Chapter 496


    Holden held his forehead.


    After keeping his promise to return control of Zaewora to the Hoffman family, he never expected them


    to strike back in an attempt to wipe out Tarragon''s influence there.


    “Mr. Lewitt, shall we head to Zaewora? The Hoffman family has gone too far. Now that they have yet to


    stabilize their presence, we can use the opportunity to take back Zaewora and annihte them once


    and for all.”


    When Holden''s gaze fell upon Wendy, the wry smile she was wearing caused him to reply with a frown,


    “You should head out first. Let me consider our options.”


    As the ck-ddy threw the pathetic-looking Wendy a nce, she reminded him through her


    greeted teeth, “Mr. Lewitt, this woman is a daughter of the Hoffman family and used to be its heir.


    Considering the bad blood between Tarragon and the Hoffman family, your close rtionship with her


    will only bring you disaster.”


    Giving her the side-eye, Holden asserted, “Don''t stick your nose into my business. Now, get out!”


    “But...”


    “Out!”


    Once the woman was gone, Wendy held her arm as she gradually sat down.


    Looking up at Holden, she remarked in a hoarse voice, “Even though I have been kicked out of the


    Hoffman family, their blood still courses through my veins. There''s no way I''m going to allow anyone to


    harm them. Holden, if you insist on taking on the Hoffman family, you had better be prepared to feel my


    wrath. At the end of it, no one will survive unscathed.”


    After throwing her a brief yet intent look, Holden walked to the door and reassured her, “Give me some


    time. I''ll deal with this properly without putting you in a difficult position.”


    Wendy responded with silence.


    The next day, the Museum of Hallsbay organized a grand event to determine the authenticity of the


    emerald seal a second time.


    This time, the organizers invited many experts from all over the world to determine whether the seal


    was genuine.


    In spite of that, Lina wasn''t concerned at all.


    What difference will more specialists make? How are they going to authenticate the emerald seal when


    none of them has seen the real one before? When the timees, they, too, will bow down to pressure


    and take my side by dering that the seal is genuine. As for Bailey, I can''t wait to see the dejected


    look on her face. After all, there''s no way she can produce the real emerald seal in just a few days. If


    she dares show herself and steal the limelight from me today, I''ll kick her out of the museum and send


    her straight to prison!


    “Ladies and gentlemen, a few days ago, there have been doubts among the public over the authenticity


    of the emerald seal. In order to ay your concerns, we have invited the world''s top ten antique


    appraisers to examine it. Once they have determined that the seal is genuine, I hope that all the rumors


    of the contrary will be put to rest. Spreading them is disrespectful to both the national treasure and our


    esteemed ancestors.”


    No sooner had the museum curator spoken than everyone present expressed their support and


    agreement.


    With that, the appraisers began their work.


    They closely examined the red emerald for more than half an hour being to a conclusion.


    One of the specialists dered, “Our findings indicate that this red emerald is real. Those who doubt it


    must be harboring ill intent. Therefore, I hope that all of you do not believe in the malicious rumors that


    disparage the emerald seal.”


    Another elderly expert added, “Exactly. This emerald seal is indeed genuine. After going through an


    official examination, there is no mistake. Please rest assured that our national treasure has truly


    returned to our hands.”


    While speaking, the old expert began shedding tears of joy.


    Moved by the sight, everyone began to believe that the red emerald was indeed the emerald seal.


    “I trust the experts'' judgments. It must be genuine if they say it is.”


    “That''s right. We shouldn''t doubt the heritage of Chanaea.”


    “Where''s Bailey? After brazenly proiming that the emerald was a fake, where is she now?”


    “She''s probably too ashamed to show herself, but we have not forgotten her audacious ims.”


    “She had better not assume that she wouldn''t be held ountable for her baseless usation. For


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    almost sullying Master Vespera''s reputation, she deserves to be punished.”


    “You''re right. That''s exactly what she deserves.”


    “Are you really sure that the emerald is authentic?”


    The very next second, an icy female voice rang out from the back of the stage, heralding Bailey''s


    entrance from the shadows.


    Raising her brows at the ten elderly experts, she wore a smirk on her face as a cold glint shed


    across her eyes.


    “It''s understandable that growing old will cloud your judgments. My advice to you is to reexamine your


    evaluation. Otherwise, your reputation will be ruined in your ripe old age. The red emerald is, after all,


    the legacy of an entire people and shouldn''t be trifled with. If your wrong judgment causes the real red


    emerald to be left in the hands of others, you would havemitted the greatest betrayal to our


    people.”


    After being momentarily stunned, the elderly expert who spoke earlier snapped, “You ignorant fool!


    What basis do you have to im that the red emerald is a fake? Do you have any evidence to back it


    up?”


    “Exactly. Anyone of us here possesses experience that''s vastly greater than yours. I''m afraid you can''t


    afford to bear the consequences of not knowing your ce.”


    Cocking a brow, Bailey sneered, “It looks like you won''t admit your mistake until it''s toote.”


    The next moment, she retrieved a box from her pocket and ced it in front of the cameras.


    “Take a good look at it. I paid a fortune to purchase this from a collector yesterday. Why don''t you


    examine it and tell me whether my emerald or the one you''re holding is the real thing?”


    As countless gazes concentrated on the box, they were greeted by the sight of an ancient emerald that


    was covered in a crimson hue.


    It really is an ancient emerald!


    Even through the screens, one could feel the intense aura exuded by it.


    “Quick, look at the ancient words that are emzoned within the emerald. It''s clear that they were


    formed naturally, unlike the previous emerald where the words were engraved upon it.”


    “Also, the color of this emerald is a lot more vibrant than the previous one. Just based on the surface


    alone, it is a significantly superior piece.”


    “Can the emerald Bailey brought be the real one?”


    “From the looks of it, it should be.”


    Gradually getting up from her chair, Lina red at Bailey as she retorted, “No wonder you wanted three


    days'' time. It turns out that you have used it to create this fake emerald. Bailey, you''re currently


    someone respected in the internationalmunity. How can you resort to producing imitations?”


    “A fake?” Bailey scoffed. “Are you saying that this isn''t genuine?”


    “Three days ago, you imed that this emerald is a fake. And now, you produced one that looks


    exactly the same. What else can it be other than an imitation? Bailey, I''m well aware of your resentment


    for me, but you can''t resort to such despicable methods just because of that.”