Chapter 284
Chapter 284:
Publicly humiliated by Ashton and unable to retaliate, he had no choice but to comply with Ashton’s demands, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.
Just then, Jacoby’s eyes lit up. Amidst the bustling crowd, a man named Aydan Cortez hurriedly made his way through. He was a renowned appraisal master, specially invited by Beal for today’s event to suppress the value of the exhibition.
Meanwhile, Jacoby’s phone vibrated with a new message from the Marquez family’s investigators.
The intelligence suggested that the reason behind the unexpected visit by so many high-ranking officials was rumored to be due to a significant figure from Tacland coming to Inewood to inspect work, who had decided to secretly explore the local customs and culture.
Thus, these officials had arrived to assist in the covert inspection.
To avoid drawing undue attention, they feigned interest solely in the exhibition itself.
In reality, these pieces of information were nothing but smokescreens, cunningly released by Ashton himself.
Any intelligence regarding Ashton was impregnable unless he chose to disclose it, rendering it impossible for anyone to probe deeper.
Jacoby, unaware of this manipulation, did not link the VIP’s identity with Ashton.
To him, this scenario was the only logical explanation for the unfolding events.
Despite grasping a somewhat plausible reason, Jacoby’s heart still brimmed with resentment.
How was it that Ashton always seemed to be touched by fortune?
Just when all seemed lost, a significant figure arrived to inspect Inewood, providing Ashton with a golden opportunity to turn the tides.
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Yet, after a moment of heated emotion, Jacoby collected himself.
In his view, Ashton was merely postponing the inevitable. Convinced of the exhibition’s ultimate futility, and with Ashton boldly allowing him entry, Jacoby saw this as an even greater opportunity to demonstrate just how absurd and valueless the exhibition truly was.
After navigating a meticulous security check and parting with a hefty entrance fee, Jacoby finally stepped into the venue.
Unlike others who hurried in to ingratiate themselves with the officials, Jacoby paused casually by the entrance, awaiting Aydan’s arrival. This pause also allowed him to scrutinize the exhibits on display.
Hailing from a family versed in the nuances of luxury, Jacoby possessed a refined understanding of antiques.
While not an expert, he could distinguish between genuine and counterfeit pieces and gauge their approximate value with a seasoned eye.
A preliminary survey of the pieces near the entrance left him unimpressed; they were authentic yet showcased mediocre craftsmanship, rendering them of modest value at best.
In fact, he mused, some of these items were probably worth less than the exorbitant ticket he had just bought. He even suspected that these exhibits might have been hastily acquired or borrowed from local antique shops.