The camera flashes crisscrossed like rain. Wang Guan, after all, had not yet achieved the status of being tested and utterly unmoved, so he lowered his gaze slightly, avoiding the direct glare of the lights, which finally brought him some measure of comfort.

Fortunately, compared to taking photographs, the reporters were far more interested in substantive news. For example, Wang Guan couldn't possibly have come to Taipei just for sightseeing, right? What were the specific details of the collaboration between the two museums? Most importantly, when would the treasured artifacts arrive in Taipei for exhibition?

After the photo session concluded, listening to the cacophony of rushed questions from the reporters, Wang Guan couldn't help but admire their ability to extrapolate an entire story from the smallest clues. Once his identity was introduced and he stood on the platform, he didn't need to say much; the reporters would eagerly fill in the blanks, often deducing the facts with surprising accuracy.

So, making a living in this field wasn't easy; without a bit of imaginative leap, one couldn't hold onto the job. Wang Guan sighed internally, maintaining a polite smile amidst the barrage of questions, yet refusing to give away any hints.

As for Director Cui, he was a master of controlling the rhythm of suspense. He naturally took over the conversation, vaguely stating that Wang Guan’s visit was for inspection and touring purposes, but he provided no clear answer as to the specific reason for the tour.

The world is a strange place. Even when everyone understood the situation perfectly, if the principal parties refused to speak or offer a statement, one could only report the news using speculative language.

It was like building a brothel while simultaneously erecting a monument to chastity...

Many reporters inwardly grumbled, but Director Cui went a step further. Seeing that his objective had been achieved, he immediately invited Wang Guan and his entourage to the reception hall to commence the formal discussions.

Naturally, reporters were barred from these negotiations, which filled the journalists with resentment.

Of course, no matter how immense their frustration, this was still prime news material that no one wanted to miss. They immediately sprang into action, and before long, stacks of glittering articles were freshly printed, topping the headlines across television stations, newspapers, and websites.

Director Cui was naturally pleased with this outcome, as it was within his expectations. However, Wang Guan found the situation somewhat vexing. After all, back in the mainland, due to extensive prior groundwork, the reporters' focus had been largely concentrated on the artifacts. Now that the treasures hadn't arrived, the Taiwanese reporters were inevitably directing their attention toward him personally.

Suddenly, Wang Guan’s exposure rivaled that of the biggest A-list celebrities. Traveling became incredibly inconvenient; people even followed and secretly photographed him while he was just trying to eat a meal, leading him to lament how pervasive the paparazzi were.

Wang Guan felt helpless, yet powerless to change things. This was, after all, the age of gossip, where the greatest pleasure for ordinary people was digging into the private lives of others to satisfy their own curiosity. Thus, the existence of the paparazzi was, in essence, a response to public demand. If the paparazzi disappeared one day, many people would likely feel a sense of loss.

Of course, Wang Guan could afford to speak so philosophically about the paparazzi from a detached, impartial perspective because, by this time, he had successfully evaded the reporters' pursuit and found himself aboard Cai Peng's yacht. Already adrift on the sea, even if a tenacious reporter managed to discover his whereabouts, they likely wouldn't be able to catch up.

"Big Brother, you are truly amazing."

Cai Peng looked on with admiration. "It's only been two days, and you've already become a major celebrity. The speed of your fame must make countless people envious and jealous."

"It’s all superficial fame," Wang Guan replied nonchalantly. "What comes fast goes fast. Before long, perhaps once the exhibition of the artifacts is over, no one will remember who I am."

"But they remember right now," Cai Peng laughed. "You’re getting the full treatment reserved for superstars. If you agreed to a private interview now, you wouldn’t be slipping out red envelopes; people would be paying you an interview fee."

Paying for a dedicated interview wasn't uncommon. It was similar to how entertainers in the industry, if they lacked fame or had insufficient renown, often had to pay magazines to feature them in exclusive spreads. But once an artist became famous and achieved massive popularity, the situation reversed; the magazines would then have to pay the artist for an interview.

This was commonplace—a relationship of mutual promotion and dependence, certainly not some hidden conspiracy. After all, when it came to integrity, it was widely known that ethics were often sold by the pound; people were long accustomed to it and no longer found it surprising.

Hearing that he was subject to such treatment now, Wang Guan felt a strange mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Don't fret about it," Cai Peng said, raising his glass for a sip of red wine. "Being the center of attention—that’s something countless people dream of and long for day and night. You’ve hit the jackpot."

"I'm not fretting."

At this moment, Wang Guan stood up and began walking toward the exterior, saying, "I was just thinking. We’ve been searching for two days now; have we found any leads yet?"

"What leads?"

Cai Peng paused, then suddenly remembered. "That treasure hunt?"

"Yes."

Wang Guan nodded and stepped onto the outer deck to survey the water.

It had to be said that Cai Peng was wildly extravagant, or perhaps his family was simply immensely wealthy. He had loaned a yacht to Gao Zhuang for his initial venture and was now sailing on another one himself. For the truly rich, collecting cars might be common, but yachts and airplanes were what signaled true high-class status.

Wang Guan strongly suspected that if spaceships were ever available, every major tycoon in the world would own one.

Considering the millions lining up for space tourism annually, it was clear that the affluent were no longer content being confined to Earth; the stars and the vast ocean were their next frontier.

"Do you really think there’s a treasure buried there?"

At this point, Cai Peng also came outside, a look of doubt on his face. "It sounds a bit far-fetched. I’ve lived here year-round and never heard a whisper of a treasure. How is it that you two have leads?"

"We're just trying our luck," Wang Guan smiled. "Men—some harbor dreams of being heroes, some of being chivalrous knights... and some of becoming the Pirate King... Of course, we live in a society governed by law, and we lack the proper means, so being the Pirate King is impossible now. But becoming the one who finds the Pirate King's treasure would be pretty good too."

Cai Peng pursed his lips at the remark and said no more.

Meanwhile, the yacht sped across the sea, gradually approaching a specific area of water. Wang Guan, possessing excellent eyesight, soon spotted another yacht. As they drew closer, he saw Tao Li.

At that moment, Tao Li was standing on the deck, intensely focused on the sea surface, appearing somewhat tense...

"Mr. Wang, you've arrived."

Hearing the sound of their approach, Tao Li quickly looked up, a slight smile appearing on her face.

"How is it going?"

The two yachts slowly maneuvered close enough for a makeshift bridge to be established. Wang Guan stepped across and asked with concern, "What's the situation now?"

"Brother Gao has already dived," Tao Li quickly reported. "There is a patch of submerged reefs down there. Brother Gao suspects the item is hidden among the reefs, so he’s gone down to investigate."

"Reefs?"

In an instant, Wang Guan understood Gao Zhuang’s thinking. He must have recalled the treasure discovered on Su Island and was now following that precedent to search for clues here.

This was certainly a viable avenue for investigation, and Wang Guan certainly didn't think Gao Zhuang’s approach was flawed. He nodded and then asked, "How long has he been down?"

"Over an hour," Tao Li said, showing a bit of nervousness. "Should we call him up?"

Wang Guan considered it, then nodded. "Have him come up. Let's consult for a moment before deciding anything else."

Hearing this, Tao Li immediately grabbed an instrument to contact Gao Zhuang. After seven or eight minutes, a dark shape slowly emerged from the depths, accompanied by splashing sounds—Gao Zhuang was swimming up.

"Brother Wang, you’re here."

Removing his goggles and seeing Wang Guan, Gao Zhuang was clearly pleased. He climbed laboriously onto the yacht, and with Tao Li's assistance, stripped off his diving suit and changed into a clean, thick robe before heading into the cabin to report on the findings of the past two days.

It was evident Gao Zhuang was in good spirits, suggesting he had found something.

And indeed, that was close to the truth. After sipping some hot tea, Gao Zhuang’s face lit up with joy. "Over the past two days, I did a rough survey of this entire area. The submerged reef is definitely the most probable hiding spot."

"However, the terrain of the reef is quite complex, and there's a lot of aquatic vegetation, making a thorough search difficult."

After briefly describing the underwater conditions, Gao Zhuang puffed out his chest. "But I am confident. Give me a few more days, and if the treasure is hidden there, I will definitely be able to unearth it."

"Mhm, mhm."

Wang Guan nodded repeatedly, smiling. "I certainly don't doubt Brother Gao's capabilities. But matters like this are best handled quickly rather than delayed, lest complications arise from dragging it out. How about this: I'll go down to help search later. An extra pair of hands will speed things up..."

"That’s great!"

Gao Zhuang wholeheartedly agreed with Wang Guan’s decision. He knew Wang Guan’s diving prowess far exceeded his own, even though Gao Zhuang had spent over a decade working the high seas.

However, Tao Li and Cai Peng were unaware of this fact. Seeing Wang Guan volunteer, they couldn't hide their suspicion. Cai Peng, in particular, after hearing about the submerged reefs, quietly tried to dissuade him, feeling Wang Guan didn't need to risk his life.

"If you truly need it, I can contact hundreds of men to come over," Cai Peng declared heroically. "Whether it’s professional scuba divers or active-duty naval combat teams, I can call them. It's merely a matter of money; it’s no big deal."

"No need," Wang Guan politely declined Cai Peng’s offer, then demonstrated with action what it meant to move like a fish in water. Donning his diving suit and plunging into the ocean, Wang Guan moved like an agile dolphin, effortlessly executing complex maneuvers that left Cai Peng and the others stunned into silence, forgetting to cheer or applaud.

After a long moment, Cai Peng finally exclaimed in awe, "With that level of skill, you should enter the International Diving Competition; you'd surely take the championship."

"Are you reassured now?"

At that moment, Wang Guan chuckled lightly. "Wait for my good news."

As he spoke, Wang Guan executed a flip, and like a swimming fish, he plunged directly into the deep sea... (To be continued)