The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1758

A wonder? What wonder? Why hadn't anyone heard of it? Some elders of the Chamber of Commerce exchanged puzzled glances, and newer members were even more baffled.

Standing frozen in place, Eric was torn between staying or leaving. A realization dawned on him, but it was too late to do anything.

From across the fish pond, Renault Tungsten let out a startled cry. "T-The carp, they're—"

Before he could finish, the elders surged forward to get a better look. The scene before them was akin to a vibrant painting, with the gold-eyed goldfish as its main subject. The other carp—some red, others white—swirled around it in a shimmering flurry of colors.

Upon closer inspection, the seemingly ordinary emblem, no different from a copper coin, began to emit a golden glow. The intricate carving of a fish's tail on its surface appeared almost alive.

Indeed, this was a wonder—it was as if a bridge had formed in the water. The carp were darting toward it eagerly. Despite being blocked by some unseen barrier, they circled back and tried again with unwavering determination.

This completely shocked the onlookers. Some media folks instinctively raised their cameras to capture this surreal moment.

"This is… divine. Absolutely divine!" a merchant muttered, refusing to believe what he saw was real. He even pinched his own cheek in disbelief.

"What exactly is going on? How would the emblem…" The color completely drained from Isaiah's face. Even someone as slow-witted as him now realized that Wynter's emblem was the real deal.

Yet, why had they never heard of the gold-eyed goldfish possessing such an extraordinary ability? Isaiah desperately yearned to get answers from Eric.

Meanwhile, the other members had all turned their attention to Wynter. The light from the gold-eyed goldfish and the carp's odd behavior were impossible to ignore.

"Ms. Quinnell," someone addressed her, their tone far more respectful than before. They wanted validation for the answer they already suspected. "This is…"

Knowing she was surrounded by brilliant minds, she didn't keep them guessing. "Every era carries its own fortune. I'm sure every cultivator here will agree with me on this."

Kaspar nodded in agreement, and members of other sects didn't oppose, either. Their eyes remained fixed on the pond.

Unlike ordinary onlookers, they understood the gold-eyed goldfish wasn't just any relic but an extraordinary artifact. It likely belonged to a powerful cultivator, who left it behind among mortals.

Such a scene—dubbed the Aquatic Awakening in ancient myths—was absolutely miraculous. Even their sect's most treasured relics might not even compete. The gold-eyed goldfish was a powerful artifact that carried the merits and fortune of its past owners, who were all virtuous merchants.

Whoever acquired it would undoubtedly have their business fortune prosper and their wealth amass. Even bringing it to buy a lottery ticket could lead to a multi-million-dollar win, let alone owning it.

With the Quinnells possessing such an artifact, they would only flourish increasingly in the future—there was simply no room for decline.

While the cultivators remained silent, their expressions made it clear just how remarkable the gold-eyed goldfish was. The business tycoons had their desires written plainly across their faces as well.

Yet, Wynter maintained her calm demeanor. "During the peak of the Atlantean era, craftsmanship reached unparalleled heights. Some artifacts even had entirely different effects when exposed to water."

"Ms. Quinnell, this is more than just craftsmanship," said Azrael Nocturne of the Mystyka Sect, who was standing beside Kaspar.

Unable to resist his chuckle, Azrael added, "Such a powerful artifact can bring centuries of good fortune and even revive a declining family. It seems the Chamber of Commerce is being returned to its rightful owner today."

His words ignited a flicker of rage in Eric's eyes. The cultivators he had invited today were now standing on Wynter's side! What a useless bunch—they were only making matters worse!

There was an unspoken rule within the Chamber of Commerce—whoever possessed the gold-eyed goldfish would also be the chairman. Now that everyone present had witnessed what the genuine gold-eyed goldfish was capable of, their gazes toward Eric were evidently different.

Wynter, on the other hand, moved effortlessly and swiftly. She reached out, scooped up the gold-eyed goldfish, and strung it back onto her red string. Her casual treatment of the artifact made the cultivators wince with envy.

Azrael anxiously exclaimed, "Ms. Quinnell, please handle it with care. You're dealing with an immense amount of business fortune."

Meanwhile, his disciples stared longingly at Wynter's red string. If they had such an artifact and were involved in trade, they would spend day and night worshiping it. After all, with such a treasure, one could roam the world unchallenged!

The business tycoons crowded around Wynter, eager to bask in the emblem's presence. Their attitudes became noticeably gentler, as if they were trying to please Wtnter.

"Who would've imagined such a wonderful treasure existed? Ms. Quinnell, we were too rude earlier. Please be the bigger person and don't hold it against us," Renault said.

Another merchant, Wayne Schneider, chimed in. "Yes, exactly what Mr. Tungsten said! Back then, the Malones used their connections to suppress us whenever possible, and we didn't dare speak up.

"Besides, the chamber has always been under Mr. Lofstedt's control. We truly had no idea about its history."

Upon hearing this, Wynter smirked. "Is that so? I thought everyone knew but didn't want to return the chamber to the Quinnells."

"Impossible!" Renault's and Wayne's faces flashed with awkwardness. Yet, to gain merits through the gold-eyed goldfish, they still had to flatter its rightful owner. "It's all a misunderstanding!"

She paid little attention to insignificant people like them since they weren't her true targets. "Mr. Tungsten and Mr. Schneider said that it was a misunderstanding. What about you, Mr. Lofstedt? You used a fake emblem in an attempt to steal the Quinnells' rights. Was that a misunderstanding, too?"

With her light and casual tone, Wynter left no room for him to back out.

Eric clenched his fists as he plastered an apologetic smile on his face. "I never intended to seize control. I was tricked, too, thinking that the Foplyan businessmen actually had the emblem. That's why I paid such a high price to buy it.

"I just didn't want the chamber's property to be lost to outsiders. I get uneasy just thinking about the emblem being locked away in someone's private collection overseas."

Eric was a convincing actor. His words painted him as a righteous man instead of someone scheming for the chairman's position. Sure enough, some people believed him, as seen from their expressions.

Indeed, if it weren't for his pretentious acts, how could the Quinnell elders have been fooled bit by bit into trusting him?

Unfortunately for him, Wynter was the best at exposing such façades. "Do you need a reminder, Mr. Lofstedt? The emblem doesn't belong to the chamber. It belongs to Grandpa Gordon—it's the Quinnells' property.

However, once Wynter set the emblem in place, people began to notice something odd. The stone pillar seemed to align perfectly with the fish pond with a faint line between them. It only became visible when the light hit it, glowing with a golden sheen. It was as if the two had always been crafted as one.

"What's this?" The business tycoons present felt the previous geomancy rituals they had witnessed completely pale in comparison to the sight before them. No landscaping could ever measure up to this.

The cultivators exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with astonishment. Only now did they realize what the genuine Aquatic Awakening looked like, as compared to the one earlier.

In an instant, the entire atmosphere in the chamber transformed. It was as if the pond's stagnant waters had been infused with life. This was certainly a site of good omens!

"Mr. Nocturne!" Someone couldn't help but call out to Azrael. The latter stood frozen, staring at the scene before him. When his gaze shifted back to Wynter, his eyes were brimmed with shock.

Standing beside him, Kaspar burst into laughter. "Oh, Azrael, were you trying to lecture Wynter on geomancy? She might be a solo cultivator unaffiliated with any sect, but she's a natural at this!"

He gave her a thumbs-up of approval. Azrael, on the other hand, was at a loss for words.

Wynter stepped aside and said, "Lenny's already been dealt with. Mr. Nocturne, feel free to take another look. Is there just as much resentment as before?"

Azrael stepped forward and performed a quick divination. After he was done, his expression shifted dramatically. Refusing to believe the outcome, he performed another divination.

Meanwhile, Eric began inching backward with his hands moving in swift gestures, seemingly trying to contact someone.

"Stop wasting time. I want Tobias dead right now," he muttered. If one of the six Quinnell siblings was killed tonight, there was a chance to turn the tables!

…

At night, it was tough to find meals near the filming set. The best option was Sunrise Diner, located far away in the county.

"Tobias, since Rickey asked you to have a meal with him, I'll wait for you outside. There are more and more obsessive fans lately, so don't interact with anyone. Put on your mask and hat before heading in," Jacqueline advised solemnly in the car.

She had watched Tobias' journey to stardom from the very start and knew he had done it all on his own. Yet, the higher he rose, the more he had to be careful. One mistake could send him tumbling down into nothingness.

He nodded. "Got it, Ms. Jacqueline. I'll head in now."

With that, he opened the car door and headed into Hollerway Restaurant.

Meanwhile, not far behind the car, Chance Baldwin aimed his camera at Tobias' retreating figure, capturing shot after shot. A sly grin crept across his face as he looked through the pictures.

Not long ago, Luna had anonymously informed him that Tobias would show up here tonight. Half-doubtful, he had come to check it out. Sure enough, Tobias was here.