Chapter 135 Trust in Daniel
Andrew quickly interjected, trying to caution Nicholas. “Nicholas, this stone is worthless–it doesn’t contain any jade. Henry, the top appraiser from Florida, has already examined it. The red glow you see isn’t Blood Jade; it’s just a piece of red glass. If you spend three million on it’ll merely be wasting your money!”
“Florida’s top appraiser, Henry?” Nicholas looked toward Henry with a laugh. “Henry’s reputation precedes him! As far as I know, Henry has an almost flawless record in jade gambling. If he’s here, he must be participating in Jade Gambling too. I’m curious how any purchases he’s made tonight have turned out.”
Henry felt a bit awkward fielding Nicholas’s question, but after many years in the industry, he knew he had to defend himself, and he openly admitted his mistake. “I have already purchased a stone, unfortunately making an incorrect decision.”
“Did you really take a close look at this stone Daniel picked, Henry? Is the redness inside truly not Blood Jade, but a piece of red glass?” Nicholas pressed him further.
Caught off guard by the question, Henry hesitated. To claim it was red glass would mean admitting a blatant fib, both to himself and to Nicholas, and he could not jeopardize his reputation with such dishonesty. So instead of a direct answer, he replied, “I only glanced at this stone roughly. Whether it’s Blood Jade or glass, I would need a closer evaluation.”
“Then, please, Henry, take a careful look at this stone,” Nicholas urged, passing the stone to Henry.
After a meticulous inspection, Henry came to his conclusion. “This is no glass; it truly is Blood Jade. However, the quality is quite ordinary, at best mid–grade. Judging from the pattern, this Blood Jade piece won’t be very large–no bigger than a coin, perhaps. Even extracted, this Blood Jade piece might only be worth a hundred thousand at most. Buying this stone for three million would not be a wise choice!”
Nicholas silently concurred with Henry’s assessment, as it was close to his own observations. Still, he chose to believe in Daniel. Past experiences taught Nicholas that doubting Daniel usually meant trouble
for him.
“Henry says this Blood Jade might be worth a hundred thousand, tops, while Daniel believes it could be
worth at least five million. My opinion is to trust only what I can see with my own eyes! To determine
whether Henry’s judgment is more accurate or Daniel’s skills are superior, I’ve decided to purchase the
stone for three million. Let’s cut it in half and show everyone what’s really inside.”
With the stone in hand, Nicholas gave the command, and the staff member’s small electric saw buzzed
into life, slicing through the stone. The palm–sized rock was quickly bisected.
As the stone split open, the interior surfaced for all to see.