My Manor

"Oh my God, what should we do with all this?"

Aphra and the others stared at the bed of gold, silver, and jewelry spread before them, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Some covered their mouths, overwhelmed by the sheer value of the treasure. They knew these things were priceless, and Jiang Hai's hoard was beyond estimation.

Though curiosity about its origins lingered in their minds, they chose not to ask. Their trust in Jiang Hai was absolute—even if he had stolen these riches, they wouldn't have doubted him for a second.

Snapping out of her daze, Aphra turned to Jiang Hai. "So, what do we do now?"

"Sort them," Jiang Hai instructed, dusting off his hands after tossing the last bag of treasure onto the pile. "Put coins of this color in this box, these in another, gems in this one, pearls in that one, and everything else over here." He surveyed the glittering heap before him, speaking with calm precision.

To be honest, there was an overwhelming amount of treasure, but the variety was limited. Gold coins, silver coins, fragmented gems, pearl necklaces, and ornate decorations filled the pile. There was a golden belt studded with gemstones, a dagger with a gold handle inlaid with a precious stone, and other intricate trinkets.

Yet, in the grand scheme of things, such items were rare. Gold and silver, while valuable, weren't practical materials for weapons or armor—their softness made them unsuitable for battle. It was why, in old movies, people tested gold and silver's authenticity by biting into them. If even human teeth could leave a mark, what chance would they have against swords and spears?

So, while a few decorative pieces stood out, the majority of the loot was composed of hard currency—gold coins.

"Got it." The group quickly snapped back to reality and began sorting the treasure into the five designated boxes.

As expected, gold and silver coins made up the bulk of the hoard, but they were ironically the least valuable due to their abundance. Pearls, on the other hand, had lost much of their worth since artificial cultivation became common. Only golden and black pearls retained significant value in today's market.

Jiang Hai had only a few dozen pearls large enough to be considered rare. If he sold them as ordinary pearls, he'd be taking a huge loss. Yet, if he marketed them as antiques, their worth still wouldn't compare to the gems beside them. At best, they held value equivalent to gold coins—not enough to concern him.

The saying "strength in numbers" only applied when dealing with limited quantities, but Jiang Hai had no shortage of treasure here.

By the time he finished bringing everything aboard, it was already past three in the morning. Sorting the loot took far longer than expected. Thirteen people worked tirelessly, and by the time they packed everything away, it was well past eleven. Jiang Hai had initially hoped to finish by eight, but he had clearly underestimated the task.

As Aphra and the others stretched their tired limbs, Jiang Hai—who hadn't slept all night—also felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.

"Here, pick one." He gestured toward the collection. "Consider it your salary—don't refuse."

He knew he couldn't give them what they truly wanted, but material rewards were the least he could offer. During a previous appraisal, it was estimated that any gem in this stash was worth tens of thousands of dollars. He wasn't stingy about giving them away—these women were loyal to him, and besides, he had nearly dragged them into a dangerous situation beneath the sea.

"No need! Just take us out to have fun, and we'll be happy." Dina Taylor waved her hand dismissively.

To her, Jiang Hai had already done more than enough—bringing them to Miami, providing food, accommodation, and entertainment. Helping him with work was part of their job, and, more importantly, their loyalty to him wasn't based on material wealth.

Jiang Hai shook his head. "This is payment for your work. One each—if you don't pick, I'll pick for you."

Aphra hesitated briefly before smiling. "In that case, we'll accept. Jiang has so much, anyway."

Her radiant face, illuminated by the sunlight, made Jiang Hai momentarily lose himself in admiration. Realizing he was staring, Aphra shyly lowered her head. Jiang Hai quickly regained his composure.

"Alright, you heard her. Pick the biggest and best ones." He grinned, making sure everyone took part.

To make sure no one refused, he even placed a large gemstone directly into the hands of the youngest, Janice Joy. At that, everyone finally relented.

Dina chose a pink gem, while Hilda picked a yellow one—a color that symbolized royalty in the East, making it significantly more valuable there than in the West. The others selected their favorites, with Janice ultimately opting for a striking ruby. Even Darlene and Marianne, who had joined in later, couldn't resist picking one each.

No matter their age, women were like magpies—drawn to anything that sparkled.

Finally, Jiang Hai picked out a heart-shaped ruby for Aphra before closing the box.

Their earlier exhaustion seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by excitement.

"You've all worked hard. Now, let's cook something, eat, and get some rest. We'll return to the ship tonight." Jiang Hai announced.

A chorus of agreement followed. They were more than ready to eat and sleep.

Together, they prepared a meal of seafood porridge, fresh bread, and a hearty beef stew. The simple but satisfying meal filled their stomachs, and soon after, they all drifted off to sleep.

Jiang Hai, meanwhile, took a final count of his inventory. He'd let Phillips' people handle the specifics.

By the time he woke up, it was already four in the afternoon. Still groggy, he called Moses Adams, instructing him to notify Phillips' team to come collect the goods. At the same time, he started up the yacht, preparing for the return journey.

This time, after the auction, he had no intention of flying back—he would sail home. After all, he had bought a yacht; it would be a waste to leave it behind.

Besides, he had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time he'd need it. He still had plenty of sea charts to explore.

Moses, who had been sleeping comfortably in his hotel, bolted upright at Jiang Hai's call. Hastily shoving a sleepy escort out the door, he threw on his clothes and got to work.

Phillips' people wasted no time responding. Whether it was the millions of dollars in jewelry or the rumored armor Jiang Hai had mentioned, these items were invaluable. Security teams mobilized immediately—armored vehicles, helicopters, and a restricted docking area ensured maximum protection.

The dock manager, who had previously witnessed Jiang Hai purchase the yacht, was stunned to see Phillips' people involved.

"The goods are inside. Handle them carefully." Jiang Hai said casually as he secured the boat and stepped onto the dock.

The head of the Phillips security team, a man of either Latin American or Middle Eastern descent, perked up at his words.

Under Aphra and the others' guidance, the five boxes were carefully carried off the yacht.

(To be continued…)