14: A treasure map worth forty-five dollars

No sooner said than done; Lin Feng was never one to procrastinate.

As soon as the livestream ended, he immediately dove into researching William Kidd's treasure. Opening his computer, a search for 'Captain Kidd's treasure' instantly brought up a massive amount of information.

Legends, stories, speculations... they were everywhere. But soon, Lin Feng discovered a strange phenomenon: treasure maps regarding this legendary pirate seemed to be... everywhere?

"Holy crap! Brother Feng, look at this!" Wang Dalong pointed at a travel website, his jaw nearly dropping. "Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston is openly selling replica versions of Captain Kidd's treasure map for 45 dollars a roll, with free shipping across the US!"

Lin Feng saw it too.

It sounded ridiculous—clues to a legendary pirate's treasure being sold as cheaply as tourist souvenirs. Yet, countless sources pointed to one fact: the most widely circulated treasure maps on the market all originated from Boston.

"There's definitely something fishy going on here." Wang Dalong rubbed his chin, looking like a master detective. "Either these maps are all fake, or... the real secret is hidden right inside this pile of fakes, hiding in plain sight!"

"Whether it's real or fake, we have to go," Lin Feng decided. "On the contrary, I'm certain these treasure maps... are real. They're just so abstract that no one can understand them."

"Alright! Get the visas and plane tickets done, move fast."

"You got it!" Wang Dalong rubbed his hands excitedly and immediately started checking flights.

Lin Feng's visa process went exceptionally smoothly. Within just two days, the two of them boarded a flight to Boston, USA.

As the plane traveled through the sea of clouds, Lin Feng leaned against the window with his eyes closed to rest.

He could clearly 'see' the skill icon named [Proficiency in Minor Languages (Passive)] in his mind, glowing with a faint light.

Although it was only a 100-day trial version, the pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary of countless languages felt like built-in muscle memory, naturally integrating into his knowledge base without the slightest awkwardness. This gave him a bit more confidence for the upcoming trip abroad.

At the same time, their movements were transmitted through the invisible network to the intelligence center of the "Eternal Hand" without a second's delay.

"Target has taken off, flight UA888, destination Boston Logan International Airport."

"Received. Phase one initiated. Notify the Caribbean branch to stick to him like flies."

...A dozen or so hours later, the plane landed smoothly.

As soon as they stepped out of the airport, a cool breeze carrying the scent of the salty sea air hit them. Lin Feng and Wang Dalong didn't dally, taking a taxi straight to Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

This was Boston's oldest marketplace; the red brick buildings exuded a sense of history, and the streets were bustling with crowds.

Without much effort, the two found the legendary treasure map in a souvenir shop flying a Jolly Roger flag.

"This is it?" Wang Dalong picked up a roll of imitation parchment and shook it, caught between laughter and tears. "45 USD, fair price for all."

Lin Feng took it and unrolled it.

The paper was yellowed with holes deliberately burned into the edges. The map depicted some crude islands, skulls, and symbols that looked like gibberish—it looked exactly like a child's doodle. Most fatally, there wasn't a single recognizable geographic coordinate on the entire map.

"If this thing can actually find treasure, I'll eat it on the spot!" Wang Dalong complained wildly.

"I'll buy it," Lin Feng said, pulling out his wallet without hesitation.

After starting the livestream, he displayed this 45-dollar "masterpiece" in front of the camera.

[Hahaha! Is Brother Feng being taken for a sucker?]

[A massive 'IQ tax' payment scene! I don't understand this move, but I'm deeply shocked!]

[I feel like I could do that too; my three-year-old nephew draws better than this.]

[This is a pirate treasure map? I feel like my intelligence has been insulted...]

The livestream room was filled with a joyful atmosphere. Wang Dalong was even vividly imitating the shopkeeper's "looking at an idiot" expression, causing the bullet chat to erupt in laughter.

Lin Feng wasn't angry; instead, he held the map and spoke serious-sounding nonsense: "Look, this skull represents danger; this wavy line represents the ocean; this cross... is very likely the treasure burial spot! The logic is clear, the information density is huge—I think this 45 dollars is a total steal!"

His solemn act made everyone laugh.

"Since we're already here, we can't have come for nothing." Lin Feng put away the map. "Come on, I'll take the family for a tour around Boston."

For the next while, the two of them acted like ordinary tourists, holding a selfie stick as they strolled along Boston's Freedom Trail, eating lobster rolls and talking about the city's history. The atmosphere of the livestream shifted from the tension of treasure hunting to the relaxed ease of a travel vlog.

At dusk, they wandered into an open-air flea market. It was filled with all sorts of strange secondhand goods—old furniture, used records—a dazzling array.

Lin Feng had intended to call it a day, but a strange impulse suddenly surged in his heart, like an invisible thread pulling him, causing him to turn and walk inside. He didn't even notice that on the system panel in his mind, the [Intermediate Treasure Detection] icon flashed imperceptibly.

Like a true treasure hunter, he lingered before the stalls, occasionally picking up trinkets and using his newly mastered fluent English to haggle with the vendors. His gaze swept over a pile of rusty iron, skipped past several stacks of old books, and finally fixed upon an ancient compass lying quietly on a velvet cloth.

It was a brass nautical compass with a casing of warm-toned wood, exuding the vintage aura of the Age of Discovery. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with intricate patterns carved into the top lid.

Lin Feng took it in his hand and opened the lid. He immediately noticed that while the needle and dial inside were also in a vintage style, both the material and the wear were clearly modern. This was a fake antique that had been restored, or rather, "assembled."

"Hey, how much for this compass?" Lin Feng asked casually.

The vendor was a stout white man wearing a baseball cap. Seeing Lin Feng's Asian face, his eyes darted around as he quoted an outrageous price: "Five hundred dollars. It's a real antique from the 18th century!"

Lin Feng simply laughed. He lightly tapped the glass cover of the compass and pointed at the brand-new needle inside, retorting slowly in a Boston accent that couldn't have been more authentic: "The case is old, but the inside is new. It's a nice craft, but not a real antique. Fifty dollars."

The vendor was stunned. He hadn't expected this young Chinese tourist to not only be an expert but also have an accent more local than his own, making him feel a bit embarrassed. He scratched his head, and after a brief exchange, the deal was finalized at seventy dollars.

Holding the heavy compass, Lin Feng felt it was unusual. He walked to a secluded corner, away from the livestream camera, and began to study it carefully.

He tried to remove the needle, which was clearly a later addition. The moment the needle was taken away, his pupils constricted sharply.

On the brass base at the bottom of the compass, two letters were engraved in tiny script—"W.K."

The initials of William Kidd!

The instant he recognized the letters, the compass casing suddenly emitted a faint but incredibly clear blue glow.

[Ding! Discovered key mission item: Captain Kidd's Astrolabe Compass!]

The cold system notification sounded like heavenly music in Lin Feng's ears at this moment!

He knew that the real treasure hunt had only officially begun from this moment.