"Who in their right mind would offer that much? It’s going to be a bust!"


    "Must be a clueless newbie who doesn’t know a thing about jade."


    "This is hrious! Another one’s going to cry after cracking open that dud. The auction just scored a free meal with this one."


    Liz’s face flushed with embarrassment, as if she were the one being mocked. She nced at Hera with a look of sympathy, as if silently saying, <i>’Don’t listen to them, I’ve got your back!’</i> Gripping Hera’s hand in a show of support, Liz offered quietfort. But Hera remained unfazed, her expression calm as she kept her eyes on the stage, waiting for the host to announce the winner of the boulder.


    When the host finally confirmed her win, Hera stood up with quiet confidence. Zhane followed immediately, while Liz hesitated, ncing back at her father, who gave her a stern look but remained silent. Gathering her resolve, Liz joined Hera and Zhane. Hera made her way directly to the assistants at the back, calmly instructing them to process her payment for the purchases.


    Hera swiftly paid the $26 million with her card, and just like before, the assistants were wide-eyed in disbelief but remained silent. This time, however, they clearly saw her name, and the realization left them even more cautious. Recognizing she was likely here discreetly, they dared not say a word, aware that she was someone not to be trifled with.


    Initially, the assistants had discreetlyughed and mocked Hera for bidding $15 million on what they believed to be a worthless boulder. But now, as they realized who she was—a member of the influential Avery family, holding a prestigious ck Dragon Card—their attitudes shifted to reverence.


    They understood why she hadn’t flinched under their ridicule. To her, that sum was merely pocket money, insignificant in the grand scheme of her wealth.


    Once they realized Hera was from the Avery family, their attitudes shifted, bing noticeably more enthusiastic. Hera wasn’t concerned about them revealing her identity—this auction, unlike the lower floors of the pagoda, strictly protected client confidentiality.


    Moreover, shecked the machinery to open her newly acquired boulder, so she would need their assistance to lead her to the back of the pagoda, where therge machines were located for precisely this purpose. Confident in their discretion, she calmly prepared for the next step.


    The assistants were more than eager to assist Hera, leading her downstairs while the final bids were still taking ce. One of them informed the overseer about Hera’s winning bid on therge boulder, requesting it be moved to the back for opening, along with the two other stones she had acquired.


    Knowing it would take time to haul such a massive item, Hera decided to first head to the second floor to check if the stone master had finished grinding the excess material from her earlier purchases.


    When they arrived on the second floor, the assistant from the third floor, naturally curious, took a keen interest in Hera’s acquisitions. Fortunately, the stone master was nearly finished with processing the four stones. The only ones remaining were the two imperial jades, which he was handling with extra care due to their rarity and high value.