“What are they murmuring about?”
Ned asked curiously and glared at Jasper on the other side of the meeting room. He was currently engaged in a conversation with Mr. Powers.
Marcus, who was watching the scene, forced the unease down within him and spoke aggressively, “How would I know?”
“What if they’re discussing how to deal with us?” Ned suddenly asked.
Marcus’ expression darkened as he growled. “Can you shut up? Why would the city government join forces with Jasper to work against us?”
Ned had a weird look on his face as he spoke. “I refuse to believe that you haven’t heard the rumors, Mr. Coine. The city government this term has already been displeased with us for a very long time. If not for the fact that both our grandfathers are alive, they’d have done something to us long ago.”
“Your grandfather hasn’t been feeling very well lately, right? While the number of people aware of this isn’t a lot, it’s not a few either.”
Marcus’ expression darkened at Ned’s words. “My grandfather is just a little sick. He’ll get better in no time. These people wouldn’t dare to attack me at such a time.”
“That doesn’t mean we don’t need to be careful around them. Look at how close Powers is with Jasper. You can’t expect me to believe that they’re not plotting together,” Ned spoke.
Marcus scoffed. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes. We’ll know if there’s anything going between them once the bid is over. Something is definitely wrong if the city government is unwilling to let us bid, or you’re just overthinking this.”
…
“Without further ado, let’s begin the bidding ceremony. We’ll be using an open-bid method this time and the four companies present are free to call out your prices as you wish. The one with the highest bid owns the land.
“We’ll be bidding on a 1,500-acre plot of industrial land by Brac County. With a starting price of 150 million, every following bid is to have an increment of five million. Please begin.”
The moment Chad finished speaking, the owners of the two other companies that came to join the bidding raised their hands.
They called for 150 million and 160 million respectively.
After that, the two representatives had done their part and now sat at the side to watch the scene unfold.
They were not disappointed. Right after the call for 160 million, Marcus knocked on the table and easily called out, “250 million.”
Marcus had increased the price by 90 million in one go, exceeding Jasper and the city government’s agreed-upon 200 million.
It was a simple and direct taunt.
Marcus looked at Jasper after calling out the price and snickered. “You’re a wealthy man from outside Reed City who has come to invest. Even though we locals only have so much money, it’s only right we put up a fight.”
Without looking up at all, Jasper called his price calmly.
“600 million.”
The room fell silent at such a value.
Even though there were only ten people in the meeting room altogether, clear gasps could still be heard.
“Oh!”
No one had expected Jasper to call out 600 million right off the bat.
This was 600 million, not 600 bucks.
The owners of the two real estate companies gulped.
They suddenly realized that Jasper was not picking a fight with Marcus baselessly. Jasper was a capable man.
If anything, their companies were considered large in Reed City. They were renowned wealthy men in the city as well.
However, taking 600 million out was beyond their abilities—unless they chose to sell everything they owned.
‘But who would sell everything they owned just for an industrial plot of land that cost 600 million?
‘Only crazy people would do that.’
This spoke volumes of how far beyond their imagination Jasper’s wealth was.
Marcus’ expression darkened.
He knew that Jasper would call a price higher than his, but he had not expected 600 million right at the beginning.
