CH 54

While Gaynor was slowly changing, Xia Zuoyi went to meet the Rodney brothers and sisters who had been rescued by him earlier.

Rodney and his sister Nia were fortunate enough to witness the battle of the Gandamia Grand Canyon and to see Bruno Green killed.

He was grateful to Xia Zuoyi Desinia, and wanted to thank and repay him in person.

Rodney pleaded with the servant who took care of them, hoping to meet Xia Zuoyi.

After that, the servant asked one of the soldiers guarding the lord.

In view of the fact that there are too many things in Gaynor that need to be resolved as soon as possible.

Therefore, Xia Zuoyi hasn’t found time to meet them until now.

Rodney took his sister Nia’s hand and stood in the room with a nervous and uneasy expression. Opposite him was Xia Zuoyi.

Behind Xia Zuoyi stood two knight commanders, Fernandi and Walker.

He couldn’t help but carefully glance at one of the knight commanders.

Rodney has a particularly deep memory of the man who cut off Bruno Green’s head cleanly.

“L-lord, thank you for executing Bruno Green.”

Rodney took a deep breath and said, “I, I want to repay you…”

Xia Zuoyi looked at the young boy who was so nervous that he’s stammering and the little girl who held his hand tightly and showed the same expression. He said, “You don’t need to repay me.”

After all, he also has a reason to kill Bruno Green.

Rodney clenched his fist, “No, it’s more than that.”

“It’s more than that. You saved me and Nia’s lives. If it weren’t for you… I’m afraid Nia and I have long been killed by the knights…”

The person in front of him is the light that appears when he’s most desperate.

Rodney must also admit.

Even if he managed to survive with Nia by chance, facing Bruno Green, he had no power to take revenge.

However, when he was rescued, and when he woke up again, his enemy was stabbed in the heart and his head was cut off in front of his eyes…

The hot blood almost extinguished the flame in Rodney’s heart. The sprouting seeds of hatred were uprooted without leaving any ashes.

Life seems to calm down all of a sudden.

Rodney also seemed to have lost his goal and direction for an instant, and his life began to be full of confusion and uncertainty.

And Nia is still young, her only reliance is himself.

Rodney didn’t know what to do next or where should he and Nia go?

They have no relatives, no home.

He had to prepare for himself and Nia’s future survival.

Rodney wanted to repay Lord Desinia with something that would make the lord take him seriously.

Rodney plucked up his courage but still said in a small voice, “Can I talk to you alone?”

Xia Zuoyi knew clearly that he had a secret to tell himself, so he shook his head, “You can say it directly. There is no outsider here.”

Fernandi and Walker looked at Xia Zuoyi with gentle eyes.

The little lord is always so cute.

“Okay, okay.”

Rodney licked his dry lips and said, “Bruno Green knew I had something on my body.”

“It’s also because of this that he’s chasing me and Nia…”

Otherwise, Bruno Green wouldn’t give the knights an order “To take their corpses back after they’ve been dealt with.”

Rodney took a piece of cloth from his arms.

This piece of cloth is pink and laced with fine workmanship and clear patterns. From the style, it can be seen that it’s from a corner of a little girl’s skirt that was artificially torn off.

Xia Zuoyi couldn’t help but glance at Nia.

Nia had put on clean clothes bought by the servants.

But if he guessed correctly, this should be the cloth on the little skirt she wore when they were chased that day.

Fernandi took the cloth from Rodney and gave it to Xia Zuoyi.

Rodney: “You need to take this cloth apart to see the treasure map sewn inside…”

“Treasure map?!”

Xia Zuoyi raised his eyebrows in surprise. Is it a treasure trove with countless gold coins and gems?!

Is it really there?

Really?!

Xia Zuoyi was a little excited but he still maintained a calm expression on his face. He asked Fernandi to help him take the cloth apart.

Fernandi took it again, and the pink skirt was disassembled to reveal a piece of yellowish old parchment closely sewn inside.

“My lord.” Fernandi pulls it out and hands it to Xia Zuoyi.

After Xia Zuoyi got it, “…”

This picture of the hidden treasure is really a little bit abstract, like a child’s graffiti.

Although it can be seen that mountains are mountains, water is water, and trees are trees. But that’s just all of it. It’s just a plane picture with simple lines.

There are only a few scattered marks on the treasure map, but they’re all symbols of a peculiar style.

Perhaps the person who originally drew this treasure map didn’t want other people to find the treasure he painstakingly hid.

Otherwise, he guessed that Rodney’s family should’ve obtained this treasure map long ago, but it wasn’t found at all.

The biggest reason is probably that it’s incomprehensible.

Xia Zuoyi shook his head regretfully. It seems that his journey to explore treasure is gone.

So, he said to Rodney, who looked anxious, “There should be a lot of gold coins hidden in the final point of the treasure map.”

“I’m a little interested in this, but unfortunately, I already have the Thorns Chamber of Commerce. I now have a lot of money so I don’t need to waste my time…”

“No, please listen to me.”

Rodney hurriedly interrupted Xia Zuoyi, “Lord, this is not only a treasure map with gold coins and gems, there’s also a sea route map hidden in the final location.”

“It is said that it was drawn by the famous navigator Duke Bill himself.”

“Naturally, this treasure map was also drawn by him. All the treasures in it were found and brought back from other continents after he went out to sea…”

“What?!”

Xia Zuoyi straightened up in a rare gaffe manner. Frowning, he asked, “Other continents?! Did you say that Duke Bill has really been to other continents?”

He was able to leave the Western Continent?!

Rodney was a little frightened. He nodded his head, “Yes, yes, I heard my father say it’s like this…”

At the same time.

Xia Zuoyi called 098 in his heart, “What’s going on?”

“Isn’t it impossible to find the Eastern Continent no matter what? Now, why do you have a Duke Bill…”

098 comes out.

The two thin eyebrows on the stickman’s face are twisted together:【Host, 098 suggests that you inquire in detail. The continent he said should not be the Eastern Continent…】

【But even if it’s a nearby continent… There’s a high probability that you won’t be able to find it. Is this a bug?】

The stickman scratched his head with his little hand, very puzzled.

Xia Zuoyi asked Rodney, “Then do you know the name of the continent that Duke Bill went to? Did he go east or…”

“I’m curious about who he is. Can you tell me more about him?” 

Xia Zuoyi adjusted his facial expressions, appropriately showing some interest and doubts… There’s no rush to return the treasure map to Rodney.

Rodney breathed a sigh of relief.

He said, “Of course, lord.”

“This Duke Bill is a person from a hundred years ago. He was from Helgeda Kingdom. He’s very good at shipbuilding and has excellent swimming skills.”

“And he’s also a respectable nobleman.”

“Duke Bill’s dream is to one day leave the Western Continent and visit other lands. He thinks that there is a wider world outside the Western Continent.”

Xia Zuoyi listened intently. 

Rodney: “So, Duke Bill summoned all the shipbuilding experts in the Helgeda Kingdom at that time. He hoped to sail from the Abutin River into the Cogit Sea and leave the Western Continent in his own ship.”

“He succeeded.”

“The Dream set sail. Duke took countless crew and sailors and traveled for six years. Just after everyone thought that Duke Bill and his crew were likely to die, he came back.”

“But he was the only one to come back.”

“The Dream was damaged in many places and could only be abandoned in the harbor. Now it’s still in Helgeda and is regarded as the Duke’s relic.”

“People at that time said it was a miracle that Duke Bill could come back.”

“Because no one has reached other continents after him and those who wanted to go out to sea to hunt for treasures never returned… Over time, everyone’s enthusiasm has been reduced.”

Rodney said it with a look of regret.

Xia Zuoyi: “But there must’ve been a lot of people curious about where Duke Bill went, what happened to him, and what he brought back, right?”

Rodney nodded, “Yes, it can be said that all the people in the Helgeda Kingdom were curious, especially the king himself. He personally summoned Duke Bill for this.”

“But when Duke Bill came out of the palace, he immediately packed up his things and secretly left Helgeda. Because he didn’t tell the king the name of the continent he visited, naturally he didn’t say the route.”

“Duke Bill only said it was very dangerous at sea.”

“He was the only survivor. He knew clearly the loneliness and fear at sea. He hid all this and disappeared with all the things he had brought back from the mainland.”

Xia Zuoyi: “Since he doesn’t want anyone to know how to get to other continents, what’s the matter with this treasure map?!”

Rodney couldn’t help scratching his head and said, “My father said Duke Bill might still be unwilling to just bury everything in the past.”

“That’s why this treasure map was drawn. The sea route map to other continents is in the treasure…”

This treasure map belonging to Duke Bill was lost in the end.

After a hundred years of twists and turns, it came to Rodney’s father’s hand. No one knows where Bruno Green got the news and wanted to get it.

But what’s frustrating is that no one can understand this treasure map.

It is estimated that only Duke Bill can understand what he painted and where it is…

Rodney said, “Actually, Duke Bill’s stories are circulating everywhere, but it’s not as thorough as what my father knows…”

“My father was also lucky to get the notes he wrote at the time, which clearly recorded Duke’s story about the voyage.”

Xia Zuoyi couldn’t help looking at Fernandi and Walker.

They nodded. That was right.

Walker: “I’ve heard it since I was a child, but it’s just a story made up by a person. And there’s no treasure map mentioned in this story.” 

Otherwise, there would have been countless people looking for it.

Fernandi also nodded.

On the surface, Xia Zuoyi was shocked and pondering about it, but he was actually talking to 098 in his mind.

“This Duke may have indeed found a continent beyond the Western Continent.”

“Although the greatest probability is not the Eastern Continent, it’s also outside the scope of the Western Continent. Do you know what’s going on, 098?”

098:【According to 098’s analysis, Duke Bill should be very lucky to meet the “possibility” of 0.00001 percent probability, so that he can enter other continents after going to sea.】

【The host can understand that this “possibility” is a loophole generated after the birth of the novel world, that is, a bug. It cannot be repaired or searched.】

Xia Zuoyi: “…Did he get a lucky break? It’s amazing.” 

After sighing about Duke Bill’s good luck, he heard 098 talk about the probability problem. He didn’t want to take this matter to heart.

After all, he won’t have such an “opportunity to go to sea”.

However, 098 said at this time:【Host, this treasure map may be very important to you.】

“Why?”

【Because the maritime route map was drawn by Duke Bill himself, the “possibility” was given to it.】

【Following Duke Bill’s map, it’s absolutely possible to leave the Western Continent.】

Xia Zuoyi was stunned and there were waves in his heart.

098 continued:【Infrastructure construction in the host’s territory is underway, but hasn’t the host been worrying about how to increase food production recently?】

【Maybe you can find suitable grain seeds when you go out to sea. For example, corn and sweet potato originated from America, as well as potatoes, peppers, and cotton…】

【Even if there are no such seeds when you go out, 098 can also bring these as gifts for the host, as long as they’re brought back by sea transportation.】

Xia Zuoyi couldn’t help lighting up the bulb in his mind.

Yes, everything that isn’t on the Western Continent can be brought back by sea transportation!

This is undoubtedly a perfect excuse.

However, Xia Zuoyi looked down at the treasure map in his hand, slightly lowered his small eyebrows, and said in his mind, “But I can’t understand this.”

This map is one inspiration away from the abstract painting school.

The stickman patted his chest and said:【Host, there’s 098.】

【098 can convert the map in the system interface into two-dimensional mode. Through comparison and searching, similar terrain can be found quickly.】

Xia Zuoyi: !

Is there such a good thing?!

He couldn’t help saying, “Tongtong1, thank you for being here.”

He hasn’t left dad to travel, otherwise, he might have missed this really rare opportunity.

Two blushes shyly appeared on the stickman’s face.

098 quickly transformed the map into a two-dimensional model. The system contrasted quickly and finally locked the treasure location in Helgeda through the special shape and topography.

From this, Xia Zuoyi got a complete and detailed treasure map.

He sighed, “It turns out that after leaving Helgeda, Duke Bill returned and hid the treasure there quietly.” 

It’s said that the most dangerous place is also the safest because it’s dark under the light. That’s true.

But Helgeda is surrounded by the Abutin River.

Every landing port will be strictly inspected, and he… just defeated Bruno Green and Helgeda’s cavalry…

It’s not the right time.

He’s bound to be hated.

How to get to Helgeda is another serious problem.

At this moment, Udit knocked on the door outside.

He just went to take Briquette and Snowball out to get some air, but he returned because of something.

Xia Zuoyi let him in.

Udit said, “My lord, Helgeda sent envoys hoping to exchange money or whatever you need for our captured Helgeda cavalry.” 

Xia Zuoyi: “…”

It’s really a good time for them to come!

That’s great!

Helgeda must be a little angel sent by the God of Creation!

He wants to find an opportunity to sneak into Helgeda and steal the treasure. Only in this way can he be worthy of Helgeda’s touching sincerity.

Translator’s Note:

I hope you’re all having a nice day, everyone~ I’m actually stressing XD because my stock chapters are slowly dwindling but I can’t seem to will myself to continue translating hahaha. I actually took a week of break from any of my ongoing projects to maybe re-invigorate myself but I still yet to see the results of that XD. Anyway, it’s pre-scheduled again because I’m finding this such a wonderful addition in WP.