Chapter 350
At this point, Elsie could do nothing more. Andrew's situation seemed hopeless. "What a shame for Mr. Lloyd," someone remarked. Others chimed in, "Why choose such an obviously worthless stone when so many better options were available?"
The antique experts shook their heads, disappointed that Andrew hadn't triumphed over the Bridgefields heiress. Yet, Andrew ignored Aspen's Royal Violet Crystal. He carefully guided the craftsman's cutting, and as the waste material fell away, a mysterious red glow emerged.
The craftsman's heart leaped—such a lustrous glow shouldn't appear in worthless material. Elsie, noticing something unusual, quickly moved to Andrew's side, crouching for a closer look.
The red glow intensified, revealing a transparent red gem amongst the debris. Even Elsie was momentarily speechless.
"Well, what do we have here? A Blood Phoenix Agate—quite rare indeed," Andrew said, a smile playing on his lips as he picked up the thumb-sized gem. "Ms. Santana, would you mind checking for a cicada with spread wings inside?"
Elsie carefully examined the gem with a magnifying glass. Inside the agate was an incredibly lifelike cicada.
"Mr. Lloyd, you've unlocked nature's treasure vault!" Elsie exclaimed, her voice trembling. "This is another Blood Phoenix Miracle. In both the collector's and antique markets, this agate would fetch over 100 million!"
The crowd, which had been cheering for Aspen moments ago, fell silent. Then, the room erupted in wild discussions and incredulous shouts.
"The Blood Phoenix Miracle? I'm Harrison Blake, a private collector, and I'm offering 200 million!" one voice called out.
Another bid came from Blumedale Antiquities: "300 million, Mr. Lloyd, and we'll make you our Vice Chairman!"
The scene descended into chaos as collectors, experts, and enthusiasts rushed toward Andrew. Even elderly connoisseurs pushed through the crowd with surprising energy.
As a stampede threatened, Elsie looked helplessly to Andrew for assistance. He pulled her, Francesca, and himself behind him, shouting, "Everyone, step back! Don't make me use force!"
Only Aspen and Christina remained frozen, isolated from the commotion. Christina's mind went blank as she felt a sudden chill.
Christina whispered in disbelief, "Aspen, the Blood Phoenix Miracle? Isn't that supposedly the rarest stone in history? How could Andrew possibly have found one?"