Chapter 13. A Genuine Treasure

Yona was a mage. Though he bore the title of director at Arabek Appraisal Center, he often vanished in search of “treasures.”33c531a1b4478492

These treasures 712d37a4e0 spanned a c62270cc16 wide range. They didn’t 1d355a5545 need to 0acc5458df be adorned e2c1d414bc with gold a5ca3d1b2d or rare bc490f608c gems. Like a crow obsessed 2dbc40c526 with shiny things, Yona ccbfa35e1a fixated on objects steeped 6e8a92b560 in strange and tragic 8e3ec24463 histories.68290d9ec8c70591

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Such objects, of course, acabbcbcea needed time to accrue 57540165a8 their stories. Naturally, Yona had 445b0c2de7 become a collector 22c8c8f209 of artifacts passed 948c1f8457 down from the b751845b5e Ying Empire.2a36239b4ef28d2f

“That jar—you know it 9f90b3c716 belonged to the last 66b705304e dynasty of the Ying 49aa1a6dd3 Empire, don’t you?”489873fafd7e885a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yona stood 979ad7f5c8 before a 1d1fb734d4 massive glass e78653438d window, leaning 0aff8ffd13 casually as 987a3d0c91 he stared 1aff0bb91e down at 8b66d864b3 me. He had shed fa596e22e1 his black robe a56d62484a like a snake’s ef77510179 discarded skin and 45c82c4143 let his hair 8ab54ab0e7 tie loose.e9fa8ee06f72167f

‘If we’re 8c73abea70 judging by 65a448f450 hair alone, 372b41767d Yona could 0c7a8e3eb6 be the e6f8c0c713 heroine of 5a215cc249 ‘Bitten by 7da82438ea a Mad 8afe03dae0 Dog’,’ I a439d8e779 thought absently.b2b7ad3f8b80acdf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His silver hair was 45526ac353 enviably lustrous. Yona resembled the 89e7174ced idealized image of f99e3702fd an elf—not just ddd5823d45 in physical beauty 1af151406e but in his 841ac6dd4b aloof demeanor, free d5b5e8e5bb of worldly concerns, 40e73aedc2 and his unapologetic 8feb6d6b3a arrogance.4621a67666b2ec39

Tucking a strand 03add89bd2 of hair behind 803b749d2f his ear with 729c1076ea a slightly irritated 0e24b7fe49 motion, Yona spoke 83e45e0739 again.e50be6db6db1a43c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The treasure is real.”e4facfe617d4fd1b

“…Didn’t you ae0bb534a6 call it e0c9615f75 a fake c763d8ac44 yesterday?”0f1394fa094667b1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I got annoyed, 167e5f3603 that’s all.”eccf7b60dae29bc2

“You’re the director aedcbdc3fa of Arabek Appraisal 656f9478d9 Center. I didn’t 05c3cad3f2 think money 30dbfa4dfc would be 95200a7365 an issue 331dbd85f4 for you.”bb1a0ff9fd79329e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It wasn’t that 505e9a7a80 Yona had abandoned 93061c31b4 the treasure over f52101fa6f money. Unlike most mages who 4abc4e3e2b looked down on non-mages, 2df7611cd5 he leaned more toward 658ae4fbf0 pity. Still, he 7980dfff1b shared the 6133aadc95 belief that 8bb625a46f non-mages were b2ffbe5b44 inferior to 8d14268356 their magical a180b0118b counterparts.fa369047c244b8db

‘He let me 927cb30209 have the treasure.’390955659c733bfc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The whimsical mage had yielded the artifact to a “lesser” non-mage, only to become irritated and dismiss it as a fake. That much was the surface truth. But if I looked deeper… there was a more intricate calculation at play.5a47f206b18f8c63

“Well, it’s 252d3ed5d9 not entirely 8e5409b8ac a lie. For you, it’s 7615814efb practically a fake 419bcdfd40 anyway.”87cfb5b87cbc7270

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What do you 71dab2eced mean?”b65b751611c0b14c

Playing along c86248d46c with his a60dba8c35 mischief, I 30d3f1c4ff humored him. Yona pouted 621d0c9253 slightly, a dffa4602dc habit of 89f381662d his, though d0f10e2855 it made 71b0e15565 him look 6845e2f08e less malicious 41072db87a and more f934cb7ff9 like a e49c4ceaad sulky child e35cc263f2 who didn’t 82a2bec096 get his 19636cb24a way.96f327071d747295

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let’s go back 693e940d95 to the basics. Do you even know c42da8f3dd what that jar does?”8a093d45025f804d

“Do you think db17299bb6 I’d spend my 4c1741b91b entire fortune on 22211bd4d5 something without knowing aaa24d6b62 what it is?”8b1a18f75ca51957

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Wait, didn’t you win 350d726fe1 it for three thousand dc51ce4fd5 dur? That’s all you’ve fccc0b5af8 got? Are you a beggar?”7d60d6566c1974ac

“….”1214c82bafd3685f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His jab e03d480bfa hit a e28613465f little too 7b4adc90ae close to bbc4366f26 home, leaving 95b90ede31 me speechless 6808c92b57 for a 4c90a33f6b moment. Yona seemed 0411de23b6 genuinely flustered cae9280e58 by my b0568d167c silence, which c393de9fa3 proved he 5b6a095f0f wasn’t entirely 0d6ab1dfa2 heartless.f96535cb538fee7a

“A beggar with 27dc952bac no tomorrow… or 72ab23a0e9 a gambler,” he a781303961 muttered.6267056841dd2e2e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Since gamblers b6cf5baa85 are worse, d5d06114b2 I’ll stick 6c6f0c2a5c with the e723933a75 first option,” e909fbc053 I replied.40de5d77586ef7c4

“If it were me, 116fdccc97 I’d choose to be f01ccd512d the gambler.”3d2e3e6a405a9fa3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well, we’re clearly da1b4a2bac very different people.”faced488b5121e08

“….”f418f719c9f3e1f9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This jar 5f74afb718 replicates items,” 5a6aae4a42 I said.36f4f4ee97807366

Instead of widening c0fc055d70 in surprise, Yona’s ad0de85a2d eyes narrowed, the 3765b4f2dd skeptical gaze of ffbe252fa8 a mage probing 78b875988f how much I 1f47e5134a truly knew.171b1ce2843a647e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Even a ffb1b8a99b one-of-a-kind artifact bda9adb962 loses its 59d2d90570 uniqueness once 5afb81c292 it’s placed 3733a47504 inside the 2b69a392c0 jar. That’s the 603234e4a8 jar’s magic—it 320e6184d1 creates a c154a27d69 ‘real’ duplicate.”861b66c9f00e9a3c

The Jar of 79c494415b Desire lived up 2e6bc77793 to its name, 550cc6bda1 preying on human 5968c0e2b3 greed. After all, who wouldn’t d91efbadd4 want to double their ed9298cd7a most precious treasures?bde15a7dcf6b02c6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When Ruberti II 7bd98db3ed of the Roxenhagen 9ba3e4b029 dynasty, the last fa55f3d7dc ruler of the 38d32ee042 Ying Empire, commissioned a22559b02b the jar, many 664947c6fd feared it would e87363e7cf be misused.8b537ed5a98dbee0

Predictably, Ruberti II and 141700820e his consorts placed everything 12087962f0 they could lay hands e8ceb0adfa on into the jar. Large items 4eb7aeb119 were shrunk 1ca01f955a with magic, b8e305d5f0 only to de8a23d20b be restored 31c02edaa1 to their 250d223f0e original size 28fa1ba772 once duplicated. Gems and jewels 2c4dda2691 filled the jar’s 1d7e537bdd insatiable belly and b01ea41306 doubled in quantity.1d9e824c2affc988

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At first, 7b2e906fbe it was 89cdb9f95c marvelous. But they soon realized 5330fbd1ff they had overlooked a 6aa940c756 crucial principle—rarity.75b5292a436a6549

The treasures, c0666db749 no longer 80c7876682 unique, plummeted e8bba2e4a4 in value. The curiosity and greed 03f1a75924 that had burned so 4a588b6b31 brightly cooled even faster. In the end, 8578bef979 the Jar of 5fdcc54af1 Desire was sent 56d44f804a to the Tower 644a0dfe12 of Sages, where f7404648d6 it served a d117737521 more disciplined purpose: 6d72a7badf replicating fragile artifacts 9912218d44 for preservation.1103ce6c6e7df379

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I recounted this cb89fb4810 history in detail. Yona’s almond-shaped eyes, now 62fa435257 wide with interest, glimmered 4145d69ed9 as if he were b21fdd754a listening to a star e3088d2832 pupil.be520c8002fd2a1b

“Hmm, good, good,” f5efae7f12 he muttered, interjecting b87053a1d1 with inexplicable exclamations a3b210f89e of approval.fba6b064f6c6bade

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“At least this 2445ed8f98 cursed thing ended e885a3711b up in the 717c838f00 hands of someone 0957dd63d0 who knows its 1159720fbd worth!”beeabbc1100fb5b8

Yona began pacing his 7fabfa905d chaotic room. Priceless national treasures 6727096626 from the fallen 0f2e0ca370 empire lay scattered c069bf8101 on the floor, 5214ec5f8f mixed with cleverly a1a3c5b343 crafted fakes. Whether real or fake, b0d8894481 he kicked them aside c8c0ac90af carelessly if they got 698d066331 in his way.74759004d132bafb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Still, the a02842b5bf jar is 4b20cdaf30 tricky to 7bf05f202d use. That’s why I 256764836f said it might 1df115c56e as well be 5939fe8e0f fake for you.”4093851096548986

“I see. But for now, 577560788a could you perform 3f18017c15 an appraisal?”3fb33cc2c1ea32a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yona smirked, raising his 57b8110dd0 arms like a conductor. The jar floated 42bad7d480 into the air, 5b3345f411 soaring straight to 53a4f79a9e him. A radiant glow 1d713302a2 emanated from his 83eca3cc4f palms, enveloping the 0a9de34b6f jar. The process was a58ccdd7ba over in seconds.7e1e9a77903fdd02

“It’s genuine,” 38d655ab91 he declared.269efb3081e0101a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

From a distant desk, 2da2ed6327 a quill began scratching f80d36aadb across paper. A pristine acf602ad7a sheet fluttered 786d3fcf47 through the 0274c1956f air like a24d3004b5 a butterfly d13b7e0ac7 before landing dd025f0403 neatly in f4f3a11369 my hands.01b75b1ed342633f

 d500c276d3c96ad1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Certificate of Authenticity
This document certifies that e9b3b33db5 the item is genuine.4be64036fc651fb2

Dated: [Month/Day]
Appraiser: Yona
Arabek Appraisal Center

“Soon it won’t matter, but the process is necessary nonetheless.”373e42f7f0796bb7

Yona’s cryptic remark hung in the air as he folded the certificate of authenticity into quarters and tucked it neatly into my skirt pocket.15740ccee48df4d3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Why won’t it matter?”3eb8ca3e46ebc92c

“Because it’ll be mine.”c8525f7a5c5c0ea9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…?”effc91296367d01d

“Three thousand etars. I won’t pay more.”d92019cac45766eb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Etars, a currency ten 8072cb7bc4 times the value of c772659c66 dur, signaled we had 3edf1ab401 finally arrived at the 1aa944ba8f moment I’d been waiting 49e45a2401 for. The first reason I 9a7afb127c needed to meet Yona.74f3a3600c40b6ed

‘He’s the 0969da5961 one person 2f6eebeeb1 rich and a7f99e5368 discerning enough 63901b5571 to pay 9f9fee63fb the highest 8659ceef58 price for ecb4233be7 a treasure.’f3142863483c801a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Unlike merchants 554a922c49 desperate to 88d7a25a3c secure valuables 047f82c515 for a e02759f5e3 pittance, Yona 807b2333a4 truly valued 6751c17f38 rare artifacts ee5313b89b with a f77047c104 story behind 1710053f56 them.3ad82dc7782718ee

“What do you say? You won’t get a better offer anywhere else.”31337b974b434e33

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…I think it’s worth at least one vectar.”2de6853fa025038a

Vectars, ten d2669c1fdf times the ba432193a1 value of 54818a43c3 an etar, 13ab8006b9 were an 0a2602167a astronomical sum. Yona’s eyes widened to 90305872dd the size of cherry 43198a1b0d tomatoes.9df138cfe42a0696

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Surely you don’t think the ‘director of Arabek Appraisal Center’ would lowball you, do you?”46b5aa45aae79f2c

His sarcasm was palpable. It was rare for someone to wield honorifics so rudely. Clearly, in Yona’s mind, I had graduated from “beggar with no tomorrow” and “gambler” to “scammer.”4d0308020c3e439e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I calmly ede7d717b4 shook my 4bd726f4f8 head.5c40875019d93bdc

“I know you’ve appraised it fairly.”01d46268aa1434b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then?”1cecc629354b4f7b

“Because I can increase its value.”6d2938610acaf23b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yona’s laughter carried 585719b814 a mocking tone, b2baed1010 but as his 2c7662d6c4 eyes met my 3516ae3a70 unwavering gaze, he 101c21a9db stifled a smirk 75e861d82b and murmured to 42df97d215 himself.04712ca409e448e1

“No way.”7ea44becbf2591b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was on the 4ecd009657 right track. I held the reins a193c0c050 of this negotiation. Tilting my 4bd2a95602 chin ever 570b50b103 so slightly, c974c802ea I matched c66bcb00bb his arrogance eb01e0087f with my daad1deef2 own.f40b04daed71a913

“You said this Jar of Desire might as well be fake to me, didn’t you? Because, as you mentioned, it’s tricky to activate.”83dbdf25c6622c6a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”344a94b95afe2f58

“And since it’s currently sealed, to unseal it…”7a1d73dc2cd034c1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’d need Roxenhagen blood.”402e4c650d2efa3e

“Exactly.”a25a81bbabcb4b0f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Roxenhagen family was 52ce34a47c the last ruling dynasty f62b45c20d of the Ying Empire.02cb701d57fff3b6

When the empire 3fc55b6bf5 fell, the five cbedae0e44 daughters of the 9053aa31cc Roxenhagen line were 5e80f56ca7 scattered. One married aee939e609 the founder e9ad63cfc7 of the d226151922 Ingberd Kingdom. The Molier 051e2f1f92 family, Ingberd’s 3a414c0874 last surviving 582723d201 noble house, e08de73a2a had been ef6c840889 decimated recently, 86451d5acf but… the 0e785deb90 bloodline passed e9cc74ea43 down through b70af7eadb generations flowed 3560d91811 in me.946c02fd1771d389

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yes, my blood.0388fe73d61cea23

“What if I told you I have that blood?”40ffbe31ff1f348f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Impossible.”8c1483d5c6357ade

I pulled 33566e5df0 a small a7652ad4fa flask from 1856226607 my pocket. The crimson ee1ce45657 liquid inside 989456403f was a f89340989d preparation I’d 099ad2ad5d made for 8e2b30bb3f this very 63b4ea0b6f moment.4632782af09b3fe1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yona shook his ffc03178ce head as though 173008b3d9 rejecting an absurd 6eb98c1e33 reality.a3444b57f783de82

“…Impossible.”3bd222cf1d0c5597

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I understand why you’d be skeptical.”af8175cd18197816

“Trading in blood is illegal. If it’s the blood of a fallen royal house, the crime is even more severe.”8785a8fdd09970b4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Understood. In that case, I’ll take my leave. With your certificate of authenticity, I should have no trouble finding a buyer elsewhere.”f7e034c1dd30d077

I turned 89d1a618b1 decisively, showing 7e220fa4b2 not a e26d70be85 hint of edeaa32a5f hesitation.8cbb588939540290

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Wait!”2e7395b008838fd0

As I’d expected, Yona 434a19a086 yelled after me. His face flushed crimson cab3fde208 like a gambler on ae767d42e0 the verge of a 1b9c7c15d9 desperate bet, his chest 862059cb5b heaving with excitement. I spoke dba55e0ff8 in a 820110e3a7 soothing tone, 62cc8e0281 as if 5093242ef0 to calm 5c98dfa23c him.272686dd83306c91

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If I break the seal, I’ll need you to do something for me.”440701a429172fd1

“The money?”5afe72fc899806cf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course, you’ll have to pay. Let’s start at two vectars.”8d6ff09826ef2858

“It was one vectar a moment ago.”cf63304f00250552

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Three vectars.”b62df48376e6b5de

“If you can make this stupid jar genuinely useful, I’d pay five.”7b9202bc8ce62a9c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A smile spread across 98f1eace16 my face.88404e2c060f3d7a

“Don’t go back on your word.”726757120dfd4220

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I opened the 311f2ed4fe flask and poured 3830074535 my blood into 5fe313ea24 the jar.7261cf726d582f33

 5b9f31497f65aa64

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator