Chapter 164: Dense Fog

No one responded to my statement; I had already revealed the crucial details, rendering further discussion unnecessary.

Boss Zeng nodded repeatedly, his expression shifting from initial indifference to unrestrained delight. Gamblers in this business don't necessarily care about the magnitude of their winnings, but rather the thrill of discovering exceptional stones. A successful gamble always elicits immense excitement.

Boss Wei, needless to say, emerged from his earlier gloom, smiling, "Boss Zeng, this piece is quite expensive. No pressure if you're not interested."

Boss Zeng glanced at Boss Wei, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Do you think I can't afford it?"

Boss Wei chuckled, remaining silent. Seeing the simmering rivalry between the two, I knew it was time to begin. "I'm not fond of gambling on black-and-white jade. I stumbled upon this piece quite by chance; it's truly exceptional. I depleted my savings and borrowed a substantial sum to acquire it. If Elder Chen wishes to participate, I'm willing to cede it to you."

Boss Zeng rose, hands clasped behind his back, studying the stone, his head shaking slightly, a dismissive curl of his lip. I smiled subtly, feigning profundity, though my eyes betrayed my intentions. His gaze remained fixed on the stone, his behavior clearly a tactic to haggle the price.

"Since Boss Zeng isn't interested," I said, "Boss Wei, you may make your offer."

Boss Wei replied, "As I said, I'm willing to pay double the price."

His words stunned everyone, especially Boss Zeng. "You'd pay double? Don't dream, it's not worth that much!"

I smiled. "Boss Zeng, the exposed section reveals a glassy texture, with abundant internal fog, and a bluish undertone. If the color shifts, it's guaranteed to yield a high-grade hue, at least a vibrant green. Moreover, it's brimming with potential for bracelets—dozens, easily. A conservative estimate of the winnings is three hundred million. These attributes are precisely why I emptied my pockets and borrowed heavily to secure it."

Boss Wei nodded in agreement. "I concur. If Boss Zeng declines, allow me to take a chance. Zhao Fei, name your price. We're friends; we can easily reach an agreement."

I turned my attention to Boss Zeng, listening intently. I knew he was deliberately waiting for my price to negotiate.

"I purchased it for thirty million," I stated. "Boss Wei, if you're willing to pay double, it's yours—sixty million. That's hardly an exorbitant price, even for this market."

"Zhao Fei, you're quite the shrewd businessman, turning a thirty-million profit in one transaction!" Boss Zeng said mockingly.

I remained silent. Boss Wei immediately interjected, "Zhao Fei, I'll take it. I'll transfer the funds immediately."

"Very well. You know my account number."

Boss Wei smiled, retrieving his phone to initiate the transfer. His account limit was undoubtedly substantial, capable of handling sixty million, unlike mine, which had a maximum of five million. I'll need to upgrade my account to handle larger transactions later.

Everyone craned their necks to watch. Chen Xi remained silent, observing. To draw Chen Xi into the game, I'd need Four-Eyes' assistance. I wasn't sure of his plan, but he'd promised to help. If he failed, I'd have to resort to more drastic measures.

After an hour, my phone buzzed. Sixty million had been transferred. My heart pounded. To hold sixty million… it was an unimaginable sum. A part of me felt a pang of regret; thirty million was earmarked for Huahua, and another thirty million for buying out Monkey's life.

But it was worth it.

This was a risk-free venture; regardless of the outcome, I was guaranteed profit.

"Boss Wei," I said, "the funds have arrived. The stone is yours. Whether you choose to cut it or proceed differently is entirely up to you."

Boss Wei's excitement was palpable. "Of course, I'll cut it. Zhao Fei, advise me on the best approach."

I looked at Boss Zeng, his expression wavering between hesitation and regret. I knew he wanted it, but the price was steep. While wealthy, he'd never gambled on a sixty-million stone, hence his apprehension, yet the lure of the gamble was evident. I had successfully ignited his gambling spirit. No need to rush; I'd give him time to fall into the trap.

"Boss Wei," I explained, "the customary practice is to begin cutting from the waste material. This piece, in my estimation, has no waste. Therefore, we'll make an incision at the window. We'll gamble on the fog, observing its color variations. Currently, it's a grayish-black. We're betting on it deepening. This dense fog layer frequently yields high-grade jade. A darker fog would be even better."

Boss Zeng frowned. "Wouldn't the black swallow the green? Even I know black consumes green."

I smiled. "Boss Zeng, you're mistaken. Black fog originates from the weathered reduction layer, at the base of the weathered crust, generally below the water table, in a reducing environment. The iron and relatively active manganese leached from above undergo reduction, resulting in black fog composed primarily of divalent iron and manganese. Pyrolusite and ferrous hydroxide are the main constituents of the jade gravel shell and fog layer. Their dark color accounts for the black shell and fog. Therefore, if we win the gamble on the black fog, the stone is guaranteed to contain green jade."

Boss Zeng mumbled something embarrassed, while Boss Wei was delighted. "Excellent. Let's make the first cut and see how thick the fog is and whether it changes."

"Wang Gui, proceed."

Zhao Kui and his men lifted the stone towards the cutting table. Boss Zeng and Boss Wei hurried over. I followed, but exchanged a glance with Malan.

Malan understood. "Chen Xi, I hear you enjoy gambling. A sixty-million stone is a rare sight. Aren't you interested in taking a look?"

"That bastard Liu Qiang swindled me out of over thirty million. He's dead, and I haven't recovered the money. Even if I were interested, I can't afford to gamble," Chen Xi retorted coldly.

Malan chuckled. "Chen Xi, your net worth is well over a hundred million. You're telling me you can't afford to gamble? Don't play coy with me. If you're not interested, fine."

Malan approached. I looked back at Chen Xi, his brow furrowed in indecision. He whispered something to Four-Eyes, then smiled and walked over.

Qian Guang and Four-Eyes also stood, approaching the cutting table, but keeping their distance.

I'd overheard a detail in Chen Xi's statement—he said Liu Qiang was dead, not merely absconded. He was certain of Liu Qiang's demise and the irretrievability of his money. A realization struck me: Chen Xi knew Liu Qiang was dead, a fact known only to us. How did he know?

This unsettled me.

Suddenly, a loud grinding noise broke my thoughts. I watched Wang Gui begin the cut, precisely at the window, the top of the egg-shaped stone. The window was expertly cut, preserving the stone while revealing the weathered layer—clearly the work of a skilled hand.

The cutting machine hummed. I watched Boss Wei's delighted expression. He wasn't worried about the outcome, never doubting the stone's authenticity. While I knew it was fake, I couldn't pinpoint the flaw. I'd examined it carefully, finding no obvious signs of fabrication.

I looked at Boss Wei. He looked around nervously, sweating profusely. He hadn't invested his own money, yet he was more anxious than anyone. He knew that if the stone yielded good jade, he'd lose big. A great opportunity had been presented, and he'd missed it. He was more nervous than anyone; if it yielded nothing, fine; but if it did, he'd be devastated.

I was also tense. The stone was fake. If the first cut failed, the rest of the plan would collapse. I'd only be able to fleece Boss Wei, and the other plans would be ruined.

I'd meticulously orchestrated this scheme, not for profit, but to drive a wedge between Chen Xi and Monkey. In Seven's territory, they were the most powerful. If they remained united, they could easily influence Seven's decisions.

Seven, despite his reputation for fairness, was biased. Monkey's treachery was undeniable, yet Seven merely severed one of his hands. And me? Despite the irrefutable CCTV footage proving my innocence, my subordinate's finger was cut off, and I was branded with a mark of shame. I knew my position in Ruili was weak.

Qian Guang's support didn't guarantee the same respect from others. I had to undermine them from within, isolating Monkey to destroy him.

The cutting machine stopped. A section, perhaps two or three kilograms, the size of a palm, had been removed from the top.

Wang Gui examined the cut, his expression strange. I found it peculiar; Wang Gui was knowledgeable about jade. What did this expression mean?

Boss Wei snatched the stone, examining it, his face contorting into a peculiar expression. Without a word, he handed it to me, his eyes hopeful. Everyone watched intently, waiting for my analysis.

But at first glance, I was dumbfounded. What in the world…?

The cut revealed a clear black fog layer, with irregular, jagged edges, but the color was unclear—in fact, invisible.

I muttered under my breath, "This fog is incredibly thick…"