HLM – Chapter 128 Auction Preparations

At the end of April, Christie’s Bell-430 helicopter once again descended upon Sunset Town. Adams stepped out with his team—eight people in total, each a top-tier expert in the auction industry capable of independently managing an auction.

This time, they had come to the small town to prepare for the upcoming auction.

In the past, auctions were usually held in five-star hotels, which made it convenient to accommodate the attending VIPs. However, this particular auction was a special event dedicated to the Roberts family’s antique collection. After discussions between Adams and Wang Bo, it was decided that the auction would be held inside the castle.

Since the antiques had been discovered in the manor of the late Sir Roberts, it was only fitting to return them to their place of origin for auction. The castle not only shared a similar aura with the antiques but was practically an enormous antique itself—adding an air of mystery and historical weight to the event.

Wang Bo was more than willing to host the auction. He knew that the people coming to attend would all be wealthy and influential figures. Establishing connections between the town and these elites could only bring good fortune.

The preparation period for the auction wasn’t very long—only about a month. But with Christie’s being one of the world’s top auction houses, Adams had already explained over the phone that invitations had been sent to all the wealthy individuals who might be interested in the antiques.

Adams and his team were the advance party. Following them was a convoy, which included an international security team Christie’s had hired, along with a group of professional chefs and service staff.

This was the power of a top-level auction house. They spent over two million NZD just on security and hospitality alone—leaving Wang Bo utterly stunned.

Wang Bo welcomed the group and guided them to the prepared guest rooms. On the way, Adams introduced, “We’ve invited over a hundred wealthy guests this time, mostly from the Free Line. You should take this opportunity to network—it will benefit you greatly.”

Wang Bo thanked him for the advice and then curiously asked, “What’s the Free Line?”

Adams chuckled and explained, “You can think of it as the name of a very old club—an elite club for top-tier wealthy individuals.”

“You know, Wang, the first immigrants to New Zealand were British convicts and free farmers. They came by sea, and that sea route was called the Free Line. After landing, they banded together and formed a kind of alliance.”

“Over time, as these people settled and built fortunes, their families prospered. Eventually, the term ‘Free Line’ became synonymous with New Zealand’s elite circle of the ultra-wealthy.”

Wang Bo suddenly understood. “Ah, I get it now. So this is New Zealand’s version of the Skull and Bones, the Hua Xia Alumni Association, and Windsor Farm, right?”

Adams laughed and nodded. “Exactly, you’ve got the idea.”

The Skull and Bones is a secret American elite society whose members include major figures in politics, business, and education—among them, three U.S. presidents, two Supreme Court justices, countless senators, and cabinet officials.

The Hua Xia Alumni Association refers to China’s business elite—a group of top-tier tycoons dominating the Chinese market.

As for Windsor Farm, it’s more mysterious, but it’s believed to be a club composed of Canada’s wealthiest families. The gatherings are held at a place called Windsor Farm, which is where the name comes from.

While discussing these top-tier social circles, Wang Bo joked, “Buddy, maybe someday there’ll be a new super club in New Zealand. What do you think of the name ‘Sunset Club’?”

Adams smiled. “I admire your ambition, Wang, but I think the name could use work. ‘Sunset Club’? Sounds a bit melancholic and decadent.”

“You could interpret it another way—our members could be so powerful, we make the sun set and never rise again. Doesn’t that sound a lot more badass?”

“Well, I hope when you do establish this club, you save me a spot.”

“Oh, that’s hard to say. It’ll depend on your status and what you can contribute to the organization.”

“I can’t guarantee anything in the future, but I’ll bet that this auction alone will bring tremendous benefits to both you and the organization.”

Wang Bo didn’t doubt that in the slightest. In this auction, his role was merely to provide the venue—everything else, from organization to execution, was in Adams’s hands.

What troubled Wang Bo most was how to accommodate so many VIPs. The castle had plenty of rooms, so hosting a hundred people wasn’t an issue. But these rooms hadn’t been used in ages—adding beds and daily essentials on short notice was a logistical headache.

An even bigger problem was that the castle maintained a primitive, unrenovated style. For rich guests, staying in such austere surroundings was clearly undesirable.

Adams reassured him that this wouldn’t be an issue. He had a plan: the guests would stay in Queenstown instead. A helicopter service would ferry them to and from the castle swiftly.

Queenstown was larger than Omarama and known as New Zealand’s top tourist destination, home to world-class hotels. Christie’s had already booked the rooms.

The auction would be held in the main castle hall. Wang Bo had no choice but to relocate the Xuanhe crane family.

The cranes were reluctant to move, especially since their eggs were close to hatching. When Wang Bo picked them up, he could feel the difference in weight—signs that the chicks inside were fully formed.

But they simply couldn’t be allowed to stay in the Heart of the Nest area—it was too risky. What if someone accidentally damaged the eggs?

Fortunately, the Xuanhe cranes preferred peace and quiet. As more people from Christie’s arrived, the noise drove them to voluntarily leave. Each crane picked up an egg and flew off, likely heading toward the wetlands near Lake Hawea to build a new nest.

Adams’s team brought along modular chairs. At first glance, they looked like stacks of wooden boards, but once assembled, they transformed into elegant seating.

There was a full set—over a hundred seats, arranged in six rows with a dozen or so chairs per row. The layout was tiered, with each row slightly higher than the one in front, perfect for an auction setup.

Adams also prepared a few antique-looking, ornately patterned wooden boxes. To Wang Bo, they looked suspiciously like the cash boxes at his unmanned vending stalls. He asked Adams about them, but the latter simply smiled and said he’d find out soon enough.

A thick embroidered carpet was laid out in the hall—Christie’s gift to Wang Bo. Adams had it custom-made after measuring the dimensions of the hall. From now on, it would belong to the castle.

Zhuang Ding stepped on the carpet for the first time and instantly loved the soft, springy texture—especially when it was paired with the Heart of the Nest. He sprawled out and refused to move.

The modular chairs were arranged around the central stone staircase in the hall. Midway up the staircase was a broad landing area—this would serve as the display and auction platform during the event.

Once the dining area was fully arranged, the castle took on a completely new look—ready and waiting to receive the honored guests.