The international bank's customer service couldn't trace the sender of the wire transfer. Sophia Laurent dialed Frederick Vanderbilt instead.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, my account suddenly received a hundred million dollars labeled as a donation. Could this be a mistake on your end?"

A hearty laugh came through the phone. "I don't have that kind of money to spare. If such a large amount were misdirected, the bank would've frozen the account already. You should ask someone else."

After hanging up, Sophia began eliminating possibilities.

Ethan Sullivan was always direct—he wouldn't go through such elaborate measures.

No one else she knew had access to that kind of wealth.

Then it hit her.

"Mr. Grant, did you transfer that money?" she asked bluntly when the call connected.

Kyle Grant paused. "We agreed to split the treasure fifty-fifty."

"I can't accept this!" Sophia's voice rose sharply. "I only helped with a small favor."

"You took Mr. Vanderbilt's money. Why refuse mine?"

She fell silent.

"Don't worry—the funds are completely legitimate." His tone was gentle but firm. "I never take everything for myself. Those present share the rewards."

When she still hesitated, he added, "I kept all items with archaeological value. Consider this my donation to the nation through you. Contact your senior Michael Gao—he'll handle it efficiently."

"Why not donate it yourself?"

"You need the recognition more than I do."

Sophia's nose stung.

Here was a man with no blood ties to her, paving her way without expecting anything in return.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

"Just mutual assistance." He brushed it off lightly. "I'll have someone deliver the treasure map's jade seal to you this afternoon."

After hanging up, Sophia resolved privately: She'd handle all his antique restorations from now on.

That afternoon, an ancient jade seal arrived in her hands.

The map indicated the treasure was buried in the Appalachian Mountains.

At dawn the next day, Sophia set out with four bodyguards.

After a journey involving planes, buses, and even a rickety三轮车, they finally reached the remote深山.

From a distance, the蜿蜒的山脉 resembled a coiled dragon, its peak crowned with ancient pines like horns.

Trained in风水, Sophia immediately recognized this as the site of a significant tomb.

Following Kyle's instructions, they soon located the burial spot.

The entrance had been carefully concealed, showing no signs of prior excavation.

"Dig it open," Sophia ordered the bodyguards.

As the earth was cleared, a pitch-black洞口 yawned before them, its depth unfathomable.

Sophia didn't descend.

Some temptations were better left unexplored.

She called Michael Gao. "Senior, I've accidentally obtained an ancient seal containing Zhang Xianzhong's treasure map..."

"What?" The sound of a teacup clattering came through the phone. "Where are you now?"

"The Appalachian Mountains, not far from the historic shipwreck site."

Michael was practically hyperventilating. "I'll assemble a team immediately! Wait...why didn't you report this?"

Sophia chuckled lightly. "Should I just excavate and sell the treasure now?"

"No, no!" He forced a dry laugh. "I'm making arrangements!"

Under the blazing sun, Sophia and her bodyguards took shelter under a tree, chewing on dry rations.

The wait felt interminable.

With spotty mountain信号, Sophia pulled out "The Art of War" to pass the time.

Midway through a gripping passage, an unknown caller interrupted.

"Sophia, you're in the Appalachians?" A hoarse male voice held an unsettling familiarity.

She frowned. "Who is this?"

"I'm your father!" The voice suddenly sharpened. "Someone saw you taking people up the mountain!"

The word made her fingers twitch.

After twenty-plus years of neglect, his sudden appearance couldn't mean anything good.

"What do you want?" Her tone was icy.

"Stop playing dumb!" Dominic Durand's voice turned venomous. "Coming all the way to this wilderness—you're definitely up to something!"

Sophia hung up.

Soon after, a bodyguard低声 warned, "Ms. Laurent, someone's coming up the mountain!"

She looked up—and her pupils contracted.

Dominic was leading seven or eight soaking-wet men toward them.

Their skin was bleached white, as if they'd just emerged from water.

"Why are you here?" Sophia stood, every muscle tense.

Dominic smirked, scanning the area before settling on the branch-covered洞口. "My dear daughter...grave robbing?"

"None of your business." She stepped between him and the洞口.

He suddenly barked, "Boys, check it out! A lifetime of scavenging scraps beats one big score!"

So he'd been diving for Zhang Xianzhong's sunken silver all along.

"Stop!" Sophia commanded sharply. "The archaeological team is on their way!"

Her four bodyguards closed ranks. Tension crackled between both sides.

Dominic's eyes gleamed with malice. "Stay out of our way if you won't share the loot!"

He grabbed Sophia's wrist.

In the struggle, her foot slipped—

And she tumbled backward into the bottomless洞穴!