The Dark Card

Until there was a thumping sound of footsteps outside, and then Cherry pushed the door open and walked in. Her figure was graceful, and her eyes sharp yet composed. Seeing the two of them, she smiled and said, "Boss Leo, you've gained quite a bit today."

Leo chuckled and waved his hand, trying to be humble. "No, no, nothing too extraordinary."

After that, he pulled Jack closer, introducing him with pride. "But today, all credit goes to him. Let me introduce—this is Jack, the treasure appraiser of my Noble Collection."

Cherry smiled as she extended her hand to Jack. "Cherry. I must say, your performance at the auction was quite impressive, young master."

Jack quickly reached out and shook her hand, a bit flustered. "I just got lucky, really," he replied, trying to downplay his success.

Cherry's eyes, though polite, carried a glint of curiosity and scrutiny as she looked Jack over. Luck? she thought. Not necessarily. Picking up one bargain after another, and not just small ones, but huge ones, wasn't something that could be explained away by luck alone.

Cherry knew this industry all too well. Many seasoned veterans had lost millions on bad bets today. If Jack's success was purely luck, it would defy reason. From what she had observed, Jack hadn't made tentative bids like the others. He had been purposeful, almost as if he knew the value of each item beforehand.

Cherry believed in her instincts—this man, Jack, had some kind of secret. There was no way someone his age could possess such a keen eye without some hidden advantage.

"You're being modest, young master," Cherry said with a soft smile. "Luck is also a form of strength."

After a few more pleasantries, Cherry reached into her bag and pulled out a sleek, dark business card. Handing it to Jack, she said, "If you're ever free, feel free to reach out. We could discuss raw stones further. You seem to have quite the knack for it."

Jack accepted the card, not thinking too much about it. He assumed she was just intrigued by his good fortune and wanted to chat more about their mutual interests. After all, Leo had mentioned earlier that Cherry was heavily involved in the raw stone business.

However, Leo's reaction told a different story. His eyes twitched when he saw the dark card in Jack's hands. He knew what it signified, though he remained silent.

Just as Jack pocketed the card, Cherry added, almost casually, "By the way, if you're considering selling the imperial emerald you found, I'm happy to buy it from you. I'll even add an extra five million on top of its estimated value. What do you say?"

Jack was caught off guard by the offer. He hesitated and glanced over at Leo, unsure what to do. Leo had spent five million on that stone, and while the extra five million was enticing, Jack didn't want to sell if Leo was interested in keeping the material.

Leo understood Jack's concern instantly. With a smile, he nodded reassuringly. "Go ahead. I'm more into antiques anyway. Raw stones and emeralds? Not really my thing. Besides, Cherry is offering a good deal."

Jack felt relieved and turned back to Cherry. "Alright, then let's make it cash. But no checks, please. Just transfer the money directly to my bank account."

Cherry raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback by the straightforward request, but she quickly smiled and gestured to an assistant nearby. "No problem," she said, waving her hand. "I'll have the transfer arranged immediately."

Cherry's assistant finished the transfer, but due to the large sum involved, it would take some time for the funds to clear. Leo, standing beside Jack, reassured him with a knowing smile. "Don't worry. Cherry's good for it."

With the transaction underway, Jack decided to call it a day and leave. By the time he stepped outside, it was already dark, the cool evening air a stark contrast to the excitement of the day. He still felt like he was in a dream. Everything that had happened — from winning the emerald to striking a deal with Cherry — felt unreal.

Leo walked out beside him, still in high spirits. He clapped Jack on the back. "Jack, you really found a treasure today," he said with a grin.

Jack scratched his head, thinking Leo was referring to the emerald. "Yeah, I didn't expect to get something so valuable."

Leo, however, shook his head and spoke with a sly smile. "Not just that. Do you remember the business card Cherry gave you?"

Jack nodded, pulling out the card and inspecting it more closely. The business card was dark, almost too simple at first glance, with a subtle, elegant design featuring a dark, mysterious attic in the background.