Gou learns witchcraft in another world

Chapter 52 Presumption of Suspicion

"Was this gem truly ever set in a crown?"

"It looks so. It weighs 18 carats, is pigeon blood red, and is natural, which is already very rare. In addition, the cutting technique of this gemstone is very consistent with the craftsmanship of the Northumbria Kingdom period, and it also matches historical records..."

"Wow, this gentleman knows so much! Could you tell me why this gem came off the crown?"

"According to historical records, during the later years of the reign of Ambrosius IV, the Kingdom of Northumbria was in turmoil. Various disasters occurred frequently within the king's territory, and there were also incidents of wild animals attacking villages. At that time, the king's guards had been fighting for years and were unable to quell the disasters. As a last resort, the king began to recruit warriors..."

"The jewels on the crown were probably bestowed during that period."

It was now the day after Hammond had introduced the collection to his guests.

After the exhibition opened, the presence of rubies worth millions attracted many interested people.

A dozen people were gathered around the ruby ​​display case just a meter away, and one of them, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, was talking animatedly.

It was clear the man was highly knowledgeable and impeccably dressed. His gentle demeanor further captivated the attention of a young woman nearby. Choosing to admire the man over a million-dollar ruby ​​suggests they might engage in a deeper exchange of knowledge after their visit.

In the exhibition hall's rest area, in a corner where one could observe the rubies and pocket watches, Luo Qiu calmly observed everything while holding a copy of "Explorer Voss".

Two extraordinary items at one exhibition were something he hadn't anticipated.

After seeing the red light emanating from the ruby, he had already prepared for the worst—in the next three days, some extraordinary person might recognize the value of both and ultimately choose to steal them.

Therefore, he had to stay nearby and observe, hoping to find some clues in advance.

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses was somewhat suspicious, but his knowledge lessened that suspicion. In Luo Qiu's analysis, a supernatural being interested in gemstones shouldn't possess a high level of education.

A minute later, Luo Qiu watched as the other party declined the young lady's invitation, and then he completely shifted his attention away from him.

This is a person with high desires and goals, and who is also self-controlled. Even if it is related to the supernatural, it is highly unlikely that they would engage in theft or directly participate in it.

Having lowered her guard against him, Luo Qiu then focused her attention on another man in a gray overcoat in the exhibition hall.

In contrast to the previous suspect, this man was the other extreme.

His hair was disheveled, his face had fine stubble, and his clothes were noticeably wrinkled, giving him the appearance of a down-on-his-luck superhuman.

Furthermore, Luo Qiu noticed that when the man entered the exhibition hall and saw the glass display case, his eyes seemed to momentarily fill with doubt, and his right hand trembled slightly. Only afterward did he casually put his hand into his pocket.

Is the other person nervous?

Trembling hands are an unconscious reaction for some people when they are nervous. Of course, it's also possible that the thief is a habitual thief who got itchy hands after seeing so many gems.

Luo Qiu stared intently at the other person's hand in their pocket, but he didn't see a flash of red light in his innate vision.

The next moment, the man finally pulled his hand out, carrying a crumpled piece of paper.

These are the tickets for this exhibition.

Seeing this, Luo Qiu felt relieved.

The man probably just happened to be passing by and was attracted by the exhibition. After discovering that the ticket only cost 5 kroner, he decided to come in and take a look.

Then, when he saw that even the least valuable exhibit here cost 4.5 kroner, he was somewhat incredulous.

……

"Senior, do you have a goal?"

While Luo Qiu was carefully observing the crowd, Smith couldn't help but walk over and ask in a low voice.

Smith was also looking for potential targets who might be thieves; Luo Qiu had assigned him this task before the exhibition opened. And because his fixed position limited his field of vision, Smith spent most of his time wandering around the venue aimlessly.

But at this moment, Smith's eyes were filled with confusion.

"It's still morning, and we've only received a little over two hundred people, but I already feel there are about a dozen who are suspicious. Do you have that many suspects, senior?"

"About three or four."

"So few? Then... that person over there has been standing in front of the pocket watch for more than ten minutes, wearing sunglasses. Is he a suspect, senior?"

Luo Qiu looked in the direction Smith was pointing.

Five people were gathered around the gold pocket watch, only one of whom was wearing sunglasses.

Wearing a black overcoat and carrying a camera with a focal length of 50-60mm, he certainly fits the profile of a jewel thief in some ways.

"I think that man is quite normal. You only noticed that he was wearing sunglasses and wouldn't take them off, but you didn't see that he was impatiently tapping his foot on the ground. Besides, the restroom is in his line of sight to the side... Maybe he's waiting for someone."

"what?"

Smith was stunned by what he heard, but when he turned around, he did see the man stamping his toes. A few seconds later, a woman carrying a bag came out of the restroom, and the man quickly went to greet her.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long ago, I was just admiring that pocket watch..."

Having overheard these conversations, Smith was completely convinced of Luo Qiu's judgment.

Turning back to face Luo Qiu, Smith asked curiously:

"Senior, with your keen observation skills, you already have three or four suspects. There must be thieves coming tonight."

"Perhaps."

Luo Qiu gave Smith a perfunctory answer to his question.

Looking towards the exhibition hall, it was nearing noon, and no new visitors were entering. With no new targets in mind, Luo Qiu turned his attention to the novel in his hand.

The book, which cost twenty-five rank, tells the story of an adventurer exploring various places and encountering all sorts of strange and wonderful treasures.

The exploration process was, of course, the main focus. After watching it, Luo Qiu understood what those novice adventurers were thinking.

One passage reads as follows:

Worth bought the stone from the traveling merchant for four hundred and fifty kronor.

[After returning home, he found a basin of water and soaked the stone in it.]

Dorothy, arms crossed, shook her head as Worth finally stopped, asking, "I still don't understand what you were doing. That traveling merchant was clearly cheating you. It's just an ordinary stone, maybe a little oddly shaped."

But when I held it just now, my palms were dry and sticky; I think it probably absorbed the moisture from my sweat. And anyway, 450 kronor isn't expensive, is it?

"You decide, anyway..." Dorothy trailed off, unable to continue. Before her, the stones in the water underwent a remarkable transformation.

A rainbow of light was projected onto the side of the basin, and looking around, the sky was clear and blue.

Rainbows can only come from stones, but how is that possible?

[Worth shook his head: Some treasures don't reveal themselves; they wait for those who truly understand their value.]

……