Chapter 151: Auction Items
Liang En was drawn to this seemingly tattered sketchbook for a simple reason—it had a starting bid in just four digits.
The low valuation stemmed from the lack of signatures on the artworks and the overall appearance of the book. Some sketches didn't seem to belong to a single artist; it resembled a discarded practice book.
"Ah, finally found you." As Liang En gazed at the book in the cabinet, a familiar middle-aged voice came from behind. Turning around, he spotted Bruce standing there.
"Pleasure to see you, Mr. Bruce," Liang En shook hands and inquired, "Was there something specific you invited me here for?"
"I heard they'd auction an ancient Egyptian painted coffin from a prominent figure. I intend to acquire it," Bruce stated outright upon Liang En's query.
"I'm planning a hotel near the significant tourist city of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Donating artifacts would add leverage to my business," Bruce explained his bold intention, which was quite a public secret within their circle.
Hence, stating it now bore no risk and rather served to bridge their relationship.
Bruce had been collecting Egyptian artifacts for nearly half a year, but his previous acquisitions were subpar. Upon hearing about this auction, he personally attended, aware that the organizers merely provided a platform and couldn't guarantee authenticity. Hence, inviting Liang En.
"Why haven't I seen this coffin?" Liang En asked curiously, having not laid eyes on it since he arrived.
"Coffins are taboo for many. That painted coffin is stored at the bottom of the ship's hold and won't be brought up until an hour before the auction," Bruce explained.
"To be honest, I'm quite superstitious about such things. If I had other Egyptian artifacts to consider, I wouldn't have gone for the coffin."
"Understood," Liang En nodded, promising, "I'll do my best to help you verify it when the time comes."
After discussing the matter at hand, Liang En inquired about the sketchbook. Bruce revealed it was from a local affluent, supposedly from a closed gallery. It had about a century of history, known for its high-quality sketches.
"In reality, if these were oil paintings, experts could ascertain the hand behind them. However, these sketches lack that distinction," Bruce whispered.
"These sketches depict ordinary people, landscapes, or still life, making it impossible to determine the artist."
"The item's auctionability primarily stems from the donor's identity and some inherent artistic value."
Different from typical artifacts, the art market delved deep into the creator's fame rather than the piece's artistry. Even an unknown artist's work, until recognized, might hold no value, much like Van Gogh before his fame.
For Liang En, this seemed favorable since the sketchbook aligned with his taste. If the price stayed reasonable, it'd make a great addition to his collection.
With Bruce's introductions, Liang En met affluent enthusiasts interested in antiques and art, securing several business cards with private numbers for potential future sales, diversifying his sales channels.
Amidst conversations, around 4:50 PM, the invited guests filed into a large lounge below the ship's deck.
"Thank you all for joining this small auction," a middle-aged auctioneer in a tuxedo stepped onto the stage, acknowledging the attendees.
"Since this is a private auction, we'll keep it informal. Items not previously displayed get a five-minute viewing, the rest, straight to bidding."
"Alright, let's begin," seeing no objections to the rules, the auctioneer promptly introduced the first item.
"This is an abstract oil painting by American modernist artist Robert Lehman. Starting at $30,000, anyone interested?"
"$50,000," a stout middle-aged man from a New York gallery raised his hand, attracting attention due to his interest in the leading figure's work.
This high bid deterred others from competing further; $50,000 for a small piece seemed unreasonable.
"Congratulations, Mr. Cohen," noticing no other bids, the auctioneer finalized the sale, and a waiter placed the painting beside Mr. Cohen.
In a formal auction, this ease wouldn't be possible, but in this private setting, convenience ruled over strict regulations.
Following were a 20th-century diamond ring and a lesser-known Japanese samurai sword, both sold after just a couple of bids.
Finally, Liang En's previously eyed sketchbook entered the auction. However, its shabby appearance didn't incite the intense bidding Liang En imagined.
After two bids, rising from $5,000 to $7,000, the other middle-aged bidder competing with Liang En chose to withdraw, evidently not keen on this worn-out item.
"Can you tell us about this sketchbook?" Bruce asked in a hushed tone after the book was brought down. He didn't expect Liang En to casually purchase a seemingly low-value sketchbook.
"I find the content quite expressive," Liang En whispered, "Though I'm unsure of the artist, someone with this skill shouldn't be obscure."
Though Liang En didn't fully comprehend the piece before using a card, he knew good art should evoke beauty. And this sketch did just that.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 152: Fake
Since Liang En had already obtained the sketchbook, he wasn't in a hurry to use the cards to check its origin. Instead, he continued to focus on the auction.
Quickly, the warm-up items in the front found their new owners, and now it was time for the main items of today's auction.
The first item Liang En noticed, a Tiffany necklace, ignited the atmosphere instantly. The price soared, eventually selling for $650,000.
As various items were auctioned, except for a few that were sold at the base price, the rest fetched satisfactory prices.
"Next up is an auction item from ancient Egypt, also from England. It was once a princess's coffin, but it left Egypt over two hundred years ago and arrived in England, where it has been preserved until today."
As the auctioneer loudly introduced the next item, two crew members carefully wheeled a colorful Egyptian coffin from the side of the room, placing it on the platform.
"You can come up to view this item for five minutes, then we'll continue with the auction. Oh, by the way, the starting price for this ancient Egyptian painted coffin is $400,000."
Compared to the previously sold ancient Egyptian bronze sickle sword for $700,000, this Egyptian coffin's historical value was evidently higher. Unfortunately, being a niche item, it didn't attract much bidding.
Soon, Liang En stood next to the coffin with Bruce, inspecting it closely.
Right from the start, Liang En observed the hieroglyphs inside the coffin lid. Texts often contained crucial information.
The coffin lid was densely inscribed with hieroglyphs in the ancient Egyptian sacred script, and when translated, it revealed a portion of the famous Ancient Egyptian "Book of the Dead."
For ancient Egyptians, the "Book of the Dead" was crucial for the deceased to attain eternal life. Only by following the guidance of the "Book of the Dead" could the soul of the deceased be redeemed.
After inspecting the commonly found content on the inside lid, Liang En turned his attention to the side of the coffin. There, he noticed something peculiar about the inscriptions.
While the inscriptions on the coffin's side were merely the names of Ancient Egyptian individuals, it was abnormal. Normally, titles would precede the names, and only commoners would have just their names.
More importantly, based on the coffin's design, it appeared to belong to a female priestess. However, the name inscribed on the side was that of a man.
Unexpectedly, next to the coffin, there was a radiocarbon dating certificate explicitly stating that the coffin belonged to the era of the 17th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
With two conflicting pieces of evidence, Liang En entered a contemplative state. In the end, he chose to use an appraisal card to determine what exactly this item was.
Curiosity about what might lie behind this seemingly strange painted wooden coffin drove him, and he didn't want any issues arising in this commission.
"Since Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in the 19th century, Europe has once again become fascinated with Egypt. Unlike previous pursuits focused on the mythical healing properties of mummies, this time Europeans coveted everything related to Egypt."
"As a result, everything related to Egypt became expensive in Europe. In such a situation, the fabrication of artifacts became a natural occurrence."
"The simplest forgery is an entirely fake item. However, with the improvement in the skills of those involved in the industry, various high-end forgeries also appeared on the market."
"For example, this Egyptian painted wooden coffin is among the top-tier forgeries. The forger used ancient wood to craft the main body of the coffin and decorated it with similarly ancient materials, making it difficult to detect by expert appraisers."
"So, this thing is a high-end forgery!" Liang En exclaimed as he read the inscriptions.
Honestly, being deceived in this regard was normal for him. After all, he was an expert in Ancient Egyptian scripts, not an artifact specialist. Facing such a high-end forgery, it was understandable for him to be taken aback.
As for why previous appraisers didn't notice, it was simple. On one hand, the item had been collected long ago, and subsequent generations naturally assumed its authenticity.
On the other hand, the forgers used a significant amount of ancient materials, making it impossible for those who conducted carbon-14 testing to find any issues.
Perhaps the forgers didn't anticipate that the seemingly indecipherable Ancient Egyptian script would be cracked, exposing the flaws today.
"How about this?" After the inspection time ended, Bruce, sitting back in his seat, quietly asked Liang En, "Is it worth my money?"
"I personally suggest you reconsider because this painted coffin—" Liang En quickly recounted the discrepancies he observed.
"Are you sure?" After Liang En explained, Bruce seemed tense and whispered, "This isn't something to joke about."
"I won't joke about this," Liang En said seriously. "Unless all my previous translations of Ancient Egyptian texts were wrong."
"If that's the case, I think we're going to make headlines," Bruce laughed and then stood up, shouting to the auctioneer who was about to start the bidding, "Stop the auction! This Egyptian painted coffin is a fake."
"Are you sure, Mr. Bruce?" As Bruce spoke, the organizer of the auction, Mr. Skoode, also stood up, looking at him inquiringly.
"I assume you're aware of the rules of our auction, so I hope you can present reasonable evidence. Otherwise, I may have to prohibit you from participating in auctions on this ship."
"I discovered this issue," Liang En raised his hand at this point. "Because I found that the inscriptions on this coffin and its design don't match—"
In the next five minutes, Liang En used simple and colloquial language to explain the discrepancies he found on this coffin.
"So, the situation is like this. I believe when the forgery was made, Ancient Egyptian scripts hadn't been deciphered yet. Therefore, when copying according to a template, they made mistakes, and I happened to be able to translate Ancient Egyptian texts."
"I see." Mr. Skoode nodded and then looked at a slightly bald middle-aged man sitting below. "Sorry, Mr. Locke, I believe your consigned item this time is a fake."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 153: Banquet
Everything from the auction was sold smoothly, except for the fake Ancient Egyptian painted wooden coffin.
After the auction, most people headed upstairs to the banquet hall. However, Liang En and his companions, led by Mr. Locke, stayed behind to conduct a destructive analysis of the coffin.
"Indeed, this thing is fake." Mr. Locke's expression turned grim as he looked at the test report of the wood sawn from the coffin lid, confirming that the adhesive used dated back only around 100 years.
The glue was hidden inside the coffin, making it nearly impossible to detect the issue without this destructive inspection.
"Thank you. Without your help, I wouldn't have known the consequences if the buyer found out this was fake." Mr. Locke squeezed Liang En's hand in gratitude after taking a deep breath.
As this was an auction among elite individuals, selling a counterfeit could cause significant trouble.
"Thank you for your assistance. This prevented a counterfeit from being sold as an original." After Mr. Locke left, Mr. Skoode expressed his gratitude to Liang En and Bruce, giving each of them a card.
The card, similar in size to a regular business card, was made entirely of metal with a beautiful blue finish. It featured an illustration of a ship with the inscription "Norse Star" in English.
"What's this card for?" Liang En whispered to Bruce as they left the room to join the upstairs banquet.
"It's a pass for the Norse Star Club," Bruce explained. "With this card, we're now members of the club."
"As members, we'll be notified in advance about any auctions aboard this ship, allowing us to participate by simply notifying them beforehand."
"Additionally, being a member grants us the right to sell various items through this platform if we come across anything valuable!"
"That sounds pretty good," Liang En nodded after Bruce's explanation. Compared to his previous channels, this direct selling method seemed much better.
Shortly after Liang En and company arrived at the banquet hall, Mr. Skoode also made his entrance, raising a glass of wine to make a few remarks before the feast began.
The banquet on the ship that day was conducted in a casual buffet style, prompting people to quickly gather in small groups, engaging in conversations.
As a newcomer, Liang En wasn't acquainted with many, so he and Fan Meng found a corner to fill their plates. Unexpectedly, Mr. Skoode approached them, wine glass in hand.
"Liang, I'm pleased to see a young talent like you in my club." Mr. Skoode lightly tapped his glass against Liang En's, then continued, "I'm about to embark on a new adventure, and I've heard of your successful exploits. I hope you can offer some advice for my upcoming journey."
"I've been fortunate, stumbling upon significant findings each time," Liang En modestly replied, lifting his glass. "By the way, may I ask about the target of your upcoming adventure?"
"I'm seeking the legendary Viking settlement in America, Vinland," Mr. Skoode revealed his quest, noticing the odd expressions on Liang En and Fan Meng's faces.
"It's a real place, not merely a legend," Skoode raised his voice slightly. "Though I've searched multiple times without success, I firmly believe it exists—"
"Mr. Skoode, we believe that too," Liang En promptly interrupted. "Because just a week ago, we discovered Vinland. More precisely, a highly probable site of Vinland—"
Following this, Liang En discreetly explained, pulling out his phone to display photos and videos from their archaeological work, providing evidence to support his claim.
"I see, I see," as Liang En spoke, Skoode muttered to himself. "My previous assumptions were wrong. The real Vinland is evidently farther north than I thought."
"Yes, while we cannot conclusively determine if this Viking settlement is one of the two mentioned in the sagas or an unrecorded one, it's highly probable that this is Vinland."
Observing the somewhat disheartened elderly man before him, Liang En bit his lip, knowing his words might affect Skoode in some way. Yet, honesty seemed best at this moment.
"Don't worry; I'm not that easily discouraged." After sipping from his glass, Mr. Skoode quickly regained composure.
Having experienced numerous setbacks in his exploration endeavors, he had built a resilient disposition over time, enduring disappointment on multiple occasions.
Consequently, for the rest of the banquet, Skoode spent most of his time engaging in conversation with Liang En. During their discussions, he inquired about various aspects related to the Vikings.
"I think there's a place you might want to explore." Considering the old man's repeated failed attempts, Liang En felt inclined to offer him a favor.
"Before this search for Vinland, I collected a significant amount of information around Greenland. Within that data, I found potential locations for remnants of Viking activities."
Liang En mentioned a spot near St. Pierre, which happened to be the ancient Viking site he stumbled upon during his visit to Russia.
As Liang En had only excavated a few items from the site without causing significant damage, it seemed an ideal recommendation for Mr. Skoode at this juncture.
Truth be told, the evidence was a stretch, molded from the epic sagas. Nonetheless, considering hitting the bullseye with an already aimed arrow, these pieces of evidence appeared reasonably convincing.
"Are you saying there might be an ancient Viking trading post at that location?" Excitement gleamed in Skoode's eyes as he observed the pictures on Liang En's phone.
"I can only say there's a high probability of such a site existing," Liang En cautioned. "And it's likely not to contain many valuable artifacts."
"After all, as the epics narrate, that place was thoroughly destroyed in chaos, so there might not be many valuable relics left."
"No worries, that's already great," Skoode brushed off Liang En's caution. "Given my long history of fruitless searches, even a mere relic would satisfy me this time."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 154: Auction Harvest
After wrapping up the evening's festivities and returning to their hotel, Liang En and Fan Meng wasted no time gathering together to admire the booklet they'd purchased at the auction.
"These sketches are really quite captivating," Fan Meng scratched his head after flipping through the 19 drawings in the booklet. "I can't quite grasp the technicalities, but I just feel a good vibe from these sketches."
"If that's the case, then the artist behind these sketches is truly skilled," Liang En nodded faintly. "True artistry lies in its ability to offer a sense of beauty even to those unfamiliar with the craft."
After rechecking the booklet to no avail, realizing he couldn't assist further, Fan Meng returned to his room. Meanwhile, the moment he left, Liang En employed the "Appraisal (N)" card on the booklet.
He resorted to the card because during inspection, Liang En noticed the booklet should have been bound together after the sketches were completed, knowing his expertise wouldn't suffice for the subsequent appraisal.
Recognizing one's limitations in facing such art was a wise choice, allowing for time and energy savings with the aid of this 'cheat,' as he thought of it.
As expected, after using the card on the booklet, a string of text promptly materialized before Liang En, revealing the identity of this booklet.
"Renowned oil painting masters often possess remarkable sketching skills, using sketches to refine their painting abilities. This booklet is the legacy of two such oil painting masters."
"Nikolai Feshin owned this booklet, with most of the sketches being his own. However, apart from his 17 sketches, there are also two sketches by his teacher, Ilya Repin."
"Repin!" Liang En's eyes widened. Although uncertain about Nikolai Feshin, he was familiar with the Russian renowned oil painter Repin from a literary piece titled 'Barge Haulers on the Volga,' whose illustration was by Repin himself.
As the specifics of this sketchbook's identity became clear, two cards popped into Liang En's mind, one with an R rarity and the other an N rarity, based on their colors.
"It seems this small booklet was truly worth the purchase," Liang En murmured softly to himself. Acquiring an N card and an R card for less than $10,000 was indeed a fantastic deal for him.
Upon inspection, he found the N card to be a regular "Appraisal (N)" with nothing particularly special about it. However, the R card turned out to be a brand-new enhancement card.
"Ah, this new skill seems rather valuable," Liang En leaned back in his chair after using the card to master sketching skills. After all, archaeological work often required sketching, devoid of artistic elements but still a form of sketching.
Especially in the past when there were no video or photographic devices, ancient relic excavators primarily relied on sketches alongside textual documentation.
However, with technological advancements, fewer historians and archaeologists possessed this skill. But mastering it might prove useful in certain unique situations.
"Who is this Nikolai Feshin, though?" After the initial excitement of acquiring a new skill faded, Liang En delved into researching the person behind this card.
Not being an art enthusiast, knowing Repin was already his limit. As it was the era of the internet, Liang En swiftly accessed information on this painter named Nikolai Feshin.
Nikolai Feshin (1879-1955), a Russian-American painter born into a family of woodcarvers in Kazan, Russia. A student of Repin, his distinct works included 'Autumn,' 'Portrait of Kanuriya,' and 'Portrait of Father.'
His paintings boasted vibrant colors, strong contrasts, and powerful expressions. Influenced by Eastern traditional painting, his charcoal portraits on smooth, sturdy paper were remarkable and deeply expressive.
His artistic prowess gained acknowledgment from his teacher. In 1926, when asked about the most genius contemporary artist, Repin cheerfully exclaimed, "Feshin!"
Unlike his mentor, Feshin's surviving works were scarce today. Most of his later works were scattered among private collectors, limiting his overall recognition.
This scarcity arose due to the artist's tumultuous life, with many of his works destroyed in wars or lost during immigration or international exhibitions.
Regardless, Feshin's artwork commanded high prices, especially propelled by Russian oligarchs. For instance, a few years ago, one of his oil paintings fetched a staggering £2.3 million at an auction.
However, compared to oil paintings, sketches wouldn't reach such prices. Yet, because Feshin excelled in both oil paintings and sketches, especially portraits, this practice booklet in Liang En's possession wouldn't have a low value. Judging by similar items' auction prices, this practice booklet might fetch around £700,000 to £800,000 if it ever made it to an auction.
But Liang En had no intention of selling these items—at least not in the near future. He wasn't in dire need of money, and the information he gathered suggested these art pieces had been appreciating in value for decades, making them a sound investment.
The next day, Liang En and Fan Meng headed to the location of the gallery they'd inquired about during the party, hoping to find similar items. However, upon arrival, they discovered the gallery site had become a massive construction pit, indicating plans for a new building on the premises.
Realizing their search was futile, they reluctantly abandoned their plans and returned to the hotel, their hopes dashed by the turn of events.
However, moments after their return, Liang En received a call from Mr. Skoode, hoping for another chat before their departure.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 155: Exchange
That afternoon, Liang En arrived at a bar in downtown Toronto. He followed the bartender's directions and made his way to a corner on the bar's second floor. "Good evening, Mr. Skoode."
Liang En greeted Skoode, taking a seat opposite him at the round table.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to everyone, on the rooftop, three crows with metal blades attached to their claws descended from the sky. They stealthily maneuvered through the humanly imperceptible crevices, inspecting the bar from hidden vantage points.
Liang En felt tense because the invitation from this wealthy gentleman seemed unusual. Naturally, he was on guard.
However, upon arriving, he realized he had been overly apprehensive. The entire second floor of the bar was occupied solely by Skoode.
After a brief reconnaissance, the three crows confirmed that indeed the wealthy man had come alone, just as he claimed, without any entourage.
"May I ask why you've summoned me here today?" Once settled, Liang En directly inquired, looking at the elderly man across the table.
After all, Skoode was a billionaire. The seemingly random reservation at a bar, followed by a one-on-one conversation, raised suspicions.
"Yes, I did summon you for a reason." Skoode smiled, placing a photo in front of Liang En. "I'd like to know if you've seen these objects in these photos."
"Let me see." Liang En took the photos and examined them carefully. Despite appearing composed, his heart churned upon seeing the first glimpse.
The photo displayed a Freemason emblem. What unsettled him more was that it was a black enamel badge with a golden compass and square pattern—an emblem he knew too well. It was the same emblem placed demonstratively in a sunken chamber he'd discovered earlier.
"These photos seem to depict Freemason emblems." After reviewing the photos, Liang En casually pushed them back. "Is there an issue with this emblem?"
"I heard you discovered a sunken chamber in England. One was intact, but the other had been emptied before, right?" Skoode suddenly asked.
"Yes." Liang En nodded, acknowledging that it wasn't a classified matter. Someone like Skoode wouldn't need much effort to uncover such information.
"If my guess is correct, you should have found a badge resembling the Freemasons." Seeing Liang En's acknowledgment, Skoode calmly stated.
"And if I'm not mistaken, the badge you found at the scene should look like the one in this photo I showed you."
"Who are you really? Or to be precise, what's your identity beyond being a wealthy man?" Skoode's words instantly put Liang En on alert.
Because the emblem in the photo had slight differences from the one he found in the sunken chamber. Moreover, the photo seemed to be at least five years old.
In other words, the emblem in the photo wasn't the same as the one Liang En had discovered. Skoode evidently acquired information about the Freemasons through other channels, reaching out to Liang En.
However, Liang En remained remarkably composed at this moment, seated calmly. None of the crows scattered throughout the room had detected any outsiders entering.
With his current physical abilities and the distance between them, even if Skoode intended harm, he wouldn't stand a chance. Besides, Skoode choosing this place for negotiation didn't hint at any aggressive intentions.
"I'm merely an adventurer and, of course, a Freemason. My reason for seeking you out is to ask for your help in finding my uncle—" Skoode said, producing another photo.
In the picture, a middle-aged man and a young child stood in front of Athens' Parthenon, both with bright smiles.
"The middle-aged man in this photo is my uncle. He was a renowned Swedish adventurer who discovered several Roman-era relics in the Middle East." Skoode's expression turned nostalgic as he spoke.
"My love for exploration stems from my uncle, who used to tell me stories of his adventures whenever he returned."
"Sorry, older folks tend to reminisce about the past." After sharing anecdotes of his childhood and moments with his uncle for a few minutes, Skoode shook his head, steering the conversation back on track.
"This photo was taken by my uncle before one of his expeditions. He claimed to have found a significant Roman secret, one that would shock the entire archaeological community if revealed."
"But my uncle vanished without a trace, and despite my father's extensive efforts to find him, we found nothing. Since then, I've embarked on a journey to locate him. Unfortunately, after all these years, all I know is that his disappearance is connected to the headquarters of the British Freemasons represented by this emblem."
"If that's the case, I'm afraid I can't take on this task you're entrusting me with." Liang En spoke seriously. "I'm a scholar and an adventurer, never expecting anything beyond my defined scope."
"So, commissions related to the British Freemasons are something I have to decline, even though I sympathize with your uncle's plight. However—sorry, but regardless of the circumstances, I must refuse."
"Sit, sit, let me finish speaking before you decide rashly." Skoode gestured for calmness with both hands.
He realized the potential misunderstanding his earlier words might have caused. Over the next half-hour, he briefed Liang En on internal Freemason information.
Contrary to Liang En's assumptions, the Freemasons, while having strict divisions, functioned loosely as a whole. Many branches had no direct association with others, merely sharing the same name.
The Freemasons who left behind this badge originally belonged to a branch under the British Freemason headquarters. However, in the 1960s, following the dissolution of the British Empire, this branch severed ties with the headquarters after a small but intense conflict.
"I can confirm that this branch was collecting various artifacts related to myths and legends. This hobby angered the British Freemason headquarters."
With his eyes fixed on Liang En, Skoode continued, speaking very seriously. "So, they won't receive any help from other branches of the Freemasons."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 156: The Golden Society
"According to the information I got from the Swedish Freemasons, this faction once known as the Golden Society, a branch of the English Freemasons, not only faces rejection from other Masonic branches but is also wanted by multiple countries for their destructive excavations and looting of historical sites."
For years, Skoode had researched this organization linked to his uncle's disappearance. Through his investigation, he realized the society possessed a terrifying side, albeit not as formidable as he initially thought.
Despite retaining wealth and power, they had devolved from a publicly active group into a criminal organization since their fallout with the English Freemasons.
"However, ever since the rift with the English Freemasons, they've been covertly contacting through clandestine means, evading capture by both the English Freemasons and Interpol," Skoode explained, sounding somewhat resigned.
He believed that finding his uncle necessitated locating key members or their records within this elusive Golden Society. Unfortunately, they were currently as elusive as shadows.
This was why Skoode sought Liang En's help. As a member of the Swedish Freemasons, any action Skoode took might attract their focused attention, thwarting his efforts.
"If that's the case, please allow me some time to consider," Liang En responded after hearing Skoode's recounting of the situation.
"Of course, it's only reasonable," Skoode replied, unsurprised. He understood the risks involved, appreciating Liang En's need for careful consideration.
Back at the hotel, Liang En promptly contacted acquaintances in archaeology, inquiring about the Skoode family and the so-called Golden Society.
After inquiries, Liang En learned that Mr. Skoode and his family generally had a good reputation. Thus, their request seemed entirely legitimate.
On the other hand, among Liang En's archaeological connections, the Golden Society was relatively known. Many were aware of its existence.
"The Golden Society? Those are the folks recklessly looting and damaging artifacts," Dr. Calderwell remarked, showing some knowledge about the organization. "If I recall correctly, several treasures within Scotland went missing, and numerous museum thefts seemed linked to them."
"Their operations span the globe. The Golden Society's notoriety extends from Ireland to Khitan; their name's widely recognized. There's always someone willing to pay for illegal artifacts, ensuring their continued activities," Dr. Calderwell continued.
After the call, Liang En received a series of documents from Dr. Calderwell. The numerous arrest warrants attached left him thoroughly astonished.
"Japan, China, Russia, the Central Asian 'stan' countries," Liang En muttered, observing the warrants issued for members of the Golden Society, widening his perspective.
"Offending half the world, these people truly have quite the capabilities," he whispered to himself, perusing through the warrants and crime scene briefings.
However, amidst their activities, what truly alarmed Liang En was the irreparable damage inflicted upon historical relics and sites. For instance, to access treasures beneath a pagoda, they detonated explosives, demolishing the structure and pillaging its contents.
In war-torn regions, they collaborated with local insurgents or even regular armies, systematically stripping desired artifacts amid the chaos, leaving destruction in their wake.
Information from Count Boskiet and the Louvre mirrored these findings, emphasizing the presence of skilled professionals within the organization, rendering their criminal endeavors meticulously organized.
"It appears they're a global syndicate specializing in artifact theft, existing for at least a century," Liang En concluded after reviewing the data, pondering deeply at his desk.
"Of course, there's a possibility they've been dismantled multiple times, only to resurface using their name. This cycle might have repeated," he added, considering the persistent nature of their activities.
As Liang En analyzed, a call interrupted. It was Pierce. Surprised, Liang En had added his friend to a group chat, not expecting Pierce's knowledge about the organization.
"I've interacted with peripheral members of this group," Pierce shared immediately upon the call connection, stunning Liang En.
"In the underground black market, this organization is akin to an urban legend. They usually take anonymous bounties from wealthy clients," Pierce continued.
"Of course, these bounties often involve illegal activities, such as stealing paintings already in museums or ancient Buddha statues located thousands of kilometers away," Pierce elaborated, possessing deeper insights into the Golden Society compared to scholars.
Through this conversation, Liang En realized that even if the Golden Society had members, their active task force likely comprised fewer than ten individuals.
Pierce informed Liang En that the society could only fulfill one commission at a time, even if multiple high-paying tasks were available simultaneously. This crucial information significantly increased the safety margin for Liang En accepting Mr. Skoode's mission.
"I believe we can take on this task," Fan Meng chimed in during the evening discussion. "Our objective isn't to eliminate the Golden Society but to investigate a possibly decades-old transgression by their predecessors. It's not as perilous as you might think."
"More importantly, we can search for Mr. Skoode's uncle through alternate means without directly confronting members of the Golden Society. Even if we fail to find him, the risk remains minimal," Fan Meng proposed.
"You're right. I now know what to do," Liang En affirmed, finally making a decision. "Let's rest here for a couple of days and then meet Mr. Skoode to accept the task."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 157: The Truth Unveiled
In the café of the hotel, three days later, Mr. Skoode and Liang En delved into discussions regarding the commissioned task.
"Are you suggesting that by retracing my uncle's final expedition, you hope to uncover his whereabouts?" Liang En inquired, contemplating the proposal.
"Everything you've mentioned, my father had already considered back then. He hired several private investigators and explorers, yielding only scarce leads," Mr. Skoode expressed, his tone tinged with reminiscence.
"May I ask when your father last sought your uncle?" Liang En's query seemed sudden, sparked by a realization. "I understand if this is rather abrupt, but—"
"It's not a taboo subject," Skoode gently shook his head. "That was about half a year before my father retired, over two decades ago. He spent a fortune hiring renowned teams but found very little."
"Yet, nearly 20 years have elapsed since then, and in this period, new technologies emerged. Perhaps another expedition might unveil overlooked clues," Liang En added optimistically.
"Your point is valid," Skoode nodded after contemplation. His pursuit of the Golden Society stemmed from the failure of previous searches, leaving clues only attainable through the Society.
In essence, if anyone could discover clues about his uncle's fate from elsewhere and find his long-lost uncle, he'd readily support it.
"All the records from that time are stored in my house. If it suits you, the day after tomorrow, I can take you there to organize all those documents," Mr. Skoode extended an invitation.
"These records occupy an entire room in my house. Besides, my father would be eager to host guests who've traveled from afar and discuss my uncle's story," he continued.
"That would be fantastic," Liang En sighed in relief. With sufficient data and potential witnesses, the likelihood of crucial leads increased significantly.
"Searching for my uncle isn't just my notion; it was also my father's desire," Skoode's excitement surged as he realized Liang En's acceptance of the task. He then animatedly delved into the chronicles of his elder relatives.
"My uncle, three years younger than my father, shared a close bond with him since childhood. When he reached adulthood, my uncle chose exploration, while my father managed the family legacy, supporting my uncle."
"Due to their relationship, my uncle would always brief my father about his expeditions," Skoode continued, highlighting their bond.
"The exception was his final adventure. He hinted that success would likely unravel a historical mystery that had perplexed many for centuries," Skoode's eyes reddened slightly as he recounted the events of over a decade ago.
"I remember vividly; I was barely ten then. My uncle was so excited and shared a lot with my father. Even today, I recall his exhilaration," Skoode reminisced.
"My father, too, was elated and told me that if my uncle returned successfully, our family would boast a renowned explorer," he added.
"However, we never anticipated that about a week into his journey to Turkey, all contact ceased. Since then, we've had no trace of him," Skoode lamented.
"This sounds terrible," observing Skoode's expression, Liang En mirrored the seriousness. "I'll do my utmost in the upcoming days to help find your uncle."
"If only we could. After all these years, we assume the worst, that he met an unfortunate end. Otherwise, he wouldn't have severed ties for so long," Skoode shook his head, expressing resignation.
"Before coming here, I initiated the summary of all previous findings. Hopefully, by the time we return, everything should be organized," Skoode stated.
"No trouble at all," Liang En expressed gratitude. Sorting through the extensive data accumulated over the years would undoubtedly save time.
"It's no hassle. My father was handling these tasks; I only need to adjust and review," Skoode chuckled. "Now, about the compensation."
"I'll cover all your expenses on this journey. Additionally, if you do follow my uncle's records and discover anything, it's yours. I'll assist in managing the findings," Skoode offered.
"If you indeed find my uncle or confirm his fate, I'll consider paying you between 500,000 to 700,000 euros, depending on circumstances," he concluded.
"Such a generous offer. I see little reason to refuse," Liang En responded enthusiastically, having already made up his mind. The enticing compensation was an added incentive.
"It's delightful to have a scholar like you join the search team. I believe this venture will yield remarkable discoveries," Skoode stood, extending his hand towards Liang En.
"Yes, let's hope for a smooth operation," Liang En reciprocated the gesture, a smile brightening his face.
"Will it be just the two of us on this mission?" as they walked back to their room, Fan Meng inquired.
"No, Pierce will be joining us this time," Liang En explained. "His profound understanding of the dark side of the antiquities market and extensive connections in Europe and America will be immensely helpful."
"Understood. We indeed need someone knowledgeable about gray and even black market dealings," Fan Meng nodded, drawing from his experiences in conflict zones as a former military personnel.
"Especially considering potential dangers and conflicts, having some illegal means to safeguard ourselves is necessary," Liang En emphasized.
"Pierce assured me he has channels to procure defensive items," Liang En continued. "For the right price, he can even acquire rare and effective tools."
"That sounds promising," Fan Meng agreed. "Although we might not anticipate direct conflicts, preparation is always wise."
"Especially when it concerns our safety, I'd rather have tools I never need to use, similar to when we went to Egypt last time," Fan Meng concluded, stressing the importance of preparedness.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 158: The Reason for Disappearance
Two days later, Liang En and his friends followed Skoode to Stockholm. As they exited the airport, they hopped into an extended Mercedes headed straight for an estate on the outskirts of the city.
Over an hour later, the car stopped at a vast garden estate entrance. They passed through the just-opened iron gates and entered the property.
"Follow me." After getting out of the car, Liang En and Fan Meng were guided by Mr. Sthor to a building adjacent to the estate, then rang the doorbell.
Seconds later, a young man opened the door and ushered everyone inside, saying, "Good morning, Mr. Skoode. The documents you requested earlier have been organized and are ready for your perusal."
Skoode nodded to the servant, leading Liang En and the others down a hallway. Soon, they entered a room piled high with shelves and boxes, where an elderly man sat amidst the materials, flipping through an album.
"Mr. Hopton, what brings you back today? You had all these old documents sorted before your return?" The white-haired old man raised his head upon seeing the visitors, removing his reading glasses.
"Also, are these young guests related to your sudden return? Could you introduce what this is all about?" he inquired.
"They're members of the Panda Exploration Studio, led by a genius explorer and archaeologist. They decoded ancient Egyptian texts previously and recently discovered a Viking settlement in the Americas," Skoode explained to his father in English for Liang En's benefit.
Interestingly, the Swedes not only had high proficiency in English but also commonly used it in their daily lives.
"And I've brought them here to help trace my uncle's clues. That's why they're examining these documents," Skoode continued.
"To be honest, I've lost hope in this matter," the elderly Mr. Sthor gently shook his head, sighing as he looked at Liang En and the others.
"But I'm glad you're willing to take on this task. Feel free to ask me anything during this time, and I'll try my best to answer if I know."
"Thank you!" Liang En nodded at the old man, then started questioning with his recording pen, referring to the prepared queries. "Could you recall why your brother embarked on this expedition?"
"My son might have briefed you. He sought evidence to unveil a certain secret related to ancient Rome, associated with the Golden Society," Mr. Sthor began, delving into events from half a century ago. "He had made new acquaintances who possessed crucial information but lacked funds. Hence, they proposed a joint expedition."
"This wasn't the first time for my brother. Given our wealth and his expertise, many explorers sought our sponsorship," Mr. Sthor continued.
Liang En nodded, understanding that most adventurers relied on sponsors. Without his own means, he might have spent significant time seeking sponsorship.
"After about two weeks of preparation, my brother set off with this group. During this time, my father investigated their backgrounds and discovered their affiliation with the English Freemasons," Mr. Sthor explained.
"The English Freemasons? Weren't they associated with the Golden Society?" Liang En inquired curiously.
"Yes, initially it seemed so. Because of this affiliation, we reluctantly permitted my brother to embark on the journey," Mr. Sthor shook his head. He then had his son retrieve a yellowed letter from a nearby bookshelf.
"My brother first reached Istanbul, sending us this letter, which became his final correspondence."
"Let me have a look." Liang En extracted the letter from a file bag on the nearby table, meticulously examining every detail. It seemed like an ordinary letter, encased in a yellowed plastic cover due to its significance. Aside from the greetings, it briefly mentioned new discoveries made.
According to the letter, they found more information in the last capital of the Roman Empire and identified the location of their ultimate objective. If all went well, they'd soon head to the eastern part of Turkey to pursue it.
"If it's the east, they likely went to Trabzon," Liang En whispered. The city in eastern Turkey was once ruled by the Roman imperial family, the Komnenos dynasty.
"Yes, my uncle did go to Trabzon. After his disappearance, our investigators traced him and the group's traces to Trabzon," Mr. Sthor added.
"However, the detectives we hired only knew that after arriving, they rested for a day before leaving. It was almost a month later that two severely injured companions returned to Trabzon, only to inexplicably die there."
"Following our investigation, we discovered that the long-severed ties between the Golden Society and the main organization erupted into a brief but intense conflict with the English Freemasons."
"So, I believe my brother innocently got caught up in that conflict, leading to his unfortunate demise. That's why we've been seeking core members or records of the Golden Society," Mr. Sthor concluded.
"As all the people who ventured out with my brother perished, apart from the core members of the Golden Society, no one might know his whereabouts," he continued.
"Meaning, if we knew where your brother went, we might uncover his fate," Liang En nodded. "Please, allow me some time to go through these materials."
"Of course." Mr. Sthor nodded and, assisted by his son, left the room. "Feel free to stay as long as you need. Press the red button by the door if you require any assistance."
"Thank you, Mr. Sthor." Liang En saw the father and son off, gazing at the walls filled with documents. "Well, it looks like we'll be acquainting ourselves with these books for a few days."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 159: Clues
Over the next three days, Liang En, along with Fan Meng and Pierce who rushed from England upon receiving the notification, gathered to investigate the materials in the room. They delved into the pile of documents without stepping outside this small building.
They arranged for food and drinks through the communicator in the room, having servants bring them in. When tired, they rested in the adjacent room, freshened up quickly upon waking, then returned to continue scouring through the information.
"Alright, I believe we've managed to roughly establish a timeline concerning Mr. Calderwell and his expedition team since they departed for Turkey," Liang En stated on the third day of their investigation, finally organizing the stack of data.
These documents enlightened him on various aspects, shedding light on the missing person, Mr. Calderwell's personality, habits, and numerous details about their journey.
"After reaching Constantinople, they spent about a week gathering information, presumably finding something significant before heading straight to Trabzon," Liang En noted, pulling out his notebook.
"Upon arriving in Trabzon by boat, he rested for a day, then, along with the entire team, left the city to commence their actual exploration."
Once they departed the city limits, Mr. Calderwell's team vanished from sight. It was not until 28 days later that two severely injured members of the expedition, driving a visibly damaged Willys Jeep, returned to Trabzon. They appeared as though they had been robbed.
"After entering the city, these unconscious individuals were taken to the hospital by passersby. Oddly, despite successful rescue attempts, they inexplicably died the following day after spending a night in the ward."
"Since these two individuals lacked any identification, the hospital quickly cremated their remains to prevent disease spread. Fortunately, the remaining belongings were bought by Old Mr. Skoode, which includes these items on the table."
Finishing his statement, Liang En gestured towards a small box on the table. The box resembled a cosmetics case, containing only a ring and a pendant with a family photograph.
"According to information obtained from the Skoode family, both the ring and pendant were thoroughly inspected previously, revealing nothing unexpected."
"However, during my examination, I unexpectedly discovered some engravings on the pendant, likely carved by the exploration team. Thus, I suspect these may contain some information, although it remains untranslatable without further clues."
Unmentioned by Liang En was his attempt to decode these engravings using his skill in Cipher Decryption (Rank R), which surprisingly translated into a simple English phrase: "Love You."
"Alright, let's address the suspicions we've had earlier," Pierce continued after Liang En's summary.
"For instance, Mr. Calderwell used to correspond or telegraph home whenever he arrived at a new location. Why did he fail to do so upon reaching Trabzon?"
"He might have written a letter, but it never got sent," Fan Meng chimed in, pulling out a document. "Because the hotel attendant saw Calderwell walk towards the mailbox that day."
"However, in such small places, regular mail gets collected only every three days. Unfortunately, there was a fire in the hotel's mailbox area the next day due to a toppled oil lamp, resulting in the destruction of some of the letters."
"I remember now," Pierce added, recalling the details. "Previous investigators suspected this might have been an intentional act, but by the time they arrived, the fire scene had been rebuilt, halting further investigation."
"Meaning, after reaching Trabzon, Mr. Calderwell's team possibly drew the attention of certain individuals," Liang En analyzed thoughtfully.
"However, we currently lack substantial information in this regard. So, let's begin by analyzing the available data to deduce their potential destinations."
"This aspect has been previously analyzed," Fan Meng retrieved a document. "When the survivors returned to Trabzon in that jeep, the fuel gauge showed only 1/3 of the tank filled."
"At that time, just after World War II, surplus military equipment from the U.S. flooded the market worldwide. This particular jeep was from a local rental shop later used by Calderwell's team."
"The shop owner mentioned the jeep had been modified, notably with a larger 35-liter fuel tank. Considering the survivors returned severely injured, they probably didn't refuel before the tank ran out."
"Trabzon's mountain roads consume 12 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers for jeeps, but inexperienced drivers might consume up to 15 liters. So, considering various factors, the location where the team met their demise likely lies within 150 km from the city."
"In reality, it's probably even closer," Liang En presented a medical report. "The survivors sustained severe injuries; they wouldn't have survived bumpy roads for over a hundred kilometers. Even considering their will to survive, they couldn't have driven for an hour."
"Consequently, the attack on them likely occurred within approximately 50 km from Trabzon's center, otherwise, the injured wouldn't have made it to the city."
"However, this information, albeit helpful, doesn't narrow down the vast area around Trabzon," Pierce shook his head. "Even if we were a hundred times our number, it wouldn't help much."
"So, I believe deciphering the message within this pendant's engravings is crucial," Liang En gazed at the pattern on the pendant, lost in thought. "Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to apologize to the two Mr. Skoodes."
"Do you have any leads on what these engravings might signify now?" Fan Meng curiously inquired.
"I've only figured out part of it," Liang En pointed to the seemingly cryptic dots and lines. "If I'm not mistaken, these patterns likely represent Morse code."
Because of his previous success in decrypting these engravings using his Cipher Decryption skill, Liang En deduced the meaning behind the patterns.
"Starting from the top, each flower denotes a letter, with the blossoms signifying dots and the leaves representing dashes. The sequence of letters goes from top to bottom."
"Wait a moment, if that's the case," Fan Meng quickly deciphered using a notebook and paper, but soon looked up. "Love you. It's quite ordinary to find such a phrase behind a pendant with a family photo."
"However, if that were the case, they could have easily written out the phrase directly, without resorting to such covert methods," Liang En countered. "So, I suspect there's a message hidden within."
"Right, this could possibly be Mr. Calderwell's last attempt at signaling something amiss, and the secret might lie within this phrase," Pierce contemplated while examining the pendant and the translated text by Fan Meng.
"For instance, why would they resort to Morse code?"
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 160: Setting the Target
"Morse code must have been produced by a telegraph machine," Pierce's words triggered Liang En's contemplation. "It means the message might be reminding us that these words were generated through tapping."
"Devices capable of displaying text through tapping—phones," Liang En instinctively thought along a certain line, quickly realizing it couldn't be that.
"No, during that era, even telephones were not commonly seen, let alone smartphones." He shook his head and then looked at his two companions. "I've figured it out, yes, it must be this way."
"Just as I mentioned, Morse code used to display this phrase aims to focus our attention on typing. The most common thing to generate text by tapping in that era was a typewriter."
"Typewriter!" Both Pierce and Fan Meng wore expressions of confusion. Pierce questioned, "But what's the difference between typing on a typewriter and handwriting in this context?"
"Of course, considering the person is English, they likely used an English typewriter," Liang En excitedly pointed out, displaying an image of a typewriter keyboard on his phone.
"This English typewriter layout almost aligns with the regular computer keyboard we have now, where each row of letters corresponds to a number on top."
"And if we match these numbers to the letters as I did before, we find the corresponding numbers for this word are 9943 697."
"This could be a code for a specific location or something similar." Pierce, seemingly experienced in this, started speculating. "But for this, we'll need to ask Mr. Skoode or Mr. Hopton."
"Considering the close-knit relationships in the Skoode family, his family members might know something. Also, hiding this information behind the portrait pendant might serve as a reminder."
"This might be related to a bank." When Liang En pursued these clues alone to meet Old Mr. Skoode, the latter promptly responded after a brief thought.
"This was our prior agreement—if there's an urgent situation where we need to leave a trace, we rent a safety deposit box at a bank for 99 years and leave information for other family members."
"I suppose my brother intended to mention this in the letter he wanted to send back from Trabzon, but unfortunately, the letter was destroyed."
"Without obtaining the crucial information, I couldn't investigate the bank. Otherwise, this commotion could have alerted those hidden figures who killed my brother, allowing them to access and destroy what was in the bank beforehand."
"I believe the only fortunate thing is that those individuals might have hurriedly chosen to burn the letter directly without reading it. So, my brother's secret might have been preserved until today."
"So, my final plan is to wait for the 99 years to pass or for the bank to close, and then, my descendants can try to find my brother's belongings from the items cleared from the bank and follow the clues he left behind."
"But now we have a better plan." Old Mr. Skoode smiled. "I think the numbers you found might be the vault number and password for the bank."
"But we don't have the keys." Liang En suddenly remarked. "Don't we need keys to open the bank's safe? But I haven't found any keys or related items here."
"In the past, these private safes didn't necessarily require keys; some only needed the safe number, password, and the agreed-upon personal mark." Old Mr. Skoode explained to Fan Meng.
"This was crucial for my brother because if it were keys, they might have disappeared along with his disappearance, rendering them meaningless."
"But how do we determine which bank these two numbers correspond to?" Liang En inquired puzzledly. "According to the schedule, this thing should be hidden in Istanbul, but there are many banks there."
"There aren't many banks that allow the opening of a 99-year safety deposit box without keys." Old Mr. Skoode chuckled. "I've specifically researched this and narrowed it down to three banks."
"As for the mark, each member of our family has two—one carried around and another kept at home. I'll give you the one belonging to my brother that's kept at home."
After chatting with Old Mr. Skoode, Liang En left the room with a cross, the mark being a simple cross with a small seal on one end and minimal decorations on top.
This simplicity was a characteristic of the Lutheran denomination. If you visited several Lutheran countries in Northern Europe, you'd notice their religious facilities were straightforward, unlike the complexity of mainstream Catholicism.
"It seems our next step is Constantinople." After Liang En returned to the room and shared all the gathered information with his two companions, Pierce remarked.
"I went there with my father during my sophomore summer break. Honestly, it's a great place for antique dealings, but there are too many thieves and shady characters." He shrugged.
"Anyway, this time we're not there to buy antiques, so as long as we keep an eye on our wallets during the trip." Liang En shrugged. "But if we can find clues in the bank, that's when the real journey begins."
"True, Mr. Calderwell definitely wouldn't show up in Constantinople." Fan Meng added, "So, we need to prepare, especially for outdoor activities."
"Don't worry, our family knows quite a few people and always has reliable channels to acquire significant items." Pierce lowered his voice, speaking to the three of them discreetly.
"So, if there's anything you need but can't openly say, write it down on a note for me. As long as it's not too extreme, I can manage to get it."
"That'd be great." Fan Meng nodded, then moved to the side and started jotting down notes in his notebook. As the security manager of the team, he naturally had plenty of things to prepare.
"Most of this can be arranged, while a few might depend on luck." After Fan Meng finished writing and tore off the note from his notebook to hand it to Pierce, Pierce glanced at it and then turned to Liang En, asking, "By the way, how much time do we have to prepare?"
"In this regard, the other side has given us a generous timeframe; as long as we depart within a week, it's fine." Liang En recalled briefly. "They mentioned they'd use a private plane to fly us to Constantinople."
"A private plane!" Both Pierce and Fan Meng asked in unison because for most people, a private plane was merely a term they'd never come close to in their lifetime.
"Yes, because our operation this time requires secrecy." Liang En nodded. "So, to avoid any unexpected circumstances, the Skoode family is willing to use a private plane to transport us there."
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