"This way, please," Mr. Sullivan led Ben, Abigail, and Riley, into his office. "I guess you've heard about the discovery," he said as he was sitting down.

"What discovery?" asked Abigail.

"Thanks to you, Dr. Chase, I am now perplexed. You don't know about this?"

"About what?"

Mr. Sullivan, still confused, explained that two young adults came into his office and paid the museum eight thousand dollars for a photograph of the reverse side of the painting. Abigail took notes.

"Why is this such a big deal?" asked Riley.

"The two young people recently called us and said that they found the Loot of Lima on an island in the Pacific, using directions…" But none of them needed any more details about the treasure.

"What were their names?" asked Ben.

"Um, I think their last names were Roland. They were brother and sister."

"Write that down, too, Abigail. Where are they now?"

"Um, you're going to have to see the media for this. Television, maybe."

Ben called the FBI and let them know about the Rolands. The FBI told them that the two people's names were Steve and Angie Roland, and they found the treasure with the help of a teenager named Evan Schumacher.

"Where was it found?" asked Ben.

"An island named Hiva Oa. It's in French Polynesia."

"Can you talk to them?"

"We tried, but they are not giving any interviews. It may have something to do with the $200,000,000 reward they received."

"I want to talk with them. Where are they?"

"A, they're not talking with nobody. B, they're going to Africa."

"Where?"

Eventually, he found out that the Rolands and Mr. Schumacher had scheduled an appointment with the President of Sierra Leone in that nation's capital, Freetown. He and Riley flew to Freetown to try to meet with one of them.

By the time their plane landed, they received a phone call from Agent Quist.

"Gates, we have more information," she said. "Ms. Roland was given 100% of the finder's fee, and she split it somewhat evenly between herself, Mr. Roland, and Mr. Schumacher. All three of them started a corporation in Sierra Leone called Schurol, which subsequently purchased the three most profitable diamond mines in Sierra Leone. They met with President Bangura and made an agreement, but that information is being kept private. That's about all we know now."

"Is all of this legal?" asked Ben.

"As far as we know, President Bangura is a very trustworthy man."

"That's fine. I still need to talk with one of the treasure hunters, probably Angie Roland."

"Nothing yet. Keep that phone charged, Mr. Gates." Agent Quist hung up.

----

As Ben and Riley went searching through Freetown, they were amazed at the living conditions of the Sierra Leoneans. The nation was recovering from a severe civil war, and the heat, humidity, flooding, and crowds did not help. Ben and Riley felt somewhat guilty staying at an air-conditioned hotel that night.

The next morning, Ben turned on the news. The top story of the day was known worldwide.

President Bangura had signed an agreement with the Schurol Corporation that would give the nation of Sierra Leone a makeover. The Schurol Project, as it was known, would use much of the little profit of the tiny nation to benefit the Sierra Leonean people, starting with boosting tourism.

A museum housing much of the Loot of Lima would be built on an artificial island in Kroo Bay. New markets and stores would be built all over Freetown, and Schurol had just started a design competition for the tallest man-made sculpture in the world. Other plans were being kept confidential until the nation's profits were at least doubled.