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Novel Catalog
Chapter_97
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Eagle King had done everything possible to gather information about Flying Fish’s location. After much observation and patience, he had managed to pinpoint where she was being held. It was hard to believe that Caleb, who was always so clever, would hide Flying Fish in his lover’s mansion. He would never have guessed it if Caleb’s subordinates hadn’t carelessly mentioned it in conversation, a slip-up that Eagle King overheard while monitoring them.
Eagle King couldn’t help but admire Yvette. She had been right about the three locations—each one more unusual than the last—but Flying Fish had indeed been in one of them. Tonight, Eagle King would ensure those scoundrels learned what it meant to mess with him. With Yvette by his side, he had no concerns about Caleb’s ability to outwit them.
The weather in Kransbay was exceptionally clear that day. Huge clouds drifted lazily across the sky, and the wildflowers, their fiery red petals catching the sunlight, bloomed along the paths. Underneath the sun, the ground was hot and dusty, setting the stage for the excitement of the day ahead.
The Emerald Auction was a high-stakes event, a competition not just of emerald merchants, but of wealth, insight, and courage. Before the auction began, all the raw emeralds were numbered, showing their quantity, weight, and starting price—though the starting prices were generally low. The emeralds were publicly displayed for three days, and merchants had the time to carefully examine each piece, assessing its value and determining what they would be willing to pay.
Setting the right bid was always a challenge. If the price was too high, a merchant would suffer significant losses. But if it was too low, someone else might snatch up the piece. It was common to lose a stone worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by underpricing it by just a few dollars.
The exhibition hall was filled with raw emeralds from old mines, priced anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars to several million. Some massive stones, weighing several tons, could fetch over 30 million dollars if their surface quality was exceptional. This year’s Emerald Auction was being held in the city center exhibition hall, a massive venue that could accommodate tens of thousands of people. Emerald enthusiasts from all over the world gathered in anticipation, hoping to buy the best stone for the lowest price. Some people arrived early, already carefully inspecting the raw emeralds on display.
In this world of stone gambling, a single cut could lead to either great wealth or ruin. Many people were desperate, ready to risk everything for the chance of striking it rich. But among the crowd, there were two individuals who stood apart from the rest. One was Yvette, already waiting at the entrance, and the other was Jeremiah, who was still on his way. Both were here for Caleb.
At the entrance, Kevin and Martin held the lowest-grade invitations. The staff glanced at them briefly before pointing them toward a random direction. In Clusia, Kevin’s family was wealthy, and he was often treated with respect, always referred to as “Mr. Garcia.” But in Kransbay, the gatekeepers barely acknowledged his presence, treating him with indifference. This marked the first time Kevin had ever been slighted in such a way, and it filled him with resentment.
His face darkened as he muttered, “Uncle Martin, these Kransbayans are too contemptuous of us.”
Martin, who had been watching his nephew’s reaction with a mixture of pity and frustration, could only shake his head. He knew Kevin was spoiled and had no concept of the dangers in Kransbay. “Do you know where we are right now?” Martin asked, his voice stern. “This is Kransbay, a place where no one cares about your family name. If you keep talking like that and someone hears you, there will be no one who can save you.”
Kevin, slightly intimidated, shrank back under Martin’s scolding. He knew Kransbay was far more dangerous than Clusia, so he dared not speak out. But he didn’t want to seem weak, so he kept his eyes down and looked around awkwardly, trying to avoid drawing attention.
Just then, Kevin caught sight of the girl he’d met on the plane and at the hotel. It felt like too much of a coincidence. While Martin was preoccupied with inspecting some raw emeralds, Kevin saw his chance. He quickly made his way toward the entrance, eager to approach Yvette.
Yvette stood near the entrance, dressed casually in a loose white T-shirt that subtly revealed a hint of her collarbone, paired with baggy sweatpants. She exuded an effortless confidence, almost as if she were accompanied by a team of expert martial artists instead of just herself.
Before Kevin could reach her, Jeremiah’s voice echoed from behind him, cutting through the tense atmosphere. “It’s not yet time to act,” he said, his voice low and steady. He placed his cup down, his expression unreadable. “No need to rush. There will be plenty of opportunities.”
Kevin paused mid-step, his eyes flicking toward the man who had spoken. Jeremiah’s calm and mysterious tone sent a chill through him, and he realized just how little he understood about the world he had stepped into.
