"Uncle, this is what you asked us to investigate. We searched separately for a whole day before confirming it."
Benjamin changed into clean clothes and sat at the tea table, pondering how to deal with Hastar.
Raghaf's nephew, Qi Ya, was already waiting at the door.
He handed Benjamin a file folder.
Inside were five paper documents, titled "The Embrace of the Goddess of Prosperity."
Benjamin carefully read the contents and formed a plan.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'm going out for a bit. You can rest."
Benjamin waved to Qi Ya, then went out, got on his motorcycle, and headed towards the garrison on the street.
The garrison occupied the largest courtyard in the middle of the street. It was said to have been the ancestral home of a nobleman.
At the four pillars in front of the gate stood a British soldier with a gun.
"I'm looking for Cooper Harker. Please let me know."
Benjamin arrived at the garrison gate and spoke to the soldiers on guard.
These men were all Raghaf's business owners, so he naturally knew them all. A guard nodded and walked into the courtyard.
"Raghaf, have you got more gold coins, or have you collected enough?"
Cooper Harker asked in a low voice, his expression beaming with joy.
Every time Raghaf came to him, it meant he was about to make a small fortune. It was just that the Indian man lacked magnanimity and decisiveness.
"Of course. See this gold coin? I've discovered the secret of that little bird. It's related to the gold treasure of Tumbbad. Let's find a place to discuss it in detail."
Benjamin took out a gleaming gold coin and showed it to Cooper Harker.
"Brother Raghaf, I admit I underestimated you. Come with me."
Cooper Harker started the car parked nearby and drove for five minutes, arriving at a deserted area.
"You can talk freely here. What is the treasure of Tumbbad? I'll share it with you when I find it."
Cooper Harker asked excitedly.
He straightened his uniform, his hand running down his holster to smooth out the wrinkles in his clothes.
"No need to find!"
"This is Tumbbad's treasure!"
Benjamin pulled out the goddess's purse, gently tilting it onto the car seat. A pile of gold coins, five times the size of the purse, flowed out.
"This…can I take a look?"
Cooper Hark picked up a gold coin and tried biting it. He found it was real gold, though he didn't understand how such a small purse could yield so much.
But as long as it was real gold, he said, reaching for his pistol.
"Of course, it's yours!"
Benjamin handed it to Cooper Hark. This gesture caused Cooper Hark to pause for a moment in his draw, but he continued drawing his pistol.
Cooper Hark took the purse with his left hand, gently tilting it onto the car seat, and another pile of gold coins appeared.
"Hahaha, I'm rich! Raghaf, thank you for the gift, you're my brother for life!"
A glint of malice flashed in his excited eyes as he raised his right wrist to spin the gun.
*Snap! *
Cooper Huck's laughter came to an abrupt stop. His right wrist fell limply, and his fingers curled slightly around the pistol, preventing it from falling to the car's undercarriage.
"You're welcome!"
Benjamin slowly released his hand from Cooper Hark's neck, activating his ability, Skin Transfer.
A withered, skinless corpse was pushed out of the vehicle and landed on the muddy wasteland with a nauseating thud.
The military vehicle drove back to the garrison. A refreshed, more energetic Cooper Hark stepped out.
The four guards at the door saw Benjamin wearing a leather clothing.
They pressed their right hands against their hat brims, palms facing outwards, and simultaneously stood at attention, saluting in unison.
Benjamin returned a not very standard salute and walked into the office.
He dialed the personal number of Camille Werner, Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force, according to the phone book.
Fortunately, he had some distant connection with Camille, and after reporting the situation, he received permission to meet.
He found a 50-centimeter-long box in the storeroom, filled it with gold coins from his purse, and carried it towards the military headquarters.
Half an hour passed, Benjamin's current identity had become the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force.
The dry, wrinkled skin of the old man made Benjamin feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Beside him, the box of gold coins remained untouched, and something was burning in the fireplace, emitting the smell of roasting meat.
Benjamin, dressed in his military uniform, entered the headquarters. Inside, two staff officers were discussing a plan.
"Commander-in-Chief!" the two saluted.
"Connect me to the Marseille Engineer Regiment."
One of the staff officers quickly picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"Hello, this is headquarters. Connect me to the Marseille Engineer Regiment."
The call was transferred, and the staff officer said again, "This is headquarters. Put your regimental commander on the phone. The Commander-in-Chief has something to say."
"Commander-in-Chief!"
Then he turned and handed the phone to Benjamin.
"Hello!" Benjamin took the phone.
"Greetings, Commander-in-Chief! This is Noel Palmer, Commander of the Marseille Engineering Corps, reporting to you!"
A sharp thud of a heel clicking on the ground came through the phone.
Benjamin instructed the person on the other end,
"Cut the nonsense and obey the order. "
"Immediately assemble all personnel of the Massenet Engineer Regiment, carrying 50 tons of flour, 1000 bolts of cloth, and an equivalent amount of plastic sheeting. Mobilize all excavation and transport vehicles and proceed to the westernmost point of Tumbbad village to await further instructions."
"If the number of vehicles is insufficient, borrow from nearby factories. All military and civilian personnel must unconditionally cooperate with this operation."
"Understood, Massenet Engineer Regiment. Full cooperation guaranteed."
A resolute and excited voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Execute immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
Hanging up, Benjamin instructed his staff to prepare a vehicle and, with his guards, proceeded to the western edge of Tumbbad village.
Night had fallen, and a light rain was falling. Benjamin got out of the car, and the guard beside him quickly opened an umbrella.
The perennial rain and clouds gave the land of Tumbbad a putrid stench, and rows of car headlights shone dozens of meters into the thick darkness.
Benjamin stood before the headlights, his shadow stretched long and slanted.
He silently gazed in the direction of the 'Hastar' temple, pondering the feasibility of his plan.
You have to try to know.
Benjamin waited for a while.
The Massenet Engineering Regiment would take some time to arrive, so he didn't get into the car, and the others stood in the rain as well.
"Get in the car and wait."
Benjamin waved his hand, and the group climbed into the car and waited quietly.
About half an hour later, through the rain, lights could be seen appearing in the distance, like a fiery serpent, growing brighter and brighter as it approached.
The roar of the engine pierced through the patter of the rain. The long line of lights stopped after about 50 meters.
A sharp-looking, square-faced middle-aged man ran to the window in the rain.
"Reporting to Commander-in-Chief, Noel Palmer, Commander of the Massenet Engineer Regiment, reporting for duty."
"The engineer regiment should have 1078 men, 945 are present. Another 133 are collecting mission supplies and will arrive within an hour. Please give instructions."
The square-faced man stood ramrod straight, saluted, and reported loudly.
"Form ranks and depart. Target: Temple ruins in Tumbbad Village."
"Yes, sir."
The headquarters and the engineer regiment's convoy joined together and headed towards the Well of the Gods.
After 15 minutes, they finally arrived again at the towering, fortress-like temple.
A group of soldiers got out of the vehicle and started setting up marching tents around.
"Noel Palmer."
"Here."
The engineer regiment commander stepped forward and stood at attention.
"Tear down the outer walls and attic of this temple ruins!"
"Don't damage anything within 30 meters of the square well in the backyard."
"Yes, sir."
Noel Palmer accepted the order and ran back to the convoy.
Then, bulldozers, excavators, and rock crushers rushed towards the temple ruins, followed by the demolition team's engineering vehicles.
In the makeshift command room, Benjamin took a sip of water and quietly awaited the results.