Hm… I’ve been thinking a lot. I probably would have asked for gifts so I could release more but… I’m too lazy.
Sorry. Hehehe (^_^)
***
Lathel took Charlotte with him, along with Kiin, for a walk around the library. At this time, Lathel realized that this place was extremely large and had countless types of precious stones.
There were elemental stones of all kinds of elements, even rare elements such as light and lightning elemental stones…etc.
He even saw three-colored elemental stones. However, Lathel knew that if this place dared to display three-colored elemental stone, they had the ability to protect it.
As they walked around the library, although Charlotte was very interested in what she saw, she just looked like she was walking on the street.
Charlotte just looked; she didn’t want to touch or own anything.
In fact, the stones here all have prices, as long as you have enough money, you can buy them. Although Lathel doesn’t have enough money to buy a tri-colored elemental stone, a few other gems would do.
But Charlotte seems to have no interest in possessing those stones.
When she looked at those gems, she seemed a bit sad and lost in thought…
Kiin also felt that Charlotte’s emotions were blocked by a wall. He didn’t show it on his face; he just smiled.
“Duke, miss, this library has another interesting place, do you want to come?”
Lathel glanced at Charlotte, then back at Kiin, then nodded.
Manager Kiin took him and Charlotte with him to another place. This place was located in a garden, surrounded by many rocks placed in glass balls.
This place was completely different from the inside of the library, as it was extremely crowded. There were even people who weren’t nobles, they were just ordinary adventurers who came to this place.
“This place is called ‘Mysterious Stone Garden’,” Kiin explained.
“The Mysterious Stone Garden?” Lathel frowned, feeling confused.
“That’s right.” Kiin continued: “Duke, did you know that most of the gems inside, before becoming such beautiful works, were still inside a layer of hard stone?”
“Only by breaking that layer of stone can the gem inside be revealed. Even though the process is incredibly mundane, it creates a new game for everyone.”
“What do you mean… betting?” Lathel frowned and said.
“Hahaha… that’s right. All the stones here have not undergone appraisal or been cut, the rate of gemstones appearing inside them is also a mystery.” Kiin continued explaining.
“That’s why, there are many people who want to get rich quickly and can… bet.”
“Buy a normal stone, if you cut it open and there is a gem inside, then the value will increase by ten or even a hundred times.”
“Of course, the number of people who can win the bet is very small, less than 1%, but people still rush in like crazy.”
“That’s why… hehehe… Duke, do you want to try? The feeling is very exciting, if you don’t win, it’s like a game. If we win… that feeling will be amazing.”
Lathel nodded. He had also heard of this form of gambling when he was alive on Earth.
After all, he once ran a company; of course, it’s normal to know some strange forms of entertainment.
Although it was just a stone, it could decide a person’s destiny. There are some people who, just by cutting that stone, immediately become nobles.
Some people, after cutting that stone, immediately became poor people with a large debt.
Lathel held Charlotte’s hand and walked around. He also wanted to try it once, after all, the stimulating feeling of luck and misfortune could make someone addicted.
Charlotte also followed him while holding his hand tightly, her eyes now becoming curious.
“Charlotte, do you want to try?”
Charlotte heard that, pursed her lips, raised her head to look at him, and asked: “Is it okay… Lathel?”
“Of course.” Lathel smiled and said: “Now I am very rich and have a lot of gold coins.”
Hearing that, Charlotte nodded, then… she held his hand and led him to the stones on display.
Manager Kiin also followed. Lathel at first felt strange as to why this man knew he was the Duke and served him so attentively.
However, if you think carefully, this information is easily available to business people. And of course, it is normal for a duke like him to be well served.
Charlotte suddenly stopped in front of a rather large rock. This rock was nearly two meters high and more than one meter wide; its appearance was extremely ugly and primitive.
Manager Kiin stood next to him and explained: “Duke, this rock… its quality is very low, the chance of gems appearing inside is almost non-existent.”
“Hm?! What do you mean?” Lathel frowned and asked: “If there is no chance of gems appearing, why do you leave it here?” Besides… how can such a large rock have no chance of containing gems?”
Manager Kiin also sighed and said: “Duke Lathel, in fact, this rock…”
“Hahahaha… what a fool.” Suddenly, a voice interrupted Manager Kiin’s words.
At this time, a young man with blond hair and extremely elegant clothes came over, his face carrying a contemptuous smile.
Manager Kiin was startled at this moment, he bowed his head and said: “Marquis Benett.”
Benett smiled disdainfully and said: “Just based on the size of the stone, I think there are gems inside… Kid, I think you should get out of here.”
“Otherwise… when you lose and can’t even keep your pants on, don’t cry.”
“Of course, I don’t have any good intentions for advising you; I just feel sorry for the girl who is with you.”
Benett rubbed his chin and smiled. He looked at Charlotte with greed and an intense desire that was not hidden.
Lathel frowned, and he lowered his head to look at Charlotte. At this moment, she was in the form of a ten year old girl.
Indeed, she was very beautiful, and lovely, like a little angel.
But… having lewd thoughts about a 10 year old girl was unacceptable.
Lathel grabbed Charlotte’s hand, pulling her to his side. He looked at Benett with wary eyes and said: “Sorry, what I do probably has nothing to do with you.”
“Huh! Little brat, talk carefully. I am a Marquis, you… it seems you are also a new noble here.” Benett laughed: “You should learn how to talk to me.”
Manager Kiin stood beside him and wiped his sweat. He didn’t think that this Marquis would dare talk to a Duke like that.
However… If Manager Kiin didn’t know in advance that Lathel was a Duke, he wouldn’t have been able to guess that either.
Even though Lathel was dressed quite elegantly, he carried an overly friendly aura, unlike a Duke who was usually full of arrogance.
“Marquis Benett, I…”
“Okay, Manager Kiin, you don’t need to defend this kid.” Benett interrupted Kiin’s words: “I know, you guys are in business, so all customers are the same.”
“So… let me teach this brat a lesson. After all, I’m a gentleman, I can’t let such a lovely girl be ruined by that brat.”
Lathel frowned. He didn’t think that the main character’s despised motif would happen to him.
‘Interesting… I also want to see what this idiot wants to do.’ Lathel thought in his heart.
After all, he had read many novels, so he knew well what this old motif was like.
It’s just… this was the first time he was the main character in that motif, so he felt a little interested and wanted to see the next developments. 𝑖𝘦.𝒸𝘰𝑚
“Ah!” Lathel smiled and said: “It seems… you’re just lusting after my woman, right?”
“Huh! Kid, watch your tongue. Don’t impose your thoughts on me. I just don’t want that poor girl to be fooled by you.”
Lathel: “…”
He felt a bit confused. Alec said he was a deceiver, and so did this young man, this caused him to wonder if he looked like a deceiver?
“I will give you 1,000 gold coins if you let that girl stay while you leave.” Benett spoke extremely arrogantly, as if he considered Lathel a dog that was not worthy of his eyes.
Lathel tilted his head, he felt that Benett looked like an idiot. Manager Kiin was about to say something when Lathel swung his hand back, blocking his face.
Manager Kiin looked at him, and Lathel just smiled and said softly: “You just need to look, no need to say much.”
Manager Kiin nodded upon hearing that, then took two steps back.
Lathel looked at Benett, pretended to be angry, and said: “Are you looking down on me?”
‘Ack!’ After saying that sentence, he felt as if the sentence he had just said was somewhat familiar, as if he had heard this sentence somewhere many times before.
‘This is… what Alec usually says.’
Benett smiled disdainfully: “Yes, so what? What can you do to me?”
Lathel shrugged: “I don’t want to talk to you either.”
After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Manager Kiin and continued: “Manager Kiin, I want to buy this rock.”
“Ah! Okay, this rock has a fairly low price, it’s only… about 5,000 gold coins.” Manager Kiin said, in fact, the actual price of this rock was more than 20,000 gold coins.
However, his master said that if Lathel appeared, all the things he bought must be discounted to the lowest price.
Lathel heard that and smiled: “Ah! It’s too cheap, so I’ll buy this rock.”
Manager Kiin used a handkerchief to wipe his sweat: “Duke… ah no, Lord Lathel, do… Do you want to think again?”
“Even though it’s only 5,000 gold coins, in reality, it’s nothing more than a useless rock, there’s really no gem inside.”
Lathel nodded and smiled: “It’s okay, even if it’s just a useless rock, if she likes it, I’ll buy it.”
Hearing that, Charlotte raised her head to look at him, her eyes carrying a strange emotion while her cheeks blushed.
“Huh! Stupid. Using 5,000 gold coins to buy a useless rock, is your head full of water? Benett said a little angrily.
He looked at Charlotte, and his voice immediately changed: “Miss, you shouldn’t go with this brat. I am the Marquis, whatever you want, I can buy it for you.”
Charlotte paid no attention to Benett’s words; her eyes from beginning to end were only focused on Lathel.
She nodded and said: “Lathel.. I… like this rock.”
“Um! I know.” Lathel smiled and replied: “Manager Kiin, I want to buy this rock.”
“Good!” Manager Kiin wiped his sweat and felt the atmosphere was a bit tense: “Sir Lathel, do you want to cut that rock out or leave it as it is?”
Hearing that, Lathel looked at Charlotte. She didn’t know what to do. She could only shake her head: “I… don’t know…”
Lathel frowned. He felt that Charlotte definitely had a reasonable reason for buying this rock.
After all, she is a vampire, her eyes are better than those of normal people, and she cannot buy a normal rock.
“Hahaha… Miss, if there is a precious stone in this rock worth more than 5,000 gold coins, I will eat this rock.”
Lathel: “…”
Updated from 𝑖𝘳.𝒸ℴ𝑚