Chapter 56

“Ugh...”

The thought of 4.8 million dollars made my head spin.

I chewed the remaining lemon slice, trying to stay as alert as possible.

[ Current bid is 4.8 million, 4.8 million. Now we move to 5 million. No 5 million? ]

The auctioneer wore a relaxed smile, waiting for the next bid. Just a moment ago, he had been so eager, but now he seemed to have the upper hand.

[ Is there no one to reach the 5 million mark? ]

If I had been a bidder, I would have been on the verge of frustration and anger.

‘This is nerve-wracking...’

Fortunately, I was the seller.

[ 5 million, 5 million from the gentleman in the back! You have the qualifications to be the star of this evening. Current bid is 5 million, 5 million. ]

That was all my money.

[ 5.2 million from Hong Kong, 5.4 million from the gentleman, 5.6 million from Hong Kong again! ]

The bidding had already surpassed the expected range.

It was the same for Kim Gyu-tae.

When he suddenly grabbed my arm, I thought something was wrong, but he seemed unable to contain his excitement.

“Mr. Lawyer?”

“Ah, no, I'm sorry.”

I could see his hands trembling.

I had to take care of him.

“Mr. Lawyer, are you okay?”

“Ah... I'm fine. Just too excited.”

It was understandable.

How much money was on the line?

[ Current bid is 5.6 million, 5.6 million... Any more? Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first white porcelain in Europe. There are no others, no seconds, no thirds. No sequels, no rivals. This is the only piece in human history, on this planet. ]

Even I felt a surge of excitement hearing those words.

I wanted to buy the auctioneer a dozen cups of coffee, maybe twenty.

‘I’m glad I came to Christie’s!’

At that point, 5.6 million dollars didn't even look like money.

It was just a number, a matter of pride.

‘Yes! The first in Europe, the only one on Earth! It has to go for 6 million!’

And then.

A man raised his hand, the same man who had caused a stir with his 4.5 million bid earlier.

‘Please, go straight to 6 million after 5.8 million!’

[ Oh, the gentleman on the left. ]

The auctioneer, having learned from the previous experience, held back until the man spoke.

The man shouted loudly and briefly.

And the number that came out of his mouth was understandable even without translation.

Seven million.

[ 7 million ]

[ 7 million, 7 million! 7.3 million received. No 7.3 million? ]

7 million dollars.

5.6 million dollars? Just step aside!

[ 7.3 million, 7.3 million... Any more? This is your chance to own the first white porcelain in Europe. ]

And then, silence.

Doris Parker looked at the remaining bidders, one by one, and extended her arm.

[ No more? No more? ]

Then she smiled and raised her hand.

Bang!

The final hammer of the day.

[ Sold! Congratulations! ]

It was the finale of Christie's New York Evening Hammer Show.

The auction room erupted in cheers and applause, and the auctioneer gave his closing remarks.

[ Christie's proudly presents the first white porcelain in Europe! 7 million dollars to bidder number 8731... ]

But I couldn't understand what he was saying.

I had already taken out my earphones.

My mind was numb.

‘I... 7 million dollars?’

The world seemed to slow down.

Other consignors and staff approached.

Clapping.

Offering congratulations.

‘Me?’

I felt even more dizzy.

Then, someone shook me back to my senses.

“Ugh! It's done! It's done!”

I was startled to see it was Kim Gyu-tae.

Kim Gyu-tae was jumping up and down, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Oh, we got it! Oh, we got it!”

He was so happy it was almost suspicious.

I wondered if he had somehow taken my porcelain and signed the contract in his name.

Kim Gyu-tae suddenly grabbed my face with both hands and shouted.

“We got it! We did it! We did it!”

Then he shouted to the people around us.

“Hey, guys! Do you know Golden Bell? Ding ding dong, Golden Bell, you know?”

Golden, Golden Bell?

He's been watching it a lot lately?

Kim Gyu-tae continued to shout like a madman.

“Oh, we got it! We got it!”

What is he saying?

Anyway, he's ringing the Golden Bell.

But why are you ringing it, not me?

I also jumped up and shouted to the people.

“No, I'm the Golden Bell! I'm the Golden Bell!”

Then a beautiful woman from the consignors' group walked up to me and spoke.

She asked Kim Gyu-tae.

“Mr. Lawyer, what are you saying?”

“Congratulations. And your tequila drinking was really hot, you know.”

No, it's strange to hear such compliments from a lawyer.

“Thank you.”

When I replied, Kim Gyu-tae continued to translate for her.

“He's from abroad.”

...I was now terrified.

“I don't need you to translate exactly like that...”

“Where are you staying? Can you give me your Instagram account?”

“Stop! Stop translating!”

Then I shouted to the people.

“Just Golden Bell, okay? Golden Bell!”

Applause, cheers, and whistles continued.

That's how the breathless auction ended.

The final bid was 7 million dollars.

In Korean won, that's 87 billion.

I had become a millionaire.

*

After being treated to a drink, I followed the Christie's staff to another office.

“Congratulations, Mr. Shin, Mr. Kim.”

A blonde coordinator from Christie's greeted us.

She also looked pleased.

“Haha, what a great celebration. Golden Bell.”

Kim Gyu-tae translated her words.

“Anyway, I'll contact you as soon as the buyer pays.”

Of course, the money wouldn't be directly deposited into my account just because the item was sold.

《Wealth》 hadn't been cleared yet.

“The payment period is 35 days, so it shouldn't take more than a month.”

7 million dollars, and 35 days.

“However, there are times when a sale is canceled.”

“Canceled? Like a refund?”

“Yes. It's rare because a hefty penalty is required, but it's best to be prepared.”

Wow, if that really happened, I'd be in shock.

But the coordinator confidently said,

“Still, I don't think that will happen. The buyer is one of our VIPs, a very reliable person.”

“Who is the buyer?”

“I'm sorry, but the buyer's identity is confidential. We can't disclose it.”

Mr. Big?

A name? A nickname?

Anyway, I asked Kim Gyu-tae for his opinion.

“Are you okay with it?”

“I'll follow the client's wishes. But I think it might be good to meet him. After all, he's someone who bid 7 million dollars.”

I agreed.

“Sure. Where should we go?”

The coordinator replied.

“Will you follow me?”

Following the coordinator out of the Christie's building, we saw a long limousine waiting.

And there stood the buyer from earlier.

A handsome black man in a gray suit.

But his posture and the way he treated us made him seem more like an agent than the actual buyer.

Kim Gyu-tae greeted him and then said to me.

“We're going to ride this. Let's go.”

“Yes, sir.”

The congested heart of Manhattan.

We crawled along like snails for a while before stopping in front of a high-rise building.

I got out and looked up at the building.

The floors were brightly lit.

We were probably going to a restaurant with a view of the city.

“This way.”

“Yes, sir.”

Me, Kim Gyu-tae, and the handsome man.

The three of us got into the elevator.

‘Wow, the top floor is 70. The same as my bid.’

...I thought, and the handsome agent pressed the 70th floor button.

‘What’s this?’

The elevator ascended quickly.

Ding!

We arrived at the top floor.

Following the agent out of the elevator, we saw a thick metal door.

‘What’s this? The rooftop?’

Kim Gyu-tae and I looked at each other, confused, while the agent opened the door and extended his arm politely.

“Here, Sir.”

At the same time, a strong wind blew.

My hair was tossed about.

And then, a familiar sound.

The sound came.

Whirrrrrrrrrrrr──

Outside the metal door, it was indeed a helicopter.

‘Crazy...’

And in front of it, a man waiting for us.

A middle-aged man who, if I saw him in a Hollywood movie, would definitely be a CEO, a businessman, or a billionaire, stood with his hands in his pockets.

The New York night sky.

The rooftop.

The helicopter.

The American tycoon.

It was a breathtaking scene.

I recalled the name I had heard from the coordinator and greeted him.

“Hi, Mr. Big.”

The man laughed heartily and extended his hand.

“Hi, Mr. Golden Bell.”

I didn't know who this man was.

I didn't know why he wanted to see us.

But one thing was certain.

Whirrrrrrrrrrrr──

I felt like we would be going out for dinner tonight.

Mr. Big, goodbye.

The helicopter landed at a restaurant in a super high-rise building in Brooklyn.

The windows were wide open, offering a panoramic view.

The lighting was soft, and the interior was luxurious.

But there was only one table.

No other customers, only one server.

Clearly, this was a private restaurant for VIPs, not regular guests.

Mr. Big sat down and then said seriously.

I asked Kim Gyu-tae.

“What is he saying?”

“He says that since you made 7 million dollars, you should pay for the dinner here.”

He brought us here and now he wants me to pay?

I could say it's a matter of pride, but this place looks incredibly expensive.

“Then, since you got the first white porcelain in Europe, tell him to give me the teacup.”

Kim Gyu-tae translated my words, and Mr. Big's expression changed completely.

“Hahaha!”

A mischievous, childlike laugh.

This seemed to be his true self.

“Interesting. Sit down first.”

It was too dark on the rooftop to see him clearly.

It was too noisy in the helicopter to have a conversation.

Only now, sitting across from him, could I see Mr. Big properly.

In his 50s or 60s?

A sturdy build, dressed casually in golf wear.

A light brown head with a ruddy complexion.

Plump cheeks, blue eyes.

The typical businessman you see in movies and dramas, but with a playful expression.

“The best view of Manhattan is always from outside Manhattan. That's why I like this place.”

He looked out the window at the orange night view. I followed his gaze and said,

“You're right, that's funny. To see the Empire State Building, you have to go to the observation deck of the Rockefeller Center, not the Empire State Building itself.”

Kim Gyu-tae translated my words, and Mr. Big chuckled and replied.

“Exactly.”

“By the way, how much does that helicopter cost? How much fuel does it take to get here?”

I had been curious about this.

The helicopter had flown over the New York night sky for less than five minutes. How busy and important must this person be to travel by helicopter?

I, on the other hand, would only ride a helicopter if I was being rescued while hiking, so this was a stroke of luck.

‘It was fun, though.’

Just as I was starting to enjoy it, it felt like a theme park ride where they say, “Please exit to the left.”

Mr. Big burst into laughter and replied.

“Why? Are you going to buy it? I've been eyeing the new models anyway.”

“Can't you just buy another one if you don't want to sell it?”