The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection
30

Chapter

30

Felix was sure the energy in the teapot wouldn't lead him astray. If that were the case, perhaps the porcelain teapot had a hidden side.

A middle-aged man in a suit approached. He looked spirited. "I'm honored and pleasantly surprised by your presence, Ms. Kinsley."

Wendy said helplessly, "Oh, don't tease me, Mr. Camden. We're short on time, so we'll get straight to the point."

Felix pulled out the porcelain teapot and said, "I don't think this porcelain teapot is as it seems. I'd like to ask you to take a look at it and see whether you can restore it, Mr. Camden."

Thomas took the porcelain teapot and started appraising it. Over ten minutes later, his eyes lit up. "You've got a good eye, young man. You've got a treasure here!

"There's a layer of special material enveloping the teapot-only the teapot makers of the era knew how to create this. Ordinary people have no idea this even exists. Even I only learned about it after a recent gathering with a few old friends.

"Once this layer is removed, the real antique underneath it will be revealed."

Felix smiled, pleased that he'd guessed correctly. "Does that mean you can do it, Mr. Camden?"

"Of course! We have to keep up with the times, don't we? I recently purchased a batch of removal liquid that's specifically meant to remove this special material without damaging the antique. I only have a small bottle of the liquid, and that cost me over a million dollars," Thomas said.

He wasn't telling Felix the price to make him pay-Wendy was the one who'd approached him for help, after all He only wanted Felix to believe that no amount of smooth talking would ever beat money. "Thanks for your help, Mr. Camden."

The three went to a secret room. Perhaps it was because Wendy was present-Thomas put on gloves and personally attended to the teapot's restoration. It was clear to see that his actions were careful and cautious.

The teapot was soaked in the removal liquid, which was a purplish color, for about ten minutes before Thomas lifted it. Its appearance hadn't changed, but its colors and details were more apparent.

"You know about antiques, Mr. Zeller?" Wendy was surprised by the teapot's change. She'd never come into contact with antiques, but she'd heard of the things that went on in the industry. Ordinary people would only be tricked when buying antiques unless they were lucky.

"Let me take a look at this porcelain teapot and see what's so special about it. Why would the maker use such a rare material to conceal its true appearance?" Thomas asked.

Felix didn't mind. He wanted to know the value of the porcelain teapot, anyway. It was just out of curiosity, though.

This time, it took about half an hour. From the look on Thomas' face, it was clear there was something special about the teapot.

He put it down so slowly that Wendy couldn't stand it. It was almost as if he were holding a priceless treasure and was deathly afraid of anything happening to him. He was cautious with it to an extreme.

"I won't lie to you, young man. I already know what this object is," he said.

"Please, be frank with me," Felix said.

+25 BONUS

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Felix was sure the energy in the teapot wouldn't lead him astray. If that were the case, perhaps the porcelain teapot had a hidden side.

A middle-aged man in a suit approached. He looked spirited. "I'm honored and pleasantly surprised by your presence, Ms. Kinsley."

Wendy said helplessly, "Oh, don't tease me, Mr. Camden. We're short on time, so we'll get straight to the point."

Felix pulled out the porcelain teapot and said, "I don't think this porcelain teapot is as it seems. I'd like to ask you to take a look at it and see whether you can restore it, Mr. Camden."

Thomas took the porcelain teapot and started appraising it. Over ten minutes later, his eyes lit up. "You've got a good eye, young man. You've got a treasure here!

"There's a layer of special material enveloping the teapot-only the teapot makers of the era knew how to create this. Ordinary people have no idea this even exists. Even I only learned about it after a recent gathering with a few old friends. "Once this layer is removed, the real antique underneath it will be revealed."

Felix smiled, pleased that he'd guessed correctly. "Does that mean you can do it, Mr. Camden?"

"Of course! We have to keep up with the times, don't we? I recently purchased a batch of removal liquid that's specifically meant to remove this special material without damaging the antique. I only have a small bottle of the liquid, and that cost me over a million dollars," Thomas said.

He wasn't telling Felix the price to make him pay-Wendy was the one who'd approached him for help, after all. * He only wanted Felix to believe that no amount of smooth talking would ever beat money. "Thanks for your help, Mr. Camden."

The three went to a secret room. Perhaps it was because Wendy was present-Thomas put on gloves and personally attended to the teapot's restoration. It was clear to see that his actions were careful and cautious.

The teapot was soaked in the removal liquid, which was a purplish color, for about ten minutes before Thomas lifted it. Its appearance hadn't changed, but its colors and details were more apparent.

"You know about antiques, Mr. Zeller?" Wendy was surprised by the teapot's change. She'd never come into contact with antiques, but she'd heard of the things that went on in the industry. Ordinary people would only be tricked when buying antiques unless they were lucky.

"Let me take a look at this porcelain teapot and see what's so special about it. Why would the maker use such a rare material to conceal its true appearance?" Thomas asked.

Felix didn't mind. He wanted to know the value of the porcelain teapot, anyway. It was just out of curiosity, though.

This time, it took about half an hour. From the look on Thomas' face, it was clear there was something special about the teapot.

He put it down so slowly that Wendy couldn't stand it. It was almost as if he were holding a priceless treasure and was deathly afraid of anything happening to him. He was cautious with it to an extreme.

'I won't lie to you, young man. I already know what this object is," he said.

"Please, be frank with me," Felix said.

1/2

Chapter 30

+25 BONUS

Thomas looked at the teapot like he was reluctant to part with it. He said, "This porcelain teapot is the masterpiece of Henry Davies, a renowned teapot maker from the Clearwater era. It's called the Mystic Drake Teapot. "This has truly caught me off guard. Everyone knows Henry created the Mystic Drake Teapot, but no one knows there's another one. The two are supposed to be a pair-the last one was auctioned for 20 million dollars." 20 million dollars?

Wendy clapped a hand over her mouth. The money wasn't that big a deal to her, but it was so far-fetched to say a teapot cost that much, especially since Felix had bought it from the antiques market for a mere 10,100 dollars. Thomas turned to Felix, suddenly agitated. "Please sell this to me, young man! With Ms. Kinsley here, I guarantee I won't make you lose out. I'll pay you 25 million dollars for this!"