going into the water.
Zhou Chengjing wouldn't be paying attention to a cult leader at this moment for no reason, nor would he specifically pull her aside to explain things, unless there's some explanation behind it.
The Blood Brotherhood's business was so similar to that of the underworld that it was hard not to overthink it.
She had previously handed over information about the underworld organization and the people she had captured to Zhou Chengjing, but had not received any response from him.
After so much time had passed, Bai Li thought there would be no result, but she didn't expect Zhou Chengjing to have been investigating in secret all along.
The precursor to the underwater organization...
Brotherhood of the Holy Blood...
The largest financial backer in the Far East...
Zhou Chengjing not only thoroughly investigated the underwater area, but also accurately pinpointed the vital point of the snake upstream.
The extent to which his intelligence network infiltrated the underworld far exceeded her imagination.
"So, his appearance here, bidding for this national treasure, is part of your plan?"
Bai Li's voice was extremely low. Her gaze swept over Cui Shengzhe, who looked determined, before returning to Zhou Chengjing's unfathomable gray eyes. Her heart pounded.
What is Zhou Chengjing going to do?
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chengjing laughed, a laugh completely different from his previous gentle and refined one; this time, it carried a whimsical and unrestrained air of complete control.
“Cui Shengzhe is obsessed with collecting oriental treasures that can demonstrate his ‘sacred’ status and ‘profound cultural heritage’, especially important artifacts like the Lotus Crane Square Pot, which he cannot resist.”
In the dim light of the booth, Zhou Chengjing's face appeared both handsome and wicked.
Normally, that well-maintained, warm exterior disappears in an instant, revealing the sharp core beneath.
"More importantly, he needs to demonstrate his strength and consolidate his position to his brotherhood through this public, high-priced auction."
This was the first time Bai Li had seen Zhou Chengjing like this. In other words, it was the first time Zhou Chengjing had shown his true colors in front of her, and she was momentarily stunned.
It was a cold, madness that was almost disdainful and all-encompassing.
His refined demeanor as a scion of a prominent family and his composure as a rising political star were all a facade.
The man before us, who is willing to use national treasures as pawns and disregard rules to achieve his goals, is Zhou Chengjing's true nature.
After regaining her senses, Bai Li's gaze fell on the bronze treasure bathed in a beam of light on the distant display stand, and she gasped.
are you crazy?
Using national treasures as bait?
Bai Li suppressed her surging emotions and forced herself to regain her composure.
But deep down, her perception of Zhou Chengjing had undergone a complete transformation.
—This is a predator disguised in human skin.
Zhou Chengjing truly embodies the meaning of calm "madness".
Madness is the means, calmness is the essence.
Zhou Chengjing's "madness" lies not in the loss of emotional control, but in his absolutely calm and extreme logic of action.
To achieve his goal, he can use any means without any scruples.
This kind of reckless madness is more unsettling than any emotional madness.
Rules, morality, and even common sense are all things that Zhou Chengjing can easily shatter.
In Bai Li's mind, Zhou Chengjing's danger level had soared to an unprecedented level.
This is an absolutely dangerous entity that walks on the edge of power and darkness.