The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Horatio kept a straight face, the picture of solemnity. "I never lie, and as it happens, the genuine items are with me."

The crowd was stunned!

Horatio blinked innocently at Larson. "I'm just as baffled as you are, Larson. How come you’re selling things I happen to have? Could it be... you've had your eye on my collection?"

With that, lightbulbs went off over everyone's heads.

Of course! Horatio, known for his integrity, wouldn't lie. He's the revered abbot of Dragon Monastery, after all!

Elara's mouth twitched. "Is Horatio... spouting nonsense?"

Noella shrugged. "He always believes as long as everyone thinks he's telling the truth, then it must be so. 'It's the heart that matters in practice, not just the morals,' he always says. 'Be lenient with yourself but strict with others.' That's his mantra."

"Lesson learned. Horatio is indeed a life coach!" Elara was in awe of Horatio's philosophy. Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

Larson felt like he was living in a twilight zone! "Horatio, what's this all about?"

Horatio chanted a brief prayer. "I'm just as puzzled as you are, my friend. Ms. Schnabel invited me over for an appraisal, but it seems there's no need now. They're all fakes. I was expecting something worthwhile with such a grand setup. Did you believe they were genuine treasures? That would be rather naive."

Every word from Horatio was like a dagger to Larson.

The audience was bewildered! They weren't here to buy fakes!

Beckett scoffed. "Larson, that's quite the feat, gathering us all for this."

Lucian added, "Told you to sell that bracelet of yours. Could've made some money instead of me exposing all your fakes."

Palmer spoke up, "I believe, selling forgeries at auction requires compensation at half the sale price, right?"

Larson's fingers trembled. "Since when was that a rule?"

Palmer explained nonchalantly, "Just now. Noella suggested it, and I thought it was an excellent idea. Mr. Schnabel and I decided to implement it immediately. Any objections?"

The savvy crowd, realizing Larson's goods were bogus, were visibly outraged!

"Since Mr. Pollack and Mr. Schnabel have spoken, we have no objections!"

"That’s right. It's about time the auction industry was cleaned up."

Lucian, with a smirk, said, "The Richardson family backs this too. Everyone knows our business is in this line. We can't afford to waste time on fakes."

With Lucian and Palmer leading the charge, and the Schnabel family in full support, everyone nodded in agreement, glaring at Larson.

"Pay up!"

Larson, seeing Palmer's smug smile, was filled with despair. He now realized why Palmer had been so generous with his bids earlier. It was all a setup!

Just compensating Palmer would bankrupt Larson. Not to mention, Noella had bid on several items.

Larson could already see his finances draining into the Pollack and Schnabel families' coffers!

Were this couple devils in disguise, conspiring to swindle his wealth? Was this even fair?

Lucian calmly asked, "Still selling that bracelet?"

Larson was fuming! But selling the bracelet now meant recouping some of his losses, while not selling would mean even greater financial ruin.

Larson gritted his teeth. "Fine!"

The jade bracelet, initially slated as the final item, was brought forward.

"This bracelet is of the finest Glassy Type, my wife's beloved treasure. Reluctantly parting with it, we start the bidding at 10 million!"

Helen raised an eyebrow,. "A million, take it or leave it."

Larson had firsthand experience with Helen's haggling. Whenever she made an offer, she couldn't care less about Larson's wellbeing. With her bid, everyone knew the bracelet was eyed by the Pollack and Richardson families. No one dared to compete.

The crowd began to chime in.

"Larson, just sell it. You'll at least break even. Miss this chance, and there won't be another." Helen stated flatly, "Make up your mind. Once you leave, no one but me would dare to buy it."

Larson felt as if his insides were twisted in knots!

"Alright, alright, a million it is!"

Lucian, cheerful as ever, handed Larson a card. "Exactly a million in here. Just take it."

It was clear to anyone this was a setup to corner Larson! "You all... are beyond shameless!"

Palmer stood up, looking at Larson. "Uncle Larson, make sure the compensation is wired to our account. Mine can go directly to Noella. After all, I was hoping to buy something to please my fiancée."

He surveyed his surroundings with a light smile. "I had intended to purchase something to delight my fiancée, only to find that the antiques Noella favored turned out to be counterfeits. Luckily, Horatio mentioned he has the real deal and is ready to auction them off. Thus, on behalf of the Pollack family, we invite you all to join us. Horatio's starting bids will be half of Uncle Larson's!"

Horatio stood there, an aura of mystique about him, hands pressed together as if in prayer.

"God bless, my friends, I don't dabble in the pursuit of wealth. These worldly possessions mean little to me. Please, enjoy yourselves. Mr. Pollack and Ms. Schnabel will handle the details. Farewell," he said, before turning to leave, an almost divine aura radiating from him that made him seem untouchable.

Elara could barely contain her laughter.

After all, Horatio hadn't spent a dime on these items; of course, he wasn't attached to them!

With that move, Horatio had solidified his reputation as a sage, utterly detached from worldly desires.

The Pollack family inadvertently promoted their new auction, leveraging Horatio's name for essentially free advertising. They even saved on sending out invitations, merely inviting the guests who were already present!

A team of professional appraisers took one look at the antiques on display.

Phecda, all smiles, said, "We're here on behalf of Master Sylvie, to accuse you of selling fakes and tarnishing Master Sylvie's reputation. We're going to have to sue you!"

Even the jade carvings were fakes!

Larson's smile twitched. "These sculptures, I bought them for a hefty sum from Mr. Garrick himself; they can't possibly be fakes!"

Phecda presented an electronic contract. It clearly bore Sylvie's signature and seal. "This contract can be verified. We also have a video of Master Sylvie's commission. Where you got these items isn't our concern, but we're here to tell you, quite seriously, that you've been had."

"Looks like that Mr. Garrick saw you coming from a mile away!" Larson looked from the seal to the flawless sculptures, unwilling to believe they were anything but genuine. But the seal was unmistakably real; Sylvie's seal was unique and impossible to replicate.

Larson spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot, overwhelmed by the betrayal.