?Chapter 1717:


    The sharp-minded ones had already begun quietly scavenging every scrap of information they could find about Christina.


    “I swear it’s all true… She isn’t just an art conservator—she’s also a top-tier sharpshooter, an elite racer, a gifted fashion designer, a boxing titleholder, a master pianist, and a legendary gambler…” someone blurted out.


    Those who uncovered the information immediately passed along her many identities for everyone else to see. The guests who had only just recovered from their initial shock were struck speechless all over again.


    “Is she even human? I can’t wrap my head around it. How could one person possibly be that extraordinary?”


    “Standing next to her makes me feel utterly useless. How can anyone be that absurdly talented?”


    “Are these identities even legitimate? Or were they bought? Does someone like that actually exist?”


    Noticing the atmosphere beginning to spiral out of control, Violette finally pulled out her phone. Secondster, her face drained of color—everything she feared had just been confirmed. That woman truly was Magnus’s mentor, and on top of that, she possessed an astonishing number of identities.


    How could anyone possibly aplish so much?


    Had those titles been scattered among different people, Violette might have been able to ept it. But seeing them all belong to a single person made her feel as though her entire world had just copsed.


    “Impossible. This ispletely impossible,” Violette muttered, her voice unraveling. “How could a human being excel at everything and reach the pinnacle in every field? I refuse to believe it.”


    Having a gift for painting and earning recognition from a handful of master artists had once filled her with immense pride. She simply could notprehend how one person could be wless across every discipline. What humiliated her most was that she had genuinely believed she could crush Christina, grinding her beneath her heel. Now, that confidence felt like a cruel joke.


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    Violette’s mind drifted back to the moment she had proposed the wager—and how Christina had epted it without the slightest hesitation. In Christina’s eyes, she had probably been nothing more than a joke from the very beginning.


    “Miss Hewitt, your limitations define no one else’s,” Ronald said coldly, his expression devoid of warmth.


    But when he turned toward Christina, his demeanor shifted at once, blooming into an eager, almost boyish smile.


    “Miss Jones, may I ask whether you’re still open to taking on another apprentice?” A faint flush crept into his cheeks as he gathered the nerve to speak.


    He had just gone through her extensive list of identities. It didn’t matter what role he yed—as long as he could attach himself to her guidance, it would be worth it. She was young, yet she carried countless titles and excelled in every single one. This was the very definition of a prodigy beyond prodigies. Rank and seniority meant nothingpared to genuine ability; true masters were defined by skill alone.


    Once again, all attention converged on Christina. The room fell intoplete silence, everyone holding their breath for her reply.


    Violette clenched her teeth, simmering with resentment, the jealousy inside her burning so fiercely it felt ready to devour her whole. What made Christina so exceptional? Why were these highly respected elders so desperate to call her their teacher? They had to be out of their minds, shamelessly offering themselves as apprentices to someone so young.


    Watching the stark contrast in how Ronald treated her versus Christina, Violette’s jealousy surged violently. She cursed inwardly, convinced the old fool must have gone blind.


    “Mr. Burton… this doesn’t seem entirely appropriate,” Christina said, her hesitation evident.


    “What’s inappropriate about it? We value talent, not age. Besides, if Magnus can be your apprentice, then so can I—and I’m even younger than he is,” Ronald answered quickly, making his position clear.


    He couldn’t afford to let such an opportunity slip away. Anyone capable of mastering so many fields and excelling in all of them would undoubtedly be formidable in the world of appraisal as well. Perhaps she was a hidden grandmaster within the appraisal circle itself.


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