Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 684 - 294: The Brain-filler Monster Returns_2

This is my boss! The one I've chosen to follow! Who can understand how I feel right now?

Liang Wu was filled with pride and, without a trace of emotion, glanced at Second Sister Jin.

What she meant was roughly—How are you performing as a middleman? Our boss is such a powerful figure, like a great tiger banner; it's bad enough if you can't leverage that, but you can't even maintain his authority?!

Second Sister Jin felt utterly wronged. She still didn't understand what had happened. Why did Lu Yisi suddenly become so timid? Cartier's standards have always been high. There's no reason for the head of the Huaxia District to grovel so abjectly, right?! My God! This is too miraculous... How on earth did Han Lie manage it?!

What others thought was none of Lu Yisi's business. He was only concerned with what Han Lie thought.

So, the middle-aged Caucasian man stared nervously into the Huaxia youth's eyes, trying to find some exploitable emotion.

But the result... was nothing, only an ocean-like calm. It was as if today's events were entirely commonplace and not worth mentioning.

The more Lu Yisi pondered, the more alarmed he became, all sorts of strange assumptions filling his head.

To an outsider, this incident might seem trivial, but to true insiders, its significance was extraordinary. It wasn't just ordinarily frightening; it was terrifying to a point where no amount of speculation could begin to explain it.

Can you understand?

Lu Yisi had even begun to recall the backgrounds of the few insiders within and outside the company.

The first was Barons, the manager in charge of gemstone purchasing. A true native of southern France, he joined Anglo American Plc after graduation. Later, he was posted to Africa. With a background in the French Foreign Legion, he spearheaded the consolidation of several copper mines in Central Africa and maintained close relations with diamond warlords in Congo, Central Africa, and Chad. In 2000, Cartier poached him to oversee rough stone purchasing, and he was one of the few executives privy to the inner workings of the Argyle Mine.

Hmm, it couldn't be him; Barons has no connections with Huaxia. The next insider is the company's vice president...

In an instant, Lu Yisi mentally reviewed those four or five individuals and then realized with a pang... Damn it! A complete waste of time! Not one of them could be the mole! More importantly, they—including all the relevant company executives who maintained a tacit understanding—had absolutely no connection with Huaxia! Jesus! This is truly fucking bizarre...

Lu Yisi felt like he was falling apart. It wasn't that his mental fortitude was weak, but the shock was too sudden and too intense.

Consider this: the Argyle Mine had only transitioned to underground mining in the latter half of last year, a mere four or five months ago. Even ordinary tycoons in Huaxia were unlikely to be aware of this. And those merchants and jewelry collectors who followed diamonds closely knew, at most, that the Argyle Mine had "transitioned to underground mining."

But in reality, "underground mining" was just a euphemistic public statement. Its fundamental purpose was to control the production of pink diamonds. And the initiator was not the mine owner Rio Tinto; it was actually the international diamond giant De Beers.

This wasn't hard to understand. Rio Tinto was the mining party, while De Beers was the largest buyer and the de facto controller of the global diamond market. So, it was never a matter of Rio Tinto selling all it could mine. Instead, it was about how much De Beers needed; Rio Tinto would then control its production capacity and quality to meet that demand. If Rio Tinto recklessly over-mined, De Beers would surely drive the price down significantly. De Beers held the power over pricing and the authentication certificates that guaranteed liquidity. What resistance could raw material producers possibly offer?

In fact, international mining giants had long ago reached a consensus with De Beers, colluding to form a community of shared interests. Laypeople simply don't understand what De Beers truly stands for, let alone grasp the terrifying extent of this trust group.

A behemoth?

No, no, it *is* the natural diamond market's source, intermediary, referee, appraiser, and ultimate seller!

Therefore, Han Lie's casual remark, "once De Beers restarts the Argyle Mine," wasn't a slip of the tongue, nor did it mean he mistook the mine's owner. It was a reminder and a warning that struck at the very heart of the matter!

'I know everything. Don't play tricks with me!' In the face of such a low-key yet powerful Han Lie, how could Lu Yisi not be shaken and frightened?! How dare Nicolas correct him? Has his brain turned to crystal?!

Lu Yisi decided he would adopt the most cautious mindset, offer the most thoughtful service, and display the most enthusiastic attitude to assist Han Lie with his jewelry customization. He still wanted to hold his position as Chief of the Huaxia District for at least five more years. Winning over a powerful individual with deep connections and boundless prospects—was there even a need to deliberate?

After all, it's all the damn company's resources!

However, the frightened Lu Yisi couldn't even begin to imagine—let alone dare to think—that in reality, Han Lie truly didn't know that the Argyle Mine belonged to Rio Tinto.

Around 2023, Han Lie was idly browsing Douyin when he came across a video about pink diamonds. The video only mentioned De Beers and the Argyle Mine's shutdown, along with speculation that significant reserves remained underground. Han Lie also remembered a date: 2013. So, he assumed it was De Beers that shut down the Argyle Mine in 2013.

Is there anything illogical about that?!

Today, he just happened to have an opportunity to show off, so he vaguely and cryptically uttered that half-statement.

What do I care what those listening think?! I'm such an innocent person; how would I know what goes on in the minds of you scoundrels! Anyway, there won't be any consequences if I misspeak. I'm the big spender here; if I say a thing or two wrong, aren't you all supposed to cover for me?!

So, Han Lie gave Lu Yisi a meaningful look, which actually meant: It's your turn to shine; you handle it!

However, Lu Yisi interpreted it as: Do you know the truth? If you're also clueless, that would be incredibly disappointing...

Lu Yisi wished he could just throw his hands up in surrender to Brother Lie right then.

I know! Bro, I definitely know!

...

The truth was so simple that when Lu Yisi earnestly played up to him, Han Lie himself was a bit dumbfounded.

Whoa?! Did I just inadvertently hit Old Lu's G-spot?! This is truly... exhilarating!

Han Lie didn't know, nor did he want to know, the specific reasons for the change. He just clung to the core point— So, is my only job now to act impressive? I'm good at this!

Thus, Han Lie casually crossed his legs, picked up the coffee cup before him, and took a calm, elegant sip. He didn't even lift his eyelids the entire time, his aura quietly expanding to an imposing two-point-eight-meter stature.

One word—aristocratic!

...

"Respected Mr. Han..." Lu Yisi began, then paused again.

After Second Sister Jin finished translating the address and waited for a moment without hearing more, she turned to look at him with a strange and reproachful gaze.

It roughly meant—Young man, what's wrong with you? Is this the best you can do in front of such a distinguished guest?! Honestly, how many mistakes have you made already?!

Lu Yisi swallowed what he was about to say and improvised, "Which do you prefer, Rubies or Sapphires?"

As he asked, he attentively flipped to the last few pages of the album, pointing them out to Han Lie.

Truthfully, Cartier's collection of top-tier gemstones was indeed extensive and of extremely high quality. The last few pages were filled with large loose stones, both red and blue—large and beautiful, causing both Yu Yun's and Liang Wu's eyes to sparkle with excitement.

Burmese Pigeon Blood Rubies, Sri Lankan Starlight Rubies, Vietnamese Purple Rubies...

Kashmir Cornflower Blue Sapphires, Sri Lankan Traditional Sapphires, Australian Sapphires...

Among them, a pigeon's-egg-shaped Ruby named 'Star of Romance,' originating from Mogok, Myanmar, was Pigeon Blood Red in color, possessed an extremely pure clarity (C1), and weighed 22.8 carats.

Even as a picture, it was breathtaking and irresistibly gorgeous.

Han Lie's gaze lingered on that page for a considerable time, and Lu Yisi immediately realized—The chance to mend our relationship has arrived!

Just as he was rolling up his sleeves, carefully choosing his words, Yu Yun suddenly felt her heart clench with panic. Her eyes were full of struggle and despair.

Big Brother, you wouldn't be so cruel, would you?! You rarely take me out; are we really here to buy *this*?!