Chapter 15: The Map Incident

In a certain room within the Governor’s Mansion of Port Tortuga, Liu Zhi was poring intently over several books belonging to the Governor. This was a reward granted to him by the port, in recognition of his discovery of a method to deal with the fishmen and for promptly submitting it.

Of course, aside from being allowed to read in the Governor’s Mansion, Liu Zhi had also acquired other things—for instance, a fishing boat that required three people to operate. Although it was an old vessel, Liu Zhi had tried it out and found it seaworthy. He had also been permitted to copy a chart of the nearby sea routes, among other things.

Today was the last day the Governor had agreed to let Liu Zhi study in the mansion’s library. He had brought out all the books he could borrow and was meticulously comparing the details within, carefully sketching his findings onto a piece of parchment he had brought with him.

As Liu Zhi was engrossed in his work, the door to the room suddenly opened. Looking up, he saw the governor’s steward entering, accompanied by two men. One was elderly, over fifty, his hair nearly white; the other was about twenty-five, robust and healthy. Their attire revealed their noble birth, but it was also clear that they had spent many years navigating these waters or exploring the wilds—one could tell not just from their sun-darkened skin but from their habitual movements, marked by the experience of those accustomed to traversing forests and mountains.

Liu Zhi glanced at them briefly before returning to his work. In recent days, others had occasionally entered this room to consult various records, and as long as they did not disturb him, Liu Zhi generally paid them no mind.

However, these two, led by the steward, walked straight up to him.

Before Liu Zhi could speak, the steward began, “Mr. Sandro, I have a small favor to ask of you.”

Liu Zhi frowned, about to reply, when the elder of the two men spoke first. “You must be Mr. Sandro. I must admit, we are in the wrong this time, but we are truly pressed for time and must trouble you.”

“What is it? Go ahead,” Liu Zhi replied, resigned. He sighed and put away his sketches, realizing he could hardly tell them to leave under the circumstances.

“It’s like this,” the elder continued, “we need to search the nearby forest for a certain plant. Its flowering season is upon us—if we miss it, we must wait another seven years. We need a map, but we arrived late and could only find crude, general charts that are of no use. We’ve just learned that you’ve been making a detailed map here, so I wanted to ask if you’d consider selling it to us. I have some connection with the Governor and could persuade him to let you stay and draw another map.”

Liu Zhi shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I also need to search the nearby forest for something. If it were an ordinary map, I’d have no objection to selling it to you, but I’ve marked clues related to what I’m looking for on this one. It’s extremely important to me, and I can’t let anyone else have it.”

Hearing this, the two men were at a loss. Had Liu Zhi simply refused, they might have pressed further, but since the map contained his own quest’s clues, insisting would be unreasonable.

The younger man, who had been standing at the back, grew angry and pointed at Liu Zhi. “What you’re looking for—do you really think we’d care about it? Do you even know what it is we’re after?”

“Lloyd.” The elder interrupted the younger man, who fell silent, though his expression made clear his displeasure.

The elder then turned back to Liu Zhi. “Might I ask if…”

“No, I won’t let you see the map. However, if you’re willing to wait, I can make you a copy.”

“That won’t do—we must set out today, or we’ll miss the flowering,” the elder said helplessly. He then turned to the steward. “Perhaps you could ask the Governor to lend me all the materials here. I’ll see if I can piece together a map on the journey.”

“No need, Lord Perkins. I’ll handle this,” Lloyd said, stepping up to Liu Zhi. “Name your price. What will it take for you to hand over the map?”

Liu Zhi shook his head. “That’s impossible. I truly need to search for my own objective. As you can see, this is my target—I marked it clearly with this cross, and it was part of my plan from the beginning, not something I just added.”

As Liu Zhi spoke, he showed them his map. Indeed, at its center was a red cross, surrounded by notes he had gathered over the years: hydrological data, dangers along the route, possible resupply locations, and so on.

Even a brief glance made clear the care with which Liu Zhi had crafted the map. Many details could not have been gathered in a day or two.

At this, Perkins suddenly said, “How about this, Sandro: if you won’t give us the map, then come with us. Take your map and accompany us as we travel. Once we’re near the plant, you can go your own way.”

Liu Zhi snorted heavily. “What, and if I refuse, will you kidnap me?”

“No, I’ll simply consider it hiring another guide. I’ll pay you the rate I’d pay any guide. What do you say?”

“I’m not interested. I had planned to sail in myself, comfortably, but now you want to make me your employee.”

“You can sail? Then I have even more reason to hire you. Don’t worry, I’m not one to force others—I believe in fair deals. How about fifty gold coins?”

At this, Liu Zhi’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected such generosity; that sum was nearly a sixth the value of his original cargo.

Perkins caught Liu Zhi’s reaction and understood he was tempted, but that the money was not what he truly wanted.

“Or, you name what you want. Don’t worry, I’m a generous man—if I have it, I won’t withhold it.”

Liu Zhi was about to refuse, but then reconsidered and made a request: “You have a good relationship with the Governor. Can you obtain the Westsea Naval Swordsmanship manual for me—the version that can be used to reach superlative mastery?”

Perkins hesitated, then replied, “As it happens, I do possess such a thing.”