Chapter 4: The Eternal Flame Jade

Lucas let out a long sigh. "You should be thanking me for saving you from a bad investment. If you don't know the first thing about antiques, don't pretend to be an expert. It's embarrassing."

Feeling deeply insulted, John ground his teeth. In all his years, he had never been talked down to by some snot-nosed kid.

"You insolent brat! How dare you speak to us like that!" John growled. "Do you have any idea who we are?"

Lucas was completely unfazed. His flat, fearless expression only fueled John's fury.

Pointing a trembling finger right at Lucas's face, John spat, "You really have no shame, do you? You don't even have the decency to apologize."

"For your information, I am the Chairman of the Verdansk City Council. It would take a snap of my fingers to banish you and your entire family from this city. I could have your house demolished without a single dime in compensation!"

Lucas actually laughed at the threat.

"So the Chairman of the City Council's only job is threatening the citizens? I thought you guys actually did some real work."

John's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

Mario, thoroughly disgusted by Lucas's attitude, chimed in. "Young, arrogant, and absolutely zero manners."

The head of the Zeto family continued, "Looking at how you're dressed, it's obvious you're nobody special. I don't mean to be crude, but let's be honest, you don't even have the right to breathe the same air as us, let alone speak to us."

Unlike his two peers, Gigio was actually intrigued by the young man. His gut told him there was something extraordinary about Lucas.

The white-haired man spoke up. "So, you're saying your eye for antiques is sharper than ours?"

"Obviously," Lucas replied with unshakable confidence.

John hissed like a viper ready to strike.

Gigio reached over and picked up a ceramic bowl resting to his right.

Let's see you bluff your way out of this one.

"If you're truly an expert, tell me about this piece," Gigio challenged, holding up the blue ceramic bowl.

Lucas only needed a single glance.

"It's a bowl from the Cezif Kingdom, 17th century. It’s an antique, sure, but it’s dirt cheap because they mass-produced them back then. Though I’d say this particular piece should be worth slightly more to the right collector."

Gigio nodded slowly. He was now thoroughly convinced of the young man's analytical skills.

"Old man, for now, you should stick to buying things that are actually useful to you. If you want my advice, you'd be better off taking that," Lucas said, pointing toward a chunk of black jade.

Recommending a piece of black jade that looked more like a lump of charcoal to Gigio? Was this some kind of sick joke?

"Hey, you little punk! How dare you recommend absolute garbage to the Vice Chairman of the Trade Union? Do you have a death wish?!" John roared. He was completely out of patience.

The bodyguards stationed around the room immediately tensed, ready to move. They all thought Lucas had finally crossed the line.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gigio asked, his gaze turning razor-sharp.

"That stone will help cure the internal complications tearing your body apart and prevent your impending heart failure. I can write down the prescription for you, if you want," Lucas explained calmly.

Gigio froze. Until this exact moment, only his private doctor knew about his severe medical complications and his extremely high risk of heart failure. He had kept it a total secret from everyone, even his wife and children.

"How could you possibly know that?" Gigio asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"I can tell just by the way you stand and breathe when you talk," Lucas answered effortlessly.

Gigio was left speechless.

"What's your number? I'll text you the prescription," Lucas asked.

Gigio's head of security, Abin, quickly stepped forward to block him.

"Out of the question! Only VIPs and top-tier executives are authorized to have the Vice Chairman's personal number."

"Suit yourself. I'm leaving then."

Lucas had barely taken a single step when Gigio stopped him.

"Wait!"

Lucas glanced back over his shoulder.

"Abin! Give him my number!" Gigio ordered.

Unable to defy a direct order, Abin reluctantly took Lucas's phone and punched in Gigio's contact details.

Lucas immediately sent over the prescription.

"That stone isn't just a worthless rock. Encased inside it is an Eternal Flame Jade. Follow my instructions exactly, and you'll be cured," Lucas said.

Without waiting for a response, Lucas turned and strolled out of the antique shop.

Gigio's entire body trembled. For years, he had been desperately searching for the legendary Eternal Flame Jade, burning through fortunes in a fruitless quest.

"Abin! Quickly, cut that stone open exactly as he instructed here!" Gigio commanded, his voice shaking.

Abin grabbed the black jade and paid six thousand dollars for it on the spot. He then rushed to the cutting station at the back of the store.

Following Lucas's text word for word, Abin cut into the black jade. The entire room collectively gasped.

A blindingly brilliant light burst forth from the dull rock, revealing a breathtakingly pure Eternal Flame Jade nested right at its core.

"He was right... This is the Eternal Flame Jade!"

That Night

"Hey, get out of the way! Do you have a death wish?!"

Lucas turned his head and realized he was blocking the driveway.

He calmly stepped aside.

The car rolled forward and stopped right next to him.

"Get rid of this beggar. The entire extended family is coming over tonight. Don't let him pollute this estate with his filth!" ordered a beautiful woman with thick eyebrows and sharp eyes.

It was Bella, Angeline's cousin.

She barked orders at her estate security to throw Lucas out, treating him like a piece of human trash stinking up the place.

A hulking security guard quickly stomped over to Lucas.

"Get out of here! Stop stinking up the Jordan Family estate!" the guard shooed him away.

"I'm only here because I was invited. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered showing up," Lucas replied dryly.

Bella stepped out of her car. Her face flushed with anger as she stormed over to him.

"You pathetic beggar! How dare you claim you were invited to my family's event! Who the hell do you think you are? Know your place, trash! Get lost!" Bella shrieked, glaring daggers at him.

The guard grabbed Lucas's arm roughly. "You're not welcome here. Beat it!"

Purely out of reflex, Lucas deflected the grab. The force of his casual counter-move sent the massive guard flying backward.

Bella gasped in shock, stumbling a few steps back.

"Lucas! How dare you act violent on our property!"

Violent? Weren't they the ones who put their hands on him first?

"Where is the rest of the security?! Get over here, now! Drag this thug off the premises. Throw him in jail if you have to!" Bella commanded.

Three more guards immediately sprinted over to carry out her orders.

But another woman's voice cut through the chaos, stopping them dead in their tracks.

"Stop! He is my guest!"

Angeline?