What could the Earl possibly mean?

Earl Poulos didn’t give Katelyn and Vincent a chance to respond.

He continued, “There’s no treasure here at all. The rumors were started by our family’s rivals a hundred years ago. They wanted to stir up conflict over this land.”

Katelyn’s face tightened as she tried to determine whether Earl Poulos was lying. Vincent leaned forward, looking concerned.

“But what we heard was that—”

Earl Poulos interrupted with a grin. “The rumors have gotten so out of hand that there’s no stopping them. All I can do now is tell the truth to anyone who comes asking about this land.”

Katelyn glanced over at Dale, who was sitting on the sofa but barely managing to stay still. His eyes kept drifting toward the items on the display shelf, and it was obvious he was already plotting something.

Katelyn gave a quiet cough, just loud enough to catch Dale’s attention.

When they made the deal, Dale had agreed to help them secure the land, and only then would Vincent give him something in return.

Dale quickly caught her hint, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“Uncle Douglas,” he said, “you might be able to dupe others with your story, but I’m not convinced. I’ve known for ages that there are precious jewels buried right here.”

Earl Poulos, unruffled, merely shook his head in response. “You even seem to believe it. That’s how potent rumors can be. If there were any truth to it, wouldn’t I have sold these treasures long ago, rather than constantly battling treasure hunters?”

Earl Poulos paused for a moment, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “This rumor has lingered for decades. Even if I tried to clear things up, no one would take my word for it.”

gα?ησν?s． brings magic to life

Katelyn paused, then added thoughtfully, “My Lord, the treasure isn’t the reason we want this land. If you could prove there’s nothing hidden here, it might just resolve our problem.”

“How can I do that?” Earl Poulos replied. “The only way to prove it is to excavate the entire plot. But I can’t do that, since this land is the sole legacy my parents left me.”

Katelyn was left speechless by his revelation.

The land was firmly in the Earl’s control, and his wealth was not in question.

Vincent and Katelyn found themselves without any leverage.

Furthermore, Dale’s reliability was questionable at best. They couldn’t really excavate the land just to prove a rumor, could they?

Katelyn’s gaze remained fixed on Vincent.

Vincent’s eyes flashed with a serious light as he said, “My lord, I trust you, but I need to ask one more thing. Have you ever seen a round jade pendant with two colors?”

Earl Poulos was momentarily puzzled. “A round jade pendant with two colors?”

Vincent nodded gravely. “Yes. It’s a family heirloom that was lost in an accident. Recent information suggests it might be buried here, which is why we’ve come to you.” Katelyn remembered that during Vincent’s conversation with Selina, he had mentioned retrieving something buried under the land. Could this be it?

Earl Poulos seemed to think hard for a moment before shaking his head in disappointment.

“My apologies, but I’ve never heard of or seen such a pendant,” Earl Poulos said, his voice apologetic yet firm.

Vincent’s expression grew serious, his voice turning cold as he replied, “It’s very important to me. My grandfather’s last wish was for me to find it.”

Vincent’s face hardened as he continued, “Let’s be straightforward about this. Name any condition you want. If I can meet it, please allow me to search for the pendant. If it’s not here, I’ll apologize for any trouble we’ve caused.”

Earl Poulos stood firm with his cane, his tone resolute. “I’ve told you there’s nothing buried on this land, and I won’t allow it to be dug up. After I’m gone, I’ll leave it to the rightful owner.”

Dale’s lips curled into a barely contained grin upon hearing this.

Once Earl Poulos was gone, the property would be his alone. By then, he wouldn’t need Vincent’s help to clear his gambling debts anymore.

Dale spoke up with eager confidence. “Uncle Douglas, don’t worry. I’ll look after this land just like you would.”

Earl Poulos, caught off guard, turned to Dale with a piercing look.

“When did I ever mention I’d leave this land to you?”

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