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.
N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.
“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.”
“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.”