After Ben Gates and Riley sat down, Pat Gates asked excitedly, "Ben, did you really find the treasure?"
Ben felt guilty and lowered his head. "Uh, sorry, Father. I said I found the Charlotte, but there was no treasure on it, only a snuff box. I followed the clues from the snuff box and found new leads."
Saying this, Ben excitedly walked over to Pat. "I need those letters from Benjamin. We are just one step away."
Pat Gates clutched his chest and sat down on the couch, scaring Ben and Riley into supporting him.
Pat Gates pushed his son away and said sadly, "God, I knew you wouldn't come to see me out of kindness. Sorry, son, even if you get those letters from Benjamin, it's useless. You'll just go from one clue to another, endlessly searching. I've studied those letters for thirty years and searched for the treasure for thirty years. The treasure is a hoax, a trick during the Revolutionary War to lure the English into wasting resources and wealth.
"Wake up, my child. Your grandfather spent his life searching and found nothing. I lost all my honor and reputation and even lost your mother. What do I have left? This house? Living alone for over twenty years without even someone to spend Christmas with."
Seeing his father so dejected, Ben felt a pang of guilt. Reflecting on his past, he realized he had spent his adult life searching for treasure, which had caused significant friction with his father. It seemed they hadn't spent Christmas together for many years.
This filled Ben with remorse. "Alright, Father, give me those letters. If I don't find any clues this time, I'll give up. I'll listen to you and live a peaceful life, not searching for treasure anymore. I'll go to New York to see Mother and spend Christmas with you this year. I'm sorry, Dad. I promise this is the last time."
Hearing this, Pat Gates finally felt happy and patted Ben on the shoulder with relief. But his happiness was short-lived, and he awkwardly said, "You know, Ben, those letters were accidentally found by your grandfather in an old desk at the New England Courant's print shop."
Ben knew this, and seeing his father hesitating, he felt a sense of foreboding. "Father."
"Alright, Ben, I donated those letters to the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia," Pat Gates confessed directly.
Ben slapped his forehead in frustration. "God, I should have taken those letters earlier. Let's go, Riley. We don't have time to stay here. We need to get to Philadelphia."
Riley, eating pizza, stood up and said, "Ben, maybe we should tie up Mr. Pat. It might be safer for him."
"What?" Pat Gates looked at Riley and Ben in shock, not understanding why they needed to tie him up.
Pat looked at his son, who nodded and said, "Riley, get the tape from the drawer behind you."
Turning to Pat, Ben said, "Sorry, Father, but I have to tie you up."
Pat angrily asked, "Why? Do you think I'll tell someone? Ben, I'm so disappointed in you. Don't you trust me? Are you really my son?"
Seeing his father so angry, Ben, fearing for his father's heart, confessed, "Father, we stole the Declaration of Independence. It's right here."
He took out the tube containing the Declaration and shook it in front of Pat. "The clue is on the back of the Declaration. I'm sure of it."
Pat Gates looked at Ben in disbelief. "God, what have you done, Ben? Do you know what will happen if you're caught? You'll spend your life in prison."
"I know, Father. That's why I must find the treasure this time. If I can present the treasure to the authorities, not only will my crimes be pardoned, but our family's honor will also be restored. I have no other options, Father. I'll tie you up now. When the special agents arrive, just say I kidnapped you. They won't harm you."
"God bless you to find the treasure. Come on, Ben, I'm ready," Pat Gates said, realizing the situation was beyond his control and choosing to support his son.
After tying up Pat Gates, Ben hugged his father and, taking the tube, headed for the door. As soon as he opened it, he froze, hands instinctively raised.
Riley, seeing Ben standing still, said, "Hurry up, Ben. We don't have much time. The special agents will be here soon."
"Can you give it to me, Mr. Gates? Don't make me use force, or I'll have to kill you all," a voice outside the door said.
Riley peeked out and saw a man in a suit wearing a mask, holding a silenced gun to Ben's head. Riley screamed in fear.
With a 'swish,' a hole appeared in the wall beside Riley. "Shut up. Next time, I'll shoot you in the head."
"Once more, can you give me the tube, Mr. Gates? I won't ask a third time," the masked man said, cocking the gun. A cold chill ran down Ben's spine, realizing this man would really shoot.
Ben hurriedly handed the tube to the masked man, John Wick.
"Thank you for cooperating. Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you. Now, please slowly walk back inside. Thank you."
Ben and Riley, held at gunpoint, followed John Wick's orders and walked back into the house. Pat Gates, tied up in the living room, looked in shock as his son and Riley were led back at gunpoint.
"Sir, whatever you want, we'll comply. Just please don't shoot," Pat Gates pleaded.
John Wick's tone was calm. "Don't worry, my target isn't you. I don't like doing things outside my mission. As long as you cooperate, I promise I won't waste a bullet."
Pat quickly said, "Okay, no problem. We'll cooperate fully with you, sir. Just tell us what to do."
Ben, hearing the assassin, quickly offered, "I have a million dollars. It's all yours if you don't take the tube. I can even sell my house for an additional few hundred thousand. It's all yours."
"Shut up, Ben," Pat Gates shouted in panic, knowing the rules of the assassin world because of his wife, Victoria Winslow, an English woman who hid her true identity as a university professor.
Pat Gates knew no assassin would abandon their mission, as it would mean becoming a target themselves.
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