bookandnovel Chapter 73 Treasure Location: 2 Li East!!!
Chapter 73 Treasure Location: 2 Li East!!!
York practically rushed back to Evans Manor, not daring to waste a second, and headed straight for Leo's room!
That hot potato "treasure map" must be handed over immediately, both as a merit and as a talisman to get rid of Nia's entanglement!
The atmosphere inside the room was heavy.
Sirian frowned, her tone pleading:
"Do you... really have to go alone? Staying here, at least you're safe! We can..."
"Safety?"
Leo shook his head to interrupt, his voice tired but unusually firm.
"As long as I'm here, those 'black rats' will never leave this manor! How will you get to the meeting? Only if I leave alone and distract them can you arrive safely."
His gaze swept over Sirian's worried face. "This is the only thing I can do for you."
"But outside..."
"Alright!" Leo's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable determination, "I've made up my mind!!"
Sillian's lips moved slightly, her eyes filled with helplessness and worry. Her unfinished words were interrupted by a deliberately excited shout that suddenly rang out from outside the door:
"Senior Leo! Great news! Incredibly great news!"
York burst in, his face plastered with a fawning and self-satisfied smile, seemingly oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
His gaze was fixed intently on Leo.
"What good news?" Leo asked calmly, his gaze fixed on York.
"A treasure map! Senior! I've found an ancient treasure map!"
York presented the worn-out sheepskin scroll to Leo with both hands, as if offering a rare treasure.
"Look! The treasure is hidden not far from the manor! It's a golden opportunity!"
York's loud voice startled the apprentices in the nearby rooms, and many of them peeked out curiously.
"A treasure map?" Sirian raised an eyebrow, her tone filled with obvious doubt. "You... would have something like that?" She instinctively felt something was amiss.
York also had a question in his mind—why hasn't that Nia guy shown up to cause trouble yet?
But the die was cast, the words had already been spoken, and they absolutely couldn't let that brat Nia get involved anymore! So York forced an even more confident smile:
"Hehe, Senior Silian, luck is on your side! I spent all night figuring out the location! It's absolutely true!"
He deliberately ignored the curious or suspicious looks from the surrounding apprentices who rushed over after hearing the sound.
Leo took the parchment scroll, which felt slightly cool to the touch and bore the marks of time.
The moment his fingertips touched the reel, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible strange sensation entered his senses like the warm winter sun!
The scroll itself seemed to exude a sense of familiarity that made Leo feel very comfortable!
It is definitely not as ordinary as it looks!
Leo's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained unchanged.
He unrolled the scroll, his gaze sweeping over the seemingly bizarre route maps, and the shock he felt deepened!
"How is this possible?!"
Leo was deeply shaken, but he still asked without changing his expression:
Where did you get this treasure map?
Faced with Leo's question, York felt a pang of panic, but still maintained a calm demeanor and said:
"Senior Leo, I found this treasure map by chance, but I never knew where the treasure was, so I didn't pay much attention to it. It was only because this place seemed a bit similar that I studied it and realized the treasure was nearby!"
Leo didn't press further, but the hand holding the treasure map gradually tightened its grip!
"Good, York, you've done well this time! I'll carefully consider your suggestions along the way!"
"Thank you, Senior Leo. Look, shouldn't we hurry up? After all, we don't have much time here."
York was overjoyed to hear Leo's promise, and immediately suggested that Leo act quickly, because who knows what might happen if that Nia came!
"No rush."
Leo carefully put the parchment away, his expression returning to calm.
"I need to take care of something and double-check. Please wait here for me a moment. If the news is true... we'll head over together."
He stopped looking at York, whispered a few words to the worried-looking Sirius, and strode out of the room.
"A treasure map?! York, you're something else!"
"What incredible luck! They actually managed to find the place?"
"Tsk tsk, my family also has a few heirlooms, they're either fake or absolutely amazing! Your luck..."
Faced with the envious, jealous, or sour comments from the apprentices around him, York held his head high, his face full of pride and smugness, as if he were truly the chosen one.
As for why Nia didn't come to cause trouble?
He had long since forgotten about that guy. With the credit in hand and a bright future ahead, who cared about him anymore?
------
"Hmm? That happened more than two hundred years ago?"
Mr. Evans put down his teacup, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he were somewhat troubled.
"That was so long ago, the old man wasn't even born then, but..."
He changed the subject, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
"I looked through our Evans family's old almanac before, and it did mention that place... Well, the records do say that some 'abnormal fluctuations' occurred, but what exactly they were? It was vague and didn't go into details."
He raised his eyes, his cloudy gaze carrying a perfectly measured hint of doubt, and looked at Leo:
"Why are you suddenly interested in these old stories, kid?"
Leo was deeply shocked!
The "abnormal fluctuations" recorded in the family records and the "familiarity" of the parchment scroll instantly formed a confirmation in his mind!
He forcefully suppressed the overwhelming joy and excitement that almost spilled from his eyes, maintaining an extremely respectful demeanor as he bowed deeply.
"I merely heard some rumors by chance and, out of curiosity, came to ask you for confirmation, sir. Thank you for your clarification! I am deeply grateful!"
The old man waved his hand casually, as if he had only dealt with a trivial matter:
"It's nothing, go ahead."
Once Leo's figure disappeared outside the door, the old man's casual expression vanished instantly, replaced by a profound insight that seemed to know everything.
He slowly pulled open the hidden compartment at the bottom of the desk and took out a piece of paper that was old and yellowed, with even some tears on the edges.
The paper was covered with tiny, densely written characters, recording all sorts of trivial events that happened near the manor that year.
In short, all these words can be summarized in one sentence: Everything is as usual!!!
"It seems he ultimately had no intention of accessing the original records..."
The old man muttered to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, as if he had already foreseen the ending that would unfold in the distant canyon.
"So be it... let this page of the truth remain forever silent..."
---
"It really is true!"
Leo, upon returning, could no longer contain his elation! He slammed his fist into his palm!
The Evans family records and the blood-like intimacy brought by the parchment scrolls fit together perfectly!
This is no coincidence!
"Although I can't attend the exchange meeting, this opportunity is enough to make up for everything!"
A surge of excitement washed away the previous fatigue and heaviness.
Without further hesitation, he returned to his room and addressed the gathered apprentices in a loud voice:
"Gentlemen! The treasure map York brought is highly credible, according to my preliminary assessment! The treasure is located in a canyon twenty miles east of the manor! This is a rare opportunity, let's set off immediately!"
As for those "black rats" that are like maggots clinging to bones?
To prevent excessive casualties, the black and white wizards jointly stipulated that a safe zone would be established within a 30-mile radius of each neutral wizard.
Nia, mingling in the crowd, looked at York standing next to Leo and also revealed a cruel smile.
"Goodbye, York!!!"