"Are you certain this came from the mountain?"
"That's right."
"Which mountain, pray, is that?"
"The very mountain of the Adirondacks, Monsieur Dupré."
" Absurdité … are you certain of your words?!"
Lucien's expression betrayed a hint of confusion.
Darien, bewildered, spoke with careful deliberation: "Indeed, Monsieur Dupré, can I be certain this antique is true?"
Lucien inclined his head in confirmation, though his tone was faintly uncertain. "From the looks of this chalice, I would tentatively date it to some 1,000 to 1,500 years past."
"Oh… is the difference truly so marked?"
Darien hardly expected this chalice to be an antique. In the medieval world, it had existed for only a year. Perhaps transmigration was the cause?
He was even more shocked when Lucien dated the chalice to a thousand—or even fifteen hundred—years. Surely, for a professional, that seemed extreme.
Noticing Darien's incredulous expression, Lucien said, sharply and firmly: "Kid, do not doubt me! In all my years as an appraiser, I have never seen a goblet of this sort. Its patterns are unlike anything from our lands. Perhaps I know little of foreign relics—but do not mistake that for incompetence! I can only offer a rough estimate—so never question the skill of Lucien Dupré!"
With a slow nod, Darien reflected. A time that does not exist here… known only to those who can perceive it. But if its age is unclear, does that diminish its value?
"I beg your apologies, Monsieur, but might I inquire as to the chalice's worth?"
Sure enough, Lucien frowned at Darien's question. The chalice was certainly antique, but its unknown era made its value hard to determine. Even a few centuries' difference is significant.
"Kid, L'Atelier des Antiques will acquire this chalice for fifty thousand. We'll have it examined with the finest instruments to determine its age and origin. Its value could range anywhere from eleven-two to four-ninety. Any profit beyond that is yours. If it comes in above fourteen, we'll pay you the difference. For example, if it's valued at fourteen, I'll cut you an additional ninety-eight hundred. Do you understand?"
Lucien offered $9,800—far more than Darien had expected. He had guessed no more than $540, and even then, others might have refused, since labor and material costs would demand a hefty price. "Merci, Monsieur."
"Could you also appraise this coin?"
"By all means, kid. Let me cast my eyes upon it."
Lucien's brow lifted. Such a find was rare—could the kid truly be so fortunate?
"This is... a copper coin!" Lucien's eyes lit up. The chalice could raise the odds by 20%, but this coin? At least 90%—its markings and inscriptions made it invaluable.
He had made his decision. Tomorrow, he would gather a few old friends for the examination. If a forgotten era truly emerged, then history would remember the name Lucien Dupré.
"This copper coin alone is preliminarily valued at $250,000! Together with the chalice, the total reaches half a million dollars!"
Darien's fingers brushed against the silver and gold at his side. $250,000 for a single coin… that was a fortune! Still, he held back. Better to keep a low profile.
He might trust Eliana, but years of hardship had taught him not to trust strangers. Caution was the only shield he had.
"Alright then, Monsieur Dupré. We've got a deal."
Both of them felt satisfied.
Darien, more than anyone, marveled at the thought—five hundred thousand dollars in only a few hour talk. A reality he had never dared even to dream of before.
Lucien also felt a quiet satisfaction as he acquired the chalice and the unfamiliar copper coins. His first impression pointed to a forgotten era. If that proved correct, profit mattered little—the true prize would be the prestige it brought to his name in the antique world.
"Here, kid, is the contract. Study it well. If it bears no error in your eyes, then sign, and the shop shall honor its word with swift payment to you."
Darien reviewed the contract—it was as Lucien had said. With Eliana sitting close by, he doubted anyone would risk altering it. Satisfied, he signed his name.
"And, kid, let us be clear: the tale of a mountain find will not do—it is too crude, too simple. Instead, write it as though it flows from your family's long and dignified lineage."
"O-oui… I mean, yes, monsieur. I understand."
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🔍 Did you know?
- During the 19th century, European collectors often paid huge sums for "mountain finds" or locally discovered artifacts, even if their exact age was uncertain.
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