Chapter 203: Stacking Buffs Here, Huh?
Arabella Donovan jolted, subconsciously sitting up straighter. Her eyes lit up as she stared at the land contract on stage.
’I completely misjudged the mastermind who insisted on bundling these two plots! This isn’t some trashy poison apple; it’s a golden apple wrapped in cheap styrofoam!’
When Arabella thought "golden apple," she meant it literally. In one week, this barren land that everyone was avoiding like the plague would be found to have a large gold mine hidden beneath it.
Brandon Jennings: "?!!"
Caspian Rhodes: "!!!"
Damn, there was a mine under this land—and a gold one at that? What the hell did Brynn’s survey department even do for a living?
Before the two could finish their internal rant, Arabella’s thoughts provided the answer.
It turned out the surveyor responsible for this area... was afraid of ghosts.
Arabella: ’???’ ’Are you fucking kidding me?!’
Just as Caspian and Brandon had thought, the Norwall Barrens were desolate for miles, without a single blade of grass in sight. To top it off, the area used to be a graveyard long ago.
The surveyor was terrified of ghosts and didn’t dare linger there. Every time he went, he’d just perform a cursory scan, then take an old survey record from a predecessor, tweak it slightly, and submit it. His guiding principle wasn’t to achieve merit, but simply to avoid making mistakes.
By the time that employee was finally reassigned and a new surveyor took over, the detection equipment broke.
Arabella: ’...’ ’Okay, okay, just keep stacking the complications, why don’t you?’
Land survey instruments are both precise and absurdly expensive. Between reporting the issue, getting approval, waiting for a technician, and finally getting it fixed, several months passed.
With all the back and forth, the mine languished undiscovered for years.
As for why it was eventually discovered, it was simply because the equipment was working, the surveyor had no issues, and everything fell into place. By that time, however, the land had already been auctioned off.
The person who bought the plot was the mastermind who was backing Victor Donovan’s family in their scheme to seize her grand-uncle’s assets.
The original plot never detailed why this person bought the land. It only said he accidentally discovered the gold mine beneath it. He leveraged the mine to massively increase his power, transforming from a fringe competitor into the front-runner among the factions coveting Dennis Donovan’s fortune.
Even Dennis Donovan was caught off guard by his sudden emergence and suffered a major setback, nearly being defeated by this unexpected contender.
It seemed now that the man’s original target must have been the lakeside plot in the Southward District. The land in the Norwall Outskirts was merely an unwanted, bundled extra.
But who could have guessed that this "freebie" was actually the ultimate trump card!
’As Arabella recalled this part of the plot, all she could feel was the world’s intense malice toward her grand-uncle. It was so blatantly giving these insatiably greedy villains cheats and plot armor, with zero regard for logic. Was it afraid it wouldn’t be able to take her grand-uncle down?’
’No. It was one thing when I didn’t know, but now that I do—and now that I’m right at the critical moment where the villain is about to get his ultimate advantage—there’s no way I’m letting this land fall into the hands of Timothy Donovan’s family and their backer.’
Arabella took a deep breath, her expression resolute. She abruptly turned to Caspian Rhodes and called out, "Mr. Rhodes!"
Caspian had already guessed her intentions. A smile touched his eyes as he asked, "What is it?"
Arabella clasped her hands together, rubbing them nervously. "Could you lend me some money? I promise, I swear I’ll pay you back really soon!"
"You want to bid on these two plots of land?"
"That’s right."
"Do you have any idea how much they’re worth?"
Arabella froze. She remembered how she’d just spent 2.05 million on that big, dusty rock, and before that, she’d dropped ten million at a jewelry store on a few gifts for her family. With the Southward District plot being so popular and sought after by so many prominent families, she knew it wouldn’t be cheap.
After a moment’s thought, she tentatively held up one finger.
Caspian Rhodes shook his head.
She added another.
Caspian still shook his head.
She spread all five fingers.
Still smiling, Caspian shook his head again.
"The plot in the Norwall Outskirts is the easy part. It’s a well-known hot potato and small, only about thirty or forty mu. You could probably get it for under fifty million. The real problem is the Southward District plot. Based on its location and development potential alone, you’re looking at a billion, minimum—and that’s before any bidding wars."
Caspian paused and glanced toward the stage. "You’ve seen how many people here want it. Winning this auction won’t be as easy as the last one."
Caspian was also reminding her that this auction was different from the one for the rock, where most people were just bidding for fun.
These people were dead set on getting this land. Even if they couldn’t win it themselves, they would make damn sure whoever did paid a steep price.
Did she still want to bid, even knowing all that?
Arabella pressed her lips together and said in a low, serious voice, "Just tell me. How much will it take to win both plots?"
"If you’re really set on it, you’d need at least two billion prepared to be safe."
"Two billion!" Arabella couldn’t help but exclaim. Beside her, Brandon Jennings gasped.
[’What an absurdly large number! I only have the two hundred million Grand-uncle gave me, plus my own pocket change. That’s not even enough for two bids! You want me to come up with ten times that amount? Where am I supposed to get that kind of money? Maybe I should just give up... *sob sob sob*... Grand-uncle, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. I’m just too broke!’]
Caspian was amused by her rich inner monologue. He’d thought she was about to give up, but the moment her mental sobbing ceased, she grabbed his hand.
"So, Mr. Rhodes, how much can you lend me?"
"You still want to bid on the two plots?"
"Mhm!"
"How much do you have on hand right now?"
"I have..." Arabella faltered, her expression falling.
Just as she was about to answer honestly, Herman, who had been standing by like a piece of the background scenery all this time, suddenly leaned forward and murmured, "Young Miss."
"What is it, Herman?"
"The Ninth Master asked me to remind you that while he did transfer two hundred million to your card, the card already had... three hundred million on it before that."
"What?" Arabella was dumbfounded. So her black card currently held... five hundred million?
"Furthermore, to ensure you wouldn’t have to worry about funds tonight, the Ninth Master and the Madam have prepared an additional five hundred million in liquid assets, ready to be transferred the moment you need it."
Arabella’s jaw dropped. She wanted to say something but was at a loss for words, marveling silently to herself.
[’Grand-uncle, you’re a total lifesaver! This money couldn’t have come at a better time!’]
"Mr. Rhodes, did you hear that? I have a billion now. Would you be willing to lend me some more?"
Her voice was light and cheerful, her dark eyes sparkling like stars, brimming with mirth and satisfaction.
Proud and defiant, brimming with youthful spirit—it was the kind of confidence that could only come from the unconditional support of one’s family.