The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 402

Chapter 402: 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.

Unable to ignore Hera’s perfect success rate, Miss Goldsmith’s skepticism melted away. Driven by inspiration, she threw caution to the wind and quickly approached Hera, startling her. Before Hera could speak, Miss Goldsmith, her eyes sparkling with excitement, blurted out, “Miss! Will you represent my family and join me at the stone auction?” Her enthusiastic voice reverberated through the silent hall.

“Huh?!” Hera blinked in confusion, staring at the girl in front of her, who looked at her with awe as if an idol had just descended from the sky.

Zhane, on the other hand, managed to collect himself and chuckled at the sight of Hera, who was completely taken aback by the girl’s sudden enthusiasm. Even he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. He had watched Hera pick stones at random, yet the final results were so astounding that trying to make sense of it seemed impossible.

He felt as though Hera had somehow picked every stone containing a gem, though that wasn’t the case. If anything, Hera could be compared to a treasure detector. While her familiarity with jade came from her grandfather, she still relied on instinct. Just like with her first stone, despite knowing little, she felt an undeniable pull toward it.

When Hera noticed Miss Goldsmith’s interest in the same stone, it confirmed her hunch that something valuable might be inside. To test her instincts further, she wandered around the second floor, selecting only the stones she felt a strong connection with.

As a result, she ended up with all the stones that gave off a positive energy. She had also sensed something from the stone Zhane chose, which contained the black jade, but since he picked it, she let it go.

Hera had just proven she had a remarkable knack for detecting treasures. Perhaps this was her hidden gift, one that never had the chance to shine before her early death in the novel. Even for Hera, the experience was incredible, leaving her overwhelmed with euphoria. The ability to sense something so extraordinary felt almost metaphysical.

Feeling elated, Hera didn’t decline Miss Goldsmith’s invitation. She had never attended a stone auction before, and this would be her first time. Besides, she still needed the stone master’s help to shave off the remaining stone, clean her purchases, and ensure only the jade remained—a process that would surely take hours to complete.

Rather than waiting idly, Hera decided she’d rather take a peek inside the auction room with Zhane. He agreed, seeing it as a chance to broaden their knowledge about stone betting. Miss Goldsmith, delighted, eagerly led them upstairs, while Hera and Zhane entrusted their purchases to the assistant to watch over while they were away.

When they reached the third floor, a bulky man in a black suit stood guard by the elevator, asking for invitations. Since Miss Goldsmith had already been upstairs earlier, she didn’t need to provide another invitation. She simply vouched for Hera and Zhane, confirming they were with her.

Miss Goldsmith eagerly led Hera and Zhane to her father, who was deep in conversation with their professional inspector. She could barely contain her excitement as she hurried to his side, but her father, absorbed in the discussion, didn’t want to be interrupted by his daughter.

It took several more tugs before her father, irritated, finally turned to look at her. Seizing the moment, Miss Goldsmith leaned in and whispered in his ear. When she finished, his eyebrows shot up in disbelief as he glanced in the direction his daughter was pointing.

“Are you telling the truth?” he whispered, staring directly at Hera. Although he had noticed Zhane, his disbelief in his daughter’s claims made him momentarily overlook him. Part of him suspected that Hera might have conspired with the assistant or even the stone master to impress or attract his daughter’s attention. After all, today was a high-stakes stone betting event, featuring larger stones believed to contain thousand-year-old jade and other precious gems.