Kaelon Blackthorn's (POV)
The dim light of the small apartment filtered through the curtains, casting faint shadows on the floor. I sat on the hard wooden floor, legs crossed, while Edric occupied the small sofa with his usual elegance.
His posture was perfect as always, sipping coffee from a fine porcelain cup, completely at ease. It felt so strange, seeing him here in my cramped apartment.
And everything just seems so out of place—his mannerisms so noble, yet the environment around us... There's nothing so noble about it.
I glanced down at the collection of jewelry spread before me. Ten pieces of delicate, sparkling jewelry—each one more beautiful and rare than anything I had ever seen.
They glimmered in a variety of colors—pink, blue, yellow, green, and red. The diamonds embedded in them were unlike any I had seen on Earth.
(In fact, this is my first time being able to see such valuables, let along even touching it.)
(I had no idea how we had come into possession of them...)
(I mean, sure, these jewelries are made in Thalindor but it's just really...amazing.)
(And I know these piece are worth far more than anything I could afford in this world.)
I looked up at Edric, who continued to sip his coffee as if this were just another ordinary day. He caught my gaze and gave a small nod.
"Master," he said, his voice soft yet firm. "You must wondering how we'll exchange these for money without raising suspicion, aren't you? "
(He's always sharp and easily catch on things...)
"Yeah," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "I mean, these are definitely rare. If we try selling them like this, people might think they're stolen. They're worth too much for this world."
(I don't want to be in jail so early... I mean, not like I wanted to go in jail...)
Edric set down his coffee cup with a soft click. His fingers, always so precise, gently folded his napkin and placed it neatly on the table before he leaned back looking at me.
"Indeed," he said thoughtfully, "but we won't simply sell them to just anyone." He says.
"I can't really suggest where we could trade this jewelries, I could only think of trading it in pawnshop." I said while looking at the jewelries.
"Master Kaelon, we will find a collector—a person who deals in rare items and can appreciate their true worth." Edric says
"A collector? " I asked looking at Edric and he nods his head.
" Yes, I believe we can sell three pieces to such a person directly, but for the remaining seven, I suggest an auction." Edric says
I blinked, digesting the suggestion. "Auction them? That sounds risky... How do we know someone won't catch on? "
Edric gave me a small smile, one of those knowing smiles he often wore when explaining things in his calm, unflappable manner.
"You see, Master Kaelon," he continued, "These jewels, especially the diamonds embedded in them, aren't so rare in Thalindor, you can buy as many of these diamonds there as these diamonds are common to find." Edric says
"But seeing your reaction today, I believe these diamonds are rare to find here in Earth, and to the right buyer—someone who understands their true value—they will be worth a fortune, here in earth." Edric says as I nod.
"Well, these diamonds are indeed, rare to find here. " I confirmed and Edric nods his head.
"For instance, a collector could easily appreciate these pieces. As for the auction, we will ensure no one suspects anything. We will simply be selling precious items to those who know their worth, and you can trust me on this matter, Master Kaelon." Edric says
" I've auctioned a lot of things back in Thalindor, so leave the auctioning to me. " Edric says as I smiled at him.
I nodded slowly, trying to picture the plan in my mind. "Okay, hold on, I think I might know someone online who is like a collector, but what if we would get scammed? "
Edric then smiled widely. " Then I shall wipe him out from existence. "
I stared at Edric for a moment. "Yeah, definitely no. No, doing anything like that."
I then contacted a person whose name is Jaxon Wei, and sent him a picture of the jewelries I have.
I'm not even quite sure if he would be able to see my message or would he ignore it, but he does ignore it... It'll be his loss.
I glanced down at the jewelry once again. The vivid colors sparkled, each piece as if it had its own soul.
The blue diamonds, in particular, seemed to call to me. They were so striking, so intense, like something out of a dream.
———
**Later that Day**
Edric and I stood in front of a grand building, its architecture imposing yet elegant. The place had an old-world charm, with high arched windows and stone walls that seemed to whisper of forgotten history.
We are here to meet Jaxon Wei, the collector I actually tried contacting. I wasn't sure what to expect from him—only that he was reputed to be a sharp businessman, well-versed in rare artifacts.
(And I actually have never meet him in person...)
(Just online... Am I making the right decision? )
(What if we would get scammed???)
(If anything goes wrong, it would be my fault...)
(Well, as a man... I'll take responsibility on it.)
We were then escorted into a lavish office, where an older man with salt-and-pepper hair sat behind a massive desk covered in antique books and trinkets.
He looked up as we entered, his dark eyes sharp and calculating, but there was a certain warmth about him.
A kind of respect, perhaps, for those who knew the value of things. He stood up, offering a handshake with a smile.
"You must be Edric, and this is..." He glanced at me, his gaze lingering for a moment before he smiled again, "Kaelon, yes? Welcome. Please, sit."
Edric and I sat down across from him, the weight of the jewels still fresh in my mind. Edric opened the small velvet box on the table, revealing three pieces set of jewelry.
The first piece was a necklace with a deep, vivid blue diamond at its center, the shape is oval and old—evidently crafted with expertise.
The second was a matching set of earrings, and the third—a ring—was equally stunning.
Jaxon's sharp eyes narrowed in admiration as he looked at the pieces. His fingers moved over them, delicate and precise as he examined each one.
(Why is this making me nervous?)
"This is extraordinary," he said softly, almost to himself. "I have never seen diamonds like these. The color... The craftsmanship... Where did you find such pieces? "
Edric's voice was smooth, confident as always. "These were once owned by a noblewoman named Kriselda, a countess from the old court."
The mention of the countess seemed to catch Jaxon's attention. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing for a moment. His eyes flicked between the jewels and Edric, as though weighing his words.
"You claim these were once hers? " Jaxon asked, his voice steady but curious. "Countess Kriselda, you say? "
(Countess Kriselda? Who that? A countess in Thalindor? I mean... Obviously.)
"Indeed," Edric replied, his tone respectful. "The pieces were passed down through her family, but now they are in our possession. We believe they are of great value."
Jaxon's fingers traced the necklace, his eyes flicking to each detail. "This is... ancient," he said, a note of reverence in his voice. "The design is old, but the diamonds... they're flawless. I can see the cut and clarity—these are 15-carat diamonds, perhaps even more. Very rare. Very valuable."
He paused, looking up at Edric and me. "How much do you two intend to sell them for? "
Edric looked calm, poised as ever. "We are open to negotiation," he said smoothly. "However, we believe the total value of these pieces to be in the range of tens of millions. We would be willing to part with them for the right price."
Jaxon didn't flinch. Instead, he reached for a magnifying glass and began inspecting each piece closely. The silence in the room stretched on, only the faint sound of the glass against the diamonds filling the space.
(God damn... This is really making me feel sweaty for unknown reasons.)
(Good thing Edric is here with me,I'd be trembling in here from nervousness already.)
After what felt like an eternity, Jaxon set the magnifying glass down and looked up, his sharp eyes meeting ours. "The necklace alone," he said, "With 15-carat diamonds—this could be worth anywhere between $50 million and $80 million, depending on its origin and condition."
I felt my heart skip a beat. The necklace alone could be worth more than anything I had ever imagined.
But then Jaxon moved to the earrings and ring, and his evaluation only continued to blow my mind.
"The ring and earrings are of similar quality. The diamonds in these could range from $40 million to $70 million for the ring, and the earrings... well, they could go anywhere from $50 million to $100 million, depending on the market." Jaxon says
I couldn't believe it.
These pieces, which had just been lying in a box, were worth more than I could have dreamed.
This wasn't just a way to get some money for groceries. This was a life-changing sum.
Jaxon took a deep breath, and I could see the glint of greed—or perhaps admiration—in his eyes. "For the complete set, including the necklace, earrings, and ring, I'd say the total value is easily between $140 million to $250 million, but I'll offer you $250 million."
Edric didn't flinch. "Agreed," he said, nodding. "We'll take it."
Jaxon's smile widened as he leaned back in his chair, pleased with the deal. "I'll have the funds transferred immediately."
———
**Back at the Apartment**
Later that evening, I stood in front of my laptop, my hands shaking slightly as I checked the bank balance.
The screen was a blur of numbers, but they all pointed to the same thing—$250 million.
I could barely comprehend it.
One moment, I was struggling to make ends meet, barely able to afford food. And now, here I was, with more money than I could ever imagine.
"Master Kaelon, you've been checking your back account every 30 minutes," Edric says as I turn my head to look at him with a smile on my face.
"I can't help it," I said with a smile and then I closed the laptop, leaning back in my chair, my mind racing.
This was real. This was my chance.
"Now that we have enough money, I suggest Master Kaelon should look for a house and lot." Edric says looking around at the cramped apartment.
I then nodded my head, Edric was right, I think it's time to move to a better home. "Alright, I'll search online for a real estate and see what we got."
Edric nodded his head while he was cooking something in the small area kitchen of this apartment.
While browsing through the internet, I found a house and lot that was on sale.
"Edric, what about this one..." I said while looking at my laptop. "It has four bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 large kitchen, a living room, 2-3 garage and it also had a backyard."
" What do you think? Should I get it? " I said while looking at Edric and he nods his head without looking.
" Perhaps you should, this place is poor quality, if I must say, Master Kaelon. " Edric says as I laughed and nod my head.
I then contacted the number of the real estate agent, this was surely, a new beginning in here.