Chapter 87

Richard briefly glanced at the two large men, then turned his attention back to the attendant who had addressed him.

The attendant, eager to serve, immediately spoke up: "May I assist you, sir? What would you like to see?"

As he spoke, the attendant stepped aside, gesturing toward the shelves behind him. "We have a wide range of jewelry, from pieces priced at just a handful of silver coins to those worth over a thousand. Whatever your needs, we can fulfill them."

"Show me something a bit more expensive," Richard said simply, his tone calm.

The attendant hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to interpret Richard's request for something "more expensive." He studied Richard carefully—his appearance, his clothes—and tried to determine his social status. But after several moments, he still couldn't make up his mind. Richard looked too young, his attire plain and unadorned, not fitting the typical image of a wealthy customer. Yet, there was something in his demeanor, an air of confidence, that set him apart from the common folk and even some nobles.

"Alright, then..." The attendant hesitated briefly but eventually decided to begin with a piece worth about one hundred silver coins, as a test. "Let's try this one first," he thought.

He turned, retrieved a small wooden box from the shelf, and opened it to reveal a pendant set with delicate sapphire stones. Placing the box on the counter, the attendant said, "Sir, this is a pendant set with sapphires from the Gem Sea. It's perfect for a young lady, and it's priced reasonably—just one hundred and twenty silver coins.

If you were using silver coins from other countries, the price might differ slightly. For instance, the Eaglehead silver coin from the Kingdom of Sys would be worth about one hundred and fifty coins, as their quality is somewhat lower. On the other hand, the double-sided head silver coin from Myron would be equivalent to about one hundred, as Myron's coins are known for their high quality."

After hearing the attendant's explanation, Richard nodded, showing little emotion. He briefly studied the sapphire pendant before saying, "It's a bit too cheap. Let's try something more expensive."

"Uh…" The attendant was caught off guard, then quickly recovered. He put the box away and grabbed another from the shelf.

This time, he opened the box to reveal a golden necklace adorned with small pearls.

"Sir, this is a piece from the Kingdom of Baya," the attendant explained with a smile. "It is said to have once been worn by a Duchess. The pearls come from Lake Baxter in the Kingdom of Byron. Though small, they are real. This necklace is priced at three hundred silver coins."

Richard nodded again, studying the necklace for a moment, then repeated, "A bit too cheap. Let's try something more expensive."

"Something even more expensive?" The attendant drew in a sharp breath, sizing Richard up carefully. After a few moments of thought, he didn't say anything but turned and placed the necklace back, replacing it with another box.

This time, when the box was opened, a dazzling diamond ring emerged, shining under the shop's lights.

"This is a very rare diamond ring, worth seven hundred silver coins," the attendant said, his eyes fixed on Richard, hoping to gauge his reaction.

But Richard's face gave nothing away. He simply opened his mouth and said for the third time, "It's still too cheap. Show me something even more expensive."

The attendant didn't move. At this point, he was no longer sure whether Richard was genuinely wealthy and interested in purchasing, or whether he was just playing a game. His lips pressed into a tight line, and he subconsciously glanced toward the two large men in the corners of the shop. Taking a deep breath, he decided to act cautiously.

A moment later, he put the diamond ring away and told Richard, "Please wait a moment," before disappearing into the back room of the shop.

Richard, watching all this with an unreadable expression, raised an eyebrow. He knew the attendant was likely fetching someone more important to handle the situation.

Sure enough, not long after, a middle-aged man, around forty years old, emerged from the back of the shop. The man was of average height, around one meter sixty, and he wore a broad, almost predatory grin on his face. His small, gleaming eyes shone with a calculating gleam.

He approached the counter and, with a broad smile, addressed Richard. "Good evening, sir. I'm Newman, the owner of this establishment. I understand you're interested in something more expensive, and I didn't want my assistant to disappoint you, so I've come personally. I hope you don't mind."

"It's no trouble," Richard replied with a slight shake of his head.

"So, what exactly are you looking for, sir? A thousand silver coins? One thousand five hundred? Two thousand?" Newman asked, still grinning.

"The more expensive, the better," Richard replied with four simple words.

Newman's smile didn't falter. "The more expensive, you say? Well, we do have quite a few expensive pieces in our shop, though I'm afraid…"

"No need to worry," Richard interrupted, his voice calm.

"Very well!" Newman's grin widened. He turned, moving behind the counter to retrieve something. This time, rather than reaching for a shelf, he crouched down, disappearing from view for a moment.

There was a soft "clink" as Richard guessed that Newman had opened a hidden compartment behind the counter. A few moments later, Newman stood up again, this time holding a black box.

He placed the box carefully on a velvet cloth on the counter and, with a dramatic flourish, opened it. A brilliant light filled the room, revealing an enormous ruby, glinting with an otherworldly fire.

"This gemstone is quite famous," Newman said, his tone shifting to one of reverence. "It once adorned the crown of a king from Chislam, several centuries ago. The legend says that whoever holds this gem will be granted supreme power. Many have fought for it, and much blood has been spilled in the process, which has made the ruby's color even more intense. Now, its value is three thousand five hundred silver coins."

Richard listened, nodding in agreement, though his mind was elsewhere.

In this world, a single silver coin could support a commoner's life for a month. An average artisan might earn no more than two or three silver coins a month. Yet, this gemstone was valued at three thousand five hundred silver coins, almost equivalent to two years' worth of a baron's income. The price was astronomical, and it reflected the wealth of Cape Heimya—such treasures wouldn't even sell in poorer areas.

However, beyond its value, the story surrounding the gem didn't interest Richard. The tale of the crown, the supreme power, the bloodshed—it was all just embellishment.

Of course, no matter how grand the story, Richard wasn't here to buy anything. He was here to make money.

As for how to make money…

Richard's eyes flickered with a new idea. Looking at the still-smiling Newman, he asked, "This gem is still a bit too cheap for me. Do you have anything even more expensive?"

"Uh…" Newman's smile faltered. The expression on his face froze for a moment as he considered Richard's words. After a long pause, he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief, "This… gem is still too cheap?"