Chapter49 The Bet
Clint and Jovan were both stunned. They never expected Ethan to challenge them to a bet.
“I thought you were only a fool but apparently you’ve got guts. You dare bet against him? Mr. Foster is a member of the Novaria Mineral Association and has seen more minerals than you have had meals! You actually want to bet against him?” Clint sarcastically laughed, regaining his composure.
“What qualifications do you have to think I’d bet against you? You really think highly of yourself!” Jovan sneered in contempt.
“Five million dollars,” Ethan knew that these people wouldn't be interested unless they saw a substantial reward, so he immediately stated an astonishing price.
“Are you serious?” Jovan was no longer calm.
“Where’d you get so much money? Stop bluffing and show me!” Clint exclaimed, still in disbelief.
Without explaining, Ethan opened the balance interface of his bank account on his phone and gave Hannah a glance.
Shock filled Hannah's face!
Ethan shook his head in her direction, telling her not to make a scene.
“I can testify that Alex can afford the five million dollars!” Hannah took a deep breath and addressed Clint and Jovan.
“What kind of bet do you want?” Jovan asked, full of suspicion.
“Let's bet on whether the price of this second stone will rise or fall. I bet it will fall. I assume you are confident that it will rise, right? Or was it all just a facade?” Ethan stared at Jovan with a smile.
“Why are you trying to encourage him? He's just a fool!”
“Five million dollars gone just like that. Who's the prodigal spender here?”
The spectators around them immediately began discussing the situation.
“Alex, please don't act recklessly!”
Hannah also believed that Ethan's actions were too risky and quickly tried to persuade him.
Ethan simply smiled, showing no intention of changing his mind, as if he had great confidence in his judgement.
Ethan's earlier words had cornered Jovan. If he didn't take the bet, it would only prove his insecurity, as if he were admitting that his confidence was all just a show.
“...Let's bet then. Why should I be afraid of you? Since you want to give me money so badly, then why not? I bet this second stone’s price will definitely rise!” Jovan said, walking over to the cutting table and carefully examining it for a while. Then, he drew a line with a pen, instructing the cutter to cut along the marked position!
At this moment, Hannah was in a dilemma, torn between conflicting thoughts.
She didn't want Ethan to lose five million dollars for nothing, and she certainly didn't want the stone she had high hopes for to fail in the bet. If it really failed, it would be a big blow to her!
However, with the second cut about to be made, it would only be a matter of moments...
Soon, the result was revealed! Jovan looked at the stone slab in disbelief; it was all gray and dull. He stepped forward and repeatedly wiped the cut surface with water.
However, no matter how much he washed it, there was no green! Clint and Hannah's faces instantly turned sour. Clint couldn't believe that Jovan had actually lost the bet, while Hannah was deeply affected, worrying about her company's future.
Although losing $800,000 wasn't a significant amount, the main issue was that she began to question Jovan's abilities.
“Sorry, it seems that even God is on my side! You lost!” Ethan reminded Jovan with a smug smile.
“You got lucky!” Jovan reluctantly stopped his actions, accepting this fact.
“Miss Collins, do you still want to continue cutting? Maybe the third cut will yield something?” The cutter asked the disheartened Hannah.
“Since it's come to this, go ahead and make the cut!” Hannah gritted her teeth and decided to make one last gamble.
The half-meter stone was eventually sliced into multiple fist-sized emerald fragments, marking the conclusion of the cutting process!
These jade pieces weren’t very big, and their total value was estimated to be around $300,000 - $400,000. Hannah ended up losing half of her capital.
Clint and Jovan's faces became even darker. This wasn't just about losing a bet; it also proved that Jovan's skills were lacking.
“Now, should you fulfill your bet? So many people heard it. You wouldn't go back on your word now, would you?” Ethan reminded Jovan with a smug smile.
“Who said anything about going back on my word? As a distinguished member of the Novaria Mineral Association, would I ever back out on this small amount of money? However, I want to make another bet with you, on equal terms. Didn't you also choose a stone?”
“This time, I bet that it will rise. If I win, we're even, but if I lose, I owe you $10 million!” Jovan couldn't bear to simply give Ethan $5 million. Looking at the stone under Ethan's foot, an idea struck him and he proposed another bet.
“You gambled your stone, and now I'll gamble mine. Fair enough! Don't say I don't know how to respect my elders. I'll humor you. I bet my stone will rise! If you win, we're even, but if you lose, you owe me $10 million!” Ethan agreed with a sneer.
To Ethan, Jovan was simply giving him an extra $5 million. No one expected that the two of them would continue gambling, but no one left. Onlookers started to gather, making the scene even more chaotic.
“How do you plan to cut this stone?” The cutter, excited to witness such a high-staked bet with his own eyes, asked Ethan with anticipation as he placed the stone on the operating table.
“No cutting, just polish the whole thing for me!” Ethan responded confidently.
“What? You want me to wipe the whole thing?” The cutter doubted if he had misheard.
To 'cut' was to split the stone along the owner’s specified route, while 'wipe' was like peeling an apple and slowly removing the surface material.
“Hahaha... You crack me up! Are you going crazy over jade? You don't actually think this whole stone is jade except for the surface, do you?”
Clint burst into laughter, looking at Ethan as if he were a fool.
In his eyes, Ethan was already doomed to lose; it seemed like he was ready to give up early!
“It's too early to laugh. If I can't wipe off the green, you can laugh then!”
Ethan scoffed nonchalantly.
“Fine, let's see how you lose today! Sir, didn't you hear that he wants it wiped? Why don't you get started?”
Clint sneered and then ominously reminded the cutting master.
The cutting master was speechless, but he began wiping bit by bit in front of everyone's eyes.
After wiping less than a third of the area, his hands involuntarily trembled because he actually saw specks of green in his eyes!
“...It's green! It's really green!”
“This person is incredible, to be able to reveal green like this!”
“Don't jump to conclusions, it’s probably only the surface!”
The onlookers immediately started to stir, and numerous voices filled the air.
Clint and Jovan's mocking smiles froze in an instant!
The cutting master didn't care about any of that. He grew more excited after the initial shock, washing to wipe the entire stone immediately!
As the surface peeled away piece-by-piece, glimpses of green appeared before everyone's eyes.
“Jade! It's actually a huge piece of jade!”
“How much is it worth?”
“If it turns out really big, it’ll be priceless. I've never heard of anyone possessing such a large piece of jade! The color is so transparent, there's not a single flaw inside!”
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