Chapter 33: A Betting Game
He’d seen enough frauds over the years, people who claimed they could judge a stone’s value without using a scanner or cutting tools. It was nonsense most of the time, but these people always had the same similarities, they wanted to get close to his Tian Clan.
He had never fallen for such lowly tricks. Sure, there were others who truly could see through objects, people from those rare clans gifted with the ability to perceive through solid matter.
But even then, individuals like that didn’t waste their talents on gambling with stones. They had more important matters to attend to—and far more profitable ways to use their abilities. Besides, powers like those were rare and precious, and using them carelessly could take a serious toll on one’s mind and health.
To Alen’s surprise, Matthew only chuckled. "I have my methods, but why don’t we make a bet?"
"A bet? Huh... You even have the confidence to actually want to gamble against us knowing that the rock was from our reserves?" he asked. Rick’s gaze sharpened. "What kind of bet are you proposing?"
Matthew leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving the stone. "Simple," he said. "We bet on the quality of the gem inside this rock. If it’s of high quality, I win. If not, you win."
Rick glanced at Alen, who remained silent, then back at Matthew. "And what do you propose as stakes?"
"If I lose, I’ll pay you one million," Matthew replied without hesitation.
Rick raised an eyebrow. "One million? That’s quite a sum for a simple bet."