1674 Lucky Guess (1/2)

A mermaid much akin to the ones in fairytales swam out from the backroom.

”Steward Pi, why did you bring people here?” she asked.

Her tail was covered in pink scales that glittered like gems and gave off an opalescent hue. The upper half of her body was slender and her exquisite facial features were complemented by her long, wavy hair and fair skin. She was, in other words, a gorgeous, flawless lass.

”Greetings, your royal highness!” Steward Pi saluted her.

”Who is this?” The pretty mermaid regarded Chen Xiaobei uneasily due to Chen Xiaobei's peculiar manner of gawking at her.

”Ahem…” Steward Pi coughed. ”Allow me to introduce to you – this is a friend of Prince Liancheng, Childe Chen!”

”Childe Chen, can you please stop looking at me like that?” The little mermaid was not pleased.

”Childe Chen… Childe Chen…” Steward Pi tugged at Chen Xiaobei's sleeve nervously. ”I know the princess is good looking but you cannot stare at people like that!”

”Huh…” Chen Xiaobei snapped out of his stupor. ”I apologize! I'm very sorry, princess. It's just that you look very much like a character from the stories of my childhood. I was so surprised that I was completely bewitched…”

The mermaid pursed her lips, still half-suspicious.

To ease the awkwardness, Steward Pi quickly jumped in, ”Childe Chen, please allow me to introduce to you Neptune's youngest little princess, Ao Chun'er!”

”How do you do, princess!” Chen Xiaobei smiled as courteously and as gracefully as he could.

Ao Chun'er's furrowed brows seemed to ease a little. ”How do you do? I overheard that you want to try your luck at Ambergris gambling.”

”Yes, I do! Because Childe Liancheng is busy, I was hoping to have a flutter of two to pass the time.” Chen Xiaobei shrugged.

”I'm afraid you can't!” Ao Chun'er shook her head. ”This Ambergris Corner operates under my name. I've come here today to shut it down temporarily!”

Ambergris were a rare and valuable resource. Only a member of the imperial family could afford running a business like that.

”Is it because of the problem with the supply?” Chen Xiaobei asked.

”Yes…” Ao Chun'er answered frankly. ”There's problem with the supply. So, our business of Ambergris gambling will only be a liability. If the business continues to run, we'll go bankrupt real soon!”

Chen Xiaobei blinked, activating his Golden Gaze Fiery Eyes to survey the rocks. ”It's not all that bad, the merchandise here! I've spotted a few that I'd like to buy. How many Spiritual Stones would they cost?”

Ao Chun'er and Steward Pi shared a look, furrows in their brows.

Chen Xiaobei had chosen the largest stone in the corner of the store.

”Childe Chen!” Ao Chun'er said solemnly. ”First of all, there really is a problem with the supply and you really are such an amateur! When it comes to Ambergris gambling, bigger is not always better! There's nothing inside! It's been in the store for three years and no one has ever been interested in it!”

”Since it hadn't been sold for three years, why don't you just get rid of it?” Chen Xiaobei asked, smiling cheekily.

Ao Chun'er sighed. ”The shopkeeper I hired is a little superstitious. He hired a Feng Shui master to inspect the shop, and was told to put that grounding rock at that corner to maintain luck and prosperity. That's why we haven't thrown it away yet!”

”Since it's not important, give me a price and sell it to me!” Chen Xiaobei smiled.