At this moment, the auctioneer was visibly excited, constantly spurring on the crowd: "Fifty thousand pounds now, only fifty thousand! A treasure from China, its value is far beyond this price..."

The above was purely Wang Guan's internal monologue, but judging by the auctioneer's incessant chatter, that was likely the gist of it.

However, those still competing knew this was the crucial moment. Experienced bidders remained unfazed by the auctioneer, deliberately maintaining their own tempo, raising their paddles slowly, hoping to put greater pressure on their rivals and force them to withdraw.

The tactic proved highly effective. Seeing the price creep up slowly, some lost patience and decisively dropped out, opting instead to watch coolly from the sidelines. By the end, only two bidders remained. Just when everyone expected a fierce dogfight to erupt between them, one of the two suddenly conceded.

The one who gave up was Yu Wei, who offered a wry smile laced with resignation.

Wang Guan hesitated but didn't press the issue. After all, his competitor was Mr. Paul, and since he would need to appeal to Mr. Paul for help later, he certainly couldn't create friction now. Thus, he understood Yu Wei’s yielding.

But speaking of which, where was Mr. Anderson, who had previously declared his intention to compete? By the time the gavel fell, he hadn't made a single bid.

Sensing Wang Guan’s curious gaze, Mr. Anderson chuckled, "The item's price exceeded my anticipated range, so I simply decided not to bid."

Hearing this reply, Wang Guan vaguely felt that Mr. Anderson might be concealing something, but it felt improper to press further. So, he offered a smile and fell silent, turning his attention to the next lot.

The item that followed was no longer porcelain, but an oil painting. It was said to be the work of a renowned European master, and judging by the stir among the attendees, it must have been quite valuable.

Wang Guan examined it closely. The painting depicted a landscape: a dense forest with a stream winding through it. A single leaf detached itself in the wind, seemingly about to fall into the water and be carried away by the current. In his perception, the painting managed to capture movement within stillness, and stillness within movement, subtly implying the profound concept of time flowing away like water—it possessed immense artistic magnetism.

In short, at the very least, it was clear what the oil painting was depicting. As long as Wang Guan could discern the emotion the artist intended to convey, he considered it a good painting. Unlike some abstract works, which he genuinely couldn't understand, and thus couldn't grasp why they were so highly sought after and commanded such exorbitant prices.

Yet, he mused that art is interconnected. Take cinematic art, for instance: the more incomprehensible a film is to the average person, the more artistic it often becomes, earning affirmation from professional filmmakers and racking up awards.

If it's easily understood, it's not art. If everyone gets it, it's merely common or vulgar. Art is inherently the patent of the few. This logic might explain why abstract paintings gain so much traction.

"Others can't figure it out, but I understand the hidden meaning"—that signifies high-class taste. Conversely, if everyone understands it and I don't, that's utterly embarrassing. Therefore, one must pretend to understand, even if one doesn't...

While Wang Guan was internally grumbling, the bidding for the oil painting grew fiercely competitive. It was precisely at this moment that Mr. Anderson suddenly made his move, doubling the current highest bid, stunning many in the room.

After a beat, the auctioneer recovered, his smile blooming brilliantly like a freshly opened flower. He then resumed his efforts to incite competition against Mr. Anderson.

The result, however, was deeply disappointing to the auctioneer. Many bidders glanced at Mr. Anderson, instantly recognizing him as the man notorious for hijacking lots at the last minute. Considering the sheer magnitude of his bid, they immediately backed down. Despite the auctioneer's repeated calls, the crowd remained unresponsive, forcing him to bring down the hammer reluctantly and declare Mr. Anderson the successful bidder.

Watching Mr. Anderson’s pleased smile, Wang Guan fell into thoughtful contemplation. He began to grasp that Mr. Anderson’s strategy of waiting and holding back was precisely to let the intense competition wear down everyone else’s resolve, while he remained fully prepared. If he didn't bid, fine; but when he did strike, it was with overwhelming force—how could anyone else contend with that?

It was through such tactics that Mr. Anderson repeatedly secured his desired items, rarely failing to win what he set his sights on.

"Truly masterful," Wang Guan admitted sincerely, feeling that Mr. Anderson’s command over the auction’s rhythm had reached a maestro's level; it demanded admiration.

"Look quickly, what is that..."

Just as Wang Guan was pondering when to discreetly ask Mr. Anderson for a lesson or two, Fang Mingsheng abruptly tugged his sleeve, his face a mix of astonishment and delight.

"What is it?"

Wang Guan was momentarily confused, then glanced toward the auction stand. The auction was ongoing, and staff members were placing an item next to the projector so everyone could clearly see it on the screen.

"What in the world is this thing?" Wang Guan narrowed his eyes, frowning instantly. The object looked like a cylindrical box, sealed at both ends. The body of the cylinder was covered in rows of letters—he had no idea what purpose they served.

"What? You don't even know this?"

Fang Mingsheng was momentarily aghast. "That's a Da Vinci Cryptex!"

"A Da Vinci... Cryptex!" Wang Guan paused. "I think I've heard of that somewhere."

Da Vinci needed no introduction; he was one of the three great masters of the Renaissance alongside Michelangelo and Raphael. Beyond being a painter, he was a sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer—a true polymath.

Of course, to the average person, his greatest achievements lay in painting. The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper were works familiar to countless people worldwide.

He was a master whose brilliance spanned ages, but what was this about a cryptex?

Seeing Wang Guan still somewhat bewildered, Fang Mingsheng explained with an air of disappointment, "A cryptex is a small, secret container invented by Da Vinci. To open it, one must decipher a five-digit code. The cryptex has five rotating dials, each marked with twenty-six letters. This means the potential combinations for the code number over ten million."

As he spoke, Fang Mingsheng sighed, "These cryptexes usually contain a glass vial filled with vinegar or sulfuric acid. If forced open, the vial shatters, and whatever is inside could be severely damaged..."

"Oh, it even has a self-destruct mechanism?" Wang Guan was slightly surprised, but recalling that mechanical engineering was among Da Vinci's numerous titles, he quickly understood.

"That’s not the main point. The point is whether there is anything inside."

Fang Mingsheng waved his hand and continued, "The auctioneer already stated that based on advanced technological scans, they can confirm there is definitely an object stored inside the cryptex..."

"So what?" Wang Guan feigned ignorance.

"...I'll buy it."

At that moment, Fang Mingsheng grit his teeth and declared decisively, "You're responsible for opening it, and whatever's inside, we split fifty-fifty, how about that?"

"Hmm?"

Wang Guan hesitated but ultimately shrugged. "Whatever you say. I hope the outcome doesn't disappoint you."

Wang Guan truly didn't care much. After all, the cryptex was small, and with internal mechanisms, the storage space must be extremely limited—at best, room for small jewels like diamonds, or perhaps worthless glass beads. Remembering his experiences in Luoyang, Wang Guan felt it best not to set his hopes too high.

However, Fang Mingsheng felt differently; he decided to take the gamble. In fact, he wasn't the only one keen to bet; many others present were stirring with possibility, yet remained hesitant.

This was understandable. Everyone suspected the cryptex contained something valuable, but the auctioneer had also mentioned they were merely commissioned to sell the item, possessing no code. This meant the buyer would have to crack the code themselves. Over ten million numerical sequences—the thought alone was chilling.

Tormented by indecision.

For a moment, many attendees were scratching their heads.

The auctioneer, however, paid no mind to their internal struggles. Seeing the item brought out, he immediately initiated the auction, and Fang Mingsheng was the first to respond, instantly raising his paddle.

Seeing this, some chose to observe, while others tentatively followed suit.

There’s no need to detail the bidding process; the outcome was practically sealed once the initial offers were made. A group of people hesitated, whereas Fang Mingsheng remained resolute, raising his paddle with unwavering decisiveness. Who could possibly compete against him?

As expected, Fang Mingsheng settled the matter quickly, securing the Da Vinci Cryptex in a one-sided rout.

"Mr. Fang," Yu Wei couldn't help but offer a word of caution, "deciphering codes is historically a protracted and tedious endeavor. To my knowledge, quite a few people who acquired cryptexes have spent years making little headway..."

"It's fine, I know an expert who is superb at breaking codes, a highly capable specialist. This small matter surely won't stump him," Fang Mingsheng replied with a broad, confident smile, leaving Yu Wei with nothing more to say.

Besides, the deal was done; the outcome was sealed. Anything said now was too late.

The subsequent proceedings were uneventful. The auction continued with seven or eight more lots following the cryptex, each more precious than the last. The final item—a gold plate inlaid with diamonds—caused an absolute sensation.

After a grueling battle of bids, the gold plate was won by a major tycoon for the astronomical price of one million pounds. The auction then dispersed, with the successful bidders proceeding to finalize their transactions.

Shortly after, Wang Guan and the others emerged from the auction house. Everyone except Wang Guan held a newly acquired item, marking a successful haul. Following a cordial invitation from Mr. Paul, they were immediately welcomed to his home as guests.

Anticipating visitors, Mr. Paul’s wife had already prepared coffee, black tea, and desserts, treating everyone to a welcoming and comfortable experience... (To be continued)