A Rare Treasure Land

After sending off Aunt Warren and Leonard Yuan, Lily Evans went to the study, but Alexander Hayes was nowhere to be seen. When she asked the staff, they told her that Alexander had personally gone to pursue the matter of Louis Lee's capture.

Lily knew that Louis Lee's confession was crucial—it directly concerned the identity of the mastermind behind it all, so of course Alexander Hayes was taking it very seriously.

In the study, Lily found a Jin Kingdom Map spread out across Alexander Hayes's desk.

Lily stepped up to the desk and examined the map carefully.

It was Lily's first time closely studying the map of the Kingdom of Jin—the country she'd transmigrated into. There were similarities to her previous world, but also striking differences.

As Lily focused on the map, Lola entered the room.

Lily looked up at Lola and asked, "Are there any books on geography in the prince's study?"

Lola nodded, "His Highness has read widely—there's every kind of book here. I'll fetch some for you right away."

Lily continued to study the map and let Lola go find the books.

Lola picked out five or six books from the bookshelf, placed them in front of Lily, and said, "Here are a few to start with. If you need more, there are plenty on the shelf."

Lily flipped through the five or six books, gave them a quick once-over, and said, "These will do for now. I'll start with these, and if I need more, I'll get them myself. I'll read for a bit, Lola—keep me company. If you get bored, feel free to pick out a book for yourself."

With that, Lily sat down at the desk, opened a volume titled 'Field Notes on Local Scenery,' and began reading carefully. She compared passages in the book to spots on the map, occasionally muttering to herself.

"Lola, look here—Greenfield County, Greenfield City." Lily called Lola over and pointed to a spot on the map. "Is this Greenfield County the same one mentioned in this book?"

Lola checked the book, then the map, and nodded. "That's right, it's here."

"Hmm, the book says Greenfield County has crude oil that burns, marshes that catch fire—so the black water here is a real hazard. Wherever the crude oil flows, crops won't grow, and it's prone to explosions and fires. Tsk, crude oil, Greenfield County, Greenfield City..." Lily muttered as she circled Greenfield County on the map with her pen.

Lola watched from the side, puzzled. "Your Highness, this crude oil is a menace—it's why Greenfield County's crops yield so little, making it the poorest region around. Why are you circling Greenfield County on the map? Are you planning to solve the crude oil problem?"

"Solve the crude oil problem?" Lily burst out laughing and tapped Lola on the head with her pen. "Do you remember Cecilia, the girl we sent overseas to study? If Cecilia were here, she'd say you have no imagination."

Lola pouted, unconvinced. "How could I, the Vice Dean of the Royal Academy of Mathematics, possibly lack imagination?"

Lily looked at Lola's indignant little face and smiled mysteriously.

This so-called 'crude oil'—everyone in the Kingdom of Jin thinks it's a disaster: explosive, destructive, and a fire hazard. But in the modern world, it goes by another name: petroleum!

No need to explain how valuable petroleum is—just look at those oil-rich countries in the modern Middle East, rolling in wealth and practically burning money for fun.

Lily circled Greenfield County on the map with renewed excitement. Greenfield County wasn’t poor at all—in fact, it was a rare treasure land, sitting right on top of the Daqing Oilfield!