Chapter 33: Stone Cutting

When everyone saw Voragoshe being repeatedly intimidated by Ruxley, they couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. The expressions on their faces were filled with disbelief. Who was this guy? How could he be so unfazed by Voragoshe, of all people? Did he not fear the Savoy family? It took Voragoshe a moment to recover from the shock. His glare was filled with anger, and he wanted to curse Ruxley out. But as soon as his eyes met Ruxley's terrifying gaze, his courage failed him. Clenching his teeth, he spat out, "You've got guts, kid. Just wait and see!" With that, Voragoshe stormed off with his entourage, looking utterly defeated. Ruxley's eyes were too frightening, as if they could kill with a glance. For now, Voragoshe had to retreat, but he wasn't done yet. Once he gathered reinforcements, Ruxley would pay for this humiliation! Not far away, Lyverius watched the scene unfold and felt a chill run down his spine. Any plans he had to scheme against Ruxley evaporated instantly. Even Voragoshe, the young master of the Savoy family, had been humiliated by Ruxley. If he tried anything, it would be like digging his own grave. As time passed, the stone-cutting portion of the event began. Under Corruptor's guidance, everyone brought their jade stones to the cutting yard in the back of Imperial Boutique. Three highly skilled stone-cutting masters were already waiting, each with over thirty years of experience. Their expertise was invaluable, as they could maximize the value of the jade inside the stones. This reputation was a major draw for Imperial Boutique. Ruxley arrived at the yard but didn't rush to have his stone cut. Instead, he watched the others, intrigued by the process. There's an old saying in the stone-gambling world: "One cut makes you poor, one cut makes you rich, and one cut leaves you with nothing." Stone gambling was a high-risk, high-reward venture. People gambled their fortunes, hoping to strike it rich, but many walked away with nothing. The first person to step up was Lorcan, a well-known figure in the stone-gambling scene. He was in his forties or fifties and had once been an ordinary civil servant. However, through his luck in stone gambling, he had amassed millions in just a few years. Today, Lorcan had chosen a dark brown jade stone about the size of two basketballs. Its smooth surface and lack of visible cracks suggested it was of excellent quality. The price reflected that—over two hundred thousand. Ruxley had seen this stone before and had already judged it to be all appearance with no substance. In other words, Lorcan was in for a loss. As expected, when the stone-cutting master made the first cut, only a small, egg-sized pale green shadow filled with impurities was revealed inside. There was no valuable jade to be found. Lorcan's face went pale, as if he'd been struck by lightning. He had invested everything into this stone, even taking out loans in the hope of making a big profit. But with just one cut, all his dreams had shattered. Sympathy filled the crowd as they watched Lorcan, knowing how unforgiving the stone-gambling business could be. Luck was a cruel mistress in this world, and today, Lorcan had been abandoned by her. Despite Lorcan's loss, the atmosphere remained lively. The stone-cutting masters continued their work, and most of the participants managed to find jade in their stones, though the quality was mediocre at best. Only one jewelry company hit the jackpot, uncovering a piece of icy jade worth over a million from a stone they had bought for just a hundred thousand. The crowd couldn't help but feel envious. Lyverius, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He had spent over eight hundred thousand on a stone, only to have it turn out worthless. The loss turned his face ashen with anger, and he deeply regretted attending the event. Not only had he offended Ruxley, but he had also lost a fortune—a complete disaster. As the stone-cutting event neared its end, only Voragoshe and Ruxley's stones remained. Voragoshe shot Ruxley a challenging look and pushed his stone forward first. "Master, please cut from the spot I've marked," Voragoshe instructed the stone-cutter confidently. "But be careful—I don't want to damage the jade inside." He was certain this stone would contain a high-quality jade, and he planned to show off in front of Ruxley. "Understood," the master said as he began cutting the stone. However, after the first cut, there was nothing—no sign of jade, just a smooth surface. A hint of embarrassment flashed across Voragoshe's face, but he quickly cleared his throat and said, "Cut a little more." The master nodded and made another cut. Still, nothing. The crowd began to exchange puzzled glances. The stone Voragoshe had chosen looked nearly perfect on the outside. By now, they should have seen at least a hint of jade, but there was nothing. This could only mean one of two things: either the jade inside was too small to be worth much, or there was no jade at all. Neither option boded well for Voragoshe. Voragoshe's face darkened as he realized the situation. He had hoped to impress everyone, especially Ruxley, with a valuable find. Instead, his plans had backfired spectacularly. Not only had he failed to show off, but he had also made a complete fool of himself. His frustration was palpable, but there was nothing he could do to salvage the situation.