Chapter 223 The Legacy of the Galactic Aurora Collective
"Since he's got a screw loose, whatever he wants to do has nothing to do with me."
Catherine had originally thought Tiberius wanted to hype up the warm jade market just to make huge profits.
She never expected that he was actually going after the Galactic Aurora Collective.
She didn't believe for a second that Tiberius went through all that trouble to contact her just so the Galactic Aurora Collective would give him a discount.
If he really knew the previous owner of the Galactic Aurora Collective, he wouldn't lack ways to get a discount.
Trying to contact her through such an excuse could only mean Tiberius was either talking nonsense, or he barely knew that so-called owner at all!
Catherine glanced at the calendar on her phone.
Next week was when she needed to report to Imperial University.
The Galactic Aurora Collective had already found out that the other part of the USB drive Elodie left behind might be in Franklin's hands.
Catherine had a feeling that whatever Elodie wanted to tell her before must all be stored on that USB drive!
On stage, a new display platform appeared behind the auctioneer.
"The next auction item is a violin handmade by Vincent himself, starting bid one million US dollars."
A simple, understated violin sat on the platform.
Every part was exquisitely crafted, with the scroll and tuning pegs adorned with warm jade that gleamed with a lustrous sheen.
As soon as this violin appeared, it captured the attention of almost everyone present.
To better showcase the items, the auction house had bright lights from all directions, and all information was transmitted to electronic screens in the private boxes.
Looking at this violin, Catherine was quite surprised too!
She could tell at a glance that this was indeed Vincent's work!
It even retained many of Vincent's violin-making techniques. The strings were very well maintained, with slight wear.
You could tell the violin's owner didn't usually play it.
The venue erupted, and even the previously quiet private boxes became noisy.
Prices kept rolling across the electronic screens in the boxes.
"Two million dollars."
"Two and a half million dollars."
"Three million dollars."
Vincent's violins had always been priceless. The few violins circulating on the market had already been hyped up to astronomical prices.
Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the somewhat excited Catherine.
"Want to buy it?"
Catherine thought for a moment. "Since it's Vincent's work, we should bring it back no matter what."
Just as she was about to operate the electronic screen to join the bidding, a message suddenly appeared on the screen.
[I said one million dollars, so it's one million dollars. I am Vincent.]
Seeing this message, the guests who had been excited suddenly all quieted down!
Those who had been bidding quickly withdrew their prices!
Vincent had already stated his price—they weren't stupid enough to drive it up.
No matter how precious this violin was, it couldn't compare to having Vincent himself right here!
Watching the prices being withdrawn one after another on the electronic screen until only Vincent's own one million dollars remained, Catherine chuckled softly!
Alexander seemed to remember something. "You and Vincent really are teacher and student—you act the same way."
At a previous auction when Catherine wanted information, she had also directly revealed her identity.
Was this a Galactic Aurora Collective specialty?
Catherine shrugged indifferently.
"After all, those things have their inherent value. People in the Galactic Aurora Collective aren't idiots."
It wasn't that they couldn't afford to buy through normal procedures—it was just more cost-effective without markup!
With the actual owner present, the violin auction ended quickly, sold at one million dollars.
Catherine's phone also showed a new message.
[Catherine, come with me to the backstage to pick up the item later.]
[Okay.]
At an occasion like this, Vincent knew Catherine would definitely be there!
Catherine looked back toward the stage.
"The next item concerns warm jade—it's a public announcement. A family has discovered a very substantial deposit of warm jade in the snowy mountains. The paid portion starts at ten thousand dollars."
This announcement was somewhat vague.
It only mentioned the discovery of warm jade without specifying the exact location. Interested parties would assume the paid portion contained the location details.
Sure enough, many people were interested in this information.
Alexander turned to look at Catherine beside him.
"Not interested?"
"That's right."
Not that she wasn't interested—this announcement was most likely released by the Galactic Aurora Collective itself.
After the auction concluded, Catherine indeed received a transaction notification from the auction house.
Except she was the information provider.
Catherine, unfazed by the revelation, had worked with the Galactic Aurora Collective for years—they no longer needed to discuss things in advance!
"This information was released by the Galactic Aurora Collective?"
"Yes, I checked—the person who bought this information is a jade merchant from Imperial City who specifically deals in warm jade."
Except this person happened to work for Tiberius.
The auction stage refreshed.
"The next item is a paid request. A gentleman has commissioned us to find a way to get into Ironclad Jail. If anyone has a method, please directly state your price."
The auction house had both sellers and buyers—requests like this to obtain information weren't uncommon.
Catherine tapped on the electronic screen.
[Thirty million dollars.]
In another private box, Vincent saw the message on the screen and burst out laughing.
He glanced at the person sitting beside him. "My student really has a black heart."
"After all, she's a good kid taught by you people."
Vincent pretended not to hear the sarcasm in his words and continued smiling.
"If Elodie hadn't contacted me back then, wanting Catherine to learn something from us, I wouldn't have known you all were still alive."
"Even knowing doesn't matter much—Elodie is already gone."
The person sitting beside him had his hands clasped together, watching Vincent with a somewhat guarded posture.
"It's no use coming to me. Franklin is a lunatic—I can't talk sense into him either!"
Back then, Franklin had insisted on launching the Galactic Aurora Collective project against everyone's objections, all to cultivate more super geniuses.
Franklin's plan was inhumane, opposed by countless people. The person in front of Vincent was one of them.
"I'm not asking you to talk Franklin around. He put the violin I gave him up for auction—isn't he telling me that appealing to sentiment won't work?"
Fine, they weren't going to appeal to sentiment either. The person beside Vincent gave a cold laugh.
"I'd love to know what Catherine would think if she found out that her being sent to the Galactic Aurora Collective was all arranged by you old geezers and Elodie."
"Making a perfectly good kid go through so much pain—all caused by your own hands."
"Won't she hate you then?"
Vincent shook his head helplessly, but his face wore a loving smile.
"Catherine won't. She's the best kid in the whole world!"