Treasure Pavilion, Sixth Floor.
Within a private room, three n sat around a table with Lu Yuan in the main seat. To his right, Manager Lin was pouring tea with a deferential attitude.
On the left was a man who looked to be in his forties with thinning hair and a bulging belly. The man wore a simple, almost dopey smile, but his eyes flickered with a sharp glint from ti to ti, clearly betraying his shrewdness of a seasoned businessman.
"Let do an introduction," Manager Lin said, placing the teapot down. "This here is Mr. Lu and over here we have Mr. Wan Fuda, Boss Wan."
Clearly, Manager Lin was more respectful toward Lu Yuan. He had addressed Lu Yuan as Mr. Lu, but casually called the other Boss Wan. Or course, such subtle shifts in respect would go unnoticed by most people.
"Hello," Lu Yuan greeted with a curt nod before going straight to point. "Boss Wan, I believe that you already know why I asked you here."
"Of course, President Lu, you're interested in my Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda," Wan Fuda replied with a smile. "You've got a keen eye. That little treasure has been in my collection for years. Be it appearance or the historical value, it's top-notch."
His words were full of praise, clearly proud of the item in question.
"Boss Wan, I'll admit that the historical value is impressive, but appearance wise..." Manager Lin interjected. "Pardon for being straightforward, but pagodas usually follow the sacred numbers—seven, nine, twelve. But yours, having only eleven tiers, is rather unusual. To be blunt, it's not that valuable; perhaps it might be missing a layer."
As the middleman, Manager Lin shouldn't have made such remarks at this point in ti. But he knew full well that Lu Yuan was determined to acquire the pagoda, so he wasn't going to miss this chance to assist the latter.
Besides, though Wan Fuda was technically considered a VIP of the Treasure Pavilion, he hadn't really made any worthwhile purchases here. Even this particular collector's item—the pagoda—wasn't originally offered with sincere intent to sell.
Manager Lin was already sowhat displeased with Boss Wan. On the other hand, Lu Yuan was a real custor whom he had actually gotten a handso commission through.
"You...You... Xiao Lin, you don't understand..." Wan Fuda stamred. He was flustered by the remark but he couldn't find the words to explain.
"Enough," Lu Yuan cut Boss Wan off before he could say another word. "I want the item. Na your price."
Ti was tight. Lu Yuan wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible.
"President Lu, I haven't said anything about sell—" Wan Fuda began in an attempt to hedge.
"Twenty-five million," Lu Yuan offered in a flat tone. He knew the original asking price was twenty million so he had raised it directly.
Manager Lin opened his mouth in surprise. He had only just started trying to drive the price down. But now that Lu Yuan had flipped the script, he could only sit and watch by the side.
"President Lu, this isn't about the price."
"Thirty million."
"I've kept this pagoda for years—"
"Forty million."
"President Lu, see, I—"
"Fifty million." Lu Yuan gave his final offer and added, "This is your last chance. If you won't sell, I'm leaving right now."
He had money, but that didn't an he'd continue raising the price without thought. If Wan Fuda was still hesitant, he would resort to other ways to get what he wanted.
"Deal." Wan Fuda rose from his seat at once. Fifty million was way beyond his expectations. He also knew that if he were to continue stalling for ti, the deal would just collapse entirely. They were all seasoned players; he knew when to stop pushing his luck.
"President Lu, your eye for quality is truly impressive. The pagoda can only realize its full potential within your care. I brought it with today. Please, take a look."
Wan Fuda took out the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda from his bag and carefully placed it on the table.
The hesitation from before was completely gone and was replaced with decisiveness. Even his tone now was laced with respect. The shift in attitude was so drastic as though he had beco a different man.
Manager Lin couldn't help but shake his head in silent amusent.
Lu Yuan carefully studied the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda. It was about the size of a palm and had been preserved remarkably well. Most importantly, the details and all other aspects matched exactly as he rembered.
"Great, the item looks fine. I'll transfer the money to you through Treasure Pavilion," Lu Yuan comnted upon confirming the authenticity of the pagoda. The deal was being set up by the Treasure Pavilion so it made sense to complete the paynt through them. Moreover, it acted as a form of security for him too.
"Of course, of course." Wan Fuda had no objections. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he quickly excused himself. He feared that Lu Yuan might change his mind. That was fifty million on the line. Even with the Treasure Pavilion taking a cut from the deal, whatever remaining was still a massive sum.
"Mr. Lu, you were too hasty just now," Manager Lin said the mont Wan Fuda left the room. He felt sowhat regretful. In his eyes, that so-called Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda was not even close to what Lu Yuan had paid. He had planned to drive the price down before letting Lu Yuan seal the deal.
"I appreciate the thought, Manager Lin," Lu Yuan said with a smile. "But I know better than anyone whether it's worth the price or not."
The Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda would beco a divine artifact after the global awakening. Once he rged it with his internal organs, the benefits would be beyond imagination. How could a re fifty million compare?
"As long as the deal goes through smoothly, I'm satisfied," Lu Yuan concluded.
Manager Lin didn't say anything more. After all, it wasn't his place to interfere.
With that, Lu Yuan didn't linger any longer. He stood up and was about to leave.
Just then, a thought struck Manager Lin and he called out, "By the way, Mr. Lu, it's best you avoid going out these next few days."
"Hmm? Why though?"
Lu Yuan's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that the Treasure Pavilion has also caught wind of sothing?
"I'm not too sure of the specifics myself. But that's what the big boss said a couple days ago during a company eting. He said that things are getting chaotic out there with strange incidents popping up all over. I'm sure you've seen it on the news too," Manager Lin answered. The "big boss" he ntioned was the mysterious owner of the Treasure Pavilion.
"Thanks," Lu Yuan replied with a nod.
The global awakening was drawing nearer as the days passed. Unexplainable phenona were surfacing one after another, but they were often covered up as natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires.
While these incidents could still be brushed off as natural disasters for now, the occurrence frequency had grown unsettling. He could see reports of yet another new "natural disaster" on the television news every day.
And it wasn't just happening dostically. Such disturbances were occurring all over the world.
He had thought that he was the only one paying attention. But now, it seed that so in the upper levels of society were also starting to sense that sothing was wrong.
Of course, unlike them, Lu Yuan knew exactly what was coming.
Without saying anything much, Lu Yuan got into his car and left the Treasure Pavilion.
Now that I've gotten the Eleven-Tier Blood Pagoda, there's only one last thing I need to settle in Hu City. I need to get that done ASAP.
As he drove, his thoughts turned to the last two items—the Celestial Sword Embryo and the Wordless Stone Stele.
He had to personally acquire those two items, and he had just exactly a month left. If there were any further delay, he wouldn't be able to achieve his goal.
Eventually, Lu Yuan decided to head to Gramps Ge's place. Of course, he hadn't forgotten to stop by a supermarket to buy so fresh fruits and produce.
His car pulled up before Gramps Ge's house. But just before he could step into the courtyard, he heard the sound of a heated argunt from within.
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