Chapter 71 Antique World
Chapter 71 Antique World
Unintentional words could sometimes carry unintended weight.
Darius was unaware that Leones had previously sparred with the martial arts instructor, John. Even Gloria wasn’t fully aware of the outcome of their encounter. She had only heard her grandfather mention it casually, with John praising Leones as a formidable opponent.
In her mind, the fight between the two men must have been evenly matched or perhaps with Leones slightly at a disadvantage.
However, when John heard Darius’s suggestion, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
It seemed like a joke to teach someone stronger than himself.
Moreover, considering his age and status, John didn’t want to admit in front of these younger individuals that Leones had once defeated him.
John chuckled awkwardly.
Leones remained silent with a knowing smile.
Nevertheless, unaware of the dynamics, Darius insisted John to impart a few techniques to Leones.
He believed that this rare opportunity for guidance from John would help Leones further enhance his skills.
“Mr. Smith, my friend Hero here is quite skilled too. A single strike from him can send a burly man weighing over a hundred pounds flying,” Darius continued.
“You must be familiar with Blackdrake from Sherland’s underground scene, Mr. Smith. Even with a dozen henchmen, they wouldn’t stand a chance against Hero!
“Hero is still quite young, yet he possesses such remarkable skills. It would be a great opportunity if he could receive guidance from you, Mr. Smith.”
The more Darius spoke, the more John felt embarrassed. Unable to hold back, he grumbled and scolded, “Youngster! Shut your mouth for a bit. Nobody takes you for a mute!”
Darius remained silent after seeing John’s fiery reaction. What a grumpy old man. If he didn’t want to teach, he should say so instead of throwing a fit!
Soon, the group arrived at a cluster of ancient–style buildings that transported them from the modern city to ancient times.
The architecture here preserved the style of ancient times with pavilions, towers, small bridges, and flowing water.
The group parked the car and walked for about ten minutes until they reached a two–story building.
Above the plaque were prominent characters that spelled out Antique World.
“This is a famous trading center for rare and exotic treasures in Sherland,” Gloria briefly explained to Leones.
They could find antique calligraphy, paintings, rare natural treasures, or anything else they desired here.
The place’s owner had an extensive network and a keen eye for treasures.
They had even participated in an auction for a wooden carving here last time.
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This time, Gloria had gone there to inquire about the materials needed for the life–saving prescription and received some leads.
However, the place was a mixed bag, and they had a close call during the wooden carving incident
last time.
Having learned from that experience, Orlando had sent John, the martial arts instructor, to accompany his granddaughter and ensure her safety throughout the visit.
“Ms. Baker! Welcome from afar!”
As the group entered the shop, a chubby, smiling man approached.
This man was short and wore a long robe with a melon hat. His sharp eyes quickly scanned everyone and lingered a little longer on Leones, the unfamiliar face.
“Hello, Mr. Walker,” Gloria greeted him with a smile.
“Oh, Darius, John! Both of you are here too. Our little shop is truly honored today!”
The enthusiastic receptionist, Bob, continued to exchange pleasantries with Darius and John.
Darius and John’s esteemed status was evident, and he treated them respectfully.
“And who might this young man be? I don’t recognize him.”
When Bob’s attention turned to Leones, he couldn’t help but look closer.
“This is Mr. Bloom,” Gloria introduced briefly. “He’s a friend of mine. He had some free time today, so he accompanied me here.”
“Oh, so you’re Mr. Bloom!” Bob nodded with a smile, thinking Gloria’s friend was likely well–off,
too.
However, after a quick scan, Bob noticed that none seemed to be antique experts. He smiled even more radiantly.
“Mr. Walker, are the items I requested ready?” Gloria got straight to the point after the pleasantries.
“The seller should be arriving soon.” Bob smiled. “Our auction master is also here today and has offered to act as an intermediary to ensure a smooth transaction for you.”
“That’s much appreciated,” Gloria replied, feeling reassured by the presence of the auction
master.
Bob continued, “We’ve received some excellent items recently. Would you like me to show you around?”
Since they had some free time, they explored the shop while waiting.
“Here, we have a batch of Celestial Dynasty official kiln ceramics just unearthed.”
“This calligraphy piece is an authentic work by a famous poet. It was acquired at a high price.”
“This emerald stone was a burial item from the Golden Dynasty Era.”
As they walked through the shop, they encountered a variety of rare and valuable treasures, each more astonishing than the last.
However, Gloria was cautious about anything related to emeralds, fearing breaking them.
On the other hand, Leones took a casual look around and realized that Antique World was just a facade.
Most of the treasures were far from extraordinary, and the claims of authenticity were often
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exaggerated.
It was a market where nine out of ten items were fake.
Leones shook his head slightly, feeling disappointed. He wondered if the true treasures were carefully guarded and rarely displayed elsewhere.
Bob continued his introduction while carefully observing the reactions of the
guests.
He noticed that Gloria, Darius, and John were utterly captivated by the various treasures on display, unable to distinguish between genuine and fake.
However, Leones occasionally shook his head and looked unimpressed. Bob smirked silently.
“Ms. Baker, come and take a look! Our master went to great lengths recently to acquire a genuine piece of calligraphy by Eleanor Spencer,” Bob exclaimed.
“It’s considered the centerpiece of our collection!”
As they spoke, the group arrived at the center of a separate exhibition room.
Inside a glass cabinet was a piece of calligraphy, a rare 28–character genuine work by Eleanor.
It was the pinnacle of the calligraphy world.
“Hmm… It’s real!”
A middle–aged man in a well–tailored suit in the crowd observed for a while before confidently confirming its authenticity.
The surrounding guests nodded in agreement.
“Mr. Cage said it’s genuine, so it must be!”
Bob proudly introduced, “Mr. Cage is the Deputy Director of the city museum and the Calligraphy Association president. He’s a true expert!
“Even Mr. Cage confirms it’s genuine. So there’s no doubt about the authenticity of this piece!” Gloria’s heart raced upon seeing this calligraphy.
Her grandfather had a deep admiration for Eleanor’s calligraphy. However, authentic pieces by Eleanor were exceedingly rare in the market.
While she had finally encountered one, her funds were needed to purchase life–saving prescription ingredients, leaving little to spare for buying this genuine artwork.
“Heh…”
Leones couldn’t help but burst into laughter upon seeing the so–called genuine piece. While others might not notice, Leones certainly did.
This piece of calligraphy was created by his own master!
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