Chapter 38 Eighty Million, Sold!
Sold!
“This sculpture may not be perfect in craftsmanship, and it looks a bit ugly in its form, but it comes with a mark engraved by Bernini himself! Eighty million, do you want to buy it or not, Smiley Nick?”
“Eighty million, deal! I’ll transfer the funds right away!”
Nicholas transferred eighty million to Jessica, and Daniel handed over the statue with Bernini’s mark. The transaction was successful. The purchase of a statue marked by Bernini filled Nicholas with joy. He knew that with some promotion, this piece could easily fetch at least one hundred million at auction, with a bit of extra effort perhaps 1.5 billion or even 2 billion, a lavish sum,
Pointing to the remaining two forgeries, Nicholas addressed Daniel, “Daniel, you seem to know something about these pieces too? If you can reveal their secrets and show they’re worth over 120 million, I won’t just buy them instantly, I’ll also fulfill my previous promise to kneel and apologize to you.”
Nicholas had deemed the remaining orient antique porcelain and the Monet painting to be fakes. Otherwise, Jessica would just be too lucky.
Daniel picked up the Tang sancai horse and handed it to Nicholas. “Smiley Nick, how much do you think this porcelain artifact is worth?”
“This is certainly a fake, looking like something from the 19th century, at most worth 500,000,”
“Are you certain it’s from the 19th century?”
“Absolutely!”
“How about this? Let’s make a bet. If this porcelain piece is a 19th–century imitation, I’ll give you one
million. If not, you give me one million.”
Nicholas examined the plece carefully rather than accepting the bet right away. After scrutinizing it attentively for ten minutes, Nicholas made up his mind. “This is a 19th–century imitation. I accept your challenge! I don’t believe this isn’t a fake!”
“All right!”
Daniel took the porcelain and smashed it to the ground with force.
Crash!
As soon as it hit the floor, it shattered into countless pieces. Everyone was shocked. No one understood
what Daniel was up to. Brittany was the first to recover from the shock and started yelling at him. “You
idiot, what are you doing? Even as a forgery, that piece is worth 500,000! Now that you smashed it to smithereens, it’s worth nothing!”
“It was worthless to begin with.‘
Daniel’s response left Nicholas puzzled.
“What do you mean, Daniel?”
Chapter 30 Eghty Miton Soldi
Picking up a shard, Daniel read the Inscription: “Made by Beljing State–Owned Ceramic Factory, 1985.
Nicholas was flabbergasted.
“This… this was made in 1985?”
“Smiley Nick, you’ve lost the bet.”
“Daniel, you’re impressive! You bested me! This one million is yours!”
Although Nicholas lost a million in the bet, he had initially sold the fake porcelain piece to Jessica for thirty million. Hence, Nicholas hadn’t really lost anything; he simply missed out on one million in profit, insignificant compared to the astronomical thirty million he made.
However, this fake that was originally only worth 500,000 in Smiley Nick’s hands just won Daniel a million with such an ingenious move. Daniel truly was clever.
Thinking this, Jessica couldn’t help but smile.
