Chapter 405

A thunderous roar erupted from the phone.

"How dare you!"

On the projection screen in the meditation hall, Elder Chen abruptly stood, slamming his palm on the table. Behind him, a dozen experts in the conference room rose in unison, their piercing gazes fixed on the screen.

Silver-haired yet ramrod straight, Elder Chen's usually warm eyes now gleamed like sharpened blades.

"It seems I've been too modest these years."

His voice boomed with unquestionable authority.

Everyone in the industry knew Elder Chen's esteemed reputation. Countless elites had begged for his appraisal of rare treasures, only to be politely declined. Yet now, some insolent brat dared insult him—and even dragged Evelyn Roland into this disgrace.

Evelyn stood quietly to the side, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Oliver?"

Elder Chen narrowed his eyes, scanning the screen.

"Oliver Valrose," Evelyn supplied smoothly, tilting the camera toward the man's greasy, bloated face.

"Stop pretending, old man!" Oliver Valrose jutted his chin defiantly. "How much did Evelyn pay you? I'll double it!"

He waved his phone triumphantly, displaying a group photo as if it were some winning card.

"If you know me, then you should know I never take private commissions," Elder Chen sneered. "What exactly have you been doing under my name?"

Gasps filled the room.

"He claimed to have taken a photo with you and that you authenticated Jadeite Mansion's raw stone," Evelyn said coolly.

Someone immediately snatched Oliver's phone and aimed it at the camera.

"A group photo from a charity event," Elder Chen dismissed with one glance. "There were over a hundred people in that shot. Is that supposed to mean something?"

A chorus of sharp inhales followed.

"Such audacity!" Elder Chen's laughter was laced with fury.

"So that raw stone..." someone stammered.

"Is a fake," Evelyn cut in.

Oliver's forehead glistened with sweat. "You're lying!"

"Because the real one—" Evelyn leisurely drew a velvet box from her bag, "is right here."

The moment she opened it, the room seemed to glow.

Oliver's legs gave out, and he collapsed heavily into his chair.