Leon walked through the neon-lit streets, ignoring the stinging pain in his ribs. The heavy jade stone rested firmly under his arm, wrapped in a cheap plastic bag he had taken from the convenience store. To anyone passing by, he looked like a beaten-up beggar carrying a piece of street rubble. But to Leon, this stone was the first hammer he would use to shatter the lives of those who had wronged him.He needed to sell it, and he needed to do it tonight. The city’s largest underground antique market, the Night Market of Nine Dragons, was only three blocks away. It was a place where billionaires and shady collectors traded rare items away from the prying eyes of the government.As he stepped into the bustling, rain-slicked market, the scent of incense and old paper filled the air. Leon walked past dozens of stalls until he stopped in front of a grand, traditional wooden shop with a golden sign: The Treasure Pavilion.This shop belonged to the Murong family, the bitter rivals of Young Master Young’s family business. If there was anyone who had the cash to buy this stone instantly and hated his enemies just as much, it was them.Leon pushed the heavy glass door open. A small chime rang. The interior was luxurious, filled with porcelain vases and ancient swords displayed behind thick, bulletproof glass.A young woman in a elegant, tailored black suit stood behind the main counter, sorting through some documents. She had sharp, beautiful features and a cold aura that practically screamed high society. Her name was Cynthia Murong, the young heiress of the Murong empire.Hearing the door, Cynthia looked up. Her eyes narrowed the moment she saw Leon’s soaked, blood-stained clothes and messy hair. Two heavy-set security guards in black suits immediately stepped forward, blocking Leon’s path."Sir, this is a private establishment. If you are looking for medical help or a handout, the hospital is two blocks down," Cynthia said, her voice smooth but freezing cold. She didn’t look down on him with the cheap cruelty of Chloe, but she clearly didn’t have time for trouble.Leon didn’t back down. He stood tall, looking directly into Cynthia’s sharp eyes. The moment his gaze locked onto her, the dark translucent screen flashed in his vision:[Person: Cynthia Murong][Identity: Heiress of the Murong Group][Current Crisis: Desperately searching for a top-grade authentic Imperial Jade piece to present to her grandfather for his 80th birthday tomorrow morning. Failure to find one will lose her the family succession race to her corrupt cousin.]A wave of absolute certainty washed over Leon. He had the winning card in his hand."Miss Murong, I am not here for charity," Leon said, his voice echoing clearly in the silent shop. He stepped forward, ignoring the guards who put their hands on their batons. "I am here to solve the biggest problem your family is facing tonight. You need a masterpiece for your grandfather’s birthday banquet tomorrow, don’t you?"Cynthia’s pen froze in her hand. Her cold expression cracked, replaced by absolute shock. The security guards looked at each other, confused. How could this ragged, bloody stranger know about a top-secret family crisis that had only happened two hours ago?"Who sent you?" Cynthia demanded, her eyes turning dangerous as she stood up from her chair. "Was it my cousin? Or the Young family?""Neither," Leon replied calmly. He walked over to a heavy mahogany presentation table and placed the plastic bag down. He pulled away the cheap plastic, revealing the dusty, rough greenish rock. "I am just a man selling a treasure. Take a look at this before you throw me out."One of the security guards laughed out loud. "Miss, this punk brought a street rock into the Pavilion! Let us throw him into the alley.""Wait," Cynthia raised her hand, stopping the guards. She was a professional appraiser herself. Though the stone looked completely worthless on the outside, something about Leon’s supreme confidence made her hesitate. She walked out from behind the counter, pulled out a professional magnifying loupe and a high-intensity flashlight from her pocket, and leaned over the stone.For three long minutes, the shop was dead silent. Cynthia examined every single millimeter of the rough crust. Her brow furrowed, then her eyes widened, and finally, her hands began to tremble slightly.Through a tiny, almost invisible microscopic crack in the rough outer layer, her flashlight caught a glimpse of something breathtaking. It was a green so deep, so pure, and so vibrant that it looked like a drop of liquid forest trapped in time."Imperial Jade... and it’s completely flawless inside," Cynthia whispered, her voice shaking. She looked up at Leon, her gaze entirely changed. The disgust and suspicion were gone, replaced by pure awe. "The crust is completely intact, meaning it hasn’t been tampered with. The sheer volume of this stone... the jade core must be at least three kilograms. This... this is worth a fortune!"Leon crossed his arms, a faint, sharp smile playing on his lips. "I told you, Miss Murong. I am here to do business. This stone is enough to make your grandfather the happiest man in the city tomorrow, and seal your position as the rightful heir."Cynthia swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure, but the excitement in her eyes couldn’t be hidden. "You’re right. This is exactly what I need. Name your price."Leon didn’t hesitate. He knew the exact market value down to the penny thanks to his system. "Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Clean, immediate bank transfer. No questions asked."Cynthia blinked in surprise. The price was incredibly fair—in fact, if she cut and polished this stone, she could easily auction the pieces for double that amount. This man wasn’t greedy; he was smart, and he wanted quick liquidity."Deal," Cynthia said immediately, not wanting to risk him walking out to another shop. She pulled out a secure tablet from under the desk. "Give me your bank details. The funds will be in your account within two minutes."Leon provided his account number. As Cynthia typed in the transaction, she looked at the dried blood on his face. "You look like you’ve been through hell tonight, Mr...?""Leon," he replied short and sweet.Buzz.The cheap smartphone in Leon’s pocket vibrated violently. He pulled it out. A new bank alert illuminated the dark screen: [Deposit Confirmed. Your account ending in 4092 has received a wire transfer of $250,000.00. Current Balance: $250,050.45]Looking at the six-figure sum, the last remnants of the helpless, broken orphan who had been kicked into the gutter an hour ago vanished completely. Leon picked up his pack of bandages from his pocket, gave Cynthia a polite nod, and turned toward the exit."Leon," Cynthia called out just as he reached the door. He paused, looking back over his shoulder. She looked at him with a mix of curiosity and respect. "A man with your eyes shouldn’t be bleeding in the streets. If you ever need a job, the Murong Group always has a place for a master appraiser.""Thank you, Miss Murong," Leon said, his voice echoing with a chilling, dark confidence. "But I don’t work for people anymore. Next time we meet, I’ll be the one buying the market."He pushed the door open and stepped back into the rainy night. The wind was still cold, but the fire burning in Leon’s chest was unstoppable. He had his starting capital. Tomorrow, the real face-slapping of the Young family and his cheating ex-girlfriend would begin.??
Chapter 2: The First Fortune
The God-Level Appraiser: I Can See The Price of Everything!