The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Ladden graciously accepted the money, all the while showering Gideon with compliments. “Old man, it seems you have a discerning eye as well! Were you once involved in the world of pottery when you were younger?”

Gideon waved his hand and grinned. “As for me, I have some knowledge of antiques, but not the art of tomb raiding.”

Indeed, Gideon’s familiarity with tomb raiding was limited. In his youth, he had heard rumors of treacherous exploits and daring tomb heists, like Sun Tianying’s audacious plundering of Cixi’s tomb. However, his many years of monastic life had left him with little interest in such endeavors or the relics themselves.

Yet, when one has lived a long life, they inevitably accumulate a wealth of information, whether actively seeking it or simply absorbing it from their surroundings. Gideon had come across stories and whispers of the treacherous world of tomb raiding, including the intriguing concept of the backstabbing support pot.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Gideon cautiously approached Ladden. “Young man, would you be willing to show me this famous ring of yours?”

Ladden understood that the old man’s desire to see the finger was the reason behind his previous remarks. He had cleverly played his cards, extracting money from Gideon step by step. With a hint of difficulty in his voice, he replied, “Old man, this finger is not merely a gift but a token from my elder brother. Its origin is quite sensitive and I cannot easily show it to you. I hope you can understand my hesitation.”

Gideon was perplexed by Ladden’s response. To clear the air, he reached into his robe and pulled out two crisp hundred-dollar bills, presenting them to Zachary with utmost seriousness. “Young man, let me be frank with you. During my recent travels to Eastcliff and Aurous Hills, I sought out exquisite antiques from these ancient capitals. If this ring proves to be flawless, I will offer you a thousand dollars. In return, I kindly ask for your assistance in connecting me with your brother.”

Ladden had not anticipated such straightforwardness from the old man. The money driven Ladden hesitated for a moment, but eventually, he steeled himself and said, “Yes! Since you hold this ring in such high regard, I will remove it and show it to you!”

Without further ado, he removed the jade ring and handed it over to Gideon.

Gideon couldn’t hide his excitement as he carefully received the exquisite jade artifact, gently holding it with both hands, afraid that it might fall and break into pieces. As soon as the jade ring landed in his hands, Gideon’s senses tingled with anticipation. He could tell, without a doubt, that this exquisite piece was an authentic antique from the mid-Quintong period.

Being born during the Quintong Dynasty himself, Gideon possessed a remarkable talent for identifying such treasures. A faint scent of blood and decay wafted from the artifact, indicating that it had likely been recently unearthed. Perhaps it had been deliberately concealed alongside a corpse.

Eager to uncover the enigma shrouding the ring, Gideon infused it with his own aura. He yearned to unravel the secrets held within this captivating object. The moment his aura intermingled with the ring, a subtle formation within it sprang to life. Gideon was taken aback, pondering, “This formation has been active all along. I wonder what its purpose could be?”

and formations. While he possessed a wooden sword adorned with an offensive formation, he

found himself momentarily bewildered, unable to discern its true function. Its purpose

truth, this formation was a passive defense mechanism, detailed in the ‘Apocalyptic Book.’ In case of attack, the magic weapon’s formation automatically activates and channels its stored energy to shield its wearer from harm. This

can be compared to a basic math problem. If the enemy’s attack was weaker than the strength of the formation, then the owner would come out unharmed. However, if the attack

him as he silently cursed the British Lord, muttering, “That old fox never bothered to share the deeper insights with us. Now I’m left in the dark, clueless about the true nature of this magic weapon. If I wish to discover its effects, I might have to return and pry the information out of that wily old fox… But

a seething hatred within Gideon. Before he could fully comprehend the finger’s mysteries, Ladden approached, urging, “Old Master, are you nearly finished

Lord found himself fixated on the enigmatic ring adorning on Maria’s hand, emphasizing the immense significance this

or return it to its owner before proceeding with my plan? Snatching it away would be effortless, this young man couldn’t possibly stop me. However, if he were to involve the authorities, traversing Aurous Hills would become arduous. Furthermore, what if his elder brother possesses other magic weapons? I might awaken the serpent and

Aurous Hills. It is highly likely that the gang of thieves has recently discovered an ancient tomb that was long forgotten. Inside, they must have discovered a treasure trove of priceless artifacts, including the elusive ring. These items are invaluable and could fetch a high price on the black market. The discovery is a significant development in the world of archaeology and history. Undoubtedly, they are now

anticipation. “The shipment from the Hong Kong merchant has yet to reach my hands, but once I establish contact, I shall gain access to their entire plunder from the sacred tomb. If there exists a substantial collection of mystical relics among their spoils, the potential profits would be immeasurable. This opportunity, laid with promise, must

upon Ladden and spoke with utmost seriousness, “Dear brother, what price do you seek for this ring? If it aligns with my

affirmative nod prompted Ladden’s surprise. “Indeed, I intend to acquire it. Please reveal the price

inquiry, Ladden’s thoughts immediately turned to Zachary’s prior instructions. Regardless of the potential buyer, Zachary had explicitly instructed them

puzzled by Zachary’s intentions. After all, his role was to assist people and execute assigned tasks, not to delve into such convoluted affairs. His sole responsibility had been to fetch Gideon and if the elderly man indeed desired the finger ring, Ladden needed to consult with Zachary. Valuing the jade finger at a modest 30,000 to 50,000 at best, Ladden reckoned that quoting a price a hundred times higher would

his teeth, he extended three fingers and boldly declared to Gideon, “I estimate that this extraordinary item shall command no less than

comprehended the significance of such a sum. Fortunately, as a prosperous warrior, Gideon possessed abundant wealth, rendering a few million, let alone several hundred million, a trifling matter. Turning his attention back to Ladden, he inquired, “If I decide to proceed,

responded, “Should you truly wish to proceed, you must engage with my elder brother face to face. I am not empowered to

closely, Gideon,” he began, his voice imbued with certainty. “I shall offer you three million as a starting point. The sky’s the limit, but if you find yourself disinterested, let us not

and uttered,