Mercenary Wars

Chapter 265 Thorium Pound

After hearing Professor Bertrand's words, Gaucano pondered for a moment and replied, "Besides genealogies and edicts, what I dug up in the County of Lorraine also included things like armor and weapons..."

Professor Bertrand then asked, "Did the secret cellar contain records of Rodden Shackleton's deeds?"

"Yes."

Where is the secret cellar?

Bertrand's questioning tone was clearly agitated.

Gao Jiano first gave the address, and then quickly added, "Well... I only found out afterward that the land where the secret cellar is located is actually Princess Sara's property."

Upon hearing this news, Professor Bertrand was initially taken aback, but then calmed down, frowned, and remained silent for a while.

Christine's words seemed to explain his silence: "What can we do? It's not easy to buy things from Sarah."

Gaugano added, "And it's rumored that Princess Sara bought the land on the advice of a fortune teller—at a high price."

Professor Bertrand rubbed his forehead: "Looks like I'll have to talk to Oliver about this."

He then looked at Gao Jiano and changed the subject: "Can I see the other things you found in the secret cellar?"

Gao Jiano naturally agreed and immediately took out several boxes from his storage ring, placed them on the ground one by one, and opened them.

The box contained all the treasures he had looted from the secret cellar. Roden Shackleton's knightly equipment was particularly eye-catching, with its mottled rust seemingly telling the story of the Shackleton family's initial glory.

Professor Bertrand rose from his seat, walked to the box, and knelt down to carefully examine the artifacts, occasionally exclaiming, "Hundreds of years have passed, I never thought these things would be found again..."

Christine also crouched down to examine it, and was about to pick something up.

"Wait a minute," Professor Bertrand interrupted.

Christine looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Professor Bertrand then flicked his finger, and with a flash of light, a thin film of light immediately covered Christine's hands, like a pair of gloves woven from light.

“This is basic archaeological literacy!” the professor emphasized solemnly. His tone was as serious and authoritative as if he were lecturing a student. “Artifacts can be very fragile, and any improper handling can cause irreversible damage. As a member of the Shackleton family, you should learn how to properly handle these precious heritages!”

Christine pursed her lips and said nothing.

After a while.

Professor Bertrand stood up and said to Gaucano, "These things are very important to Shackleton. If possible, I would like to buy them. What do you think... five thousand gold coins?"

That's really five thousand gold coins.

Pierce's valuation was quite accurate.

However, this is already a price significantly higher than the market price, and no one else besides the Shackleton family would offer the same price.

Therefore, Gao Jiano did not haggle and immediately agreed, "Of course."

Professor Bertrand nodded and took out a bag of silver coins from his storage ring.

Gao Jiano was taken aback.

silver?

Professor Bertrand guessed his question and explained with a smile, "This is a silver pound, fifty pounds in total. According to recent market prices, it should be worth more than five thousand gold coins."

Gao Jiano suddenly realized.

The truly wealthy prefer to use silver pounds as the currency for large transactions.

One silver pound is roughly equivalent to one hundred gold coins.

However, since the Holy Gold Society has no control over the production of thorium, the exchange rate of thorium pounds is not as stable as that of gold, silver, and copper coins, but rather fluctuates relatively significantly.

According to Gaucano, the exchange rate between silver pounds and gold coins was approximately 104. In other words, fifty silver pounds could be exchanged for five thousand two hundred gold coins.

Gaucano accepted fifty pounds of serpentine. Although the serpentine pounds were made in the shape of round coins, they were not decorated with any patterns; they were simply round ingots. After all, serpentine is too soft, and even if patterns were engraved, they would be difficult to maintain. Furthermore, adding any other components would be tantamount to contaminating this precious metal.

Professor Bertrand hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Could you tell me where you got the location of the secret cellar?"

After thinking for a moment, Gao Jiano finally shook his head slightly: "If I reveal the source of the information, it may not be a good thing for the reputation or kinship of the Shackleton family."

This is true.

Pierce, a member of the Shackleton family, is now a ghost, a fact the Shackleton family would never want to hear.

A large family has many friends, but also many enemies. If someone were to try to hold the Shackleton family accountable for this, the Shackleton family would likely have to put aside their own kinship for the greater good.

In addition, Gaucano's statement was also a hint.

After all, from a legal standpoint, digging up things at the Princess Manor is ultimately unacceptable. To prevent the Shackleton family from using this as leverage against him, he needs to have something of equal value in return.

Professor Bertrand, as the chair professor of Orsini, had dealt with all sorts of mysterious things for decades and vaguely guessed a few possibilities. In the end, he nodded without asking any further questions, but gave Gaucano a deep look, as if he was reassessing the young man.

He concluded by saying to Gaugano, "You have helped the Shackleton family rediscover their lost historical heritage. On behalf of all Shackletons, I thank you. May the light be with you."

Gaucano replied politely, "It is my honor."

"Are you a student of Laziville?" Professor Bertrand asked. He sat back down in his chair, his posture even more approachable than before.

Christine then interjected, "Gaucano is Laziville's most talented student!"

Professor Bertrand looked somewhat surprised.

Gaucano waved his hand somewhat awkwardly: "No."

After a while.

Gaucano and Christine left Professor Bertrand's office.

After walking a short distance, Christine first looked back, then leaned closer and whispered, "Where did you find out the location of the secret cellar? Can you tell me? I promise I won't tell my uncle."

Gao Jiano shook his head: "I don't think anyone in your family wants to know this news."

Seeing his firm attitude, Christine, though still looking curious, hesitated before asking further and instead changed the subject, saying, "I told you, my uncle is a very old-fashioned person."

As she spoke, she flicked her fingers, and the magic Professor Bertrand had cast on her hand was still faintly glowing: "It's as if I could break the armor just by touching it with my bare hand!"

Gaucano glanced at the magic in her hand and suddenly had an idea: "But this magic looks quite beautiful. You might be able to incorporate it into your opera."

Christine's eyes lit up: "Great idea!"

She flicked her fingers again, and in the soft light, her slender fingers seemed to be weaving a dance.

"Gaucano, you really are a genius!" she couldn't help but say.

The two talked for a while, and finally parted ways at a fork in the road.

After saying goodbye to Gaucano, Christine intended to go back to rest, but then seemed to remember something and suddenly turned a corner.

"Miss, where are you going?" the guard asked.

Christine: "Go find Professor Anthony."

The guard was still puzzled: "Professor Anthony?"

Christine explained, "Didn't Gaugano say that Princess Sara bought that land because she listened to the advice of a fortune teller? The most powerful fortune teller in Ax City, and even in the entire Kingdom of Sein, is Professor Anthony. Maybe it was him who gave the princess the idea."

(End of this chapter)