Jasmine sensed that Charlie must be seeking confirmation about something, but upon seeing that Charlie didn't want to explain things clearly, she was very tactful and did not continue questioning him. Instead, she said respectfully, Master Wade, if you need anything or have any questions, feel free to call me anytime.”“Okay, sure.”Charlie thanked Jasmine and then hung up the phone. Vera, upon seeing his puzzled expression, couldn't help but ask, “Young Master, what's troubling you now?”Charlie calmly replied, “I suddenly thought of something just now. At the time, the Apocalyptic Book seemed like a book, but it didn't seem like one at the same time. When I picked it up, it quickly turned into powder on its own, yet the contents in it inexplicably imprinted themselves in my mind…”After pausing for a moment, Charlie continued, “So, does that mean that the Apocalyptic Book itself is only meant for one-time use, and it is destined that only one person can obtain its contents?”Ver
“But my father passed away twenty years ago. He wasn't a Feng Shui master such as yourself, so how could he have known twenty years ago that I would need to break through that predicament at twenty-seven years old?”Vera could not help but frown. After much thought, she said, “What you’re saying makes sense. While I don't mean to offend anyone, your father couldn't have predicted things so accurately twenty years ago.”Charlie added, “When I met Master Lennard on Mount Wintry, he said he came to Eastcliff to select Mount Wintry as geomantic treasure land for the Wades at the request of my grandfather. I've confirmed this with my grandfather and others. At that time, the Wades were in a bad situation, and my grandfather did indeed seek help everywhere before finally reaching out to Master Lennard. So, my father shouldn’t have been able to plan for me to break through my dragon stranding predicament in advance.” Vera asked further, "Did Master Lennard tell you exactly when you got
Vera's question immediately shocked Charlie. Upon careful consideration, Vera seemed to be making a valid point. If this was indeed a grand plan that had been in the making for over twenty years, no one would rely on an unreliable man to execute such a crucial part of the plan.Jacob's unreliability was well-known, and Charlie probably understood it better than anyone else. Although Jacob was his father-in-law, Charlie could responsibly say that if the success or failure of a major event depended on him, the chances of success would likely be slim.So, he immediately picked up his phone and called his father-in-law, Jacob.At that moment, Jacob was fiddling with his phone as he lay in his room at Thompson First. Ever since Matilda had gotten together with Yolden, he had lost all sense of joy in his life. In addition, Elaine, whom he found irritating and detestable, was also at home. So, the best way for him to pass the time was to hide in his room and play on his phone without going
Jacob said unhappily, “Of course, I'm not clumsy. It’s not as if you don’t know about my financial situation. Elaine handles all the money at home, and I can barely save a few thousand dollars. So, no matter what antique I'm looking at, I'm always extremely cautious. I'm afraid of dropping, touching, or being accused by others that I was tampering with something…”At this point, Jacob continued speaking with frustration, “That day, that jade vase also seemed to be cursed as well. As soon as I touched it, it slipped out of my hand like it was greased. It fell to the ground and shattered to pieces. Perhaps Mr. Cole was the one who deliberately set me up.”Charlie wondered, “Dad, after the jade vase broke, I repaired it with egg whites. I don't remember it being greased, and I recall that its surface wasn't very smooth because it's from the Tang Dynasty. Its glaze was rather rough, and it had a certain sanding feel when held. How could it slip from your hand?”“Well…” Jacob, who was on
Charlie said, “I should be back soon, perhaps in the next couple of days.”Jacob replied, “That’s great! When you come back, let's find a place to have a barbecue and beer together.” “Sure.”After agreeing to Jacob’s request, Charlie said goodbye to him on the phone. After he hung up the phone, he asked Vera, who was in front of him, “Miss Lavor, what do you think?”Vera replied, “I think your father-in-law probably didn't lie, and what he said aligns with my speculation.”With that said, Vera continued, “I believe your father might have been preparing for you to obtain the Apocalyptic Book over twenty years ago. Based on your father-in-law's account of what happened back then, the vase broke on its own, and the vibration he mentioned might have originated from the Apocalyptic Book itself.”“So, my conjecture is that it's not just anyone who can get the Apocalyptic Book by obtaining the vase. Rather, the person must meet the requirements of the book and qualify to unlock it. The
Charlie knew that Stephen used to be his father's most trusted aide and that his father must have made very detailed arrangements back then. Even though Stephen had served the Wades for many years, in reality, most of his time and energy was spent on completing the tasks his father had assigned him.When Charlie thought about how Raymond was also part of his father's arrangements, he estimated that Stephen might have heard something about him too. So, Charlie said to Vera, “I haven't asked Mr. Thompson too many details before, but it seems like I need to talk to him and get some clear answers from him today.”At that moment, Charlie's thoughts were focused on unraveling everything that had happened in the past and all the arrangements his father had left behind. Even if it meant placing psychological hints on Stephen, he was determined to get all the information Stephen knew.With that in mind, he said to Vera, “I'm going to look for Mr. Thompson now.”Vera nodded and asked him, “Y
Charlie sighed, saying, “It’s possible. His sudden departure gives me a feeling that it might be hard for me to see him again in the future. He's a smart person, and he knows that he can't hide forever. So, he couldn't have just switched off his phone tonight and acted as if nothing had happened, returning to the Wade Mansion tomorrow as if everything was normal unless he has already decided not to show up again after this departure.”Vera was surprised and asked, “At this point, what else does Mr. Thompson have to hide from you? Hasn’t he been fulfilling the tasks your father assigned him for so many years? Why would he leave so suddenly now? Does he know that you will ask him about these photos?”Charlie shook his head and said, “I don't know what he's thinking, but from what I know about him, he must be loyal to the Wades. He might have his own reasons for leaving without saying goodbye, or this could also be part of my father's arrangements.”Vera said, “Young Master, you are pr
Late at night, a cargo ship set sail from the Blue Bay, carrying Stephen to Tahiti in the South Pacific.Stephen stood at the stern of the ship and felt a wave of emotions as he watched the city grow further and further away in the night. He was once a trusted aide of Charlie's father, Curtis. Twenty years ago, Curtis had given him two tasks. The first was to protect Charlie's safety after his own incident, and the other was to obey all orders from Ashley. Over the years, although Stephen had remained and served as a butler for the Wades, everything he did was actually based on Ashley's instructions.For more than ten years, even Jeremiah did not know whether his grandson, Charlie, was alive or dead. This was because Curtis did not make any arrangements for Stephen to inform Jeremiah about Charlie's situation. Ashley was still the one controlling everything behind the scenes.It was only when Ashley felt that the time was right that she let Stephen confess Charlie's situation to Jer