Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 871 Expert?

Elia, on a bustling commercial street in the city center.

Hu Ming was holding his phone and talking to someone.

On the other end of the phone was a well-known local linguist. Although Hu Ming had relevant linguistic knowledge, all such information had to be submitted, so he still needed to confirm the accuracy of the content.

"Mr. Hu Ming, where did you get that picture you sent me?"

The old professor asked urgently.

Hu Ming chuckled and reassured him, "Professor Transtan, please calm down. Before I answer your question, I must first ask you, can you understand the mysterious writing in the picture?"

"certainly!"

Professor Transtan emphasized this confidently over the phone.

"This is the script of the Golden Kingdom. There are no more than three people in the world who can accurately decipher it, and I am one of them."

The old professor spoke with an air of arrogance as he finished.

Hu Ming smiled knowingly: "Very good. In that case, I'll pay you a visit in person. I'll bring you the source of this picture."

Upon hearing this, Professor Transtan was overjoyed and patted his chest.

“Very good, that’s it. My home is in the upscale area of ​​downtown Elia. When you get here, look for the most conspicuous white detached villa; that’s my home!”

Hu Ming nodded and said softly, "Okay, I'll be there within ten minutes."

He hung up the phone and looked ahead along the roadside.

Across the street lay Elia's much-criticized wealthy neighborhood.

This downtown commercial street divides the city in two, creating two distinct areas.

The slums to the east and the opulent upscale neighborhoods to the west are like heaven and hell separated by a thin line.

Hu Ming strode towards this paradise...

A moment later, following the address given by Professor Transtan, he arrived at the white detached villa.

An elderly Western man with gray hair was waiting here with his bodyguard.

Hu Ming stepped forward and tentatively greeted him, asking, "Professor Transtan?"

The old professor shook off the burly black man behind him, eagerly stepped forward, and demanded something from Hu Ming with his arms outstretched.

"Where is that thing? Let me see it!"

Hu Ming glanced around and smiled at Professor Transtan.

"Professor, it's not convenient for us to talk about this here. Let's go inside your room and discuss it in more detail!"

Transtan frowned and said reluctantly, "Fine, you're just an overly cautious Eastern boy."

He waved his hand forcefully, reminding him, "Come with me, let's go into the living room to talk!"

Hu Ming glanced at the burly black man who had followed him. The man was over two meters tall, and his imposing figure made him appear like an iron tower, which was quite intimidating.

"Please come with my master!"

The burly man with the iron tower grinned at Hu Ming, who was staring at him, and gestured for him to go inside.

Hu Ming nodded and followed Transtan, who was leading the way, into his messy villa.

As soon as he entered the hall, he couldn't help but sneeze violently from the swirling dust inside.

"What a pungent place!"

Hu Ming thought to himself, then looked up and around.

The living room was filled with all sorts of old books. After Transtan walked in, he went to the coffee table and forcefully pushed all the heavy books piled on it off the table.

"Come here, come here! Put the text from your picture on this coffee table so I can take a closer look!"

The elderly professor, who was passionate about academic research, pushed up his reading glasses and gave instructions with great interest.

Hu Ming took the golden manuscript out of his pocket and carefully placed it on the coffee table.

Transtan's expression changed drastically upon seeing the golden manuscript.

He turned around and looked at Hu Ming in astonishment, then pointed at him and exclaimed in surprise, "You little rascal, did you go to the forbidden island?"

Hu Ming had no intention of hiding anything and spoke frankly about his experience.

"Professor, you really have a keen eye. That's right, this golden manuscript is the one I retrieved from this forbidden island."

Transtan looked at Hu Ming with a hint of admiration.

He gave Hu Ming a heartfelt thumbs-up.

"Good lad, you really are skilled and daring. This forbidden island is a dangerous place where there is no return. You actually managed to go in alive and come back alive. That's truly remarkable."

Hu Ming shrugged and gave a wry smile.

"It was just pure luck; most of my companions who went with me are gone forever."

That's truly unfortunate news!

Transtan said apologetically, but his gaze couldn't help but drift towards the golden manuscript in Hu Ming's hand.

"Can I take a look at this first?"

The old professor nervously swallowed and asked earnestly.

"certainly!"

Hu Ming smiled generously and casually handed over this priceless treasure.

Transtan carefully took the golden manuscript with both hands and then gently placed it on the coffee table.

He took out his eyeglass cloth, quickly wiped the magnifying glass beside him, and then picked it up to carefully study the mysterious text on the golden manuscript.

Seeing the professor looking at it so intently, Hu Ming also stepped forward to take a closer look.

Transtan's trembling fingers traced the golden manuscript as he spoke, his lips quivering.

"The legend is indeed true! This golden manuscript records the route to the Golden Kingdom!"

"Yes, it truly is a land of gold!"

Hu Ming nodded upon hearing this.

He leaned closer to the old professor and asked expectantly, "Professor, what does this 'Golden Country' mean?"

Transtan looked up at him in surprise and asked, "You, an Easterner, don't know that it's the legendary land of Gold mentioned in Marco Polo's records?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Ming couldn't help but shake his head with amusement, saying, "Hasn't it already been proven by experts that Marco Polo's account was entirely fabricated by him?"

Transtan shook his head vigorously and said angrily, "What kind of bullshit is that? Marco Polo may have lied in other places, but this is the only thing he said that was true."

"Um?"

Seeing his resolute expression, Hu Ming couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"Could there really be a golden kingdom in this world? That's just too outrageous!"

Transtan looked up and gripped his shoulders tightly with both hands, emphasizing.

"The Land of Gold truly exists, and the golden manuscript you brought is proof of that?"