But you can't breach the contract for the land you've auctioned!
Without even discussing the huge cost to restore his credibility in this industry, he didn't dare to think about how many people he would offend by simply saying "I don't want it" now—it's very likely that the auction money for this land has already been signed off to some project. Dealing with such sellers, the cost of breaching contract is definitely higher than just admitting defeat and paying up.
He had no choice but to pinch his nose, top up a portion of the final payment, and proceed with the paperwork. Watching the staff stamp the red seal and perfunctorily congratulating him, in his heart, he felt a mix of emotions, somewhat like mourning the dead.
