So the implication was that there probably weren't any mysterious tomes here, and I shouldn't expect to find a hidden bargain?
Aaron smiled and nodded. "I'm just here to have a look..."
It was easy enough to understand why Clark had brought Bruce along.
"Secret History Scholars" were always eager to get their hands on items imbued with an ancient aura.
"Now, let's take a look at our first lot—the Flonio Gold Plate! This was a ceremonial vessel used by the Purple Eyes nobles when worshipping their deity, the Green Banyan Grandmother. Made primarily of gold and inlaid with numerous gemstones, it also bears an inscription in the ancient Flonio script... The bidding starts at 200 pounds, with a minimum increment of 10 pounds!"
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, a merchant on the first floor eagerly raised his hand. "210 pounds!"
"220 pounds!"
Clark seemed accustomed to the lively scene. He gave a snort. "These nouveau riche always think that decorating their homes with oil paintings, antiques, and fine horses and dogs will earn them a ticket into high society... To historians like us, what makes a relic truly precious is the value it holds within!"
I hear a faint note of sour grapes... Aaron grumbled inwardly, though he knew that Mr. Dass wasn't particularly wealthy.
For him, buying the Flonio Gold Plate would be a bit of a splurge. His real targets were probably items that weren't worth much in themselves but had a strong historical aura. Whether they were made of gold, silver, or clay made no difference to him.
In the end, after the wealthy buyers on the first floor fought over it, the Flonio Gold Plate went for the high price of 420 gold pounds to someone in a second-floor box—a silent mockery.