THE ABSOLUTE APPRAISER SYSTEM

Chapter 4: The Antique Night Market

Stepping out of the university building, the cool night breeze cleared the lingering tension from Ryan's mind. For the first time in years, the crushing weight on his chest was completely gone. His sister’s future was secure, and he still had over forty thousand dollars sitting in his bank account.

But Ryan knew that in a city ruled by giants like the Sterling family, forty thousand dollars was just drop in the ocean. If he wanted to ensure that no one could ever throw him into the dirt again, he needed to turn this seed money into an empire.

System, Ryan thought internally as he walked down the sidewalk. What is the maximum range of your scanning ability?

A crisp, blue window immediately snapped into his field of vision:

[System Notice: Current range is a 5-meter radius around the Host. Range and scanning speed can be upgraded as the Host’s personal net worth increases.]

[Current Objective: Reach a net worth of $100,000 to unlock Tier 2 Appraisals.]

Ryan’s eyes gleamed. To more than double his money quickly, standard investments like stocks would take too long. He needed another hidden gem.

He caught a ride toward the old district of the city, arriving at the Riverfront Antique Night Market. It was a sprawling, chaotic maze of lanterns, makeshift canvas tents, and hundreds of street vendors laying out old relics, dusty ceramics, and strange trinkets on velvet cloths. It was a place notorious for scams, where wealthy collectors frequently lost fortunes on clever counterfeits. But for Ryan, it was a playground of absolute certainty.

As he walked down the crowded, narrow aisles, his vision erupted into a sea of text tags.

[Target: Replica Qing Dynasty Vase. Present Value: $20. True Value: $15.]

[Target: Mass-produced Jade Bracelet. Present Value: $50. True Value: $5.]

[Target: Weathered Iron Sword. Present Value: $200. True Value: $30.]

Ryan walked past dozens of stalls, ignoring the aggressive shouts of vendors trying to hawk their worthless goods. The system filter was working flawlessly, saving him from every single hidden trap in the market.

After twenty minutes of searching, he approached a small, dimly lit corner stall run by a sleepy, elderly man. The stall was filled with rusted iron locks, old coins, and heavily tarnished bronze statues.

Suddenly, as Ryan’s eyes swept over a pile of scrap metal in the back corner, a brilliant golden text tag flared to life, completely drowning out the green tags around it:

[Target: Heavily Oxidized Bronze Incense Burner (Xuande Era). Present Value: $150.]

[Secret Data: Beneath the thick layer of fake lead paint applied by a previous owner sits an authentic imperial gold-splashed bronze body from the Ming Dynasty.]

[True Market Value: $120,000. Growth Multiplier: 80,000%]

Ryan’s heart did a sudden flip against his ribs, but he forced his expression to remain completely neutral. He had learned from his time at the country club how to mask his emotions. If he showed any excitement, the vendor would instantly hike the price or withdraw the item.

He stepped up to the table, casually picking up a worthless, rusted iron key to display a mild interest. "How much for this old key, old man?"

The elderly vendor opened one eye, yawning. "Fifty dollars."

"Too expensive for a piece of rust," Ryan said, tossing it back down. He then let his gaze drift slowly toward the back corner, pointing casually at the black, ugly incense burner. "What about that heavy metal pot back there? It looks like it was used as an ash tray."

The vendor glanced at the burner. "Ah, that old thing. It’s solid iron and coated in lead to stop the rust. Weighs a ton. You can have it for two hundred dollars."

"It's covered in scratches and ugly black paint," Ryan countered smoothly, pulling a thin stack of cash from his pocket, making sure to show only a couple of hundred-dollar bills. "I’ll give you one hundred and twenty for it right now. Take it or leave it."

The old man stared at the cash. The burner had been sitting in his inventory for three years, catching nothing but dust. He grunted, reaching out his hand. "Fine, fine. One hundred and fifty and it’s yours. Not a penny less."

Ryan sighed heavily, acting as if he was making a painful compromise. He slid another thirty dollars into the pile and handed it over. "Deal."

As his fingers wrapped around the heavy, cold bronze handle of the burner, the System let out a satisfying chime inside his head:

[Ding! Item successfully acquired by Host.]

[System Alert: Imperial Xuande Burner confirmed. Secure storage advice: Use a mild vinegar solution to safely dissolve the lead paint layer without damaging the gold-speckled bronze underneath.]

Ryan tucked the heavy artifact securely inside his backpack, a surge of pure triumph vibrating through his veins. With a single transaction that took less than five minutes, his net worth had just skyrocketed past his original goal.

As he turned to leave the alleyway, three tall figures stepped out from the shadows of a nearby tea house, blocking his exit path. Leading them was a man in a flashy silk shirt, holding a thick wooden cane—a notorious local market thug known as Scarface Qi, who managed the illegal collection fees for the district.

"Hold on there, kid," Scarface Qi said, his eyes locked onto Ryan’s heavy backpack with a predatory glint. "You look like a new face around here. In this market, any antique that leaves the southern gate is subject to a twenty percent 'inspection tax.' Hand over the bag, or we'll take it out of your hide."

Ryan stood his ground, his eyes narrowing as his vision flashed amber once again, targeting the men in front of him.