"Hey, Tom, have you read the recent article in 'The New York Post' called 'National Treasure'?"
"Of course, I have! Jerry, do you really think there's treasure hidden in the 'Declaration of Independence'?"
Jerry smirked and replied, "Come on, isn't it obvious? It's probably fake. If there were really treasure in there, why would the author write about it? They'd just go dig it up themselves, right?"
"Well, you can't be sure. Maybe the author just realized there might be clues to treasure inside. But they themselves might not have found it! Think about it, when Washington and the others were founding the country, who could have imagined that the United States would become what it is today? So, leaving a backup plan isn't that far-fetched!" Tom retorted.
"I suppose you make a point. So, should we look into it?"
...
In fact, at this moment in New York, the discussion of this matter wasn't limited to just the two brothers, Cat and Mouse. Many others were also exploring and researching the authenticity and feasibility of this claim. After all, adventure and treasure hunting were ingrained in the American spirit. Otherwise, movies like 'Indiana Jones' wouldn't have been so popular! Even the museum housing the 'Declaration of Independence' had recently seen a significant increase in visitors.
This trend naturally boosted the sales of 'The New York Post.' The chief editor, Russell, was overjoyed about this. Little did he know that someone was trying to undercut his success.
This day, an unfamiliar visitor arrived at Monet's house. Upon their first meeting, the visitor introduced themselves, "You must be Mr. Monet. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Richard Mann, the editor-in-chief of 'Brooklyn Weekly.'"
"Hello, Mr. Mann. I am Tony Monet. May I ask what brings you to me?" Monet asked curiously.
Mann explained, "Well, it's like this. I'm representing 'Brooklyn Weekly,' and we're interested in inviting you, Mr. Monet, to become one of our contracted writers. Are you interested?"
For a new writer, becoming a contracted writer for a newspaper was definitely a cause for celebration. While not every newspaper provided a fixed salary each month, being a contracted writer meant you would be prioritized for assignments, and you'd have a dedicated editor to work with, unlike those editors from detective stories who always bothered you for your work.
If it were 'The New York Post' offering a contract to Monet, he would've readily accepted. However, it's worth noting that major newspapers like 'The New York Post' didn't easily sign on writers, and another reason was that 'The New York Post' wasn't primarily focused on fiction.
As for 'Brooklyn Weekly,' Monet had only a vague impression. It was probably located in the Brooklyn area, but he wasn't sure about the scale of the newspaper.
Mann seemed to have sensed Monet's thoughts, so he decided to lay it all out, saying, "From what I know, 'The New York Post' is offering you a payment of a thousand dollars for your writing. In order to demonstrate the sincerity of 'Brooklyn Weekly,' we're prepared to offer you two thousand dollars! Once we're pleased with your new work, we'll sign a contract immediately and pay you an advance."
Upon hearing that his payment would double, Monet's hesitation vanished. After all, his primary purpose in writing novels was to make money. However, to exercise caution, he still inquired, "I wonder what kind of work your magazine is looking for?"
"It would be best if it's something along the lines of a treasure hunting story, similar to 'National Treasure,' something that captures the readers' attention."
"No problem at all. In fact, I had already planned on writing a sequel to 'National Treasure.' This time, the story revolves around a treasure hidden by Southern slave owners during the Civil War, intended to aid their rebellion. It's a treasure that they'd use to regain their nation!" Monet answered without hesitation. He truly intended to write in this direction. Although it differed greatly from the plot of 'National Treasure 2,' Monet believed this angle would be more captivating. To be honest, he thought 'National Treasure 2' was much weaker compared to the first one, so he had no interest in copying its storyline. Unexpectedly, Mann hesitated for a moment, then cautiously proposed, "This is a good theme indeed, but I have a rather bold suggestion. I hope you won't mind my saying it."
"No problem at all, please, go ahead!" Monet signaled.
"Well, it's like this. While your previous two stories are inspired by true history, making them feel very authentic, they are still fictional. I'm wondering, wouldn't your stories become even more enticing if the treasures you write about were actually real?" Mann explained.
In reality, Mann's intention was for Monet to base his stories on existing treasures, but unfortunately, there was a misunderstanding. Monet gave a wry smile and replied, "Mr. Mann, you're placing quite a challenge here. If I knew about real treasures, why would I write stories about them? I'd simply go and dig them up, wouldn't I?"
Suddenly, a bright idea crossed his mind, "Speaking of which, I do know about a real treasure. Currently, it's definitely untouched by anyone. However, this treasure, even if it's not for me, even you won't be able to excavate it."
Mann had originally wanted to clarify that Monet had misunderstood his intention. Yet, when he heard that Monet indeed knew about a treasure's location, his interest piqued, and he eagerly inquired, "Mr. Monet, are you telling the truth?"
Monet nodded and replied, "Of course, I have no reason to deceive you."
"Could you tell me more about this treasure? Is it buried in a remote, inaccessible location?" Mann continued probing.
Monet shook his head and explained, "Quite the opposite, actually. The burial site of this treasure is surprisingly easy to find. However, precisely because it's so easy to find, any excavation efforts would undoubtedly attract public attention. Additionally, this treasure is located on private property owned by a particular family. To undertake such large-scale digging, you'd need the family's permission. The catch is, unless you can bring along a few hundred heavily armed soldiers, even if you manage to unearth the treasure, the family probably won't let you take it away.
Furthermore, it's a religious site, and most of the treasures inside are connected to religious practices. Even if you get the family's approval, I doubt the fervent believers there would allow you to walk away with the treasures! Therefore, while I know the location of this treasure, I've never even considered attempting to excavate it."
Hearing this, Mann was even more intrigued. "So, given what you've said, I'm even more curious. Could you please tell me where this treasure is? It's not in the United States, I presume?"
"Absolutely not. This treasure is located beneath a temple in the distant East, in India!"
"India, huh? That's British territory, your domain, which explains your thorough knowledge of it!" Mann mumbled to himself in a self-assured tone. Then, suddenly, he suggested, "Since it's unlikely we can retrieve it anyway, why not write about it instead, Mr. Monet?"
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