Caleb's next bid sparked another wave of amusement throughout the audience.
Murmurs rippled across the room, hushed chatter building as people tried to make sense of his actions.
Some simply couldn't fathom the level of his apparent stupidity.
"Does he think raising the price tenfold will scare Eldora?" one man asked with a chuckle.
It was laughable—everyone knew Eldora had far deeper pockets than that.
And yet, to everyone's surprise, Eldora didn't place another bid.
He hesitated, his thoughts spinning.
Ever since Caleb had displayed his financial wit, Eldora had grown more cautious with each move.
And now—Caleb had suddenly chosen to spike the bid.
It was unexpected.
Too unexpected.
Eldora hesitated even more, replaying the situation in his mind.
'Is he trying to use such a minor item to bankrupt me? Is that his play? After playing it safe for so long... now he suddenly raises the stakes?'
A sense of unease crawled over him.
Something felt off. Too calculated.
