Chapter 22: Villain’s Luck Outshines the Hero

Very quickly, the third floor filled with a large crowd.

Normally, cutting and betting on stones was enough to draw plenty of attention. But now, with two super-rich young masters involved, the presence of the store owner Sasha, and the added attraction of the stunning beauty Sylvia, the scene reached peak popularity.

In front of the long table, Brian and David stood side by side.

What surprised Lucas was that Brian’s aura wasn’t weaker than David’s at all.

Especially when standing next to David, his tall figure, over 1.8 meters, and his upbringing in wealth and privilege gave him a strong presence.

What he didn’t know was that his physical attributes had been enhanced three times already, making his build stronger than most martial artists.

In addition, the tailored suit he wore, paired with the sincere, upright look in his eyes, made him appear more just and righteous. Compared to the increasingly aggressive and sinister David, Brian looked like someone more naturally aligned with the role of a protagonist.

In fact, with the three of them standing together, Lucas looked the most like the male lead.

The craftsman responsible for cutting the stones didn’t care who the male lead was. His only job was to cut the three stones cleanly and precisely.

Following the left-to-right order, he first brought over Brian’s stone.

Brian couldn’t help but laugh proudly. “In chaotic times, gold reigns. In peaceful times, jade prevails. Let me tell you, the Dale family has been involved in stone gambling for over two hundred years. I inherited that legacy. In this line of work, I dare to say I’m second to none.”

Lucas gently shook his head.

[Bro, the result’s coming out any second. If you want to brag, at least wait until after the stone is cut. Still, I get it. As the villain, it’s your job to build up the suspense so the male lead’s moment of triumph hits harder.]

[You’re doing your part well for the sake of the male lead’s cool moment. I respect that.]

Sasha nearly burst out laughing and quickly lifted her silk fan to cover half her face.

However, she was also confused.

What did Lucas mean by “male lead” and “villain”?

David heard Brian’s arrogant boasts but remained expressionless, maintaining his domineering aura as the protagonist.

Even so, he hadn’t realized that ever since Lucas had disrupted his plans several times, his once-calm gaze had become increasingly fierce.

Crack.

Just as Brian was beaming with pride and everyone was watching the table, the craftsman successfully cut open the first piece of jade.

“Wow! It’s ice jadeite!”

“Damn, a random cut and it’s ice jade. A piece this big, if properly carved, could sell for over a hundred thousand.”

“As expected of Young Master Dale. He really hit the jackpot. Lucky for him, he’s rich. If he weren’t, playing with stones every day would be a problem for the rest of us.”

The crowd’s admiration made Brian visibly elated.

He immediately turned and glared at David and Lucas. “What now? Admit defeat? If you do, I might even lower the stakes a little. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”

David didn’t bother replying and said to the craftsman, “Go ahead and cut mine.”

The craftsman wiped the sweat from his forehead. “No problem.”

He was skilled and efficient. He picked up the knife and began slicing David’s stone.

And just like in the original plot, when the blade cut down, there seemed to be no jade at all inside.

Brian immediately burst out in a villainous laugh. “A loser is a loser. The stone you picked is the loser of all stones. Let me be honest. With my professional judgment, there’s absolutely nothing in your rock. It’s just a plain, worthless stone!”