Chapter 259: Chapter 249 I Have a Friend_2
"The Zhao Family?" Yan Xing thought for a moment. "I haven’t heard of them. What company do they run?"
Chen Shi smiled. "The companies directly controlled by the Zhao Family are similar to your Eternal Commerce and Trade. They might not seem large, but they have astonishing turnovers. Moreover, they hold shares in many large conglomerates; they’re the type of invisible tycoons. The Zhao Family members are usually very low-key, so ordinary people rarely come into contact with them."
Yan Xing took out his smartphone, placed it on the table, and asked Chen Shi, "Where is the Zhao Family’s private island located?"
Chen Shi wiped his hands, picked up the smartphone, and began searching on the satellite map. "It’s in the waters northeast of the Philippine archipelago... Here it is," he said. "It’s called Bolorobin Island."
After locating the Zhao Family’s private island, Chen Shi handed the smartphone to Yan Xing.
The island on the map was elongated, running north to south. Its east coast featured pristine white-sand beaches, while the central and western parts were covered in dense jungle. At the southern tip of the island, there was a port, a small airport, and a large villa was also visible.
Looking at Bolorobin Island on the map, Yan Xing asked Chen Shi, "Is the island really that big?"
Chen Shi explained, "Bolorobin Island formed during a submarine volcanic eruption a hundred years ago. The Zhao Family’s ancestors’ fleet happened to be passing by at the time and were the first to declare ownership of the island. Later, due to historical reasons, ownership of the island passed to the American branch of the Zhao Family. Originally, Bolorobin Island wasn’t so large; the volcano erupted periodically. The island has grown larger and larger with each eruption. Do you see those small islands and reefs around Bolorobin Island? They were formed during subsequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. It’s predicted that the next eruption could join these islands and reefs into one. However, it has been forty years since the last volcanic eruption on Bolorobin Island. You know, volcanic eruptions are unpredictable; it could erupt tomorrow, or it might never erupt again."
Yan Xing saw the volcano on Bolorobin Island in the picture; it was already completely covered with vegetation.
Aside from the volcano, Bolorobin Island met all of Yan Xing’s requirements for a Griffon breeding base. Its distance from the mainland would prevent Griffons from escaping. The presence of vegetation indicated fresh water, suitable for sustaining prey animals for the Griffons. The island was large enough to provide ample habitat for the Griffons. It was also well-suited for developing tourism.
Thinking of what Chen Shi had just mentioned, Yan Xing asked, "Did you say the island’s ownership is in the hands of the American branch of the Zhao Family?"
Chen Shi replied, "A hundred years ago, the world was in chaos. The Zhao Family knew not to put all their eggs in one basket, so they established branches in every country that could be called a great power at that time. It was decreed that the eldest legitimate son of the main branch of the Zhao Family in the motherland would become the head of the Zhao Family. Heads of the branches would take turns acting as spokespeople for the Family, managing the international family business together with the head of the main branch. Although ownership of Bolorobin Island is in the hands of the American Zhao Family, in reality, it’s jointly owned by the main family and the American branch."
Listening to the story, Yan Xing truly admired that ancestor of the Zhao Family. To have established branches among the great powers, and for them to remain one family a hundred years later... Impressive, indeed...
Yan Xing asked Chen Shi again, "Can the main branch of the Zhao Family make decisions regarding Bolorobin Island?"
Chen Shi responded, "They definitely need to negotiate with the American branch, especially since the American branch has been acting as the spokesperson for the Zhao Family branches in recent years. Mr. Yan, I’m not optimistic that the Zhao Family will agree to do business with you."
Yan Xing thought it over. Working with such an international family did hold risks, but the convenience was also obvious. Anyway, his foundation was in the Magic World, and his only current need was for Griffons. As long as the Zhao Family didn’t cross this bottom line, other benefits were negotiable.
"Who is the head of the Zhao Family’s main branch, and could you arrange a meeting between us?"
"The head of the Zhao Family’s main branch is Zhao Guotai." Seeing that Yan Xing was still interested in Bolorobin Island, Chen Shi said, "What kind of profitable business makes you so confident? If you want me to arrange a meeting with Zhao Guotai, you need to tell me what you want to discuss. Someone of his status isn’t easily met with."
Yan Xing gestured with his eyes to the documents on the table. "Have a look for yourself."
With the precedents of the agarwood and Earl’s red wine, Chen Shi was very eager to see what Yan Xing was about to show him. He wiped his hands once more, his heart filled with a sense of reverence. He wondered what kind of business Yan Xing had brought that would require the use of the Zhao Family’s Bolorobin Island.
But when Chen Shi opened the first page of the file, he almost gasped for breath.
"You... you’re joking, right?" Chen Shi turned to stare at Yan Xing, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Are you trying to scam the Zhao Family? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you! Besides, this... claiming you have an N-bomb would be more credible!"
Yan Xing continued eating, speaking nonchalantly, "If I wanted to scam the Zhao Family, I’d claim to have an N-bomb, not... this."
Chen Shi remained skeptical, but seeing Yan Xing’s composure, he couldn’t help but ask, "You mean... it really exists? That doesn’t conform to science, or to the theory of evolution!"
Yan Xing took out his phone, pulled up a video he had filmed of a Griffon, and handed it to Chen Shi. "There are many things in this world that don’t conform to science, and many species that defy evolution. In any case, this creature truly exists. You can take these videos and photos to be authenticated, but you must keep them confidential."
Chen Shi snatched the phone from Yan Xing’s hand to look at it.
Tong Yitong, who had been silent until now, couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Boss, what is it?"
Yan Xing handed the file to Tong Yitong. "Take a look for yourself. Taking care of them will be your new job."
Chen Shi stared dumbfoundedly at the video on the phone. It showed six Griffons frolicking in a field, with Yan Xing playing among them. The Griffons were clearly very fond of Yan Xing; they rubbed against him like oversized cats and even nudged him onto their backs, attempting to carry him.
One of the Griffons succeeded. It carried Yan Xing and ran swiftly across the grass, the other Griffons chasing and calling out behind it. The Griffon picked up speed and, at a certain point, suddenly spread its wings. Its wings flapped powerfully, and its four hooves gradually lifted off the ground. The pursuing Griffons also took flight.
In the video, Yan Xing rode the Griffon, soaring through the sky, with the other five Griffons flying alongside. The eagle-like screeches of the Griffons echoed continuously.
Chen Shi looked at Yan Xing in the video, his eyes filled with envy. He wondered what it would feel like to be riding a Griffon himself. As an auction house manager, Chen Shi had a certain ability to discern authenticity. Such footage couldn’t be computer-generated; even the most lifelike virtual imagery couldn’t replicate such realism. Unless this is some virtual technology I’ve never encountered before... Although he instinctively felt it was real, his rational mind struggled to accept what he was seeing.
The Griffon carrying Yan Xing soon landed.
Yan Xing said, "Strong Griffons can carry a person in flight, but not for long distances or very high. Next time, I’ll take you for a ride."
Before Chen Shi could respond, Tong Yitong exclaimed in surprise, "Griff... Griffons! Are these real? Aren’t they creatures from ancient European mythology?"
Seeing Chen Shi, who had finished watching the video, look over, Yan Xing picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth. "Regarding the origin of Griffons, I don’t know myself. Their existence in ancient European mythology suggests they were quite active in ancient times. These few Griffons were passed down by the ancestors of a friend of mine. For various reasons, these few remaining Griffons were on the brink of extinction. My friend didn’t want these magnificent creatures to become mere legends, so he entrusted me with six of them, hoping to use modern technology to save these disappearing Griffons."
Ah, the classic ’a friend of mine’ excuse. Yan Xing attributed everything to this ’friend’ who supposedly supplied the Earl’s red wine. A mysterious ancient European noble family, secretly breeding Griffons for generations... that should be a plausible enough explanation, right? Yan Xing maintained a perfectly serious expression as he spouted this nonsense.
A mixture of expressions crossed Chen Shi’s face. "What you’re saying is true? Your friend really gave you six Griffons? Where are they?"
Yan Xing replied, "Not ’given,’ but entrusted to me for breeding. My friend insists on retaining ownership of all Griffons bred; this is a non-negotiable condition for any potential partner. If they agree to this, I’ll let them see the Griffons, and then we can discuss the specifics of our partnership. If you have any issues with these projects in the future and you can’t find me, you can look for Miss Tong Yitong. She is now the caretaker I’ve appointed for the Griffons."