Chapter 151: She Decides To Stone Gamble
"Indeed, that very well might be the case." Chelsea nodded, sympathetically. "If it weren't for the fact that this is your only warehouse."
Traughn's eyes narrowed, and his square jaw seemed even more square.
"Who sent ye?" He asked, discarding all fakeness and courtesy.
Chelsea chuckled. "Poor, poor Boss Traughn. Did you think the council of Nobles didn't know what you've been up to? Did you think that your strength is truly waning due to age? Did you think that they would willingly hand over the antidote after making you the front dwarf for all their dirty funds collection work?"
Traughn's breath became hitched. "What are you here for?" He asked again, a vein visibly throbbing on his forehead.
"Are ye here ta pity me? Ta mock me?" He grimaced bitterly. "I know they have no intention of lettin me leave alive. But my hands are tied fast to those dung beetle bums on their high horses."
"Do you really think they would leave your son alone after you're gone?" Chelsea asked.
Traughn barked out a laugh, seeming on the brink of madness. "True enough. I underestimated 'em. There's no way they'd have tha word 'compassion' in their cores. That's why I can only bring them down with me."
"What if I were to tell you that you can do that as well as save yourself and your son without them knowing any better?" Chelsea asked.
"Then I'd sign a lifetime contract with any devil that could folla threw." Traughn spat out immediately. "But who are ye ta ask me this?"
"Good morning." Chelsea beamed a brilliant smile. "I'm that devil you spoke of."
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Robin's attention was drawn by a large crowd to a platform area with lots of shelves. upon these shelves were stones and rocks that dwarves were walking up and down, looking at. Quite a few would point at one to a nearby attendant and exchange coins in return for the stone. Another platform off to the side was reserved for cutting the stones.
"What's that?" She asked curiously.
"Stone gambling." Quinn replied. "While dwarves do have a greater affinity with earth and metal, only the most skilled among them can determine whether any of those stones contain gems, magic or otherwise. That's why, if you don't have a gem mine in one of your family's businesses, stone gambling can help you get an edge in the door."
Robin paused, glancing over the stones. 'You mean they can't see that?' She thought to herself.
There were an awful lot of stones. Yet, even so, Robin could easily glowing auras of differing degrees surrounding quite a few stones. One of the stones with a bright blue aura, which was being cut open, revealed a large uncut sapphire within it. Robin smiled.
"I wanna try it." She said, a mischievous grin growing on her face.
"Don't do it. Unless you can guarantee you'll get a hit every time, you'll just be wasting money." Quinn shook his head. "Well, if we were allowed to examine them by hand, then things might get easier, I could help you out. but, unfortunately, we can't touch them unless we buy them."
Robin nodded. It was as she expected. "Still, I'd like to try." She persisted.
"All right." Quinn sighed. "Looks like you'll need to lose a few coins before you realize it's a fruitless venture."
"I can afford to lose once or twice upon something trivial." Robin laughed. "But today I'm feeling extra lucky." Noticing Christian looking at her, Robin winked at him. The wink was an invitation to join her conspiracy.
Christian's heart fluttered in shock. Robin was doubly adorable today. It was only a moment later that he realized the meaning behind that wink. He walked up to join Quinn and Robin.
"What's going on here?" Christian asked.
"Robin wants to try a hand at stone gambling." Quinn rolled his eyes. "It has about as much chance of winning as a lottery."
"Ho? Interesting...Why don't you try it, then? I'm interested in how lucky you might be." Christian realized that this is what Robin wanted him to join in on.
"You can't be serious!" Quinn exclaimed.
"Just let him buy one or two stones. What's the worst that could happen? But...if you're so certain that he'll lose, why don't we wager on the outcome?" Christian smiled, as he took out a gold coin. "I wager that Robin will find something valuable in every stone he buys."
"You're on!" Quinn snorted, taking out a gold coin of his own. "It's impossible to score a hit every time. If Robin doesn't find something of value in even one stone that she buys, I'll win by default!"
"And I will be the banker." Jasmine plucked the gold coins out of Quinn and Christian's hands. She had walked up behind just in time to hear the wager. While this surprised the two, they didn't disagree to it. Thus the three turned to watch Robin.
"Well now it looks like I'll have to do my best...Wish me luck~!" Robin smiled brightly as she headed for the platform.
The first stone she picked was a stone which radiated only a faint aura. As it was rather small, instead of cutting the stone, she chose to have it sanded down instead. The dwarf working on it suddenly stopped and grabbed a cup of water, pouring it on the stone to wash the rock dust away. a glimpse of a deep purple stone peeked through.
"It's an amethyst!" One of the onlookers gasped. This drew a small crowd of potential buyers over to Robin's area. They watched while the stone rubber expertly extracted the amethyst without damaging it at all. The amethyst was an oval stone no larger than a silver piece.
"Young man, are ye willing ta part with that there stone?" A jeweler asked. It was a good quality amethyst. And this jeweler had been looking for an amethyst of just this size for a piece he was working on.
"Unfortunately, I would like to keep this one." Robin politely refused. "I need it as evidence when I go and brag to my friends on winning first try. However, if I do find another amethyst, I'll be sure to let you know." She replied.
"All right then..." The jeweler sighed. he knew himself how difficult it was to find another stone after the first one.
Robin eyed him with amusement, and then proceeded to buy the brightly glowing stones she found. Those with smaller glows she left for others to find. After all, it would not do to be too greedy.
By the time she finished, she had bought a small pile of stones. Each time she purchased one, she kept it away in her storage bracer. Eventually, someone noticed her actions.
"Hey, whatayah doin hiding those stones away like that? Why not open them up fer us all ta see?" a dwarf jeered.
Robin turned to the dwarves, a troubled expression on her face.
"Seniors, I am somewhat at a loss. Having opened a stone on first try, if my next stone were to be empty, then I will be very embarrassed." Robin apologized.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about." An elderly dwarf shook his head kindly. "We old folks gamble all the time and only rarely manage to find something now and then."
Robin paused, but then finally relented. "Fine. I will open one up, for your sake. But, please don't laugh at me when it comes up empty."
The surrounding dwarves agreed as Robin handed this stone over to the dwarf worker she had been to earlier.
"Cut it this time." Robin said, looking somewhat unenthusiastic.
The dwarf nodded and began shaving off layer after layer of stone, carefully. Robin looked at the rock inquisitively, as if she were wondering about the possibility of carving out a gem. Then she sighed and shook her head. Anyone watching would think that Robin absolutely didn't expect a repeat to happen so soon.
The dwarf suddenly stopped carving.
"What's the matter?" Robin asked. "Are you giving up, too?"
The dwarf quietly grabbed a cup of water and carefully washed the rock dust away. A dark hint of purple with what seemed like purple flame inside, drew his attention. His hand shuddered a bit in delight.
"A-a magic amethyst." He stammered. "It's a magic amethyst!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone