Hong Kong Sotheby's Maison, Concentric Hall
"This way, please. This is the room for Appraiser Kim Si-woo, Representative Shin A-young, and the rest of the party," Manager Park Seong-jun said as he led them to a private room high above the auction hall.
It was the largest room in the place, sealed off so that no one outside could see in. It was the sort of space Sotheby’s reserved for invited guests who wanted to watch the auction in privacy, or for those using proxies and preferring to keep their identities hidden. It was obvious how much care Sotheby’s had put into it.
As soon as they stepped inside, they saw a table laid out with an array of luxurious finger foods. One entire wall was made of glass, giving them a sweeping view of the auction floor below, which looked almost like a coliseum. On one side of the room were various amenities, including even a bathroom.
It was so lavish that it could have passed for a deluxe suite at a top-tier hotel.
"Oh..."
One by one, the people in the room let out admiring sighs.
The auction floor was spread out before them in full view. The wide, upholstered leather seats below were already filling, one by one, with attendees.
Watching that, Park Seong-jun came over and spoke.
"Do you see that gray-haired gentleman at Table 32?" he said, pointing down to one side. "That's Chairman Wang Jianming. Most Chinese people just call him Chairman Wang. He's a Beijing real-estate tycoon, and I never expected him to come all the way here in person. He's been known for years as a major force in the Chinese antique-collecting world. More than that, it's said the countless relics he's collected are enough to fill his private museum."
"I know about Chairman Wang Jianming," Si-woo said.
It was a name he'd come across while studying the antiques market.
His gaze shifted to the man speaking with Wang on the opposite side.
"Then that young man must be Mr. Liu."
Even from a distance, the atmosphere between the two men felt icy.
"That's right. As expected, Appraiser Kim Si-woo, you can tell at a glance."
"What can I say? It's not difficult. I read an article last year about a Qing dynasty vase that sold for fifteen billion won. He's from Shanghai, in the IT venture world, right?"
"Yes. He's emerging as another major player in the antiques market these days. If those two go at it, I can't wait to see how high the price climbs."
After a moment, the lights throughout the auction hall gradually began to dim.
"Ladies and gentlemen,"
A white-haired senior auctioneer in a tuxedo stepped out onto the stage.
"Tonight's Evening Sale is Sotheby's flagship solo auction."
The final solo auction, the one set to close the night.
The lights in the hall went completely out.
Then a number appeared on the screen at center stage.
[LOT 888]
"888 is something else," Shin A-young said, studying the screen as she explained. "For Chinese buyers, eight stands for fortune. And nine dragons mean the emperor, or power. A Kangxi-era imperial dragon vase carrying lot number 888? They're targeting Chinese tycoons so openly it's almost shameless. Still, it should work."
Beside the auctioneer, a dragon-vase covered in bulletproof glass was raised up from the floor.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
Caught in the pin spots pouring down from the ceiling, the nine dragons seemed to breathe with living light.
The auctioneer swept his gaze across the room, then spoke in a voice full of confidence.
"The opening bid is 150 million Hong Kong dollars, or 26 billion won."
Bang!
The sound of the gavel thundered through the hall, and the war began.
"160 million Hong Kong dollars!"
As a gentleman in the center of the audience raised his paddle, the auctioneer extended a flat hand with precise formality and pointed him out.
"160 million. Noted."
Before he had even finished speaking, a paddle rose on the right.
"170 million Hong Kong dollars!"
"170 million. Confirmed."
The auctioneer barely turned his head as he checked the bidder.
Efficient, without a hint of excess.
"180 million Hong Kong dollars, roughly 31 billion won!"
In an instant, the bids climbed step by step in increments of ten million Hong Kong dollars, each jump worth around 1.8 billion won.
Then the telephone bidding section on the right side of the hall began to stir.
Dozens of proxies pressed their receivers to their ears, relaying the situation to their clients as fast as their mouths could move.
"It's at 180 million now! Do you want in?"
"Yes! Understood!"
One agent, gripping a paddle, waved his free hand frantically as he shouted.
"190 million Hong Kong dollars, or 33 billion won!"
The auctioneer pointed toward that side.
"190 million. Telephone bid."
Then the proxy opposite him waved his own paddle just as quickly.
"We have 200 million here, or 35 billion won!"
"200 million! We have 200 million Hong Kong dollars, 35 billion won."
The auctioneer's voice sharpened with energy.
In less than a minute, nearly ten billion won had been added.
Si-woo watched from above and felt his mouth go dry.
He tore open a bottle of water and drank deeply, but the dryness did not go away.
"210 million Hong Kong dollars, or 36 billion won!"
"220 million Hong Kong dollars, or 38 billion won!"
The figures flew back and forth like a ping-pong match.
The auctioneer pointed out bidders like a conductor leading an orchestra and called the numbers out in a booming voice.
Looking down at the scene, Si-woo clicked his tongue.
"They're not even giving each other room to breathe."
"It's such a rare piece. They're not willing to lose face to each other."
Once the price passed 250 million Hong Kong dollars, or 44 billion won, the storm of paddles began to die down little by little.
From here on, it was the territory of the truly rich.
The auctioneer lowered his tone and began to settle the room.
"260 million. Current high bid. 270 million, do we have more?"
The auctioneer slowly turned his head, scanning the hall.
The proxies in the phone-bidding section also shook their heads with awkward expressions and lowered their receivers.
"Understood. We'll stop here."
A silence hung there, as if the sale was on the verge of being decided.
Just as the auctioneer was about to raise the gavel,
"300 million dollars, or 52 billion won."
Chairman Wang's secretary raised a paddle.
The auctioneer cleared his throat and shouted, "300 million dollars! We have 300 million dollars!"
The arrival of a heavyweight had poured cold water over the room, leaving it hushed.
When Chairman Wang smiled, Mr. Liu's mouth twisted and he lifted his paddle high.
"350 million dollars, or 61 billion won!"
A Jump Bid that raised the price by 50 million dollars at once.
In won, that meant nearly 9 billion more in a single shot.
Everyone's eyes turned toward him at that staggering display of nerve.
The auctioneer was stunned too, but he quickly recovered his composure and called out clearly, "350 million! We have 350 million from Table 5."
Chairman Wang's brow twitched.
This was an unmistakable provocation.
He tipped his chin at the secretary seated beside him.
It meant to raise the price as planned.
The secretary immediately lifted the paddle.
"360 million dollars, or 63 billion won."
The auctioneer shouted again.
Now his voice was so thunderous it was a wonder he hadn't gone hoarse.
"360 million..."
But then—
"370 million dollars, or about 65 billion won!"
Liu raised his paddle again as if he'd been waiting for exactly this.
It came before the auctioneer had even finished speaking.
This was a barrage fought over pride.
Twenties of billions of won, sums larger than most lottery jackpots, were flying back and forth as lightly as ping-pong balls.
Watching that, Si-woo murmured in astonishment, "Wasn't the expected winning price around 40 billion won?"
The estimated value that had appeared in his status window had been at least 30 billion won.
And yet the bids were already soaring far beyond that.
Even now, the price was climbing, and had reached 380 million Hong Kong dollars, or 66 billion won.
Wuuung-
Then the smartphone in Liu's secretary's hand began vibrating violently.
"What is it?"
"Sir...!"
Pale as a sheet, Liu's secretary thrust the phone toward him.
[Breaking] Financial authorities issue an urgent yue-tan meeting summons for executives of Liu Group and other IT platform companies.
[Exclusive] National Tax Service: "We plan intensive tax investigations targeting IT companies and a review of lending practices."
Liu's pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.
This was not some ordinary rumor.
Even commentary from the official People's Daily had been published.
This was unmistakably aimed at him.
It was a warning from the Communist Party.
The one thing Chinese businesspeople feared most.
And if, in this situation, he won a ceramic piece for 70 billion won and it made the news?
"Ugh..."
Liu's hand, still gripping the paddle, trembled uncontrollably.
His teeth ground together.
He had the money.
But now it had become money he could no longer spend.
Chairman Wang smiled at him, the expression almost cruel.
How dare this brat.
None of this could have been a coincidence.
It was the result of Chairman Wang's deep connections in Beijing's political circles.
Even for Wang, it had taken considerable effort.
This was not how things had been meant to unfold, but the real problem was that the brat had bruised his pride.
For the Chinese, face could matter more than money.
Who did this young upstart think he was, trying to stand on equal footing with him?
He didn't have the power to expel the man, but he did have enough to deliver a sharp warning like this.
Liu understood the situation.
He bit his lip so hard it drew blood.
He glared at Chairman Wang with bloodshot eyes, but there was nothing he could do.
Thunk.
At last, the paddle slipped from Liu's hand and dropped limply to the floor.
It was a complete defeat.
Staggering to his feet, Liu stood up from his seat.
He could not stay here any longer.
He had to mobilize his connections and contain the situation immediately.
Like a man fleeing the scene, Liu hurried out of the auction hall.
"Now it's Chairman Wang's show," someone said.
The hall had gone as silent as a grave.
Only the coronation of an emperor remained, with no rival left to challenge him.
At last, Chairman Wang relaxed, leaning back in his seat with an easy smile.
The auctioneer raised the gavel.
"380 million. Any higher? 380 million..."
That was when it happened.
From the far corner of the telephone-bidding section,
one proxy who had remained silent until now slowly raised a hand.
"400 million Hong Kong dollars, or 70 billion won."
The short, forceful line landed like a bomb.
In an instant, every eye snapped in that direction.
"F... 400 million! We have 400 million Hong Kong dollars by telephone bid!"
"That's impossible!"
"Who on earth is that? They're offering that kind of money?"
The hall surged past mere murmurs and burst into cries of disbelief.
Chairman Wang's once-gentle smile shattered.
Who dares?
He had dealt with Liu.
And now another fool had stepped forward?
He glared at the telephone-bidding section, unable to believe it.
But the proxy only stood there expressionless, phone in hand.
"400 million Hong Kong dollars! We have 400 million Hong Kong dollars. Does anyone else wish to bid?"
The auctioneer's voice rose again.
Chairman Wang hesitated for a moment.
Seven hundred billion won was not a small sum, even for him.
But he could not back down now.
With a hardened expression, Chairman Wang gestured to the secretary beside him.
He wanted him to bid higher.
The secretary lifted the paddle again.
"410 million Hong Kong dollars, or 71.5 billion won."
* * *
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With the sound of the gavel, thunderous applause exploded through the hall.
It had been a spectacular contest, the likes of which were rarely seen.
Guests in the auction hall rose to their feet and applauded in a standing ovation.
The private room on the third floor had become a festival.
"We did it! We really did it!"
Shin A-young, having forgotten all about composure, threw her arms around Si-woo.
Warmth rushed through him.
He was startled and almost pulled away, but stopped himself.
If he did, the mood would turn awkward.
Everyone was swept up in excitement.
"Appraiser Kim Si-woo! Congratulations!"
"That was incredible!"
Everyone gathered around was busy congratulating Si-woo.
The giant screen above displayed the final figure.
He let out a slow breath.
[Sold: HKD 460,000,000 (80 billion won)]
The expected price had been 40 billion won.
And yet it had sold for roughly 80 billion, double that amount.
In the end, the winner was Chairman Wang.
In the past, a Kangxi imperial gourd vase had sold at Bainbridge Auction for around 80 billion won, but that sale was later canceled, making the record meaningless.
Restricted to the porcelain category, this had become the most expensive piece of porcelain ever sold in auction history.
Si-woo still could not quite feel that it was real.
A piece he had appraised at a lower value than the estimate had now sold for almost three times as much.
The vase I bought for 300 million won...
Sold for 80 billion.
Does that even make sense?
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