Chapter 37

“Bloodstone 2, The Jealous Wife”

As Angler finished his story, Mofei’s car pulled up to the entrance of the auction house. Everyone got out, and Mofei attempted to park in the only available spot near the entrance. However, he noticed a red luxury sports car parked haphazardly next to it, taking up two spaces with its careless positioning.

Frowning, Mofei shook his head in resignation, thinking to himself about the lack of courtesy. “What's the point of parking spaces if everyone parked like this?” he mused.

With no one managing the parking area, Mofei had no choice but to roll down his window and tell Angler and Os, “You guys go ahead, I'll find another spot to park!”

Angler furrowed his brows and glanced at the arrogantly parked car, then said to Mofei, “Wait a minute!”

Mofei, looking puzzled, turned to Angler, who pointed to the spot where Mofei's car was and suggested, “Just park behind it.”

After getting out of his car, Mofei noticed a half-human-height iron railing in front of the sports car. Realizing that if he parked his car behind the sports car, it wouldn’t be able to reverse and leave, he asked, “But then, wouldn’t that car be trapped?”

Angler smiled slightly and replied, “That’s exactly the point.”

Mofei turned to Os, who raised an eyebrow and said, “I also despise people who park illegally and drive arrogantly. Park here, right outside that spot. There’s a surveillance camera here. If he hits your car, you can claim damages. After all, he’s in the wrong.”

Mofei didn’t argue, thinking to himself that Os was a police officer and knew best. With that thought, he parked his car outside the designated spot, effectively ensuring that the red sports car couldn’t leave unless it crashed its way out.

Angler glanced at the car with displeasure and remarked to Mofei, “Anyone who chooses to drive such an unsightly car surely has a questionable sense of aesthetics. Remember, Mofei, taste in aesthetics is more important than any life or value perspective. If one's aesthetic sense is negative, their character cannot possibly be admirable.”

Mofei nodded somewhat helplessly. Angler's views were often peculiar, and he presented them in an irrefutable manner, ingraining them in your memory. In a way, this made him an incredibly assertive individual.

As the group entered the auction house, they saw many people inside: police, staff members, and several stylish fashionistas.

Angler asked Os, “Why are there so many people here?”

“Well, the organizers are hosting a jewelry-themed fashion salon, so many celebrities are attending. The main item for auction is that ruby necklace. But during its display, as the model was showcasing it on stage, the lights flickered, and next thing, the jewelry vanished,” explained Os.

“The lights flickered?” Angler asked in surprise, “Did they dim for a while, or was it just a brief flash?”

Os summoned a police officer and brought over two staff members who were on-site at the time, along with an officer who had recorded everyone's statements, to describe the situation.

In simple terms, the events unfolded much as Os had described: the model was presenting the jewelry when suddenly the lights dimmed. When everyone blinked and looked again, the necklace was gone from the model’s neck.

“Was there any surveillance?” inquired Angler.

Os shook his head, explaining, "The surveillance was temporarily turned off because many social elites were present."

"This is simply a perfect spot for an art theft," Angler commented disdainfully, "The so-called elites are just secretive when they shouldn't be and overtly open when they should keep mum. This is how they keep the public intrigued and feed into humanity's curiosity, thus elevating their own status."

Mo Fei coughed lightly, as there were several involved parties still around who heard Angler's remarks. Some turned to glance at him. Angler, however, paid no heed and said to Os, "I need to see the model who was displaying the jewelry... Oh, and also the auction house manager and the gem's seller."

Os nodded and instructed a police officer to bring them over.

Shortly after, two individuals approached. One was a strikingly tall and beautiful model, with an appearance suggesting mixed heritage. The other was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, of average height and slightly overweight, constantly wiping his face with a handkerchief and dressed in a crisp designer suit, exuding an air of status.

Angler looked at them as Os introduced, "This is Miss Lisa Li, the model responsible for displaying the ruby. And this gentleman is Mr. Fang Hao, the manager of the auction house."

Angler frowned and asked, "What about the owner of the jewels?"

"Oh, that's anonymous," replied Fang Hao to Angler. "We had an agreement with the owner to keep their identity confidential in exchange for auctioning this string of ruby necklaces."

Angler nodded and inquired, "What's the starting bid for that string of ruby necklaces?"

"Um, the bidding starts at thirty million U.S. dollars," answered the auction house manager.

"Thirty million?" Mo Fei was surprised, "Is a ruby necklace really worth that much, and in US dollars?"

Angler, stroking his chin, remarked, "That's an awkward price. Did the owner tell you the name and history of this necklace?"

"Well, um..." The owner hesitated, prompting a slight smile from Angler, who said, "I see, so you know its origins, but fear it might affect the price if disclosed, right?"

"Uh, it's mainly because today's buyers are all private individuals," the owner explained awkwardly. "If it were a museum, revealing its history would raise the price several times over. But the seller insisted on a private sale, even if it meant a lower price. We have to respect the seller's wishes."

Angler, seemingly surprised, asked, "It must be sold to a private individual? Why not to a museum? Were there no specific reasons given?"

"No," the auction house manager shook his head, "Such topics are usually sensitive, so we dare not inquire further."

"Hmm," Angler nodded, then turned to the visibly nervous female model and asked, "You seem quite anxious and sweating."

The model, embarrassed, said, "Um... I don’t know what’s going on, this has nothing to do with me."

Angler tilted his head, finding her behavior amusing. The curator said, "Oh, she's a professional jewelry model. If she were to lose a priceless piece during a show, regardless of whether it's her fault or not, she probably wouldn’t be hired again."

"I really need this job," Lisa Li covered her mouth, seemingly on the verge of tears.

Angler, sympathetic to her plight, asked, "Could you walk me through what happened?"

"Well," Lisa Li pondered, "During the runway show, there was a moment I had to turn around. Just then, the lights flickered, and I blinked..." She paused, taking a deep breath and lowering her voice, "When I closed my eyes, I felt a cool breeze on my neck, and suddenly it felt bare. When I came to my senses, I realized the necklace was gone... That's when I started screaming in fright."

Angler nodded, leaned in, and examined her neck, inquiring, "How did you get this injury on your neck?"

The model, unable to see her own neck, touched it, and upon looking at her hand, noticed a trace of blood. The injury seemed superficial, more like a scratch.

"Doesn't it hurt?" Angler asked her.

She shook her head, touching the grazed area, puzzled, "When did I get this?"

"Looks like it was scratched by nails," Os suddenly remarked, "There are several marks."

"Hmm, and quite long nails at that," Angler stroked his chin, "Doesn't seem human."

"Ah!" The model, startled by Angler's comment, screamed, causing Angler to flinch. He looked at Lisa Li bewilderedly, "What’s wrong? Did you discover something?"

"She's probably just spooked by your comment," Mo Fei explained to Angler, "She just mentioned feeling a cool breeze on her neck, then discovered nail scratch marks, and you suggested it wasn't a human act. She must be thinking she encountered a ghost."

The auction house manager was also wiping sweat from his forehead, saying, "Really... we hired such strict security, yet found no clues. We checked all the surveillance at the exits, no one came in or out... It's terrifying."

"What did you say? Say it again if you dare!" Suddenly, a sharp, scolding voice of a woman erupted from nearby.

Everyone turned to look and saw a man standing awkwardly as two elegantly dressed women argued vehemently in front of him. They started by throwing their wine glasses and quickly escalated to hurling insults and tugging at each other's hair and clothes.

The man stood awkwardly, attempting to intervene with a feeble, "Stop fighting," while looking around as if seeking a place to hide.

Angler noticed several fashionable women nearby, covering their mouths as they giggled and whispered, seemingly discussing the scene.

Angler approached them and asked, "Why are they fighting?"

The women turned to Angler, momentarily taken aback by his striking appearance and curious demeanor. They lowered their voices and informed him, "It's a rivalry for favor between the second and third wives."

Angler glanced at the man in surprise and asked, "Wives? Has that man been married multiple times? Isn't it a monogamous society?"

The women chuckled, raising their wine glasses, and replied, "Well, with money... there are always ways."

"Then what were they arguing about?" Anger continued to ask.

"Think about it, a man buys jewelry, naturally it's for the woman he loves," one of them said with a grin, "But there's only one string of jewels and two women... naturally, they would fight over it."

Anger paused for a moment, then said, "Oh... I see."

Os walked over and gently patted Anger, saying, "Hey Anger, how about we focus on finding the jewelry first and leave their domestic issues aside?"

Anger turned to look at Os, "The jewelry has already been stolen."

"I know." The bank manager also ran over and said to Anger, "But we've checked the surveillance at all the exits, and no one has left during this time. So, whoever stole the jewelry must still be hiding it inside the exhibition hall, it should be findable."

Anger glanced at the bank manager and said, "Your reasoning isn't unfounded, but unfortunately, that necklace was already transported out, and by the thief himself... well, or rather, it wasn't a person."

"Huh..." The curator gasped in shock.

"You might as well offer a reward for clues, but I think it's going to be hard to recover, unless the thief decides to sell it. However, such an item, if stolen, wouldn't be disposed of so quickly," Anger said to Os, then turned and waved to Mo Fei, "Mo Fei, let's go find something to eat."

Mo Fei quickly followed him outside, asking, "What shall we eat?"

"Hmm, let's go buy some strawberries. I'd like to have your strawberry cake, and then I want some pasta with cardamom and cheese, plus bacon, smoked meat, broccoli, gai lan... oh, and peas," Anger listed off the menu.

Mo Fei noted everything down and planned to stop by the mall on the way back to purchase these items.

Anger nodded in satisfaction, adding, "And let's swing by the supermarket for some dog food, as well as a few things for Ais."

Mo Fei nodded, stepping out of the building with Anger, ignoring Os who was dejectedly coordinating the police investigation, and the despondent bank manager.

As the two of them left the auction house, they saw a young man standing in front of their car in the distance. He was a tall, slender, and fashionable man, dressed in casual top and military pants, carrying a large bag. He was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking annoyed at their car and a red sports car that was blocked in.

"Probably the owner of the sports car," Mo Fei thought of approaching, but Anger held him back, suggesting, "Let's walk back, consider it a stroll." Mo Fei turned to him and asked, "But... what about the car?"

"We'll come back for it tomorrow," Anger said with a smile.

"He might go crazy waiting till the evening, right?" Mo Fei looked at Anger. "Isn't that a bit harsh? If he waits too long and really gets angry, driving out in a huff, we won't have any excuse."

Anger smiled slyly and, pulling Mo Fei towards a distant mall, said, "We also need to buy a feeding bowl for Ais, the cute kind with paw prints on it!"