Chapter 402 Luck Or Capability?
As it turned out, the second stone was extraordinary as well. It was another piece of imperial jade, but of even higher quality than the previous one. Although smaller in size, it could still be worth up to $1 million and was sufficient to craft both a bracelet and a pendant.
The stone master’s heart nearly leaped from his chest as he examined the opened stones on his table. He hadn’t encountered two consecutive imperial jades from the same person in a decade. This particular piece had a rich, deep color with no impurities and a remarkable luster. He began to think it might fetch even more than he initially estimated.
Even Miss Goldsmith stared at the stone in disbelief. She had paid little attention when Hera selected it, treating the process as casually as picking vegetables at a market. Hera hadn’t even inspected the stone with the meticulousness of a professional; she simply looked at it briefly and felt its surface before making her choice.
Hera had merely wandered around the second floor once and made her selections at random, yet she ended up with two pieces of imperial jade—one of which was even more exceptional than the other.
Despite her polite smile, Hera felt a tinge of disappointment. Although she had claimed to be inexperienced and unfamiliar with jade, which was true, she had seen enough in her grandfather’s study to have some familiarity. She might not know the expert techniques, which is why she wasn’t overly confident, but she had based her judgment on the jade she had previously observed, which still had its outer layer intact.
Using her familiarity with jade, Hera made her selections and, of the four stones she chose, two were revealed to be imperial jade. Encouraged by her success, she urged the stone master to continue.
Meanwhile, even Zhane, who was trying to remain composed, felt unsettled. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his luck paled in comparison to Hera’s, especially since his black jade didn’t measure up to her imperial jade.
With just one piece of imperial jade, she could easily recoup her investment several times over and start making a profit. If she chose to craft an accessory from it before selling, its value could increase even further. A single piece could potentially fetch up to $5 million.
Before Zhane and Miss Goldsmith could fully grasp what was happening, the stone master revealed another jade from Hera’s selection. This time, it was a purple jade with a deep coloration and impressive luster. While it wasn’t as high-quality as the second piece, it was still valuable enough to fetch her several million dollars if she decided to sell it.
Fueled by the adrenaline rush, the stone master eagerly proceeded to open the last stone after making his markings. Sure enough, another gem was revealed. This time, a thin layer of stone covered a large chunk of vivid red jade, roughly the size of two fists. Its striking color, resembling that of a ruby, and its cold, radiant luster made it incredibly captivating and beautiful.
Hera heard Miss Goldsmith gasp audibly as she tried to speak but was rendered speechless. Her vocal cords seemed to fail her completely. Miss Goldsmith, who had previously laughed at Hera for being amateurish and making random choices, was now at a loss. She couldn’t decide if Hera’s success was due to extraordinary luck or genuine skill.