“This piece won’t fetch much. If you like it, Mr. Doyle, it’s yours.”The stone in Adrian’s hand did look marred by impurities, nothing that would pass for top-grade by any jeweler’s eye.But Adrian knew better. This was an innate spirit stone.The aura sealed within a single piece could rival half a chest of ordinary spirit jade.Which was precisely why he felt awkward taking advantage of the offer.“It’s all right, Mr. Ashford. Just name your price.”Lincoln Ashford shook his head with earnest resolve.“No, no, Mr. Doyle, you don’t understand. Even with me brokering it, this stone wouldn’t sell for anything worthwhile.”“If I took your money for this, I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up.”Lincoln’s sincerity made it hard to press the matter, and Adrian let the question of payment drop.Still, Lincoln couldn’t fathom why Adrian cared so much about what seemed a plain, flawed stone.“If you truly like this kind of jade, Mr. Doyle, I have a few more. Take them as well.”Adrian’s eyes

“Young Master Slov, I’ve told you already—neither the Novaland practitioners nor the Eagleshire physicians can cure your father.”A middle?aged man strode in from the doorway. His years showed, yet his face was striking—though striking in the way of a hundred identical, surgically sculpted masks.“If you want your father truly saved, you need Goguryeo medicine. Only Han medicine can bring the dead back to life.”His words were blunt, his tone openly disrespectful.Adrian frowned. Since when did “Han medicine” become a thing?Goguryeo, that postage-stamp of a nation, daring to posture? They’d pilfered Novaland’s traditional methods, then flipped the script with brazen lies.Lincoln sighed and leaned toward Adrian, voice low. “He’s a Goguryeo doctor, name’s Joonji Kim. He’s practiced in the Ganz Kingdom for years and earned a lot of trust on merit.”“But this ‘Han medicine’ of his is exactly the techniques of our Novaland tradition. Theory, protocols—indistinguishable. Still, he insists

“The depth and sophistication of traditional medicine in the Novaland Republic is far beyond anything you can replicate by merely copying the form.”Though Adrian spoke calmly, the precision of his hands did not falter in the slightest.Anyone present could tell those words were directed at Joonji Kim—and his expression had darkened to its limit.Yet he found himself unable to offer a single rebuttal, forced instead to endure Adrian’s quiet reproach.With each measured movement Adrian made, Maizart’s condition steadily stabilized once more.Adrian removed the wooden block from his mouth and, composed as ever, began withdrawing the silver needles one by one with delicate precision.The doctors from Eagleshire, upon witnessing this, could not help but reveal genuine admiration.“Traditional medicine from the Novaland Republic truly lives up to its reputation. I’d only heard fragments before—I never imagined it would be this extraordinary.”“I’ve heard legends about it as well. It’s enti

Maizart took the jade from Adrian’s hand and glanced at it, immediately recognizing it as a product of his own mine.“I remember this—it comes from my quarry. But why would you want this particular kind, Mr. Doyle?”“Don’t misunderstand,” he added quickly, “there are plenty of stones with far superior quality.”Both he and Lincoln Ashford shared the same confusion. Lincoln, too, could not fathom why Adrian would take an interest in something so unremarkable.“In truth, Mr. Doyle has an exceptional eye for jade,” Lincoln said with a shrug. “Even seasoned experts might not match his discernment.”“And yet, this is what he chose. Stones like this don’t fetch much on the market—surely you wouldn’t begrudge him a few, Mr. Maizart?”Maizart shook his head at once.“What are you saying? Mr. Doyle just refused a reward worth hundreds of millions. Let alone this kind of jade—if he wished, I would hand over the entire mine without hesitation.”At those words, Adrian’s eyes lit up.Lincoln Ashfo

Lincoln Ashford had initially been eager to join in, but upon seeing Angbitai, he hesitated.He glanced at Adrian, intending to follow his lead.Adrian waved a hand casually. “Then let’s indulge them for a round. I’ll appraise the stones for Mr. Maizart.”His tone was light, almost effortless, yet Maizart couldn’t help but feel uneasy.After all, Angbitai was deeply entrenched in the jade trade, handling raw stones daily.More importantly, his younger brother Gexiby was renowned throughout the Ganz Kingdom as a master appraiser.Lincoln Ashford sensed Maizart’s concern, but having witnessed Adrian’s abilities firsthand, he remained confident.“Don’t worry—Mr. Doyle is far more capable than you think.”Adrian arched a brow with a faint smile, signaling Maizart to set aside his worries and proceed.Maizart trusted Lincoln’s judgment. Having seen Gexiby’s skill before, if Lincoln believed Adrian could match him, then it was likely so.“Since you’ve proposed it, then let’s wager.”Angbita