"You are!"
When Bob looked up and saw the man's face, he was so astonished he couldn't speak.
Kassahala, a famous American art collector and one of the richest men.
Bob didn't know why such a prominent figure would appear here, standing before him with just an umbrella.
But Bob couldn't afford to worry about that now. This was his golden opportunity. He quickly took out his magic disk and began to explain his expedition plan to Kassahala. Having learned from his previous attempts, he promised that this expedition would surely yield great treasures, all to persuade the man to sponsor his venture.
Listening to Bob's account, Kassahala's brow furrowed slightly. As a well-known figure in American high society, Bob's words, though seemingly enticing, struck him as quite unreliable upon closer inspection.
However, it didn't matter. His superiors had instructed him to deliver this fellow to a designated location, and he was simply to follow orders. The rest was not his concern.
Kassahala feigned deep thought and said, "Your expedition plan sounds very alluring, but at the same time, it carries immense risk. A single misstep could lead to a complete financial ruin for me, wouldn't it?"
"But sir, high risk often brings high reward. Believe me, if I can find the lost continent, all the investment made before that will be worthwhile."
Bob tried his best to explain and persuade Kassahala, but he was met with refusal.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Smith. Your expedition is indeed tempting, but the risk is far too great. A small fry like myself cannot bear the consequences of failure."
Seeing Bob's dejected expression and preparing to turn away, Kassahala quickly said, "Wait."
Calling him back, Kassahala took out a business card and handed it to Bob, saying, "While I may not have the capability, I know someone who absolutely does. Not only is he immensely wealthy, but more importantly, he shares your passion for adventure. Trust me, go find him, and you won't regret it."
Bob, who had almost given up, became re-energized upon receiving Kassahala's business card.
"Yes, yes, thank you so much! I'll go find him right away."
Tucking the card safely away and bidding farewell to Kassahala, Bob sprinted towards the address on the card.
After running for an unknown duration in the pouring rain, Bob finally arrived at the address on the business card: a sprawling estate.
He rang the doorbell, and an elderly voice responded from the intercom.
"May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Bob looked at the name on the business card and replied, "I'm here to see the owner, Mr. Mitterte, to discuss… to discuss investment in an expedition."
After Bob finished speaking, silence ensued from the intercom.
Just as Bob was anxiously awaiting a reply, the elderly voice sounded again, "Our master says you may come in."
With that, the iron gate creaked open. A few minutes later, a well-dressed old butler arrived at the entrance in a small car.
"Please come in. My master wishes to see you."
Getting into the car, Bob followed the butler towards the ancient castle.
From the moment he entered the estate, Bob's mouth had been agape.
Upon entering the castle, its furnishings made Bob realize what true nobility was. It was like Liu姥姥 visiting the Grand View Garden. To say nothing of other things, a single painting hanging on the wall was something he couldn't afford even if he were a teacher for eight lifetimes.
"Stay close to me, don't get lost."
The old butler led the way, with Bob following closely behind.
Just as the butler had said, the castle was as complex as a maze, and it would be easy for an unfamiliar person to get lost.
Fortunately, the path wasn't long, and they soon arrived outside a study.
The butler knocked softly on the door and announced, "Master, the person has been brought."
"Let him in," a deep voice called from within the study.
The butler nodded and turned to Bob, saying, "Master wants you to enter."
"Uh, okay."
Bob felt an inexplicable sense of pressure from the old butler and, not daring to be disrespectful, quickly entered the study.
Stepping into the study, Bob understood what a true study was.
There was a half-height wall, and except for the side with the door, the other three walls were lined with books. Perhaps fearing that they were too high to reach, a second level had been built in the middle of the study.
"You're here."
As Bob was still marveling at the sight before him, a voice reached his ears.
Following the direction of the sound, a middle-aged man appeared before Bob.
Before Bob could speak, the man spoke first, "You're the one who wants to discuss this so-called expedition plan with me? A fallen… teacher?"
Bob did not shy away from his status as a down-on-his-luck teacher; he readily admitted it.
"Yes, sir. I am a history teacher, and a teacher who was recently fired from the school. But that doesn't mean my words are not to be believed."
As he spoke, Bob took out his magic disk and pointed to the scribbled characters, saying, "Look, these characters do not belong to any known human civilization, yet they bear a striking resemblance to several ancient scripts. After my translation, it has been preliminarily confirmed that this continent exists. If we can find it..."
"Ogre script."
"What?"
Bob had intended to deliver a compelling speech to persuade this major benefactor to fund his expedition, but he was interrupted before he could finish. Moreover, what was "Ogre script"? He had never heard of it before.
Mitterte gently tapped a dark brick on the floor with the end of his cane. Then, the middle of the bookshelf behind them parted, revealing an ancient, old-fashioned elevator.
"Follow me."
Mitterte stepped into the elevator. Though Bob didn't understand what was happening, he quickly followed, taking two steps at a time, and entered the elevator.
Inside, Mitterte pulled down a lever beside him. The elevator creaked and groaned, sounding as if it might fall apart at any moment.
Thus, the two of them stood in the creaking elevator and descended underground.
Exiting the elevator, they found themselves in a world of its own.
Compared to the outside, this place exuded a profound sense of history, making one feel as if they had traveled back to the period just after the end of the Second Industrial Revolution.
The most striking feature here was the ridiculously large portrait hanging on the wall.
The portrait depicted a man in an explorer's outfit. His features were very similar to Mitterte's, but it was definitely not him, as the man in the painting bore a ferocious scar on his face.
Before Bob could speak, Mitterte looked at the portrait and said, "This is my grandfather, a great explorer and the pride of our entire family."
He then turned to Bob and said, "You know, you are not the first person to be fascinated by the lost continent."