The final echo of the auctioneer's gavel didn't sound like a conclusion; it sounded like a door slamming shut on an era. Julian Rollins stepped back from the podium, his silver hair catching the light as he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. The electric indigo lighting that had defined the Millionaire's Round began to warm, fading back into a standard, welcoming amber.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Rollins' voice boomed, now carrying a note of genuine exhaustion and triumph. "This concludes our evening at the Meridian Gallery. I am humbled to announce that, thanks to your incredible generosity, we have raised a staggering 940 million marks for our partnered foundations—a record-breaking total for this annual event."
The room remained silent for a heartbeat before a wave of applause rippled through the floor.
