Exhaustive Search and Elimination Method
In the study at Crawford Manor, Lara and Jiang Hao were looking through reference materials. The table was piled with all kinds of books. Butler Hori and computer expert Bryce had also been called in to help, forming a four-person treasure-hunting team.
Bryce frowned. "Lara, so many people have spent decades trying to find the German treasure without any results. I think we're wasting our time."
"How would we know without trying? Not finding it is normal; finding it would be an unexpected surprise. The most thrilling moment is when, after all kinds of effort, you finally find the treasure, solve the mystery, and lift the veil of secrecy. That's the fun of treasure hunting." Lara smiled.
"Then what's our direction?" Hori asked.
Jiang Hao spoke up then. "First, we need to define a range. Then we use methodology to narrow down the direction, and finally identify the target."
Everyone looked at Jiang Hao. He smiled and said, "I took a rough look. Many of the legends about German treasure point to the Alps. I believe those rumors didn't come from nowhere."
"The Alps? My god, the Alps are huge. They span seven countries: northern Italy, southeastern France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, southern Germany, and Slovenia. They're 1,200 kilometers long and 130 to 260 kilometers wide. How could we possibly find treasure over such a vast area?" Bryce said.
Jiang Hao shook his head. "Searching aimlessly definitely won't work, but we can determine a direction through analysis."
"Analysis?"
"Yes, analysis. To hide a large quantity of treasure, they would have needed a suitable location. The Germans were in a hurried retreat after their defeat, and they had enormous quantities of supplies and treasure. The hiding place had to be concealed, but it also couldn't be too