Chapter 339: Cheers! Victory!

"One last question: why didn't you show the map to others before? Someone might have recognized it and invested in you!"

"Or are you afraid that if others see the map, some adventurer will beat you to the treasure?"

Columbus hesitated for a moment, then reached into his chest.

A moment later, a fist-sized bundle of linen appeared in his hand.

Unwrapping the linen, he revealed a piece of ancient leather.

"Noble Young Master, this is why..."

Columbus handed the leather to Gervas.

Gervas took it and stared—both sides of the treasure map bore maps.

Most importantly, the maps on either side had no connection to each other.

On the front side, the map showed the continent of Glory, extending into the sea.

But on the back, it extended from the ocean to a place called Holy Continent.

"Holy Continent?"

"Yes, Noble Young Master. I didn't show the map because the back might conceal something of even greater value!"

"Our continent has long held legends of a more wondrous world beyond the sea."

"I thought: if I keep this secret, once I find the six thousand gold coins and claim my share, I'll have enough to buy my own ship!"

"Then I'll sail along the map's path, trying to find this new land called Holy Continent."

"If I find it, my name, Columbus, will be remembered forever alongside the great pioneers!"

As he spoke, a rare light shone in Columbus's eyes.

Clearly, discovering a new continent and gaining lasting fame was Columbus's highest ambition.

But soon, his expression darkened, and he sighed sadly: "Unfortunately, during a previous expedition, I had an accident—I encountered a rare sea beast!"

"Without my ship, I sought funding, but nobles thought the investment too great—either they refused outright, or demanded to see the treasure map first."

"But I feared they'd discover the secret on the back, so I refused to show them the original."

"Instead, like the descendants of that earl's family, I made my own copy to show them—but they'd never been to the region I described, so they didn't believe me!"

After speaking, Columbus fell silent, watching Gervas—his eyes filled with cautious hope and anxiety.

"Actually, even if you showed this map to others, most wouldn't believe it—they'd likely dismiss the entire treasure map as a forgery!"

Columbus froze, then his face flushed red and pale. After a long silence, "It seems I was too arrogant! Indeed, the land across the sea is just a legend—and many have used this legend to swindle people!"

"So my fear of revealing the secret may have only made it seem like a crude fraud."

Columbus seemed hollowed out, as if his soul had been drained.

Not only did he think Gervas would no longer fund him.

He realized his stubbornness had been a joke all along.

Perhaps even if he'd shown the map to others earlier, no one would have funded him.

Few would believe Holy Continent was real.

Gervas knew the man had misunderstood, and smiled: "Don't misunderstand—I don't believe them, but I believe you."

"You... believe?" Columbus stared at Gervas in disbelief.

Gervas waved to Migen beside him; Migen immediately brought a small wooden treasure chest.

Opening it, a hundred gleaming gold coins blinded Columbus's eyes.

"This is one hundred gold coins—enough to buy supplies and recruit crewmen, yes?"

"As for the ship, once you've gathered supplies and men, go to the address on this note—I'll give you a single-masted sea vessel myself!"

"This..." Columbus froze.

The other adventurers and drinkers around them also froze.

This noble young master had actually chosen to fund Columbus.

"Why?" Columbus clenched his fists, forcing down his excitement as he asked Gervas.

"No reason—just instinct tells me I can trust you. Maybe this is your fate: meeting me, your benefactor!" Gervas gave no further explanation.

After all, without the system, he wouldn't have dared bet a ship and a hundred gold coins.

Of course, Gervas also believed the land across the sea existed.

After all, his own three-masted sailboat had been found washed ashore.

Whether it was Holy Continent or some other land didn't matter.

What mattered was that Gervas didn't mind helping him while reaping sufficient profit—and having him explore the world's hidden secrets.

"Benefactor!" Columbus had never heard such a word before.

But after repeating it twice, he realized: yes, this man truly was his benefactor.

"Enough. The matter's settled. I have other business. Come, let's drink—to your success before you even set sail!"

Columbus raised his crystal cup with trembling hands and clinked it against Gervas's.

"Cheers! Victory!"

Columbus, echoing Gervas, said: "Cheers! Victory!"

Then both drank deeply. Gervas rose, told Migen to pay the bill, and prepared to leave.

"Noble Young Master, may I know your name?"

As Gervas was about to depart, Columbus suddenly whispered.

Though the note likely contained this information, Columbus wanted to hear it from his lips.

"I'm Gervas." Gervas answered, his voice audible only to those nearby.

"Gervas!"

Columbus silently repeated the name.

At that moment, Gervas remembered something and called out loudly to the room: "These gold coins are my funding for Columbus's expedition."

"Whoever dares covet them is coveting my wealth—and whoever covets my wealth, hmm..."

Gervas didn't finish, but the adventurers and drinkers suddenly felt a chill down their spines.

Those who had been staring greedily at the hundred gold coins quickly looked away.

As previously stated:

If it were a minor noble, offending him was no great loss—you could simply avoid Iron Wolf City in the future.

But offending a great noble? Unless you planned to never return to the Kingdom of the Griffon, you'd better not.

"Let's go." Seeing their reactions, Gervas knew there'd be no trouble.

With a command, he and his knights and cavalry stormed out of the tavern, magnificent and imposing.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

Outside the tavern, a series of hoofbeats rang out.

As seasoned adventurers, they immediately recognized at least fifty mounted riders.

"Who... whose young master is this?"

"No one knows his family, but he's definitely from a marquis's house—and likely the heir or a favored son."

"Even among great noble sons, having fifty guards is rare!"

Amid the murmurs, everyone looked at Columbus with envy.

This man had truly been blessed by the gods—chosen by such a noble scion.

"Lord Columbus, congratulations! Would you like a dancer to keep you company?" The servant sidled up eagerly, his eyes fixed on the glittering gold coins as he swallowed hard.

"Hmph! Wait until I return from my expedition!"

Columbus knew this was his only chance to turn his fate around—he couldn't afford to slack off.

He sneered at the servant who had once tried to drive him out, grabbed the wooden chest full of gold, and walked out of the tavern.