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The answer did not co five years, millions of dollars, and a dedicated staff of historians, archaeologists, and genealogists, but by the time he turned forty Hadeon Bondaruk was sure of it: He was, in fact, a direct blood descendant of Xerxes I, ruler of the Persian Achaemenid Empire

Frorew into an obsession with everything Persian; he used the full force of his wealth and influence to asse cup used at the wedding celebration of Cyaxares to a stone dais used for Zoroastrian rituals during the Sassanid Dynasty to the jewel-encrusted gerron shield carried by Xerxes himself at Thermopylae

And his collection was nearly co omission, he reminded himself His personal museum, which lay in the bowels of his mansion, was a marvel he shared with no one, partially because no one orthy of its glory, but mostly because it was not yet complete

Yet, he now thought Soon he would remedy the issue

As if on cue the door to his study opened and his valet entered “Pardon me, sir”

Bondaruk turned “What is it?”

“A call for you Mr Arkhipov”

“Send it through”

The valet left, gently closing the door behind him A few moments later the phone on Bondaruk’s desk trilled He picked it up “Tell oriy”

“I a to my sources, the man runs an antique shop in the area The website where he posted the picture is a well-established forum for antique dealers and treasure hunters”

“And has anyone shown any interest in the shard?”

“So serious So far the consensus is that it’s si more”

“Good Where are you?”

“New York, waiting to board ht”

At this Bondaruk s the initiative I like that”