"There are quite a few emperors named Philip III. Which one did I just pick?"
Jiang Hai casually flipped through Wikipedia on the hotel computer and spoke lightly to Moses Adams beside him.
Moses, however, was not as relaxed. Ever since Philip's men had left, he had been wiping sweat from his forehead.
He was utterly shocked by Jiang Hai—so much so that it left a deep impression on him. He never imagined that Jiang Hai would possess the armor of Philip III.
Online, there were various accounts of historical figures named Philip III, but only five major monarchs bore that name:
A king from the Argead dynasty in Macedonia
A king from the Capetian dynasty in France
A ruler from the House of Évreux
A duke from the House of Burgundy
And finally, the most famous one—the king of Spain from the Habsburg dynasty.
Based on expert analysis, this particular armor of Philip III appeared to be relatively new. After considering the historical and political context of that era, Jiang Hai made an educated guess.
When Europeans first occupied America, their primary goal was to exploit its resources, including manpower and gold. Compared to Europe, America had far richer gold mines. Asia also held vast reserves, but in the 16th century, Europeans lacked the strength to conquer Asian territories.
The Spanish colonists mined gold and naturally sent it to the Spanish emperor. While some gold was shipped directly, colonial governors also sought to curry favor with the monarchy in other ways—such as by commissioning elaborate gifts like this set of armor.
At the same time, merchants trading in Asia acquired two pieces of porcelain, which were meant to be sent alongside the armor. However, before they could be delivered, pirates intercepted and seized them.
The Habsburg dynasty was once a dominant force in Europe, ruling over both Spain and Portugal. Philip III was the son of Philip II and his fourth wife, Archduchess Anna of Austria. Though he inherited the throne, he lacked his father's political and military prowess.
Philip III was a devout Catholic, but unfortunately, his faith was the only trait he inherited from his father. He oversaw the decline of the once-mighty Spanish navy, ushering it toward its demise.
Philip II had foreseen his son's incompetence, predicting that Philip III would be manipulated by his court favorites. Time proved that prophecy correct.
History does not paint Philip III as a particularly controversial ruler—because he was largely ineffective. He indulged in the lavish pleasures of court life, squandering enormous sums on extravagance. His mismanagement left the Spanish Empire in ruins, and when he died in 1621, he passed down a crumbling nation to his successor.
In a way, he was a father who set his son up for failure.
Perhaps his only notable political contribution was his eldest daughter's marriage to Louis XIII, which led to the birth of Louis XIV—one of France's greatest kings. Beyond that, Philip III's legacy was one of decline.
Jiang Hai didn't care about Philip III's reputation, nor did it matter to him whether the man was revered or despised. What interested him was the armor itself.
As the visitors left, Jiang Hai pondered how to smuggle these treasures out. Running back and forth like the previous night was exhausting and inefficient.
After much deliberation, he had an idea—why not just use a boat?
Of course, an ordinary boat wouldn't do. Fishing boats were too conspicuous; the area he was working in wasn't known for abundant fish stocks, making their presence suspicious. If fishing boats were out of the question, then a yacht was the only viable option.
Renting one was also risky—security cameras on a rental could spell trouble. The safest choice? Buying a yacht of his own.
Fortunately, yachts ranged widely in price. While the large, luxurious ones were costly, mid-sized models were within reach. A quick search online confirmed that, in Miami, yachts were a hot commodity.
In fact, Miami had entire markets dedicated to selling them—just like certain regions in China that hosted exclusive gatherings for luxury items.
"Alright, I've decided," Jiang Hai muttered to himself. "I'll buy a yacht, live on the water at night, work in the depths when needed, and once everything is settled, I'll sail back to Boston. I mean, I'm a billionaire, and the fanciest boat I own is a fishing vessel? That's embarrassing."
He stared at the yacht listings on his screen, calculating the costs in his mind. Behind him, Moses Adams was also doing some math—but for an entirely different reason.
After dinner, Jiang Hai returned to his room and checked his bank balance.
When he first opened his Centurion card, he had $330 million. He had spent $280 million to purchase his estate, leaving him with $50 million.
Over the past six months, that money had dwindled—spent on cars, renovations, livestock, fish fry, and winery upkeep, not to mention payroll for Edward and the others.
Cattle alone had cost tens of millions, fish fry several million more. Even cars, though a minor expense, still added up. Taxes, participation in the New York Beef Show, and other miscellaneous costs had drained his funds.
Had he not sold millions worth of fish and found a stash of gold coins, he might have gone bankrupt. Thankfully, he had weathered the toughest period.
Now, his account balance sat at $27,314,559.37.
Ten million of that came from Pra Walton as a deposit for purchasing all his cattle. If she failed to complete the purchase within six months, the deposit was his to keep. If she did, the money would still be his—but as payment for the cattle.
Another five million came from Zhang Dehai. Though they were friends, business was business.
Qi Li had also transferred five million dollars, similarly as a cattle deposit.
The remaining seven million consisted of his original four million, plus an additional three million from recent transactions.
Over $27 million sounded like a lot, but Jiang Hai wasn't particularly concerned.
Once he sold his 10,000-plus cattle, his wealth would multiply fiftyfold. That was his true fortune. However, it would take another six months to sell them all.
But if he could auction off the armor for nearly a billion dollars, he'd instantly be free of financial constraints. Even after paying a 35% national tax, he'd still pocket $650 million.
The thought ignited his excitement.
"It's decided," Jiang Hai declared, slapping his bed.
The next morning, he announced his plan to everyone. Land-based entertainment was getting dull, so he was buying a yacht for some ocean adventures.
To maintain secrecy, only a select group would join him: Darlene, Marian, Aphra, and five other women. Moses Adams was not invited.
Moses didn't mind. He knew he hadn't yet earned Jiang Hai's full trust. He also suspected that Jiang Hai's real goal was retrieving the treasure he had mentioned before. While the exact location was unknown to him, just being informed about the plan was already progress.
Besides, when the time came for the auction, Jiang Hai would need his expertise. In the meantime, Moses was content to stay in Miami, indulging in fine dining and entertainment.
Still, he had an important task: arming Jiang Hai. Though the planned location wasn't far, unforeseen dangers could arise, and Jiang Hai needed to be prepared.
While Moses handled that, Jiang Hai took the women to Miami's premier yacht marketplace.
As soon as they arrived at the parking lot, Jiang Hai nearly cursed aloud.
This was the definition of a luxury car show.
Everywhere he looked, there were Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, Bugattis, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces, Maybachs, and Alfa Romeos.
Driving a BMW 7 Series or a Mercedes-Benz S-Class here was practically a joke. As for Japanese cars? Banned outright. The only exception was Lexus.
As Jiang Hai and his group stepped out of their car, young men lounging nearby took notice. Some even whistled at the women.
To them, Aphra and the others were likely just escorts. Even if they weren't, rich girls weren't impossible to charm.
Jiang Hai smirked in disdain. If they dared to test him, he'd have no problem teaching them a lesson.
His temper wasn't exactly gentle.
(To be continued...)