Baal came to the manor shortly after the butler's departure.
"I sent someone to ask for the biggest-a*s scholar they can find. But nobody can tell us anything about that 'Pocratee' place. Not even the seasoned professors in those academies.
"But sir, I wouldn't have come here empty-handed, heh heh. One of my men saw this snake thing somewhere the other day, so he told me. Following his lead, I finally got someone."
Baal boasted his little merit and continued his story.
The lackey he mentioned saw the exact "serpent on rod" picture from somewhere… or at least, a very similar picture.