Lin Chen and the others kept passing around the confiscated box, but even after half a day of examination, they couldn't find any clues.
This box was incredibly tough—smashing didn't work, prying yielded no gaps, and even when they risked using a grenade on it, the iron box showed no damage at all.
"What's inside this box? How could it be this indestructible?" Lan Xingyue asked, flipping the box over and inspecting it closely.
"From the markings on the box, it seems this should be something handed down from the Maya civilization," Lan Xingyue said as she observed the inscriptions on its surface.
"Maya civilization? Let me take a look!" Lin Chen said to Lan Xingyue.
Lan Xingyue passed the box to Lin Chen. "Don't bother. With the equipment we currently have on hand, it's impossible to open. Let's wait until we get back and use a laser to break it open!"
Lin Chen said nothing as he carefully examined the box in his hands.
He tried using his X-ray vision to see the inside, but to his surprise, even with that ability, he couldn't discern what was within.
"Xiao Shuai, do you know what's inside this box?" Lin Chen finally pinned his hopes on Xiao Shuai.
Xiao Shuai quickly responded, "Master, the item inside this box should be an ancient Mayan treasure map."
"A treasure map?" Lin Chen's heart leapt with excitement.
"Do you have a way to open it?" Lin Chen continued to ask.
Xiao Shuai answered, "Master, do you see that square hole? That square hole is actually a keyhole; you'll need to recreate the key to open this box."
"Square hole?" Lin Chen paused for a moment, then activated his X-ray vision to clearly discern the structure of the key inside.
The key's structure wasn't too complex, but without his X-ray vision, it would have been impossible to see.
Lin Chen retrieved a metal shard and began grinding it down on a rock.
"Brother Chen, what are you doing?" An Xiaodi asked curiously.
Lin Chen smiled faintly. "Making a key!"
"Making a key?" Lan Xingyue and the others gathered around out of curiosity.
"Brother Chen, I didn't know you had this skill!" Wang Zixuan joked with a grin.
But Lan Xingyue's gaze remained cold. "Don't waste your energy. You don't know the full structure of the key, so even if you manage to craft one, it won't work."
"Who says it won't work? I'm a lucky guy—what if I just happen to get it right?" Lin Chen said with a cheeky laugh, holding up the key he had just finished crafting.
"Lucky? Lin Chen, do you think this is some ordinary lock you can just guess open? If I'm not mistaken, this should be something left behind by the Maya. If you manage to guess it right, I'll truly be impressed," Lan Xingyue scoffed, her tone dripping with skepticism.
Lin Chen chuckled faintly. "What if I open it accidentally?"
"That's absolutely impossible," Lan Xingyue shot back without hesitation.
By now, Lan Xingyue was certain—Lin Chen was a blowhard. The Maya civilization was one of the most enigmatic cultures, and everything they left behind carried a deep intelligence. How could someone like Lin Chen rely on guesswork to open it? What a joke.
"Seems like you still don't believe me!" Lin Chen teased.
"Believe you? Only if I've lost my mind," Lan Xingyue retorted sharply.
Lin Chen's eyes sparkled mischievously as he grinned. "If you don't believe me, let's make a bet. If I can't open this box, you can do whatever you want with me. But if I do open it, you'll let me do whatever I want with you."
Lan Xingyue stared at Lin Chen's self-assured expression, momentarily uncertain. Could he really open the box?
But she quickly dismissed the thought.
"Alright, I agree!" Looking at Lin Chen's arrogant face, Lan Xingyue agreed without hesitation.
Throughout this journey, Lin Chen had often clashed with her. She had been annoyed with him for a long time and now had an excellent opportunity to put this cocky guy in his place.
She had some knowledge of the Maya civilization. Anything they left behind couldn't be opened without high-tech tools. There was no way Lin Chen's useless piece of scrap metal could work.
At this point, Lan Xingyue wasn't even considering the possibility of losing. Instead, she was eagerly imagining how to handle Lin Chen when he failed to open the box.
A wicked smile played on her lips. This guy always boasted about being a genius—if he lost, she'd make him her personal servant to knock him down a notch.
Thinking about Lin Chen kneeling before her and calling her "master" in humiliation made the smile on Lan Xingyue's face grow even wider.
Lin Chen noticed the malicious grin on Lan Xingyue's face and immediately knew this girl was plotting something nasty for him.
"She dares to doubt my abilities? Oh, I'll make sure to teach her a lesson she won't forget," Lin Chen thought, his eyes flickering toward Lan Xingyue's petite frame. Just imagining the delightful softness if he were to spank her made his hands itch. But as his gaze shifted to her delicate lips, he promptly changed his mind.
Compared to a spanking, stealing a kiss seemed far more fun.
Lin Chen's smirk turned devilish, which only irritated Lan Xingyue even more. She had already decided that if Lin Chen lost, she'd make sure he knelt on jagged stones for an entire night to crush his arrogance.
Having made the bet before all the team members, Lin Chen wasn't worried that Lan Xingyue would back out. He confidently picked up the box and inserted his makeshift key into the square hole.
Lin Chen shot Lan Xingyue a defiant smile, his gaze lingering on her slender waist and tantalizing lips. He raised an eyebrow provocatively. "Heh, Captain Lan, watch and learn as I unlock this Mayan treasure box."
"Tch!" Lan Xingyue rolled her eyes with a scoff, watching the box with playful skepticism. She couldn't wait to see what excuse Lin Chen would come up with once the key failed.
Lin Chen inserted his key into the square hole, but the box remained completely still.
Lan Xingyue's smile grew wider. "Lin Chen, didn't you say you could open this box?"
Lin Chen casually twisted the key. "What's the rush? The moment of magic is just around the corner."
Just then, a crisp *click* sound came from the box, followed by a series of mechanical *clats* as the box began to move.
"What's this?!" Everyone's eyes widened in amazement.
"Brother Chen, you're incredible! You actually opened the box!" An Xiaodi exclaimed excitedly.
"Quick, check what's inside!" Wang Zixuan added eagerly.
The iron box opened, revealing a parchment map inside.
"So it's just a map, huh!" Lin Chen couldn't hide his slight disappointment. He had expected to find a Spiritual Artifact or something valuable inside.
But when he unfolded the map, his expression grew serious.
It appeared to be a route map, filled with ancient markings that Lin Chen couldn't make sense of.