Even the men cutting the jade rough were shaking.
These weren't rookies—they'd spent their lives handling stones—but to find one this big, this pure green? That was once-in-a-lifetime glory. No one had ever cracked open a piece like this before.
The second cut dropped—and the entire hall erupted.
Devin's face went dark. He turned and smacked his secretary, Kevin, across the shoulder so hard the sound echoed.
"Do you have any idea how many billions you just cost me?!"
Kevin winced, pain flashing across his face, but said nothing. His eyes were glued to the stone.
"It's green! Full green! Top-quality icy jade—look at that clarity!" someone shouted.
"This piece alone could fetch at least two billion!"
The crowd surged forward, voices overlapping—
"Mr. Hilton, may I reserve a pair of bangles first?"
"Mr. Hilton, I'll pay extra for a pendant from the same stone!"
