The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (宝石商リチャード氏の謎鑑定)

It's been half a month since I started working at Étranger.

I'm responsible for odd jobs...

and preparing royal milk tea the way Richard taught me.

Bonjour.

Comment allez-vous?

Je suis Richard.

Hao jiu bu jian.

Mama obava dae aekima mage gauravaya.

Ana'atatalae liruyatik maratan ukhraa.

A French woman, a Chinese man, and an Arabian... king?

Just how many languages does he speak?

Richard, I've never seen clothes like that up close before.

Isn't he hot in that?

Seigi, do you remember our agreement?

Our agreement?

I know I went over it with you when I hired you.

You will exhibit no prejudice based on race, religion,

sexual orientation, nationality, nor any other criterion,

and you will not speak in a discriminatory manner.

That was it!

No pointing at people.

Sorry.

Be mindful that you aren't rude to our customers.

Yes, sir.

Also...

Don't be stingy with the tea leaves.

Sorry.

Episode 2 The Ruby's Truth

Welcome.

Hello. You're open, right?

Do I need an appointment?

The manager is a foreigner?

Welcome. What can I do for you?

Your Japanese is quite good.

Thank you.

I'm the owner, Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian.

I'm... Akashi Mami.

Now, what can I do for you?

I'd like you to appraise this.

If I may...

A lot of rubies are warmed up, right?

You're talking about the process known as heat treatment, yes?

I'd like you to determine if this ruby has been heated or not.

In that case, you'd like me to valuate only the ruby and not the diamonds?

Yes, just that.

Understood.

Request Form Name: Akashi Mami Phone Number: 080-660-5674 Address: Tokyo Metropolis Koto City Hashishita 8-20-703

Well, then, I'll contact you once I have the results.

Thank you.

She seemed to be in a hurry.

This is the ruby, huh?

It's so red.

It's the color of the speck of blood you see in chicken.

Is that a joke? Or do you actually know what you're talking about?

What do you mean?

"Pigeon blood."

Pigeon... blood?

Yes.

It's a term used to describe rubies found only in certain mines in Myanmar.

They're of the highest quality and the brightest red.

But if you said that without knowing...

Good for you.

Good... What?

Was that a compliment?

Thank you.

Oh, she forgot something!

I'd better take it to her.

Seigi...

I'll be back!

There she is.

Ma'am!

Ma'am!

Here. You forgot this.

Thank you.

Um... Are you all right?

Did you find Akashi-san?

She was making the face my grandma used to...

She was acting a little strange.

Her request was also a little unusual.

Huh?

It's rare for someone to ask if a gemstone has been heated or not.

What's this about heating?

Heat treatment.

In the case of rubies and sapphires,

heating them brightens their color.

Really? So there's a chemical reaction.

Yes. Now it's time for a little quiz.

Between a drably colored unheated ruby and a clear red heated ruby,

which is more valuable?

This one's prettier, but... the unheated one?

Too bad.

What?

Its beauty is what matters.

Most rubies on the market are heated.

Really?

That said, when it comes to pigeon blood rubies,

the natural, unheated gemstones are more expensive.

However, suppose a ruby was discovered after a death in your family.

Would you be worried about whether or not it had been heat-treated?

No. It's still a valuable gemstone.

That's right.

It's rare for people to care,

and even rarer for them to come ask about it.

Then why did Akashi-san?

In general, people are concerned about the value of gemstones

when numbers are more important than the memories.

Numbers, huh?

What's wrong with it?

Seigi-kun, good morning.

Good morning, Tanimoto-san.

That's a mineral encyclopedia, isn't it?

Are you into gemstones, Seigi-kun?

I work part-time at a jeweler's. Right now, I'm researching heating.

Not that you'd care anything about that...

Heating what kind of gemstone?

Huh?

Beryl? Quartz? Or corundum?

Um, uh... Rubies.

Corundum, then.

Rubies and sapphires are called corundum in mineralogy.

Oh, sorry!

I was the president of the mineralogy club in high school.

It's certainly strange for someone to care

if a gemstone's been heated or not.

Really?

It can make a gemstone worth ten times as much, though.

Wow...

Wait, that much?

If they intend to sell it, it makes sense.

The owner said the same thing.

If there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

I really appreciate it.

I'd love to learn more about gemstones, but I don't know where to start.

Gemstones are great.

After all, every single gem is one-of-a-kind.

There's such romanticism to them, regardless of grade.

How cool...

Huh?

Oh, nothing. You must really like them.

Oh, there I go again.

Once I start talking about gemstones, I just can't stop.

Sorry.

For what? I'd love to hear more.

Really?

Of course.

Thanks.

Then let's chat again sometime. Later!

You forgot to get her number again.

Please, wait!

I know she came here.

Please break it off with Mami-san!

My name is Homura.

Homura Trading, Ltd. Subsection Chief Homura Takashi