<h4>Chapter 335: The Metropolis</h4>


    Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Old Song’s words shocked Li Du, as he did not think that this bay would be worth so much money.


    Compared to a trench mortar worth half a million dors, the price of 10,000 dors might have seemed low. For a regr bay to be able to fetch this amount, it was indeed a rare urrence.


    Old Song continued, “The sawback de was not for killing enemies but to be worn by officers. Sawback des were known as a symbol of authority in Germany. That is to say, this bay is more of a ceremonial weapon than one for practical use.


    “However, at that time, the Germans had the best steel-forging technology. The bays were so well-made that they were ideal not just for killing, but also for hacking.


    “This is because when the tip of such a sawback de is pointing forward, the front of the de can bring about more force, and can even hack something as thick as a willow tree’s trunk.”


    As he said that, he took up the bay and made a hacking motion by swinging his arms downward.


    It was easy to distinguish the experts from the amateurs—the way in which Old Song waved the bay might have looked simple but his wrist was steady and forceful, with lightning quick speed.


    The bay’s de shed in the air, and except for Li Du, no one else had a clear look.


    The butchers with sawback des were originally supplied to the engineer troops, but after the proliferation of the more specialized equipment like spades, axes, and saws, the bays wereter reserved to be worn by military officers.


    Because there were few officers, the number of butchers with sawback des produced was reduced to about 5 percent of the total amount. Many of the bays created were without sawback des.


    That was why this bay was so costly—it was due to its rarity.


    In addition to the low production numbers, many of these bays had been damaged. During World War I, both Britain and France’s propaganda agencies constantly portrayed the power of the German sawback de bays and the terrible wounds they caused negatively, equating the “inhumaneness” of such weapons with the atrocities of their users.


    With such negative publicity, even the German soldiers had started to believe this statement. Therefore, the French soldiers had announced that they would kill all German prisoners who were found to have used such bays by “giving them a taste of their own medicine.”


    In order to stabilize the morale, the German officers and men on the frontlines started to switch to using ordinary bays, or sawback des that they had polished into smooth des instead.


    After World War I ended, Germany became a defeated nation. This type of terrifying bay, along withrge-caliber cannons, were seized by the Allies.


    As a result, the number of butchers with sawback des in cirction dwindled. The appearance of this bay in America now could be the result of an American soldier having seized it from a German officer as a spoil of war during World War I.


    Old Song had fancied this bay as it had been well-maintained. Having survived for almost a century, it was still gleaming with sharp edges, which made it highly collectible.


    Li Du nced at Hans, who shook his head and whispered, “Don’t sell it.”


    Hence, Li Du shook his head. “Sorry, we don’t wish to sell this bay.”


    Old Song sighed. His fingers then swung the bay in two smooth rotations on the palm of his hand, disying his nifty knife skills.


    After the bay had stopped turning, he passed it to Li Du. “We share the same ancestors, so I’m not keen to make a move on you. If it were an American who had brought this bay into the shop, I wouldn’t have given a d*mn—the bay would have to stay. ”


    Old Song and the youth were overbearing. Li Du did not like the way they conducted themselves, and left after he got the bay back.


    Once out of The Tang Dynasty Chamber of Abundance, Hans sighed and said, “We shall keep our distance from now on. God, those men were not lovable at all.”


    Li Du said, “How not lovable? Look at the no-nonsense manner in which my fellow countrymen conducted their business: no bargaining and immediate payment.”


    This deal had puzzled him—what were they buying the umbre for? And to be actually willing to pay 10,000 dors for it was also strange.


    Hans said, “Both of them were scary. I don’t want to deal with these kinds of people again. I hope there’s no problem with the umbre. I have a feeling that if there’s any issues with the umbre, we’ll have issues too.”


    With that, he made the sign of the cross over his chest.


    “What’s so scary?” Li Duughed at him. “You’re such a coward.”


    Hans sneered, “Just now, when that 10,000 dors was on the table, that Tang pressed it down with only one finger and I couldn’t even move it with my whole hand! Do you know why I didn’t want you to sell the bay?”


    He nced around and then answered himself: “With the bay in hand, Big Quinn could still provide some form of defense. If we didn’t have any weapons, I’m afraid that they would have gotten rid of us!”


    This was a little exaggerated. Li Du felt that the youth Tang and middle-aged Old Song were neither violent people, nor trouble-makers.


    Regardless, this trip to Los Angeles had gone very well, with the hood ornament and umbre selling for 40,000 dors. In addition, they had also learned the real identity of the bay.


    Back at the hotel, Hans was having fun fiddling with the bay.


    Li Du knew the real reason he had stopped him from selling the bay: not because he had wanted the weapon for protection, but because he liked it.


    So before going to sleep, he threw the bay over to Hans and said, “It’s for you.”


    Hans stared at him. “Huh?”


    Li Du said, “Since you like it, it’s for you. Let’s not sell this bay.”


    Embarrassed, Hans teased, “How could I?”


    “Because you like it.”


    Hans dawdled; he did like the bay a lot. However, he felt that, throughout their partnership, he had often taken advantage of Li.


    He had not been able to save up money—it was mostly donated, or spent. Twice, Li Du had paid for the team’s car. Both Godzi and Big Quinn’s sries were also paid by Li Du.


    asionally, when he encountered something he liked at the auctions, Li Du would give it to him directly, like the limited-edition pistol and now the bay. Looking back, he felt that he had taken advantage of the situation.


    Li Du did not quite care, however—in actual fact, he had much more than Hans.


    For example, the Patek Philippe wristwatch—Hans was still unaware that he had taken their most valuable asset.


    And the Gaddafi dagger that no one but themselves knew about. Based on Li Du’s estimate, it was the only thing they hade across that could be more valuable than the Patek Philippe watch!


    Li Du cared most about the little bug’s ability to detach itself—that ability was more important than any item they had found. He felt nonchnt about money, as there were many ways for him to make money—many more ways for him than there were for Hans.


    Since they were in LA, they would definitely check if there were any suitable storage auctions going on.


    The next day Hans was fiddling with hisputer in bed, saying, “LA is really a metropolis—there are so many storage auctions here.”


    Interest piqued, Li Du asked, “How many?”


    Hans said, “There are two storagepanies having auctions today. In a few days, ah, there will be more than a dozen storagepanies going up for auction.”


    Li Du was taken aback—it would be considered lucky for gstaff, including the surrounding areas, to even have a single storagepany have an auction every seven days. And here, more than a dozen storagepanies were up for auction within a week—it was simply astounding news.


    Looking at his surprised expression, Hans waved his hand and said, “Don’t be so surprised, buddy. There are thousands of storage units up for auction throughout the country every day. How big is LA’s portion?”