"What kind of appraisal agency are you! I could find a stray dog on the side of the road that would do a better job than you! You're calling my genuine treasure new!" The old uncle's face flushed with anger, his voice rising in frustration.
"It is new, completely new, newer than new." Tao Hu's calm response only served to further provoke him.
"You… you…" The old uncle staggered backward, clutching his chest, as if he were on the verge of a heart attack.
He snatched the longsword from the appraiser's hand, pointing it at the two of them. "I'm going to file a formal complaint! Just wait! I'll let the entire collection circle of the royal capital know about this place—letting two young girls do appraisals here, bah!"
"I see," a voice cut through the tension from behind the crowd, smooth and deliberate. "You probably thought Hailey looked like an inexperienced newbie, which is why you chose her for the appraisal, right?"
A middle-aged man dressed in a black vest, with square-rimmed glasses and a commanding presence, stepped forward, his every movement radiating authority.
"Chairman Lawrence," Hailey, the appraiser, stood up respectfully, her eyes widening in acknowledgment.
"Chairman Lawrence?" Yarrow raised an eyebrow, recognizing the name from the sign near the entrance—the chairman of the prestigious Willow Gold Exchange.
The old uncle's demeanor faltered the moment he laid eyes on Lawrence, his anger dissipating, though he stubbornly pressed on, "Lawrence! Look at what kind of people you've hired for appraisals! And allowing outsiders to chime in like this—saying my treasure is new! I demand compensation for my reputational damage!"
Lawrence's gaze was steady, his expression unwavering. "The Willow Gold Exchange will never misrepresent a treasure, unless it is not genuine," he stated firmly.
The old uncle's confidence wavered at the chairman's words. Lawrence continued, his tone sharp, "You were sizing up these appraisers from the moment you entered. Finally, you chose Hailey, assuming her inexperience would work in your favor. Your plan was to get an appraisal and then take it straight to auction, wasn't it?"
The old man's face flushed with embarrassment, his eyes darting away, muttering in defeat.
"If you're in the mood, why not come to my office for a cup of tea?" Lawrence offered smoothly, his tone changing to one of invitation. "I'll personally examine the authenticity of your treasure."
With a snort, the old uncle stormed out, muttering insults under his breath as he clutched the sword to his chest.
Lawrence turned to Hailey, his expression shifting to one of seriousness. "Hailey, this incident could've caused the exchange significant harm. Had Miss Tao Hu not intervened, you would've risked issuing a false certificate."
"Yes, Dad," Hailey said, her voice low with guilt. "I understand. I'll practice more and be more careful next time."
"Dad?" Yarrow blinked in surprise, glancing between Hailey and Lawrence. It was clear they shared a family resemblance.
Lawrence turned to Tao Hu and Yarrow, offering them a polite smile. "Good afternoon to you both, and Miss Tao Hu, I'm very grateful for your intervention today. Thanks to you, our exchange avoided issuing an erroneous certificate."
"It was nothing," Tao Hu said with a light-hearted shrug, though she couldn't entirely hide her pleased grin.
Yarrow sensed there was more at play here than met the eye, especially when Lawrence had mentioned watching them. The chairman had been observing from afar, waiting for the right moment to step in. He would have stopped Hailey from issuing the certificate regardless.
"My name is Lawrence Terrell," he continued, his eyes now turning to the pair before him. "May I know your names?"
"Tao Hu," she answered casually.
"Yarrow."
Lawrence looked at Tao Hu, his gaze sharp but respectful. "If it's not too much trouble, might I ask which family you hail from?" His question was both polite and probing, as he assumed someone with Tao Hu's apparent skills must belong to a renowned family.
Tao Hu blinked in surprise, about to speak, but Yarrow cut in, sensing the potential complications. "Sorry, it's not convenient to disclose that information," he said smoothly, steering the conversation away.
Lawrence's expression softened in understanding. "I see."
"Then, may I ask, Mr. Yarrow, what is your relationship with Miss Tao Hu?" Lawrence inquired, his tone still measured, though with a touch of curiosity.
"I'm her guardian," Yarrow answered simply.
Lawrence's eyes flickered with understanding. He straightened and added, "I must say, Miss Tao Hu, your knowledge of history and appraisals is truly impressive. Even from a distance, you were able to pinpoint the issues with that item."
Tao Hu smiled, slightly embarrassed by the praise. "You flatter me, hehe."
Lawrence continued, "Moreover, your eye for quality is exceptional. Just now, when selecting coins, you picked the best ones with remarkable precision."
Yarrow frowned, the unease creeping back in. "Wait a minute, does that mean you've been watching us the entire time?"
Lawrence's demeanor didn't change. "It is my responsibility as chairman to ensure the safety of every guest in the exchange," he replied smoothly.
Yarrow's brow furrowed at the explanation, but Lawrence quickly turned his attention back to Tao Hu. "I have an impolite request, Miss Tao Hu. If you have time, would you be willing to occasionally guide my daughter, Hailey, in her studies? I can offer you the highest hourly wage, or, if you prefer, you may select something from my collection."
Tao Hu looked flustered, clearly uncertain. "But… I can only see the information about the current item. I don't know much about history or appraising in general. I wouldn't be much help."
Yarrow sensed her discomfort and quickly stepped in. "I'm afraid it's not convenient for her at the moment," he said, offering Lawrence a polite but firm refusal.
Lawrence's expression softened, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features. "A pity," he said, though the smile never quite left his face.
"If there's nothing else, we'll be on our way," Yarrow said, gently taking Tao Hu's hand, preparing to leave.
"Wait." Lawrence's voice cut through the air, smooth but insistent. "I want to show you something, something I think you might find interesting. If you're not too busy, could you spare a moment?"
Yarrow and Tao Hu exchanged a quick glance. Lawrence clearly held Tao Hu's appraisal skills in high regard, but Yarrow had no desire to engage further with such a shrewd businessman. Yet, there was an undeniable curiosity nagging at him about what Lawrence might be about to reveal.
Tao Hu gave a small shrug. "Let's take a look. He can't possibly eat us, can he?" she muttered under her breath, her words light but carrying a hint of playful skepticism.
"Then we'll be intruding," Yarrow said, his voice calm but with a subtle edge, and they followed Lawrence up the staircase to the second floor.
The hallway was lined with a rich red carpet, the air heavy with the scent of polished wood and aged leather. Lawrence led them to a door made of smooth birch wood planks, the key turning in the lock with a soft click.
"Please, after you," Lawrence gestured, his smile warm, but there was something unreadable in his eyes.
Inside the room was a vast exhibition space, over a hundred square meters, filled with neatly arranged display cases. Yet, the items within weren't treasures or relics; instead, they were everyday objects—mundane things you might find in any home. Yarrow's brows furrowed. What could this all mean?
The display case nearest to them contained a peculiar item—a pure black book. On its cover, the words "Death Note" were scrawled in twisted, almost unnerving white handwriting. Yarrow's heart skipped a beat.
"Wait, isn't this…" His voice faltered, his breath catching in his throat.
His eyes snapped back to Lawrence, searching for some sign of a joke or misdirection. The implications were too much to ignore. Is this guy actually the holder of the Death Note? The thought hit Yarrow like a shockwave.
Tao Hu, who had been inspecting the display case more casually, raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Yarrow, that notebook looks like it makes people who have their names written in it… immediately get diarrhea," she remarked with a slightly bemused tone.
"Diarrhea? Isn't it supposed to... you know, kick the bucket?" Yarrow's voice was thick with disbelief, his eyes darting back to the sinister book, his mind racing. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, that's what my ability tells me," Tao Hu confirmed, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she met Yarrow's bewildered gaze.
Lawrence stepped forward with an almost casual air, as if discussing the weather. "That's right. It has that exact effect," he said. "I personally tested it myself."
Yarrow stared at Lawrence for a long moment, his face a mixture of confusion and sympathy. The thought of someone actually testing something like that made his stomach churn.
With an almost sardonic twist to his lips, Yarrow finally spoke, his tone heavy with empathy: "That must have been… unpleasant."
Lawrence's smile wavered, a fleeting glimpse of discomfort crossing his features. "Yes," he said with a small chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "It was extremely unpleasant. And it happened right in front of a very large crowd."
Yarrow blinked in surprise. "Wait, so it's not a Death Note—it's a Shitting Note?"
The comment hung in the air for a moment, the absurdity of the situation settling in. Lawrence's eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and something else—perhaps a touch of dark humor at the bizarre situation he had just described.
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