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?”

proficiency with aura manipulation, Gideon was far from knowledgeable about magic weapons and formations. While he possessed a wooden sword adorned with an offensive formation, he lacked the ability to

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

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 ensures that its wielder is protected from any

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 surpassed the formation’s capabilities, the formation would strive to defend its Master, yet the Master would still endure the brunt of

purpose of the jade ring. Frustration welled up within 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

comprehend the finger’s mysteries, Ladden approached, urging, “Old Master, are you nearly

adorning on Maria’s hand, emphasizing the immense significance this magic weapon

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 suffer significant losses over

world of tomb raiders in the legendary 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

gain access to their entire plunder from the sacred tomb. If there exists a substantial collection of mystical relics among their

with utmost seriousness, “Dear brother, what price do

prompted Ladden’s surprise. “Indeed, I intend to acquire it. Please

instructions. Regardless of the potential buyer, Zachary had explicitly instructed them to quote a price one hundred times higher than

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

extended three fingers and boldly declared to Gideon, “I estimate

possessed abundant wealth, rendering a few million, let alone several hundred million, a trifling matter.

the elderly man to genuinely consider making the purchase. Thus, he responded, “Should you truly wish to proceed, you must engage with my

sky’s the limit, but if you find yourself disinterested, let us

gesturing his acceptance and uttered,