The stooge panicked upon seeing this scene.
If he truly had a big boss backing him, it would be one thing, but he was merely an insignificant pawn, a stooge! If Li Fengcheng ever found out his true identity, he would likely be disemboweled and fed to the fishes!
Most critically, his actions today were completely beyond his control; he had bid without Boss Liao’s permission. Not only would Li Fengcheng not let him off, but Boss Liao wouldn't either! To maintain secrecy and the reputation of Jiadeli Auction House, Boss Liao would probably eliminate him first!
The more the stooge thought about it, the more his heart sank. His legs trembled, and he wished he could flee the venue and Hong Kong right then. However, he couldn’t muster any strength and couldn't even stand. He could only, out of professional habit, put on a perfunctory smile and pretend to be the "victor."
“Mr. Li is not staying any longer? Giving up at ten billion seems beneath Mr. Li’s status!” Looking at Li Fengcheng’s retreating back, Mr. Huo couldn't help but sneer.
Li Fengcheng slowly turned back and retorted, “What? Mr. Huo intends to continue bidding? That’s right, the Huo family has a hundred years of heritage, how could I, a mere Li Fengcheng, compare? Then I shall stay for a while longer and await the performance of Mr. Huo.”
With that, Li Fengcheng actually turned around, intending to return to his seat to watch Mr. Huo bid! Mr. Huo’s expression instantly changed. He had been so focused on taunting that he forgot ten billion was a price that would make his heart ache!
“Heh heh, I don’t have Mr. Li’s sentiments. The Jade Robe of Golden Threads holds no special significance for me, so I won’t snatch it from another. Conversely, Mr. Li, you claim the Jade Robe of Golden Threads is of great importance to you, yet you turn to leave. Your attitude is truly perplexing!” Mr. Huo said.
Just as the two were about to reignite their sharp-tongued exchange, they saw Mr. Liao Yifan’s father with a smug smile on his lips. He took out his phone and dialed a number. After speaking just four words, he decisively hung up.
“Begin the operation.”
As Mr. Liao Yifan’s father hung up the phone, an inconspicuous figure in the corner of the hall suddenly stood up. He strode towards the quarreling Mr. Huo and Li Fengcheng and shouted, “Mr. Huo, Mr. Li, there’s no need for you two to argue. In fact, both of you have been set up!”
“What?” Mr. Huo and Li Fengcheng simultaneously turned to look at the man. The man slowly walked out from the corner and approached the two.
“Allow me to introduce myself, my surname is Zhang. Due to these freckles on my face, I’m nicknamed Zhang Mazi.” Hearing the nickname Zhang Mazi, Mr. Huo and Li Fengcheng’s eyes flickered slightly. They had heard of this person. He was said to be a well-known broker in Hong Kong’s underworld, primarily involved in the buying and selling of resources and intelligence. For him to claim that Mr. Huo and Li Fengcheng had been set up, he must know something not publicly known!
“What’s going on? Speak!” Li Fengcheng commanded without any delay.
“Tell us everything you know. Don’t be afraid, Mr. Li and I will back you up!” Mr. Huo also said.
Zhang Mazi cupped his hands towards the two. “With your words, I am reassured.”
“It’s like this, I happen to know the friend who bought the Jade Robe of Golden Threads for ten billion.”
“Though looking at someone through a crack in the door isn’t ideal, I truly don’t believe he could have transformed into the representative of some overseas bigwig in just one year. You must know that before this, he was just a nobody hanging around in the underworld! He was either working as a junket promoter in casinos or soliciting clients at horse racing tracks. Recently, I heard he found a new job, with a fancy title—Auction House Account Manager.”
“At first, I was indeed intimidated by this title. Manager, how imposing! But later, I happened to overhear a subordinate mention that these so-called auction house managers are no different from real estate agents! They’re just legmen!”
“And before this, he was either a junket promoter or a tout. What could he possibly do at an auction house? Out of curiosity, I specifically investigated, and I actually found out.”
“For the past six months, he has been going to various auction houses, acting as a stooge for them!”
Boom! Zhang Mazi’s words caused an uproar in the entire hall. Mr. Huo and Li Fengcheng’s faces turned ashen. The two looked at each other and saw a mixture of anger and amusement in each other’s eyes. Who would have thought that two distinguished magnates of Hong Kong would be fooled by a mere stooge? How embarrassing!
“Do you dare to take responsibility for your words?” Li Fengcheng’s face was extremely grim, his eyes flashing with an uncontrollable, chilling murderous intent as he asked Zhang Mazi.
Zhang Mazi nodded. “I dare! If you don’t believe me, Mr. Li can have someone investigate his background. Or, you can stay at the auction house a little longer and wait for him to make the transfer. See if he can actually transfer ten billion!”
“Fine, then I’ll stay a bit longer! If I don’t see the ten billion transferred by then, heh heh…” Li Fengcheng didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood. To be toyed with like this by Li Fengcheng would naturally incur his wrath!
“I’ll stay too, after all, I’m involved in this matter,” Mr. Huo added. Clearly, Mr. Huo had no intention of letting it go!
Thump! Exposed, the stooge could no longer bear the immense pressure and slid off his chair onto the floor. Large beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his expression was one of extreme fear. He crawled towards Li Fengcheng and Mr. Huo. Without a word, he began kowtowing to them repeatedly.
“Mr. Li, Mr. Huo, I’m sorry, it’s my fault!”
“I did deceive you! I am indeed not a representative of an overseas boss, I am a stooge!”
“But I didn’t intentionally deceive you! I was following orders, and I was doing it to make a living!”
“The account is settled with the right person. If you two truly want to seek retribution, you should find the owner of the auction house—Boss Liao! He instructed me to do this!”
Whoosh! Upon hearing the stooge’s confession, everyone’s expression changed, and they looked towards Mr. Liao Yifan’s father. Mr. Liao Yifan’s father stood up abruptly, putting on an act of terror and rage.
“You… you are slandering me! How can you tarnish the reputation of Jiadeli Auction House built over so many years?”
“You must be a spy sent by a competitor!”
The stooge seemed to have anticipated Mr. Liao Yifan’s father’s reaction. He took out his phone. “Mr. Li, Mr. Huo, there are chat records and audio evidence in here. I can prove that I was instructed by Boss Liao! He ordered me to keep the Jade Robe of Golden Threads at Jiadeli Auction House at all costs! It must not be sold to anyone!”
Li Fengcheng took the phone. After a while, Li Fengcheng’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Mr. Liao Yifan’s father. “Boss Liao, the evidence is conclusive, do you still intend to deny it?”
“I never expected it, Boss Liao, you have become so arrogant that you don’t even put me and Mr. Huo in your eyes anymore!”
“If you scheme against others, so be it, but you dare to scheme against both of us!”
“I think you’ve truly had too comfortable a life recently and are tired of living!”
Hearing Li Fengcheng’s words, Mr. Liao Yifan’s father instantly deflated like a defeated rooster, no longer able to maintain his stubborn front. His expression flickered repeatedly, and after much hesitation, he suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud. “I apologize, Mr. Li, Mr. Huo. I did indeed set a trap and scheme against you!”
“But… I was forced to do it! I was also wronged!”