223: Chapter 223 A Fake Becomes Real? Wall Street Tycoons Can't Sit Still Anymore

Washington, a secret meeting room.

Sterling sat in the head seat.

Beside him were several executives from multinational energy giants who had just arrived.

On the projection screen, the photos of the notes Lin Zhou had sent over were enlarged.

The smoke in the room was choking; several ashtrays were already full, yet no one spoke.

Sterling stared at those photos, his eyebrows knitted into a knot.

"This is too absurd."

Sterling tapped his fingers on the table.

"We put so much effort into setting up this trap just to trick him into falling into it."

"And now you're telling me there's actually oil down there?"

"This is just too damn coincidental!"

Sterling's face was tense, his jawline set tight.

"I don't want to believe it either."

"But senior experts from the British Museum privately showed me the appraisal results."

"The paper material of that notebook, the binding craftsmanship, even those specific iron gall ink corrosion marks..."

"There isn't a single point of doubt."

Sterling pointed to a section of enlarged text on the screen.

"Look here."

"These are the latitude and longitude coordinates recorded by that explorer."

"Although ancient measurement methods were used, after computer conversion..."

"This coordinate area is right near the border between Bir Tawil and Sudan."

An executive from an energy giant carefully scrutinized the hand-drawn geological map in the photo.

His expression grew more serious by the second.

"Mr. Sterling, putting aside the question of authenticity for a moment."

"Just looking at this geological cross-section, the person who drew this is a true expert."

"This kind of interlocking structure of igneous and sedimentary rocks is indeed an excellent environment for forming sealed oil and gas fields under certain special geological conditions."

"If someone truly discovered this kind of terrain in the nineteenth century..."

The executive paused, and his tone lowered significantly.

"I judge that there is an oil field with staggering reserves there."

The few people in the meeting room exchanged glances; they could hear each other's heavy breathing.

If this was a coincidence, then the coincidence itself was enough to make one's skin crawl.

Sterling irritably tugged at his tie.

"The problem now is that bastard Lin Zhou already believes it!"

"He even skipped the bargaining phase and directly threw down fifty million dollars!"

"According to the intelligence we've received, the Cyber Free Republic is urgently contacting several heavy industry enterprises in China."

"They're preparing for a large-scale procurement of deep geological exploration equipment!"

Their original plan was to use a fake map to trick Lin Zhou into throwing the national treasury's money into the desert for nothing.

Now, look what happened.

If there really is oil underneath.

Not only did they fail to trap Lin Zhou, but they also gave him a lead to a fortune for free!

This was practically more painful than being killed.

"He must be stopped!"

Sterling slammed his palm on the table with a loud 'bang'.

"If the Cyber Free Republic really manages to turn things around with this oil field..."

"Our future strategic layout in Africa will be completely ruined!"

Sterling pressed his knuckles hard against his temples, trying to suppress his surging anger.

"The key now is to determine the authenticity of that notebook."

He connected to Arthur's encrypted channel.

"Arthur, listen."

Sterling spoke into the microphone, his tone devoid of any warmth.

"Your current mission is to visit Lin Zhou again under the guise of an antique enthusiast."

"I want you to take a miniature hyperspectral camera and photograph every page and every detail of that notebook!"

"If complete geological data is found in the notes..."

"Buy it at all costs!"

On the other end of the phone, Arthur gripped his mobile; his knuckles turned white from the force, and his hand couldn't stop trembling slightly.

Have him go back to find Lin Zhou?

Yesterday he was still playing the role of an arrogant noble on the phone, and today he had to shamelessly go back and beg to see something.

Wasn't this walking straight into the line of fire?

But he had no right to refuse.

His massive gambling debts and Sterling's ruthlessness left him with no choice but to bite the bullet and keep acting.

The next morning.

Arthur put on that sophisticated three-piece suit again.

He practiced his expression in the mirror several times until his facial muscles weren't so stiff.

He arrived once more at the temporary headquarters in the Beijing Suburbs.

Standing outside the main gate, he swallowed a few times to calm his heartbeat.

The security guard stopped him.

Arthur steadied his hand and handed over his business card.

"Please tell Mr. Lin that Earl Windsor has a matter of extreme urgency and requests an audience."

Ten minutes later.

Arthur was led into a small reception room.

He waited for a full half-hour before Lin Zhou finally arrived.

Lin Zhou was wearing a casual shirt today, his whole face glowing with health—the kind of spirit one only has after coming into a windfall.

"Oh, Earl Windsor."

Lin Zhou strode in and sat down across from Arthur.

"Wasn't the money already transferred to you? How do you have the time to visit me?"

"Could it be that fifty million wasn't enough to spend, and you want a bit more?"

Every word from Lin Zhou dripped with teasing and uncontrollable smugness.

Arthur's mouth twitched as he squeezed out a strained smile.

"Mr. Lin must be joking."

"The transaction is complete, and I am naturally very satisfied."

"It's just..."

Arthur rubbed his hands together, adopting the posture of a fanatical collector.

"The photos you sent me yesterday kept me awake all night."

"As you know, we old-money nobles have a morbid obsession with historical documents."

"If that notebook is truly the relic of my grandfather's companion..."

"It would hold great significance for our family."

Arthur looked directly at Lin Zhou, making his explanation sound as sincere as possible.

"I hope to see that notebook with my own eyes."

"Even if it's just for a glance."

The smile on Lin Zhou's face faded.

He leaned back slightly, scrutinizing Arthur.

"Earl Windsor, that's not just a cultural relic."

"That's a state secret I put a lot of effort into obtaining."

Lin Zhou's fingers drummed on the tabletop.

"The contents within concern our country's future energy strategy."

"It wouldn't be appropriate to just show it to an outsider, would it?"

Arthur quickly stated his position.

"I will only check the material and authenticity; I absolutely won't copy any content!"

"Furthermore, I am willing to pay a substantial 'viewing fee'."

He pulled a pre-prepared million-dollar check from his pocket and pushed it toward Lin Zhou.

Lin Zhou didn't even lift an eyelid.

This reaction made Arthur's heart sink even further.

The more he maintained this posture, the more likely the things in that notebook were real.

Lin Zhou fell silent, his knuckles rhythmic tapping the table as if he were calculating something.

After a full five minutes, he finally nodded reluctantly.

"Fine, for the sake of the sentiment from you giving me that map."

"You're only allowed ten minutes."

"No photos, no taking it away."

Lin Zhou turned to look outside the door.

"Jack, bring the item in."