[Chapter 289: Discovery of the Treasure]
Around 4 p.m., Linton's plane touched down at Mumbai airport. To avoid attracting attention, he subtly changed his appearance and took a taxi to the Taj Mahal Hotel, which his assistant had booked in advance.
Linton hadn't come to India for tourism or charity. His real mission was far more ambitious -- treasure hunting.
He remembered seeing a news report back in college about a temple in southern India, sealed for over 139 years and rumored to contain vast treasures: golden ornaments, jewel-encrusted crowns, and wealth estimated at over $11.2 billion.
Though he couldn't recall the exact temple's name or location, it didn't matter. In his Celestial Presence state, Linton's spiritual perception could scan a 20-kilometer radius and penetrate up to 400 meters underground. Any hidden chamber within that range wouldn't escape detection -- especially given the construction limitations of centuries past.
While South India is home to hundreds of temples with over 140 years of history, only a limited number matched the clues Linton remembered. He planned to investigate them one by one until he found what he was looking for.
---
After settling in, Linton contacted India's leading travel agency, Mountain Tours, posing as an American enthusiast eager to explore the sacred architecture and spiritual legacy of South India. He requested a custom route covering all historically significant temples, with personal transportation and a guide-cost no object.
Sensing a high-value client, Mountain Tours quickly assigned him a guide: Prasha, a tall and strikingly beautiful woman. Though clearly Indian, her features carried a cosmopolitan charm, speaking fluent English with ease.
She presented a curated list of 11 temples according to his filters, spread across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Linton offered $10,000 per temple, totaling $110,000, and requested no more than a day per site. The generous fee earned him the company's full cooperation-and Prasha's warm respect.
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Their journey began in Andhra Pradesh, at the ancient Srikalahasti Temple. Upon arrival, Linton witnessed the depth of local devotion-worshippers sat, lay, or knelt in silent prayer. One shirtless man leaned against a stone railing, lost in the deity's gaze, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Others slowly performed full-body prostrations every few steps.
The atmosphere moved Linton. It was his first direct experience of such intense spiritual sincerity.
With Prasha's knowledgeable guidance -- she recited legends, historical context, and symbolic details -- he thoroughly explored the temple. Although there was visible wealth in its ornaments and offerings, it wasn't the treasure he sought.
By evening, they retired to a nearby hotel. The next day, they headed for the famed Tirupati Temple.
...
Throughout the journey, Prasha occasionally flirted, trying to close the emotional distance. But Linton, long used to the company of extraordinary women, remained unaffected. Though he appreciated her charm and intelligence, he declined any deeper involvement.
Prasha, admired by many for her beauty, lived in a conservative society where admiration rarely turned into action. Her sudden attraction to Linton wasn't just about appearances -- it was something deeper. Even with his looks deliberately toned down, Linton exuded an unmistakable charisma -- a calm, radiant presence amplified by his inner power, drawing attention wherever he went.
After several subtle rejections, Prasha gracefully accepted his stance and focused on her role as a dedicated guide.
They continued through temples across Andhra Pradesh, then Karnataka, and Kerala.
---
On the eighth day, at the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, Linton sensed something extraordinary: a vast subterranean chamber, hidden 200 meters below ground, filled with mounds of gold and jewels.
He had found it.
Within the sealed space lay mounds of gold, gemstones, and priceless artifacts -- the legendary treasure, untouched for over a century.
Now, it was his.
And with this gold, Linton could finally forge his sword.
*****
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