บท 2: Ch-2 Selling Antiques!
After several experiments, Ryan came to a conclusion.
The essence of the ability to sacrifice is an equivalent exchange, but this so-called equivalence is different from what he imagined.
It's like trading an exquisite modern art clock for a broken and rotting antique from the last century.
Or exchanging a finely crafted watch for a pile of newly manufactured watch parts.
Even a sofa can become a pile of rotten wood.
The outcome of any sacrifice depends entirely on luck.
Ryan looked at the table full of things he had sacrificed.
There were several silver coins of different styles that looked old but were about 90% intact.
These were what he had received in exchange for sacrificing the few US dollars he had.
There was also a well-kept guitar.
A gold-plated European-style watch, a pile of scattered parts, and a collection of materials that could hardly be called junk.
"These things, put together, should be able to sell for some money."
Ryan looked at the antique clock on the table. Although he couldn't tell its exact age, it seemed to be an old antique with some history.
It also seemed to be well preserved.
With that in mind, Ryan found a box to pack the gilded clock and other scattered items.
He rode his bike to the largest antique store in the downtown area.
In addition to selling antiques, the shop also buys them.
He chose this shop because the owner is a wealthy collector.
Running the shop is just a side job; collecting antiques is his true passion.
If he finds something valuable, he's willing to pay for it.
'Ding-ling-ling!'
The doorbell rang as Ryan pushed open the door and entered.
Inside, a bespectacled white man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies was carefully polishing a silver weapon.
Inside the spacious antique shop, several tall and strong guards stood guard in various locations.
The zero-dollar buying events are notorious, so antique shops with significant cash flow are often targeted.
These guards actually served as security as well.
Ryan watched them and could tell from their posture that they were probably all retired veterans.
'Tsk! This antique shop has some serious security.'
Ryan didn't think much of it and went straight to the counter.
"I want to sell something; how much is this worth?"
He took the gold-plated clock out of the box.
"Hey!"
Behind the counter, the older man with the glasses lit up with excitement.
He put on white gloves and carefully picked up the watch to examine it.
"It's rare to see a gilded clock from the palace of the middle European century so well preserved."
The old man admired the clock in his hands, clearly fascinated by it.
"According to the market price, this clock is worth about 8,000 to 10,000 US dollars, but since it's in such good condition, I personally value it even more."
"If you're willing to sell it to me, I can offer you $15,000."
"No one here will offer you a higher price, so consider it, young man."
The old man looked at Ryan and spoke directly.
'Hiss! How much? Fifteen thousand dollars!'
Ryan's heart raced. He hadn't expected the gilded antique clock to be so valuable.
The modern industrial art clock he had bought was worth less than a hundred dollars.
He was making almost a hundred times that.
It was practically a steal!
"Deal!"
After all, it was something he got for free, so he was happy to make the sale without haggling.
As the older man carefully put the watch away, Ryan took a guitar case out of the box.
"How much is it worth? I'd like to sell it with the clock."
Ryan casually placed the guitar case on the counter, not expecting much for guitar.
The gilded clock was valuable because it was an antique.
But he figured the guitar was probably only worth a few hundred dollars.
"This guitar is just an ordinary handmade piece. If you want to sell it, I can offer you a maximum of a thousand dollars."
The old man took a quick look at the guitar, put it down, and showed little interest.
A thousand dollars wasn't bad.
After all, he had only expected a few hundred.
Ryan was about to accept the offer when a voice suddenly came from the side.
"Mind if I take a look?"
A middle-aged man had appeared next to Ryan and looked at the guitar on the counter with a discerning eye.
"Sure!"
Ryan was a little surprised but nodded.
He couldn't imagine what made a guitar so special.
The middle-aged man didn't focus on the guitar itself, but on the outer case.
"Just as I thought..."
After studying it carefully, the man looked at Ryan and quoted a price that left him stunned.
"One hundred thousand dollars - I'll take the case."
'One hundred thousand dollars?' Ryan's scalp prickled. 'What could possibly be worth that much?'
Seeing Ryan's incredulous expression, the middle-aged man didn't keep him in suspense.
"This guitar case was custom made by Hermès for guitar master Clapton. It's worth $100,000."
"I don't know how it got to you, but it's a priceless collector's item to me."
The man handed over a business card as he spoke.
'Hermès Vice-President. Guillaume de Seynes.'
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