Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 884: Appraising the Treasure

Natalie gestured for Ava to proceed. Ava carefully removed the red cloth covering the tray, revealing a pair of ivory tusks. She gingerly placed them before Natalie, who picked up one of the tusks with focused eyes. Natalie examined it closely, her fingers brushing over its surface. She brought it to her nose for a sniff, then lightly tapped it against the table, producing a faint sound.

Suddenly, Natalie flung the tusk to the ground. It shattered instantly, breaking into two pieces that scattered across the floor.

Ava let out a startled cry, her beautiful face flushing with anger. "Natalie, what are you doing? Do you have any idea how difficult it was to acquire these tusks? Is this how you treat something I brought for your appraisal?" Natalie waved a hand dismissively, her tone warm and calm. "Don't rush to anger. Let me be honest with you-the tusk I broke is a counterfeit. I've carefully examined it. The authenticity of ivory can be judged in four ways." Ava's face remained tense with frustration. "Fine. Then explain yourself. I want a reason."

Natalie spoke unhurriedly. "First, authentic ivory contains blood streaks, but the ones in this shattered tusk are far too vibrant. Genuine ivory develops cloudy streaks over time; they should never appear this fresh and red." "Second, the texture. When I touched this tusk, its surface felt rough and uneven. High-quality ivory is smooth and cool to the touch, like polished jade."

"Third, take a closer look at the surface. You'll notice there's not a single natural pattern on it. Real ivory always has visible markings."

Ava's expression shifted, alternating between red and pale. Listening to Natalie's reasoning, she realized the shattered ivory was indeed a fake. She had been deceived.

Natalie bent down to pick up one half of the broken tusk from the floor. "Do you know why I broke it?"

her

final point: the density of the ivory. That's the most crucial factor in determining authenticity. The denser the ivory, the higher its quality. Your tusk split

on her face. She picked up the remaining tusk and, following Natalie's earlier methods, began

blood streaks. "They're cloudy, not too red!" Ava's eyes lit up with excitement. Guests nearby, having listened closely to

fingers over the surface. "It's smooth and

nodded approvingly, a subtle

Her beautiful eyes reflected its creamy white hue. "I see wave-like patterns. They're so

she steeled herself for the last test. Clutching the tusk tightly, she closed her eyes and hurled it to the ground. The room fell silent. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her long lashes trembling.

she said, "Thank you, Natalie! I was so rude to you earlier. I hope you can forgive

nonchalantly. "I don't mind. The world is full of doubters. I've learned to focus on being true to

seeking her advice. Compared to the earlier commotion, the next five presented far simpler challenges, which Natalie resolved in just a few words. The audience watched her in awe. Admiration filled their eyes, and a deep

everything from astronomy to the smallest details of life. She's a genius at strategy and decision-making." "Her courage and intellect put all of us men to shame. Who

Natalie sat calmly on stage, waiting. From the audience, a small child carefully climbed down from his seat. He

in a black British-style suit with suspenders and a red bow tie, walked with steady determination despite his young age. He looked like a