Chapter 189


    Seeing Noe’s silence, Yates continued, “Don’t worry, Ms. Schnabel. Even if we end up with a lemon


    or a wildflower, it’s not all bad. Think of it as a stroke of good luck.”


    As Yates shifted the spotlight onto Noe, all eyes in the room followed suit.


    Noe lifted her head slightly, the ck evening gown and pearl ne setting her apart with an air


    of untouchable mystique.


    “It’s all junk. I’m not interested,” Noe said dismissively.


    The rough stonesid out by the Gruber family were clearly mediocre at best, judging from the surface


    mottling; they were likely to yield nothing more than low–grade gems.


    Noe’s blunt remark didn’t sit well with the self–proimed Gemstone Gambling King.


    “Who is this youngdy? Shecks manners. Perhaps she shouldn’t embarrass herself in public.”


    Noe didn’t even bother to look up. “I said everything here is junk, and that includes you.”


    Both Noe and Master Hector weren’t the types to let anyone unt the Gemstone Gambling King title


    in the Imperial City and get away with it.


    Gary lost his temper on the spot!


    “You dare say there’s no good stock here? I was in the gem business before you were even born!”


    Amanding voice suddenly cut through the tension. “The Grubers are bold, aren’t they? To doubt


    Ms. Schnabel of the Schnabel family, when they’ve just hired some greenhorn? Impressive.”


    Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, Lucian, seated in a wheelchair, was pushed in by Lavinia,


    joining Noe’s side.


    “And who might you be?” Gary frowned.


    Lucian didn’t bother to respond, not even lifting his eyelids.


    The atmosphere was charged, but Arthur rose from the front and chuckled. “Lucian, why didn’t you let


    me know you wereing?”


    The Gruber family had risen to prominence with the support of the Richardsons. Even if Arthur held


    little respect for Lucian’s ways, he had to greet him with due deference.


    Lucian nced around. “This youngdy is under my protection. Anyone who dares to speak ill of her


    should think twice before stepping foot in the Imperial City again. Since you im to be the Gemstone


    Gambling King, prove it–cut open a couple of those stones and let’s see if they’re royal or just reptiles!”


    10 55


    chardson family’s influence contradict Lucien publicly.


    world


    wignificant and


    With a smile, Arthur gestured to the stage. “Start cutting”


    Seeing Arthur’s cautious demeanor in front of Lucian, Gary didn’t dare say another word He selected


    two pieces of rough stone and began to cut them in front of everyone.


    Palmer whispered, “Did he pick the good stuff?”


    “Trash,” Noe retorted without hesitation.


    Gary was extremely careful, daring only to cut along a fine line.


    Someone in the crowd eximed, “There’s green!”


    Yates and Arthur breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the green jadeite on the stage.


    Gary, smug, looked down at Noe. “Ms. Schnabel called these junk. Does this luster look like trash to


    you?”


    Noe frowned slightly, shaking her head in distaste. “Like I said, just like your character, it’s all trash.”


    The exterior of Gary’s stone was a facade, a quick rub would reveal that only the surfaceyer was


    green–the rest was worthless


    “A deeper cut will reveal the truth. A thinyer like that? Who are you trying to fool?”


    The Grubers had spent a fortune on these stones, hoping to make a statement today. If even one


    turned out to be valuable, it would be a windfall


    “Cut again,” Arthurmanded.


    Gary, gritting his teeth, was convinced Noe was just a cluelessdy looking to stir trouble


    “If this stone turns out to be of high quality, Ms. Schnabel owes me an apology”


    A scoff suddenly echoed through the room as a middle–aged man in a hoodie rose slowly from behind


    Noe.


    “She said it’s all junk, so it’s all junk”


    Everyone present was a gambler, and there wasn’t a soul who didn’t recognize the man. The


    grandmaster of gem gambling from Harmonia Country, Master Hector!


    Arthur, his face twitching, quickly stood to greet him. “Master Hector, it’s been too long.” Hector rolled


    his eyes, unimpressed. “Too long, and yet you’re here peddling fakes, Arthur. You really have no


    shame!”


    To be publicly humiliated by Hector was too much for Arthur to bear. “You, on the stage!


    You heard her–cut again! Let’s all see the trash you’ve chosen?


    Palmer suddenly spoke up, “Mr. Gary, you’ve offended my fiancée. That’s something I won’t forget.


    Gary hadn’t expected his charade as the Gemstone Gambling King toe crashing. down at the


    Gruber family’s event, especially not in front of the real deal! His hands shook as he continued to cut


    the stone, revealing nothing but a worthless chunk of opaque white.


    Arthur clenched his jaw. “Another one!”


    The quality stones at the event were scarce, and Gary’s subsequent cuts yielded nothing more than a


    small piece of ice jade.


    Noe yawned. “This is dull. A fake will always be just that–a fake.”


    With Hector present, Gary could no longer im to be the Gemstone Gambling King without appearing


    disrespectful.


    Arthur shot a furious look at Walden by his side, his rage almost spilling out of the screen. Walden was


    on the verge of a breakdown.


    The so–called Gemstone Gambling King that he’d shelled out a small fortune for turned out to be a


    fake? His standing in the Gruber family was as good as toast!


    Gary choked up as he started to defend himself. “Look, the reason I can’t crack a decent gem from this


    rough is because your supplies are subpar. Nobody here could do any better with this stuff! It’s just my


    bad luck, that’s all! Even if Master Hector tried, he’de up empty–handed!”


    Hector let out a derisive snort. “Luck? You tter yourself thinking I’d even bother. Noe, show them


    what real luck looks like.”


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    “Alright then.”


    Of course, Noe’s stone–cutting wasn’t about luck at all.


    But Gary felt a wave of relief when he saw Noe stand up. She looked clueless about the whole gem


    gambling business. As long as she couldn’t produce anything remarkable, he’d have an excuse to


    wriggle out of this mess.


    Yates watched Noe with barely concealed admiration and a touch of distasteful greed. “Ms.


    Schnabel, please, even if you don’t unveil a gemstone today, the Gruber family will cover today’s


    losses. We’d be honored to simply make your acquaintance.”


    Palmer stood up and moved beside Noe, his gaze heavy with a tangible threat. “Even if you’re no


    longer interested in the business at hand, you should still take into consideration the other members of


    the Gruber family.”


    10:55


    Pates looked at Palmer, shrugged with a smile, trying to meak the involunta


    Palmer was Indeed Intimidating, but the thought of Noe’s backing from the entire Schnabel family


    was too tempting for Yates to resist.


    Noe bent down and casually picked up a nondescript piece of rough.


    “Let’s go with this one.”