The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 404

Chapter 404: Chapter 404 Stone Auction 2
“Hera, I noticed you didn’t place a bid on the highlight of the auction. Were you thinking of sitting this one out?” Liz whispered, her curiosity piqued. She glanced over at the overseer, who was now carefully lifting the boxes to reveal the bids inside.

“I thought you’d be all over it. This could be a big opportunity, and participating might give you an edge or even reveal some interesting details. Any particular reason you decided not to get involved?”

Hera could see the genuine curiosity in Liz’s eyes and decided to share her thoughts. “I don’t think that one’s worth getting worked up about,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “I’ve got my sights set on something else. Sometimes it’s better to focus on where you can really make an impact.” She glanced towards the ongoing bidding with a thoughtful expression.

Hera was eyeing the large, unassuming stone that stood as tall as she was and as thick as two people. It was being overlooked by others, perhaps because of its drab exterior and the difficulty in seeing anything unusual inside, even with powerful flashlights. To her, the stone’s lack of appeal was precisely why it might hold hidden potential.

Why would the auctioneer include the stone in the auction if it wasn’t worth anything? Perhaps many saw it as a dud, expecting it to yield nothing of value. However, Hera thought differently. Despite the stone being the largest on the floor and the flashlight’s light failing to penetrate its surface, she suspected that the thick outer layer might be hiding something valuable within.

From the outside, the stone resembled a limestone formation with only a few visible hints of jade. Inspectors claimed these traces were merely surface-level and insignificant, leading many to dismiss it as unworthy. Consequently, the auction considered it a high-risk gamble: if sold, it could potentially bring a significant profit, but if unsold, it could be stored and given away as a token gift.

It meant that the large stone was deemed almost worthless by most. However, Hera recognized it as a type her grandfather had purchased from Myanmar—a seemingly unremarkable stone that, when revealed, contained exquisite white jade of the highest quality. Determined to make it her first investment, Hera felt a mix of excitement and nerves.

Although the stone had the potential to reveal high-quality jade, it might also turn out to be a disappointment, as many suggested. Hera could only rely on her limited observations, but fortunately, very few people chose to gamble on the boulder, making it less competitive.

The highlight of the auction was a stone believed to contain imperial jade. Shaped like two large watermelons stacked together, it had a base value of $8.8 million. However, if it proved to be genuine imperial jade, its value could soar to $100 million, as imperial jade is exceedingly rare and the most valuable type of jade.

Hera had already been fortunate enough to acquire two pieces of rare imperial jade, though smaller in size, they still commanded high prices. If others discovered she had such valuable pieces, it could spark competitive bidding, driving up their value even further.

The bidding progressed smoothly, and Hera successfully acquired two more large stones for $4 million and $7 million, respectively. Their base values were $2.3 million and $4.1 million, and while there was some competition, she was fortunate to win with offers just $500,000 above the others. However, she did lose out on a few other bids. Now, she was eagerly waiting for her final bid—the unassuming boulder, placed second to last due to its enormous size.

Many dismissed the massive boulder as nothing more than a curiosity due to its size. As the bidding neared its conclusion, and the boulder came up, only three offers were made. With a base value of $10 million, one bidder offered $10.5 million, and another raised it to $12 million. However, when Hera’s offer was shown on the screen at $15 million, the room erupted in laughter, mocking what they assumed to be a foolish gamble.

“Who in their right mind would offer that much? It’s going to be a bust!”

“Must be a clueless newbie who doesn’t know a thing about jade.”

“This is hilarious! Another one’s going to cry after cracking open that dud. The auction just scored a free meal with this one.”

Liz’s face flushed with embarrassment, as if she were the one being mocked. She glanced at Hera with a look of sympathy, as if silently saying, ‘Don’t listen to them, I’ve got your back!’ Gripping Hera’s hand in a show of support, Liz offered quiet comfort. But Hera remained unfazed, her expression calm as she kept her eyes on the stage, waiting for the host to announce the winner of the boulder.

When the host finally confirmed her win, Hera stood up with quiet confidence. Zhane followed immediately, while Liz hesitated, glancing back at her father, who gave her a stern look but remained silent. Gathering her resolve, Liz joined Hera and Zhane. Hera made her way directly to the assistants at the back, calmly instructing them to process her payment for the purchases.

Hera swiftly paid the $26 million with her card, and just like before, the assistants were wide-eyed in disbelief but remained silent. This time, however, they clearly saw her name, and the realization left them even more cautious. Recognizing she was likely here discreetly, they dared not say a word, aware that she was someone not to be trifled with.

Initially, the assistants had discreetly laughed and mocked Hera for bidding $15 million on what they believed to be a worthless boulder. But now, as they realized who she was—a member of the influential Avery family, holding a prestigious Black Dragon Card—their attitudes shifted to reverence.

They understood why she hadn’t flinched under their ridicule. To her, that sum was merely pocket money, insignificant in the grand scheme of her wealth.

Once they realized Hera was from the Avery family, their attitudes shifted, becoming noticeably more enthusiastic. Hera wasn’t concerned about them revealing her identity—this auction, unlike the lower floors of the pagoda, strictly protected client confidentiality.

Moreover, she lacked the machinery to open her newly acquired boulder, so she would need their assistance to lead her to the back of the pagoda, where the large machines were located for precisely this purpose. Confident in their discretion, she calmly prepared for the next step.

The assistants were more than eager to assist Hera, leading her downstairs while the final bids were still taking place. One of them informed the overseer about Hera’s winning bid on the large boulder, requesting it be moved to the back for opening, along with the two other stones she had acquired.

Knowing it would take time to haul such a massive item, Hera decided to first head to the second floor to check if the stone master had finished grinding the excess material from her earlier purchases.

When they arrived on the second floor, the assistant from the third floor, naturally curious, took a keen interest in Hera’s acquisitions. Fortunately, the stone master was nearly finished with processing the four stones. The only ones remaining were the two imperial jades, which he was handling with extra care due to their rarity and high value.