Chapter 520 + 25 Bonus

Marion glanced up, his eyes landing on a folding chair tucked inside a box. A smirk played on his lips. “What’s with the chair?”

Debra grinned, pulling out the chair and setting it down beside him. “Just a little preparation. I figured I might get tired of waiting.” She paused, then continued, “Do your best.”

Marion chuckled, giving her cheek a gentle pinch. “Alright, I won’t keep you waiting too long.” He turned his attention to the tile beneath the column, giving it a firm tap. It crumbled, revealing the hollow space beneath.

He laughed, “Looks like this place really hasn’t seen repairs in a century.”

“Huh?” Debra leaned in, her eyes widening at the sight of the broken tile. “This tile must be worth a pretty penny.”

“I’ll cover the damage,” Marion said, already digging into the dirt bricks next to the column. His efforts unearthed a sealed redwood box, its antique appearance hinting at a history spanning a hundred years.

“This box is exquisite. Must be worth a fortune.”

“It’s practically an antique.” Debra’s fingers traced the delicate lock. Her brow furrowed. “I don’t think even Ralph would have the key to this.” She had never seen her father with such a small key, and judging by the dust on the box, it hadn’t been touched in ages.

“Leave it to me,” Marion said, taking the box. He examined the lock and pulled a thin wire from the necklace around his neck—a tool Debra had never noticed before. He twisted it slightly, and the lock clicked open. Debra’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You can pick locks?”

“A little.”

“Then why didn’t you try the lock on the door?”

“That door lock was too complex for me. Besides, you had questions to ask Ralph.”

Inside the box lay old account books, their covers yellowed with age. The handwriting was elegant and masterful.

“These are the account books of my family,” Debra said, her eyes scanning the titles. “And there are books from the Potter, Houston, and Osborne families too.”

“It seems your family managed all the books for the four families.”

“But what use are these old books now?” Marion was puzzled. While account books were important, they didn’t seem to need such careful preservation.

“These books are ancient. They need to be preserved carefully. Let’s take them back for examination.”

“Okay.”

Debra placed the books back in the box, and the two of them headed to the room to investigate further. Debra opened the books, her eyes poring over the entries. They seemed to date back to the time when the four families first allied.