Chapter 10


    Master Johnson, known as the “Sorcerer of the Stone Betting Field,” personally selected a gemstone


    that, when cut, revealed nearly a kilogram of icy emerald jadeite, which caused a round of enthusiastic


    apuse to erupt in the banquet hall.


    “Icy emerald jadeite! This is the only stone that can rival the imperial green jadeite!”


    “What a dramatic turn of events! I wonder how the judges will decide now!”


    “Both stones are top-notch, unveiled on the same day, no wonder there’s such fiercepetition within


    the Lockwood Group. Orion and Timothy, in terms of skill and luck, are evenly matched!”


    With the contest revealing both imperial green and icy emerald jadeite, Tyson was thrilled, immediately


    calling for an expert on-siteparison.


    After thirty minutes of meticulous examination, the results were announced.


    Both stones were nearly equal in all evaluated aspects, but the victory was decided by a mere 5 grams,


    with Timothy’s team’s icy emerald jadeite weighing slightly more than Orion’s team’s imperial green


    jadeite.


    Timothy’s team clinched the victory by this slim margin!


    The crowd murmured in awe, marveling at the old adage, “In the end, it’s experience that trumps


    youth.” Timothyughed heartily and pped his hands as he approached Orion.


    “My dear nephew, you let me win today!”


    Cedric clenched his fists, feeling irked by Timothy’s boastful demeanor, and he wondered where he had


    found such a skilledst-minute ally.


    Raising an eyebrow, Xanthea found her suspicions confirmed. In her past life, Orion had lost to his


    uncle at this very gemstone betting event, which led to malicious rumors whe theyter had a car


    ident-it was spected Orion had engineered it to seize contro thepany.


    This time, she would not let him lose.


    “What a day it will be when you work under me


    As Timothy extended his hand towards Orion, a clear female voice cut through the noise, halting their


    conversation.


    “Wait!”


    Everyone turned to see Xanthea, who had her arms crossed, lookingposed and confident. “Mr.


    Lockwood, I’m afraid I must disappoint you. My stone hasn’t been cut yet.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


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    Chapter 10 Choptry


    Timothy turned, “And you are?”


    “I’m part of Orion’s gemstone appraisal team. ording to the rules, the best stone selected by our


    team is used for the evaluation, and mine hasn’t been cut yet. Aren’t you jumping to conclusions a bit


    early?”


    Laughter broke out in the hall.


    “She’s cutting the stone for Orion’s team? You must be joking!”


    “That unremarkable small rock she’s holding? It’s probably full of concrete inside!”


    “The Nightshade family heiress looks like a goddess but seems tockmon sense; how dare she


    unt herself like this at a critical event which concerned the session of the Lockwood Group. Is this


    a joke to her?”


    “No matter what she cuts, it can’tpare to icy emerald jadeite. This is just ridiculous.”


    Cedric was baffled.


    Ms. Nightshade was part of the appraisal team? He hadn’t heard about it. Did she event know how to


    appraise gemstones?


    Xanthea’s gaze met Orion’s across the room.


    His deep, inscrutable eyes mirrored her confident, radiant smile, as if he couldn’t quite figure her out,


    while her eyes conveyed one message-Orion, do you trust me?


    Timothy, amused by her deration, turned to Orion, “Nephew, is she really part of your team?”


    “Yes.”


    Without a second’s hesitation, Orion confirmed it firmly.


    Laughter filled the air again,


    Xanthea was briefly stunned; she was prepared for Orion to deny her part, and was reat to cut the


    stone herself.


    Unexpectedly, he had agreed without a thought, a move that seemed absurd to outsider


    “What? Did I hear that right? Mr. Lockwood actually acknowledged her?”


    “It’s weird; why would Mr. Lockwood indulge her? Is it just to save face for the Nightshac family?”


    “Nonsense, the Lockwood Group is a top-tier financial empire in Crestwood; Mr. Lockwood doesn’t


    need to give anyone face. He’s probably just setting her up for embarrassment because it’ll be p in


    the face once the stone is cut!”


    “Xan, what’s going on?” Ethan and Samuel came running over with a foggy head. Xanthea gestured for


    them to wait and see.


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    Timothyughed heartily, extending his hand to Xanthea in a mocking gesture, “Then please,


    proceed!”.


    The assistant ced Xanthea’s chosen stone under the machine. Timothy leaned towards Orion,


    “Orion, you’re young, don’t be such a sore loser. Losing to your uncle with imperial green is far better


    than ending up with gravel.”


    He hadn’t finished his sentence when the entire betting hall fell into a deathly silence, followed by a


    wave of awe.


    Orion looked past Timothy to see a faint purple hue swirling under the machine; at this, his eyes


    narrowed in surprise.


    “My God! What’s this purple? I’ve never seen purple jadeite before in all my years in the industry, and


    such arge piece!”


    “The beauty of this purple jadeite! Brilliant, moist, and finely textured, and it’s glowing!”


    “So beautiful! It’s so captivating! Could this be a divine stone?”


    The hall was filled with gasps and praises.


    In the center of the hall, under the brilliant crystal lights,y arge jadeite; it was clear


    and glowing with a gentle purple light, proiming its unparalleled regal status.