The Wizarding World's Forbidden Book Administrator

Chapter 495 The Inherited Item

Chapter 495 The Inherited Item

Although as a family that has ruled this land for thousands of years, it would be incredibly easy for them to control every move in an arena.

However, no one would associate spices with weapons.

Moreover, Leo could tell from John's tone that he had a special fondness for spices.

Leo was inevitably wary.

John seemed to notice Leo's reaction, and he smiled. "Oh! Don't be nervous. Spices have been sold in my territory for a long time, so it's not surprising that I know about them. Besides, I've heard that all spices originate from you."

When Leo signed the contracts with the representatives, he did not include a condition that his name could not be revealed.

In fact, if Leo wants to expand his business, he needs to make his name more well-known.

How did I put it again? Right, the celebrity effect.

But upon hearing John's words, Leo couldn't help but speculate.

Could it be that the price this holy city lord paid to Leo was spices?

For example, could he get a share of the profits from his spice business?

This is undoubtedly Leo's biggest pain point.

He had gone to great lengths to open up sales channels for the spices, so how could he just stand by and watch the other party take away the profits without lifting a finger?

Leo tried hard to control himself so as not to let his murderous intent slip out.

There was only Leo in this study; assassinating him shouldn't be a big problem.

But this massive castle will be Leo's greatest enemy.

He would likely find it difficult to escape quickly after the assassination, and might even get lost.

Just as Leo was lost in thought, John interrupted him: "You're daydreaming, young man."

Leo shuddered.

"It is said that merchants are meticulous about every penny. This only mentioned your situation, yet it has thrown you into confusion. Even though you were reduced to a gladiator in the arena that day, you remained calm throughout."

Upon hearing this, Leo immediately composed himself: "Lord of the Holy City, please forgive me, but please tell me clearly, what exactly do you want me to do for you? Why are you telling me these things?"

“I told you, I haven’t said a single word of nonsense,” John said. “This is all related to the task I’m entrusting to you.”

"But I'm more confused than ever now," Leo said, frowning slightly.

John picked up a square piece of yellow fruit from the fruit bowl on the coffee table.

Its appearance was very moist, and John made a crisp sound when he chewed it, which led Leo to conclude that this fruit must have a unique flavor.

John, however, maintained an elegant demeanor throughout, proving himself worthy of a family with a thousand-year history.

Are all Justinians so elegant and handsome?

John leaned back in his chair. "I thought you were more patient than I expected. Well then, I'll put it bluntly."

Leo nodded, thinking to himself that he should have done so a long time ago.

"It all started when spices were introduced to Sunfire City."

John's first words made Leo's heart clench: "The Uncrowned Castle naturally bought this expensive condiment first, and it was because of its existence that I learned about the secret hidden in my family."

"A secret?" Leo frowned in confusion.

"As I just mentioned, our family's ancestor, the Scarlet Prince, Ferdinand Justinian. Have you heard of him? He was the greatest navigator of all time."

Leo shrugged: "Some say the title has already changed hands."

"Hmph! You mean that pirate? The Navigator was indeed powerful, but how can a pirate be described as great? Besides, the Navigator is already dead, and I was one of the commanders in that demon-slaying battle. So, the Navigator ultimately fell to Justinian."

Looking at John's slightly upturned nose, Leo simply nodded in response.

It is said that, in order to put an end to the legend of the navigator, the allied forces dispatched hundreds of ships.

There was only one navigator, but in the end, the allied forces paid the price of losing hundreds of ships.

Leo really doesn't think there's anything to be proud of in such a record.

John continued, "You may have heard the story of how Ferdinand, after becoming king, actually went back onto the deck?"

"All I know is that he seized the throne," Leo answered honestly.

“People always only remember the glory,” John shrugged. “All you need to know is that Ferdinand eventually went to sea and never came back. But there’s something that very few people in the world know: Ferdinand’s wife, Gaia, was also a navigator, and she once sailed out to sea to find her husband.”

"She didn't come back either?" Leo asked.

"No, she came back, and she brought back a map and a stone, which have been passed down in our family to this day."

"Stone?"

"At first I also thought it was a stone," John suddenly squinted, "but it wasn't until I accidentally spilled the liquid I was mixing with spices on it that I realized it wasn't a stone at all, but an—egg!"

Leo's curiosity was piqued: "What egg?"

"Bird eggs, or more precisely, parrot eggs," John's expression instantly turned serious. "The moment the eggs hatched, a bird I didn't recognize emerged. From birth, it had lush feathers, though the feathers were bluish-gray."

"That's not surprising; bird feathers can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes."

"But the problem is, the bird feathers are made of the same material as stone!"

Upon hearing this, Leo was suddenly jolted.

A parrot with stone-like feathers—Leo blurted out, "A stone-skinned parrot?"

"My herald says so too, but the legendary Stoneskin Parrot is said to be larger than a mountain. Therefore, it may just be a young Stoneskin Parrot, or something like a worker ant."

Leo couldn't help but ask, "And then?"

"Like other strange birds, this stone bird could speak, and from beginning to end, it only conveyed one message to me."

"Passing on a message?" Leo asked, puzzled. "Whose message?"

"Ferdinand Justinian, the Scarlet Prince, my ancestor!" John exclaimed, spreading his hands. "This is a dialogue across space and time, and I am the one chosen by the spirits!"

"But shouldn't you tell me this kind of thing to an outsider?" Leo asked warily.

“I need your help, so I must explain this to you clearly,” John quickly regained his composure. “In short, Ferdinand used that bird to tell the descendant who could hatch that parrot that the time was right to go and find him.”

"Looking for him?" Leo's face was full of question marks. "But the Crimson Prince has been dead for a thousand years. Where are you going to find him?"

John grinned: "You forgot, I just said that his wife Gaia went out to sea to look for him, and she brought back not only a strange rock, but also—"

"—A map!"

Leo instinctively took over the conversation, his jaws agape in shock.