Chapter 120 - 94 Market Fun_2
"This is such a rare chance to own these treasures! When I came to the market today, I saw merchant ships arriving at the port. I heard from the overseers that foreign merchants are also here to make purchases. If you’re too late in securing them, you might never see these exquisite pieces of pottery again!"
Soricles remained silent, his eyes fixated on the pottery in the shop as if he wanted to devour them. Yet, apprehension lingered in his heart. He was all too aware of the rebel army’s hatred for the wealthy—after all, they had wiped out the entire affluent district and seized their amassed riches. These days, he lived in a constant state of fear, and stepping outside was a calculated risk. He had only brought enough money to buy a single bag of wheat. If he were to recklessly purchase multiple pieces of pottery, it might alert those rebels to his wealth and provoke malicious intentions. That would be disastrous...
Xie Pangbo noticed Soricles’ hesitation and turned to retrieve something from the shelf behind him. Placing it in front of Soricles, he said, "Take a look at this."
Soricles fixed his gaze and his eyes widened immediately. "This... Is this not from the Kadesos estate—?"
"Precisely! It’s a prized possession from the Kadesos estate—the slender-necked amphora crafted by the renowned Athenian potter Nierqiao and painted by the artist Panphiles himself. This is a treasure of Sarabia City! Previously, most people didn’t even get the chance to lay eyes on it. But now, you have the opportunity to take it home as part of your family’s collection!"
Soricles couldn’t help but reach out, gently caressing the smooth, delicate surface of the pottery. Despite the dimming of the red-painted imagery due to its age, the piece was remarkably well-preserved—a flawless body, unmarred by any defects, depicting the vivid story of Athena’s birth. Touching it felt like a connection to Athens’ golden age.
Suddenly, Soricles’ gaze focused on the mouth of the amphora, and he questioned sharply, "Why is there a chip here?!"
"The crude rebels don’t understand the value of such artifacts. When they took it from the Kadesos estate, it got nicked," Xie Pangbo explained in a hushed tone.
"Such barbaric waste!" Soricles clenched his chest in anguish, denouncing their actions.