The middle-aged man burst into laughter as he stepped out from the back room, unable to contain his amusement.
“You two are back again!” Israel said, grinning as he took a seat opposite them.
Clearly, these two were regulars, and without wasting any time, they produced an object from inside their coats-a bronze artifact.
The moment Israel laid eyes on the piece, a gleam of excitement flashed across his face.
The artifact, “Retribution,” was a small, intricately designed canteen, slightly larger than a fist. Two eagles, finely engraved and lifelike, coiled around its surface. They were also closely related to the “Grievance” carried by Liam.
“Mr. Bennett, take a look at this! How much do you think it’s worth?” the skinny man asked eagerly, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Israel meticulously examined the Retribution, running his fingers over the engravings, feeling the weight of history embedded in every groove. After a moment, he carefully set it down and disappeared into the back room. When he returned, his teeth now glinted gold, catching the dim light of the shop.
Meanwhile, Kayden and Greedy Wolf entered the store. They quietly moved through the store, looking at different antiques.
They appeared casual. Israel saw them but kept his attention on the bronze artifact in front of him.
Now fully engrossed, Israel leaned in close, lightly biting the edge of the Retribution with his gold teeth, then gently tapped it with a practiced hand. The sound it made seemed to satisfy him.
He nodded approvingly and said, “Remarkable! This is far more valuable than anything you’ve brought me before. I’d estimate this piece is worth around… a million.”
When he heard “a million,” the skinny man’s eyes showed his greed. He laughed nervously and said, “A million dollars? Really? Is it worth that much?”
“Absolutely,” Israel replied without hesitation. Reaching into his desk, he quickly pulled out a checkbook, filling out a check for one million.
But just as the skinny man eagerly extended his hand to take the check, a raspy voice cut through the air from the doorway. “Mr. Bennett, doing your business like this… Aren’t you afraid you’ll ruin your reputation?”
All eyes turned toward the entrance, where an elderly man, leaning on a cane, hobbled in. He was dressed in simple work boots, his back slightly hunched. He appeared to be around seventy or eighty years old, but it wasn’t his age that drew attention-it was his face. Only one of his eyes was functional, the other completely clouded over, white as a ghost. Despite the blindness in one eye, the old man carried himself with an air of authority, his steps confident and deliberate, as if his vision was unimpaired.
“What are you implying?” Israel’s voice turned sharp as he stared directly at the old man, his face losing its earlier amusement. Retribution
The blind old man slowly made his way around the room, his fingers brushing lightly over various objects. After a moment, his gaze-or what remained of it-settled on the Retribution. Without hesitation, he picked up it, chuckling softly to himself. “Ah,” he mused, “if I’m not mistaken, this must be Retribution! While not the most priceless artifact, the twin-headed eagle engraved on it tells a story. Two thousand years of history, and it’s still in impeccable condition. This was clearly once a royal treasure. At the very least, it’s worth two million.”
As soon as those words left his lips, the skinny man’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, gleaming with greed. Two million-two million! His heart raced as he stammered, “Are you serious? You’re not pulling my leg, are you, old man? This thing’s really worth two million?”
To him, the difference of even one million was a fortune beyond imagination.
The one-eyed elder nodded confidently. “Of course, it’s worth two million. I’ve been in this business for decades and never lied. They call me ‘Honest Jeff’ for a reason.”
“Jeff, there are things in this world you simply don’t understand,” Israel said, his tone measured but firm. “I’ve built my reputation on principles, and I suggest you stay out of my business. If you cross that line and trample on my values, the damage will be far worse than just ruining my name.”
Jeff stood before him, his long-time rival, someone with whom he had once walked the same path.
In their youth, they had been partners in crime-estate auction hunters. But Israel had risen above the rest, his fame spreading like wildfire after a particular discovery, eventually becoming a renowned antique expert in the Seclela.
But Jeff wasn’t here for a friendly reunion. He had come looking for a fight, his voice sharp and accusatory. “You’re just making excuses. I see right through you. You’re trying to buy this canteen for cheap, only to sell it at a massive profit. We both know the rules-sure, we can negotiate for 30% below the market price, but you’re pushing it to 50%. That’s not bargaining, that’s robbery.”
Jeff’s voice boomed, his stance almost theatrical, as if he were an authority figure in the world of antiques, exposing a fraud for all to see.
Israel responded with a cold laugh, his eyes narrowing. “Jeff, are you here to tarnish my reputation? If that’s your goal, then I suggest you leave. My name isn’t something you can destroy with a few loud words.”
With a dismissive sneer, Jeff shot back, “Your reputation doesn’t interest me in the slightest. I’m here to speak the truth and ensure no one gets duped.”
Israel’s eyes showed a subtle threat as he nodded slowly. “Jeff, I’ll say it once more-there are things you just don’t understand. What’s happening here is more complex than you can see. There are aspects of this situation that are beyond your understanding. And here’s some advice, don’t get involved in matters you can’t handle. It could end badly for you.”
Jeff wasn’t interested in Israel’s warnings. Ignoring them completely, he cut straight to the point. “Alright then, tell me-what’s the real value of the Retribution?”
Israel furrowed his brow, taking a moment to weigh his words carefully before answering. “It’s true. This is an artifact from over two thousand years ago. Its value is around two million, give or take, but-”
“Hold it right there!” Jeff interrupted with a smug grin. “You’ve just admitted it-this thing is worth around two million.”
Jeff’s voice brimmed with satisfaction. “Did you hear that, kid?”
The skinny man’s face flushed with anger as he looked at Israel. “Mr. Bennett, I’ve trusted you for so long. Every time I find something, I bring it to you first. And this is how you repay me?”
Israel, unshaken, responded firmly, “I’m doing you a favor. If I gave you two million, it would only shorten your life.”
The skinny man was shocked. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing! Shorten his life? That made no sense. Israel was just trying to look good while making more money for himself. It was like someone pretending to be the victim while blaming others.
He mumbled angrily, “Look at you, all righteous! Now you’re cursing me?”
Israel’s expression tightened, and he sighed deeply as if burdened by the weight of some unseen truth. “Kid, let me put it to you simply, the less I give you, the better it is for you.”
The skinny man couldn’t hold back anymore. This was unbearable! How could anyone claim that giving less money was somehow a blessing? Who in their right mind would turn down more cash-especially someone like him, a poor man from the countryside where even finding a wife was a struggle? Money was everything to him; it was his ticket to a better life.
And he wasn’t the only one fuming. Greedy Wolf, standing nearby, was barely able to contain his rage. It was clear to everyone that Israel was exploiting the man.
Just as Greedy Wolf was about to step forward and confront Israel, Kayden quickly held him back, forcing him to restrain himself.
The skinny man finally lost his temper and shouted, “You have a big reputation, but I think it’s all lies. You’re just a fraud-a liar and a cheat!”