"Hey, Jiang, how's it going? My lucky manor owner, are you interested in my treasure map?" Seeing Jiang Hai crouching and rummaging through the items, the big man couldn't help but smile and squat down with a smug expression.
"Yes, I am a little interested. Are all the treasure maps here real?" Jiang Hai casually sifted through the sea charts in front of him. After all, he owned a fishing ground and had some knowledge of sea charts. Although he wasn't as skilled as a navigator or captain, he could still understand the basics.
"Of course! You can doubt my things are fake, but you can't call a great Nordic pirate's legacy fake. These maps were brought from Northern Europe by my great-grandfather. They cover not only the Caribbean and shipwreck routes but also the Atlantic and European seas. They're absolutely authentic." Hearing Jiang Hai's skepticism, the big man responded, a little annoyed.
"Come on, the only one here with Viking blood is Edward Anderson, and he's working for the young man in front of you. If old man Anderson knew you were bluffing his boss, he'd probably knock some sense into you." Just as the big man was getting defensive, a man sitting nearby couldn't help but laugh and chime in.
Jiang Hai recognized the man—he was a regular fish trader and a resident of Winthrop. They'd crossed paths often, and this man was currently selling various small items, including books.
"Hey, Soran, if you weren't tearing me down, I would've invited you for a drink tonight. But now, no wine for you," the big man said, a little exasperated.
"No, Jiang, to be honest, this guy's family is from Europe, and his sea charts are real. But unfortunately, someone already bought them. They are authentic, but not salvageable. So, if you just want a sea chart as decoration, this is a good option." Soran quickly added, after being reminded of the wine.
For fishermen and sailors, nothing was more attractive than women and, second only to that, alcohol. The monotony of the sea could drive a person mad, and sometimes, getting drunk was the only escape. So, many fishermen—about 90%—were alcoholics. Although Soran feared Edward Anderson, the pirate descendant, his love for a good drink outweighed any fear of the legendary pirate.
"Why are the sea charts real but can't be salvaged?" Jiang Hai asked, curious.
He had initially planned to leave since these sea charts seemed meaningless to him. But after hearing this comment, he paused.
"Because they're too deep." Before the two could elaborate, a voice suddenly came from behind Jiang Hai.
He turned around to find Bob George, the owner of the horse farm where Jiang Hai had purchased his horse. Compared to Bob, Jiang Hai was more familiar with his daughter, Delia, who was trailing behind him.
"Hello, Jiang. I heard you're doing quite well at the New York Beef Show lately, making a lot of money," Bob said, approaching with a smile and a friendly hug.
This time, he seemed even more enthusiastic than before. After all, no one would turn down a billionaire, and he was eager to cultivate a connection with someone of such wealth.
"Hello, Mr. George. How have you been?" Jiang Hai responded, returning the smile.
"Ha, still the same." Bob George chuckled, glad to see Jiang Hai remembered him.
Delia, who was observing Jiang Hai, was curious. Initially, she hadn't thought much of him—she had no particular fondness or dislike. But when she learned he was skilled at ball games, she became interested in getting to know him. However, Jiang Hai never called or texted, so she quickly lost interest. Now, with her college entrance exams approaching, she was considering alternatives. She wasn't planning to go to a traditional college—community college seemed like a good option—and she didn't want to spend her time working at the horse farm.
However, seeing her father's enthusiastic greeting, Delia wondered if connecting with Jiang Hai, the billionaire, might open up opportunities.
"You said his sea charts are real but can't be salvaged because they're too deep?" Delia asked, keen to learn more.
"Well, this guy's grandfather was one of the first Europeans to reach the American continent. He's a descendant of pirates. His grandfather was sent here because of piracy. Ninety percent of the sea charts he brought are real. His father used them to make a fortune," Bob George explained, chuckling. "This isn't a secret in Winthrop. Many people know about it."
Bob went on to explain that the man's father had used these sea charts to trade for substantial sums with various dignitaries. The charts contained valuable shipwreck locations, which had brought his father considerable wealth. Unfortunately, the father was an alcoholic and gambler, and after his tragic death in a car accident when the man was just twelve, the shipwrecks proved impossible to salvage. The wrecks were located too deep, and although submarines were used to explore, it was too costly to recover anything of value.
At depths of 8,000 to 10,000 meters, even salvage operations from the UK, with all their resources, had only been able to recover from wrecks at 4,800 meters. At these extreme depths, the cost of salvage far exceeded the potential value of the treasure.
As Bob George finished his explanation, the big man opposite smiled awkwardly. There was no denying the truth of what had been said, but Jiang Hai was intrigued. While most couldn't dive to such depths because of water pressure, Jiang Hai wasn't concerned about that. He didn't need to breathe and had no fear of deep-sea exploration. He just needed to ensure his safety. And though he couldn't make use of the charts immediately, they could prove useful in the future.
"I want one of each of the charts you have," Jiang Hai said suddenly, after a brief pause.
"One of each? What do you need them for? If you want them as collector's items, you should get the real ones. These are just copies," Bob George said, confused by Jiang Hai's request.
"Oh, I just thought it would be fun to display these on my boat and take some pictures. I'll send them back to China; it'll be a conversation starter. Now, what's the price for these copies?" Jiang Hai said nonchalantly. The charts weren't of immediate use to him, but the treasures they led to might be.
"Ah, the hobbies of the rich are always different," Bob George said with a laugh. "If you have time, come by my horse farm sometime. I've got some great horses for sale."
Though Bob George seemed to feel slighted by Jiang Hai's disinterest, he let it slide with a polite remark before leaving with his daughter.
Jiang Hai, however, wasn't interested in pleasantries. He focused back on the man selling the charts.
"How much for all of them?" Jiang Hai asked seriously, pulling out his wallet.
"Hey, brother, all 17 charts for just one Franklin—it's all yours," the man said with excitement, clearly thrilled by the sale.
Jiang Hai wasn't shy. He handed over a hundred dollars, taking the 17 charts. He couldn't wait to get back to Robbins and start studying them. The treasure was still out there, waiting to be found.