THE REBORN GENIUS

CHAPTER 3 — THE AUCTION NOBODY EXPECTED HIM TO ENTER Part 1

"Security! Who allowed this homeless man inside?"

The sharp voice rang through the entrance hall, drawing the attention of several guests who had been examining the antiques displayed behind glass cases.

Justin stopped walking.

Beside him, Biscuit nearly collided with his leg before stepping around him and looking up at the man who had shouted.

The attendant wore a perfectly pressed black suit, polished shoes, and a silver name badge. His expression suggested that Justin had personally offended him simply by standing in the building.

Justin glanced down at his clothes. His shirt was faded, his trousers were dirty, and his shoes had clearly seen better days. He had no money for a change of clothes, and there had been little opportunity to improve his appearance since waking up beneath a bridge.

He looked back at the attendant. "Is there a problem?"

The attendant stared at him as though the question were ridiculous. "This is a private auction. People don't simply walk in from the street."

Justin glanced towards the large sign mounted above the entrance. It clearly advertised the event as a public auction, with registration open to anyone who wished to participate.

"Interesting," he replied calmly. "I thought this was a public auction."

The attendant's expression tightened. "Public doesn't mean people like you can enter wearing anything you want."

A few guests turned towards them. One woman covered her mouth as she whispered something to the man beside her, while another guest looked Justin over with open amusement.

Biscuit sat beside Justin's shoes and scratched his ear. "I told you we should have found somewhere to wash first," the dog muttered.

Justin lowered his eyes towards him.

"You also told me that the auction was a place where people exchanged valuable objects for money. You neglected to mention that they required expensive clothing before allowing anyone to exchange anything."

"Well, I didn't organise the place."

The attendant frowned. "Did that dog just speak?"

Justin looked at him. "Would you prefer that I answer for him?"

The attendant opened his mouth, but before he could respond, another voice interrupted. "What's happening here?"

A middle-aged man approached from the main exhibition hall. His dark suit fit perfectly, and his neatly combed hair was beginning to show traces of grey. A gold watch rested against his wrist, and a small identification badge on his jacket read COLEMAN — AUCTION DIRECTOR.

The attendant immediately straightened.

"Mr. Coleman, this individual attempted to enter without understanding the standards of the establishment. I was just arranging for security to remove him."

Mr. Coleman examined Justin, then Biscuit.

His expression revealed mild surprise, but he did not immediately display the hostility shown by the attendant.

"Young man, this event is intended for registered bidders and guests. Do you have a registration number?"

"No."

"Have you received an invitation?"

"No."

"Then I'm afraid you cannot participate."

Justin nodded towards the sign outside. "The advertisement says public auction. I came because I was interested in examining the items."

Mr. Coleman sighed. "Young man, there is nothing here for you. I suggest you leave before this becomes embarrassing."

Justin looked past him into the exhibition hall.

Rows of polished display tables stretched across the spacious room. Glass cabinets contained antique watches, carved ornaments, old coins, ceremonial objects, paintings, and several pieces of jewellery. Wealthy guests moved between the displays while attendants provided information about individual items.

The room was filled with the faint smell of expensive perfume and polished wood.

Justin had spent his previous life studying things that other people considered ordinary. A broken machine, an unusual chemical reaction, or a badly constructed mechanism could hold his attention for hours. He had never needed an invitation to examine something that interested him.

"I will leave," he said.

Mr. Coleman nodded, apparently satisfied.

"But I have one question."

The auctioneer's patience visibly diminished. "What is it?"

Justin pointed towards a table near the far wall. "Why is that collection of stones sitting over there instead of being displayed?"

Mr. Coleman followed his gaze.

The container was a large wooden crate positioned near a storage entrance. Unlike the other exhibits, it had no glass covering, decorative labels, or special lighting. Several grey and brown stones lay inside, some roughly shaped and others covered in dust.

"Those?" Mr. Coleman asked.

"Yes."

"They're worthless stones. Nobody wants them."

Justin continued studying the crate. "Then you wouldn't mind telling me why you're keeping them in an auction house."

The auctioneer gave a tired sigh.

"They were recovered from an old estate. The previous owner collected all sorts of geological specimens, but the family had no interest in keeping them. We brought the collection here to clear the storage room. Nobody has shown any interest, and I doubt anyone will."

Justin stepped closer.

The attendant immediately moved to block him. "Don't touch anything!"

Justin stopped, raising both hands slightly. "I haven't touched anything."

"Then keep your distance."

Mr. Coleman gestured impatiently. "Let him look. He'll soon realise there's nothing worth examining."

Justin approached the crate and began studying its contents.

At first glance, the stones appeared unremarkable. Most were common mineral specimens, including several pieces of quartz, ordinary limestone, and what looked like fragments of weathered granite. Their previous owner had probably collected them without considering their commercial value.

However, Justin's attention settled on a stone near the bottom of the container.

It was roughly the size of a man's fist, with an uneven surface and a dull grey-green exterior. A thin fracture ran across one side, revealing a faint green layer beneath the outer shell.

Justin crouched.

His eyes narrowed.

He did not immediately pick it up. Instead, he examined the fracture, the distribution of mineral deposits, and the way the exposed surface reflected the overhead lights.

Something about its structure was unusual.

The outer layer appeared to contain a mixture of weathered host rock and mineral impurities. Beneath it, however, Justin could see a dense crystalline structure with a distinctive green hue.

He leaned closer.

The stone's surface had been partially altered by prolonged exposure to moisture and environmental conditions, but the underlying material remained remarkably well preserved.

Justin's thoughts began moving rapidly.

He considered its possible geological origin, the mineral composition visible through the fracture, and the unusual density suggested by its structure.

Then he noticed something else.