At the start, I tricked the school beauty, and ended up with twins?

Lin Huaye interrupted the greeter's words, and the greeter nodded and stepped aside.

Gu Yu followed Lin Huaye into the lobby of International Metropolis.

At this very moment, he was astounded by the splendid decoration of the entire lobby.

"Opulent... it's really so opulent! It's inhumanely opulent!"

Gu Yu was extremely moved.

Looking up at the dazzling crystal chandeliers overhead, and the floors paved with whole pieces of top-grade natural marble, even the seams in the corners of the walls were filled with real gold threads!

The cost of this lobby's decoration was probably calculated by the billions, wasn't it?

It was indeed worthy of the name International Metropolis, truly living up to its name.

To know that Modu is known internationally as a major international metropolis, and to have an International Metropolis within such a city, the capabilities of the people behind it must be among the top in the entire Modu.

No wonder the international auction chose this place. Could any other place support a trade where the stakes so often reach tens or hundreds of millions?

After a brief glance around the lobby's decor, Gu Yu collected his gaze.

He was here at the invitation of Old Mr. Chen after all. He couldn't afford to appear ignorant and inexperienced, could he?

That wouldn't just embarrass himself but also bring shame to the old man.

Entering a long corridor, surprisingly, an antique was placed every ten meters on both sides.

From porcelain to calligraphy and paintings, the corridor had it all.

It felt like walking into a museum of history, and even with Golden Eyes, Gu Yu found the array dazzling.

Looking around, all these antiques turned out to be authentic!

This International Metropolis, it's really so opulent!

But when you think about it, it makes sense. When someone can afford to embed gold into the seams of walls, they simply don't need to display fake antiques to catch people's eyes.

All along the way, Gu Yu was simply in awe.

"Yuan Gold Thread Iron Line Ge Kiln Bottle. Although it's not from the Song Dynasty, its price is still not cheap,"

Gu Yu saw an exquisitely shaped porcelain piece, narrow at the top and wide at the belly, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Lin Huaye looked at Gu Yu in astonishment from the side.

Since entering the corridor, he had been paying attention to Gu Yu.

The Treasure Hall was filled with numerous items, and anyone with a bit of treasure appraisal knowledge would be attracted by these items.

This was also a way for him to assess Gu Yu.

After all, he was quite skeptical about Chen Tian's claim that Gu Yu was a highly skilled Treasure Appraiser Master.

Mainly because Gu Yu was just too young.

At barely over twenty, if he was really a Treasure Appraiser Master, then wouldn't that mean he'd been cultivating his fiery eyes and golden pupils since he was in his mother's womb?

Therefore, he slowed his pace, wanting to test Gu Yu with these items.

Though he was just a hired auctioneer through Chen Tian, having frequented various antique auctions over the years had allowed him to pick up a trick or two in the art of appraising treasures.

Experience more tales on empire

Testing Gu Yu was certainly within his capabilities.

Yet, Gu Yu hadn't let him down. Starting from the moment he entered the corridor, Gu Yu had been murmuring while looking at those items.

Just now, he even called out the name of one of the items directly.

Keep in mind, these items were displayed anonymously. To call out their precise names within the few brief seconds of passing by them—

Even though Lin Huaye had previewed the appraisal manual on the side earlier, he still needed a moment to recall.

He even forgot the names of some items the moment he put down the appraisal manual.

But when Gu Yu spoke out, he too immediately remembered the corresponding item names, without a single mistake!

"This kid, he might really have some serious skills."

Lin Huaye, watching Gu Yu who was still muttering and staring intently at the items on the side, felt an added measure of respect for him.

After all, at such a significant event, how could Chen Tian possibly invite an ignorant young person to participate at random?

Even if he wanted to cultivate the younger generation's insight, Chen Tian should have brought his exceptionally beloved granddaughter Chen Chuyin instead!

"Mr. Gu, we have arrived, Mr. Chen has already taken his seat inside, let's also take our seats quickly!"

Lin Huaye made a welcoming gesture towards the front entrance of the auction venue.

If his previous interactions with Gu Yu had been merely polite conversation, then now, the fact that he used the word "please" meant he had placed Gu Yu on an equal footing with himself.

Who was Lin Huaye? Modu's top bidding agent.

Of course, he was also called a commissioned bidder.

He had accompanied clients in no less than five hundred auctions, and once achieved the magnificent feat of closing a deal for half the estimated price.

Some might think it's just about raising a card and calling out prices, a job anyone could do.

But in reality, the bidding phase of an auction is not merely a war of words but also a psychological battle.

A good commissioned bidder can not only spot when an auctioneer is deliberately raising the price, but also guess the psychological state of the other bidders.

To obtain, for the least amount of money, the item the client desires the most.

Therefore, one must not only have a way with words but also understand psychology.

If Gu Yu was a Treasure Appraiser Master, then today, Lin Huaye's identity would be a Bidding Master.

One to the left and one to the right, they were there to safeguard Chen Tian's bid.

But today, Lin Huaye felt unprecedented pressure.

Because it was only last night that he found out what Chen Tian intended to bid for.

The Twelve Zodiac Heads!

The nationals of other countries had firmly grasped the Huaxia people's national psyche, all thinking about taking the opportunity to make a big profit.

Today's auction was bound to be the most fiercely competitive one in his career.

To put it mildly, he was backed by Chen Tian's commission, but more importantly, he carried the eager expectations of all Huaxia people.

...

"Yu, come sit, the auction is about to start."

When Chen Tian saw Gu Yu, his face, which had been serious, relaxed a bit.

For some reason, now whenever he saw this young man, he would naturally feel at ease.

It was as if Gu Yu's presence could solve all issues for him.

"Mr. Lin, please have a seat too. Today's bidding is all relying on you!"

Having seated Gu Yu to his right, Chen Tian then motioned for Lin Huaye to sit on his left.

Lin Huaye silently took his seat next to Chen Tian, but his eyes were scanning the seated bidders in the hall.

He was rapidly analyzing the composition of these people.

Chen Tian, noticing that he was getting into the zone, did not disturb him.

Gu Yu's gaze also swept the first two rows.

More than half of the bidders were foreigners; it was just unknown what they were here for today.

For the Snake Head?

It wasn't their country's artifact; why bid on it?

Of course, there was another possibility - collective price hiking, they wanted the Huaxia bidder to bleed heavily for the Snake Head!

Only substantial profits could unite these capitalists.

While Gu Yu was sizing up those foreigners, they were also sizing him up.

The foreigners occasionally threw disdainful glances at him and, though whispering among themselves, Gu Yu could see the scorn on their faces.

He guessed they were probably saying things about his youth and questioning his capabilities.

However, Gu Yu didn't care. He just needed to do his job, and as for what the foreigners thought, he could let them think whatever they pleased.