187: Chapter 187 Getting the Out of the Box

The next morning, Li Xin did not go out.

He slept until past nine o'clock before waking up, lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling. The ceiling was made of wood, carved with patterns, and its color had darkened with age.

He got up, washed his face, and went downstairs.

Surendra was busy in the dining room and bowed slightly when he saw him.

"Good morning, Mr. Li. Breakfast is ready."

There were several items on the table: fried eggs, toast, fruit, yogurt, and a pot of tea.

Li Xin sat down and poured a cup of tea. The tea was Indian black tea, with milk and sugar added; it was sweet.

Halfway through the meal, Surendra brought over a plate. On the plate were a few round cakes, golden-brown in color and smelling quite fragrant.

"Dal Baati Churma, the most traditional way of eating in Rajasthan. Served with saffron yogurt, it is the favorite of the maharajas."

Li Xin took a bite. The cake was hard but fragrant when chewed. Eating it dipped in yogurt, it was sweet and sour, with a very unique taste.

"Not bad. Surendra, how many years have you stayed in Jaipur?"

Surendra thought for a moment.

"Forty-five years. I have been guarding this courtyard for twenty years."

"Then you must know many 'special' guests."

Surendra smiled slightly.

"What would Mr. Li like to ask?"

Li Xin put down his fork and looked at him.

"Have there been many foreign guests in the old city recently?"

Surendra's smile faded. He looked around; there was no one else in the dining room. He lowered his voice.

"To tell you the truth, in the last six months, several groups of foreigners have come to the old city. There are Europeans, Americans, as well as Japanese Military people and Koreans. They don't stay here, but I know where they are staying."

"Do you know what they are here for?"

Surendra's voice dropped even lower.

"I don't know the specifics, but I heard they are here to look for something. Rumor has it that there is a Mughal Treasure Trove under the ancient fort. It was brought back from Delhi by Maharaja Man Singh back then. They are probably treasure hunters."

Li Xin feigned surprise.

"A Treasure Trove? Interesting. With such strict control here, can they find it?"

Surendra shook his head.

"I think it is impossible. The ancient fort is watched by the military, there are so many tourists during the day that they have no chance to act, and there is a Patrol Team at night. Besides, the older generation says the ancient fort is guarded by 'something,' and not just anyone can take it."

"Oh? There is actually such a legend? What is guarding it?"

Surendra hesitated for a moment.

"I can't say. It's just... something mysterious. In the past, some people went in at midnight and heard strange sounds. And some people never came out after entering."

Li Xin nodded and did not ask further.

After finishing breakfast, he went upstairs and sat in the study. He opened the system panel.

"AI System, Scan the range of Jaigarh Fort and the surrounding fifty kilometers. Mark out the scattered secondary Treasure Trove locations."

[Scanning. This will take a few minutes.]

He waited. Outside the window, birds were chirping. The fountain in the courtyard was making a sound, the water noise was not loud.

A few minutes later, the System popped up a line of text.

[Secondary Treasure Trove data complete. Scattered gold coins hidden by soldiers, estimated at 200 kilograms, located in the abandoned barracks on the west side of the ancient fort. Silverware in the abandoned outpost, estimated at 600 kilograms, located about three kilometers north of the ancient fort. Underground compartment on the outer perimeter of the ancient fort, estimated at 400 kilograms, located about five hundred meters outside the east wall.]

"Soldiers' hidden stash? From what era?"

[Signal characteristics point to the British India period in the late 19th century. Suspected to be buried privately by British soldiers.]

"Take the main Treasure Trove first, then mop up the secondary ones after the main one is done."

[Understood!]

Li Xin closed the panel and leaned back in his chair.

200 kilograms of gold coins, 600 kilograms of silverware, 400 kilograms in the underground compartment. It doesn't add up to much, but it's still worth a lot of money.

At noon, Surendra served a few more dishes. Mutton curry, grilled fish, and vegetable fried rice. They all tasted quite good.

Li Xin ate slowly, thinking while he ate.

He didn't go out in the afternoon. He read for a while in the study and then lay down for a while.

After dinner, he sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. The fountain was making a sound, and the water spray was glistening under the lights. There were stars in the sky, not many, just sparse dots.

His phone vibrated. Liu Mo sent a message: "There is movement in the direction of the ancient fort."

"What kind of movement?"

"Three military trucks drove in through the side gate. They have been inside for twenty-five minutes. Two of them just came out, empty."

"Empty?"

"Confirmed. The cargo beds were not covered by tarps, so I could see they were empty. The third one is still inside."

Li Xin thought for a moment.

"Not transporting the Treasure Trove. It is a routine inspection, or perhaps probing."

"Probing what?"

"Probing to see if anyone is approaching the ancient fort. Keep watching, but do not get close."

"Understood."

He put down his phone and continued to sit there.

About an hour later, the phone vibrated again. Liu Mo sent a video.

He tapped to open it; the screen was very dark, but clear enough to see. On the open ground outside the ancient fort, several vehicles were parked. There were three motorcycles, one Land Rover, and two people standing there.

There was sound in the video, not loud, but clear enough to hear. Someone was cursing in Hindi, with a rough voice.

"This is our place! Get lost!"

Another voice, in English, with an accent.

"Yours? Do you have a permit?"

The Hindi speaker cursed again, even worse.

"No need for a permit! This is India's Treasure Trove!"

The English-speaking voice turned cold.

"Get lost. Otherwise, I will help you get lost."

In the video, a person walked out from beside the Land Rover, holding something in their hand. The light was too dim to see clearly.

The motorcycles started up and rode away. The two people also left.

The video ended.

Liu Mo sent another message: "The group of Eastern Europeans, I found them."

"What is their background?"

"They are from Georgia. They took a job on the dark web, hired to find the Treasure Trove. I haven't found the backer, but the price offered is not low."

"Are they professional?"

"Professional. All five are veterans, skilled in using equipment. Thermal imaging, metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, they have it all."

Li Xin thought for a moment and replied.

"Keep watching. Do not make contact."

"Understood."

He turned off his phone and stood up.

The courtyard was very quiet. The fountain was making a sound, the water rushing.

He stood for a while, then went upstairs.

Lying on the bed, he opened the system panel.

Two hours left on the cooldown.

Midnight, action.