Chapter 34: Cheating!?
Matthew didn’t respond and simply let the cutter continue. He too, wanted to see if he was right. If he is then it means, he could now identify the quality of the gems just by looking at what that Ghost girl called essence. If he is not then, he would be forced to use that other method to get close to the Tian Family.
It would take more effort than he liked, but there was no alternative. According to his timeline, this was the ideal window to start aligning with a few families poised to rise within the next year.
On the fourth pass, the blade hit resistance. The interior began to shimmer faintly. The technician leaned in and wiped away the debris with a soft cloth. What emerged was a deep green hue, almost glassy in clarity.
"Hold on," the technician muttered, checking the calibration. "We’ve got something here."
Another layer was shaved off. The green grew more vivid.
"It’s jade," the technician said. "But not just any jade... this is a high-grade imperial type. Very rare. Almost no impurities."
Rick’s expression stiffened. Even Alen leaned forward slightly, a rare flicker of surprise crossing his posture.
The technician nodded and looked at Alen. "Congratulations, Mr. Tian. This one’s worth keeping. I’d estimate it at least eight figures, depending on market."
Rick straightened, jaw tight. "That must’ve been luck. There’s no way you actually knew what was inside."
Behind the mask, Matthew’s lips curved slightly. "You really want to call it luck?"
Rick’s eyes narrowed. "Then you’re cheating."