Chapter 161: Constantinople
"Constantinople, we've finally arrived." Three days later, Liang En and his two friends stood beneath the majestic yet scarred walls of Constantinople, gazing at the traces of wear but enduring might of the wall.
"This is the Romanus Gate. Legend has it that the last Roman Emperor, Constantine XI, sacrificed himself nearby. They only found his boots, no trace of his body," Liang En softly introduced.
Arriving here via the Skoode family's private plane, they drove a bit around to reach this famous city wall, prepared to explore the renowned landmark.
The wall appeared worn, with significant collapses and craters. Positioned on a terrain sloping down into a valley, it became the weakest part of the Theodosian Walls due to its lower position compared to the slope.
This vulnerability led to its destruction in 1453 when Mehmed II ordered his artillery, including the Urbana cannon, to concentrate fire on this section, resulting in the ruin they saw.
After a brief exploration and some photographs at the desolate city gate, Liang En and his friends returned to their off-road vehicle, heading straight for the city center.
"Now we have three banks to consider: HSBC, Citibank, and the Turkish bank. Which one should we visit first?" While Fan Meng drove towards the city center, Pierce asked Liang En.
"What do you think?" Liang En glanced at the map showing the positions of the three banks. "Where do you think Mr. Calderwell is most likely to have hidden the item?"
"I think it might be HSBC," Pierce pointed on the map. "Considering Calderwell was out for more than three hours that time, distance-wise, HSBC seems fitting."
"Your point makes sense, but given that the Golden Society was a subsidiary of the English Freemasons back then, would Calderwell really have hidden it in a bank owned by an Englishman?" Liang En raised his doubt.
"Fair point. So, where do you think he might have kept it?" Agreeing with Liang En, Pierce nodded and inquired.
"Considering the Freemasonry influence, the probability is high that the item would be in the Turkish bank," Liang En pointed at a circle on the map.
"Because it's Turkey's national bank, its credibility is assured. Unlike Citibank or HSBC, this bank is less likely to be influenced by the Freemasons due to its background."
After enduring a series of traffic jams, it took them 40 minutes to arrive at the Turkish bank, not far from Hagia Sophia.
After clarifying their purpose to the service staff at the entrance, another staff member escorted them to a room obviously meant for VIP clients, followed by a slightly balding staff member.
"Please fill in your safe deposit box number and sign here." After a simple greeting, the staff member quickly handed them a paper from a folder.
Liang En knew the safe deposit box codes were three digits. So, he wrote the number "697" corresponding to the word "you" and stamped it with a cross.
"Please have one person accompany us to the vault." A few minutes after the staff member left, a bank manager came in and said, prompting Liang En to stand and accompany the manager to the underground vault.
"The item you're retrieving was deposited in '53, so we're going to the oldest vault in this bank." The manager explained as he led Liang En out of the elevator and down a corridor into a room.
"Mr. Liang, I'll wait outside for you." When the manager brought Liang En to box 697, he said this before stepping aside, watching Liang En's back.
Entering the four-digit combination on the panel, Liang En immediately inputted "9943," which translated to "love."
As the last digit, "3," clicked into place, he pushed the handle of the safe and opened it, retrieving an old suitcase before returning upstairs with the bank manager.
"What's inside this?" As they got back to the car in the parking lot, Fan Meng and Pierce immediately approached, curious about the suitcase.
"I guess it might be documents since it's quite light." Liang En opened the suitcase's lock and lid, as he speculated earlier. True to his guess, it contained a heap of documents.
Besides three parchment bags, they found a small box decorated in red velvet, containing a pure silver cross with the image of Jesus and two horizontal bars.
"Please give these items to my family; they will reward you handsomely. - Conrad Skoode." After carefully inspecting the box, Liang En used tweezers to retrieve a note from a crevice in the lid.
On the back of the note was an address near Stockholm, Sweden. Liang En knew it was the address of Skoode Manor they'd visited earlier.
Clearly, the situation matched their earlier assumption—Conrad had indeed left something for his family, something that could help trace his footsteps.
"Pierce, contact our employer and update them on our findings. Also, take pictures of these items and send them over." After a quick check of the retrieved items, Liang En instructed his companions.
"Fan Meng, drive to the hotel now. I think we need some time to organize these documents. I have a feeling that through these materials, we can find Mr. Conrad Skoode."
Half an hour later, they all sat around a table in their hotel room. Spread across the table were the materials found in the parchment bags.
The documents included notes, maps, and even some photographs. Through these papers, they quickly pieced together the expedition plans of Mr. Conrad Skoode.
This adventure began when some members, then associated with the English Freemasons, found parchments in the British Empire Museum, detailing the secret of the last treasure of the Roman Empire.
"Before the fall of Constantinople, Emperor Constantine XI dispatched his most loyal subordinate with the empire's final treasure, hoping to leave a seed for the empire's rebirth in Trabzon."
Pierce gradually translated some Latin text with images of parchment papers in one of the albums, explaining to Liang En and Fan Meng what it said.
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Chapter 162: The Village
"When these most loyal men of Constantine XI arrived in Trabzon, things took a turn for the worse, as the place was entirely different from what they had imagined."
Within the confines of their hotel room, Liang En and Pierce diligently translated the Latin inscriptions in the photographs, gradually piecing together the initial cause of Conrad's earlier expedition.
"The people from the Eastern Roman Empire found that not only were the locals unwilling to acknowledge them but were also eager to eliminate them to avoid giving the Ottoman Empire a reason to attack Trabzon."
"Faced with this situation, they had no choice but to leave the city and find a place to hide what they had discovered. Then they returned to the fallen Constantinople, fighting alongside their monarch until their last breath."
"Fortunately, they left behind parchment papers with encoded information, hidden within an ancient book. This book, after centuries of wandering, found its place in the British Empire's museum, eventually discovered by members of the Freemasonry."
"Now it's clear. These individuals must be on the quest for the so-called final treasure of the Roman Empire." Even Fan Meng, who wasn't well-versed in history, could discern their intentions at that moment.
"Exactly, although this map is quite perplexing." Liang En nodded, flipping the album to its last page.
The final picture in the album displayed a parchment map, remarkably clear for its time. However, its abstract ancient design made it challenging for modern interpretation.
Fortunately, ancient maps were primarily for directional guidance. Amidst its abstraction, recognizable landmarks existed, offering a vague idea of the target's location.
The following morning after breakfast, the trio swiftly headed to the airport with their belongings, boarding a private plane bound for Trabzon. Thereafter, they rented two off-road vehicles and set off towards yesterday's estimated location.
Leaving the highway, the path became rugged. Remote village roads were not only rough but also steep, with slopes nearing 40 degrees.
Luckily, Liang En had chosen high-powered off-road vehicles, barely managing to navigate these steep inclines with full throttle.
Due to the mountainous terrain, their journey proved much longer than anticipated.
Covering 140 kilometers over four hours on the deteriorating road, they were only 60 kilometers in a straight line from Trabzon, as per GPS. However, the lack of signal in these mountainous regions often required Liang En to enlist the help of three released ravens to scout ahead.
Fortunately, he didn't need to expend legend points or empathize with these ravens. Their size allowed them to carry a camera, transmitting ground visuals to everyone through computer screens.
This benefit came from using a private plane. Unlike the complexity of airlines transporting animals, Liang En effortlessly brought his three companions to Turkey for aerial support when needed.
"I believe we've arrived." Passing through a mountain pass, Liang En, using the car's radio, called out to Fan Meng seated in the rear.
Appearing at the foot of the mountain was a picturesque valley, divided by a small stream. Adjacent to the stream lay an evidently abandoned village.
Driving along a path hidden amidst overgrown grass, Liang En and his companions disembarked, retrieving their weapons before cautiously stepping into the deserted village.
Under EU regulations, they had the right to carry weapons across borders. Alongside Liang En's semi-automatic rifle, both Fan Meng and Pierce were armed with pump-action shotguns.
Moreover, Pierce had managed to acquire six Russian-manufactured egg-shaped grenades through his connections, in case of emergencies.
"Let's check out this village." Liang En loaded his firearm as they meticulously searched the deserted village, ensuring the safety of each room.
Initially routine, their inspection took a sudden turn when a dark figure burst out from a nearby house, skimming along the ground.
"Bang, bang!" Remaining vigilant, Liang En's quick trigger response caused the figure to collapse merely a few steps away. It turned out to be a fully grown male wild boar.
"It seems this village has been abandoned for quite some time." Contemplating the boar lying in a pool of blood, Liang En pondered the situation.
For creatures like wild boars, even if humans vacated an area, it often took five or six years before they returned to previously occupied places.
Further investigation revealed the village had been deserted for much longer than anticipated. Among the ruins lay a plethora of ancient-looking items.
"This pot resembles the one you found earlier, just made of different materials." Pierce unearthed a rusty, deformed iron pot from the rubble.
"Indeed, it's a standard Turkish stew pot." Liang En took the rust-covered twisted lump from Pierce's hand. "Stew pots across most of the Balkans and the Middle East share this design."
"Moreover, this pot was made during the industrial era." Liang En turned it over, scraping off the rust at the point where the pot handle connected to the body. "Here's a clear machine-stamped mark with '1919' inscribed. This pot should date back to 1919."
This pot wasn't the only dated item found. Due to the village's isolation, protected by mountains and simple structures, numerous items with clear dates had been preserved.
Judging by the abandoned church at the village center and these preserved items, the residents were likely Greek, departing in the 1920s.
Their departure might be linked to the 1923 population exchange agreement between Greece and Turkey, where 1.5 million people left Turkey for Greece, and 500,000 moved from Greece to Turkey.
This exchange was primarily based on religion. Hence, the inhabitants of this small village in Turkey, practicing Eastern Orthodoxy, probably departed during that time, leading to the gradual abandonment of the village.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 163: Trash and Clues
Once the safety of the village ruins was confirmed, the trio immediately began searching the village using metal detectors. Unfortunately, all they found amidst the debris was a pile of trash.
"I don't think the last treasure of the Byzantine Empire is hidden here," Fan Meng said with frustration, tossing aside a crumpled, broken iron pot he had just dug up from the ruins, addressing Liang En.
"This village was built by the river. I reckon it wouldn't be suitable for preserving treasures. The dampness here would destroy most valuables," Liang En replied while scanning the ruins with a metal detector. "However, the map we had earlier was too vague. Traditionally, we prioritize checking human settlements."
"Moreover, this village is the only settlement and water replenishment point within dozens of kilometers. If Conrad's expedition did come here, it's highly probable they would have stayed here and left traces," Liang En added thoughtfully.
"You're right. I found something interesting over here," Pierce, searching in the adjacent room, suddenly exclaimed, walking over with a rusty, empty tin can.
"Spam canned meat?" Liang En recognized the box immediately because of the bold letters spelling 'SPAM' on its front.
This canned meat was famous (or infamous) as a staple for the US army during WWII, even inspiring numerous jokes within the military. Yet, despite its fame in the US, most people worldwide didn't hold this processed meat in high regard. Countries like the UK, the Soviet Union, and several affected nations in the Pacific had similar sentiments.
Finding this canned meat in this place seemed odd. The village had been abandoned for over two decades since WWII, and stumbling upon a can was quite abnormal.
"Maybe this belonged to Conrad's expedition," Liang En speculated, noticing the production date of 1952 on the can.
Subsequently, the trio fervently dug through the ruins of the room where the empty can had been discovered. Soon enough, a pile of garbage from the '50s emerged.
"I can confirm that this is most likely from Conrad's expedition," Liang En asserted confidently to his companions, noting that these items were predominantly food packaging suitable for wilderness expeditions.
Among this heap of trash, a pearl-handled folding knife caught their attention, albeit damaged at the joint between the blade and handle, with the blade missing.
Though seemingly unremarkable, this knife was crucial to Liang En, especially after spending two days combing through the entire, not-so-large village without any leads.
"We've searched this village thoroughly, but aside from potential relics left by Conrad's archaeological team, we've found nothing substantial. These remnants lack convincing evidence," Pierce mentioned during lunch, indicating their predicament.
Having concluded the search, both Pierce and Fan Meng looked to Liang En. Being the leader of this miniature adventure team, their next course of action solely depended on his decision-making.
"Let me think." Realizing it was decision time, Liang En wore a pensive expression. Clearly, whatever decision he made now would dictate their next steps.
Recognizing this, Liang En combined his four "Detection (N)" cards into one "Detection (R)" card, using it on the damaged folding knife handle they had found earlier.
At that moment of card usage, a map immediately materialized in Liang En's mind, highlighting a spot illuminated by a milky-white glow.
Realizing the distance between that spot and themselves was no more than 5 kilometers, Liang En pretended to contemplate the situation while instructing the three ravens wildly flying around the surrounding woods to scout toward that spot.
With the assistance of the cards, the ravens swiftly spotted a man-made trail amidst the nearby mountains, near the illuminated spot on the map.
Time had certainly altered many things. Most of the human-made traces were now concealed beneath vegetation or soil.
Having made this discovery, Liang En felt a surge of confidence. He stood up from the campfire and addressed his two companions.
"I think we should search the vicinity, especially areas where human activity might have occurred. I suspect there might be other remnants around this village."
"Of course, we can't keep searching indefinitely. Let's give ourselves three days. Three days to comb through this valley's surroundings, and if we find nothing, we'll retreat."
After lunch, the trio immediately began scouring the area around the village, and contrary to Liang En's earlier estimation, within just an afternoon, they found another exit out of the valley.
It wasn't particularly surprising; the valley wasn't vast, and all three had received training in search techniques. Moreover, Liang En had an additional advantage. So, discovering the path quickly was within expectations.
"These trees seem deliberately planted here," Fan Meng noted, the first to spot the entrance to the valley hidden behind shrubbery.
Having found a cobblestone path leading out of the village earlier, despite it being disrupted soon after, Fan Meng traced its direction, eventually locating this hidden valley entrance.
"Let's check it out." Clearing a path through the shrubs with a portable axe, the trio, armed and prepared, ventured into the valley.
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Chapter 164: The Mountain Chapel
At first glance, the valley appeared quite ordinary, much like the surrounding ones. Yet, after walking for about five or six minutes, they stumbled upon something distinct:
Before them lay a surface of polished stone, etched with elaborate patterns, seemingly crafted for better grip.
It was evident these were human-made markings, indicating considerable foot traffic in the area. This explained the substantial effort put into this kind of work.
This discovery instantly sparked excitement among Liang En and their companions. After all, ordinary mountain paths wouldn't require such craftsmanship. It hinted at a potentially significant historical site ahead.
Mountain paths not only demanded frequent detours but also made walking considerably more challenging compared to plains, especially when these roads had been neglected for years.
Although the direct distance was merely about 5 kilometers, a crow could fly the distance in 15 minutes. However, it took Liang En and the others a full six hours, covering nearly 12 kilometers, to finally reach their intended destination.
This destination lay in another valley. Unlike the prior one, this valley seemed scarcely larger than a basketball court, surrounded by nearly 90-degree cliffs.
"This feels like a well's perspective." Fan Meng gazed at the blue sky framed by the cliffs and voiced his thoughts.
"It seems this adventure might lead us to something remarkable," Liang En promptly added to Fan Meng's comment. "Remember, it's the toad that looks at the sky from a well. But a bumpy toad can still catch a swan."
Liang En cracked this joke because, facing their cliff, they'd spotted a square-shaped cave entrance—obviously, a man-made creation.
What intrigued Liang En more was sensing the exact location of this spot through the cards he'd used, a location apparently within this cave.
"But how do we get into that cave with its height?" Pierce approached the base of the cliff, wearing a pensive expression.
The cave's entrance stood about seven to eight meters above the ground. Rows of small holes along the cave's side suggested the former existence of a ladder, now absent.
"Maybe I'll climb up there," Fan Meng proposed, eyeing the row of holes. "These holes in the rocks seem spacious enough for my hands and feet."
"I'll add an extra safety measure." Liang En halted Fan Meng's eagerness, retrieving his bow from his back and affixing a rope to an arrow's tail. He then aimed at a crevice near the cave's entrance and shot the arrow.
The arrow swiftly flew the distance, firmly lodging itself into the crevice.
Taking advantage of the rope and the holes in the rock face, Fan Meng climbed up, securing another thick rope for Liang En and the others to follow suit.
Once everyone entered the cave, Liang En illuminated the space with a headlamp, surveying their surroundings.
The cave spanned three meters in height and two meters in width, slanting upward into the mountain's interior. Despite intense lighting, the depth remained indiscernible.
"What do you think this place might be?" Fan Meng, noticing the obviously man-made tunnel, furrowed his brow. "A shelter, fortress, or something else?"
"I suppose it could have religious ties," Liang En remarked after observing the surroundings. "In archaeology, when reasons are elusive, religion often emerges as an explanation."
"This place doesn't seem like a shelter or fortress. Shelters demand secrecy, while those paths we took earlier would easily attract enemies," Liang En explained after cracking a joke.
"Similarly, fortresses are typically established at population centers or near crucial transportation routes. Constructing a fortress deep in the mountains and forests holds little strategic value."
"Moreover, water sources are scarce around here. While there might be a reservoir, relying solely on rainwater wouldn't suffice for the defenders' water needs."
"However, if this place were for religious purposes, everything aligns," Liang En remarked, shining a flashlight on oil lamp marks on the walls.
"When rulers and the populace differ in faith, the people need secretive places of worship. Plus, a mere water reservoir would meet the religious officials' water needs."
"You make a compelling point," Pierce nodded earnestly. "So, I suppose our only course is to follow this path and confirm what you've said."
Armed with headlamps and weapons, the trio proceeded down the tunnel. After walking about ten meters and making a turn, an awe-inspiring sight unfolded before them.
It was an immense space within the mountains, where rocks had been carved into pillars, extending to what functioned as the ceiling.
The walls and ceiling boasted remarkably preserved murals. Except for a few worn areas due to the passage of time, the overall appearance retained its original charm.
The walls depicted windows, flowers, and exquisite decorations, lending the subterranean hall a surface resemblance to above-ground structures. Meanwhile, the ceiling featured depictions of saints and angelic figures.
Though these images seemed disproportionate and the work of laypeople, the vibrant pigments indicated a significant investment by the original artists.
During ancient times, these vivid pigments were highly costly, with many materials imported from overseas mines. For instance, obtaining the finest blue required grinding lapis lazuli, imported from Central Asia, into powder.
However, this Byzantine-style chapel now stood empty. Except for immovable stone altar carvings and crosses, almost everything transportable had vanished without a trace.
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 165: Hidden Treasure
"This could very well be a secret chapel, perhaps even an ancient Christian sanctuary," Liang En explained to his companions, gesturing towards the patterns painted on the ceiling.
"Even after the Ottoman Empire occupied the Anatolian Peninsula, the local Christians managed to preserve their beliefs for quite some time," he continued.
"But as time passed and the Ottoman Empire declined, the control over people's beliefs became increasingly strict and, in some cases, severe."
"Under such pressure, most people chose to change their religion, while some chose to conceal their faith to avoid persecution. This mountain church could be one such instance."
"Judging by the style of this church, it likely originated in the Byzantine era for some specific reasons and underwent multiple renovations with added elements over time."
"Your speculation makes sense. I even suspect this church might have been abandoned and then reused," Pierce, who had dimmed his headlamp to observe the ceiling patterns, pointed out.
Liang En hurried to his side, shining his headlamp at the indicated spot, revealing a palm-sized piece missing from the mural, showing traces of a mosaic puzzle beneath.
"Your guess is probably correct. It seems a group covered the exquisite mosaic puzzle underneath with plaster after leaving, and later individuals unknowingly painted various patterns over that plaster," Liang En remarked after capturing the entire church with his portable camping light.
Leaving the room, they returned to the crossroads, opting for the left path. Rows of small houses lined the sides, likely residences for clergy and visitors, judging by the remaining stone platforms.
These rooms, like the church, were meticulously cleared, suggesting an orderly and planned abandonment.
"Let's check the right side," Liang En suggested upon returning to the crossroads, noticing the darkening sky. "We can rest in this cave tonight after exploring."
Compared to the surrounding flatlands, this cave was an excellent camping spot—dry, ventilated, and with a high entrance, keeping wild animals at bay.
With their camping site settled, their spirits lifted. They proceeded wearily towards the right passage.
"I believe this direction leads to the church's storeroom," Liang En remarked as they walked. "Aside from residences, the most important adjunct to a regular church is a storage space."
The thorough cleaning during the exodus made it easier for Liang En and the others to inspect, but as they neared the end of the corridor, they discovered a large hole behind one of the rooms, scattered debris around its edges.
"This is—" Liang En's group quickly directed their headlamps toward the opening, discovering a shattered skull lying on the ground.
Inside this hidden chamber, they found seven fully decomposed skeletons, each showing signs of damage, with gunshot wounds prevalent.
One of the skeletons, identified by a card-marked point, lay with arms bound behind, a bullet wound evident at the back of the head—a clear execution pose after being restrained.
Over time, flesh decayed into ash, clothes reduced to tatters, leaving behind only items resistant to decay.
"They used 9mm Parabellum bullets, most likely from a submachine gun," Fan Meng deduced professionally after inspecting the traces.
"If it were handguns, these skulls would have more severe frontal damage, and the indentation on the stone would be shallower."
"Submachine gun! Seems these attackers were far more sophisticated than we imagined," Liang En murmured softly, examining a bullet that had passed through a skull before hitting the wall and deforming.
Aside from the bones, the room's corners held two open boxes filled with deteriorated textiles, rusted cups, and jewelry, all covered in rust.
While Fan Meng examined the skeletons, Liang En and Pierce inspected the contents. Though the textiles were unrecognizable due to decay, metal items revealed a logo—double-headed eagles and the letters "XP" intertwined.
"If Conrad Skoode's notes were accurate, these boxes contain the final treasures of the Eastern Roman Empire—unsellable items with royal insignia," Liang En sighed, holding a rusty copper cup with a circle of colored transparent crystals.
The cup had rusted because someone scraped off its gold surface, and the supposed gemstones were merely colored glass.
"Are these battered remains truly the empire's last treasure?" Fan Meng gazed incredulously at the heap of worthless items, far from the precious royal jewels he'd seen in palaces turned museums.
"In 1453, when Constantinople fell, the country had exhausted its final resources," Pierce, the knowledgeable historian, intervened before Liang En could respond.
"By the time Mehmed II was ready to conquer Constantinople, the once-revered city, known as the Queen of Cities, had only two thousand defenders. These soldiers were paid from the Emperor's sale of all the remaining wealth."
"Records suggest the royal melted silver candlesticks, scraped gold off gilded items, and replaced all gemstones with inexpensive colored glass. The money earned was solely invested in the military."
"Unfortunately, despite their efforts, they couldn't protect this ancient city. Mehmed II eventually captured this great city, bringing an end to the millennium-old empire."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 166: Something's Amiss
After Pierce finished narrating the tragic fall of this magnificent city, the three present individuals sighed in unison. Such a tale of desperate struggle always stirred a deep emotional resonance within people.
However, after their sighs subsided, they donned gloves to place the bones and relics found atop those remains into body bags, preparing for the next phase of their work.
During this process, Liang En and company discovered, beneath the skeletal remains he had previously marked, several specially crafted silver-plated copper buttons. These buttons, with unique reliefs, helped identify the remains as belonging to Mr. Conrad.
Yet, this identification was preliminary. The Skoode family members, upon their arrival, would conduct DNA tests to ensure they had not erred in their findings.
Apart from this, while meticulously scouring the entire building, Liang En and his team found traces in certain rooms that were relatively recent, piecing together a semblance of what had transpired there.
From the traces left behind, it appeared that most members of the expedition team had been captured without resistance. Only in two places were signs of resistance evident.
This discovery led Liang En and his team to suspect the presence of a traitor within Conrad's expedition team. Hence, the attackers likely chose a night, aided by the traitor, to eliminate the sentinels and successfully assail the expedition team.
However, the assailants were adept at concealing their identities. Therefore, Liang En and his team found no items that could reveal the attackers' identities.
"As for the specific identity of the perpetrator, I believe we'll have to leave that to Mr. Skoode and his team," Liang En conceded, realizing their inability to unravel this mystery independently.
"But now that we've likely found Mr. Conrad, this minor error shouldn't hinder us from claiming the 700,000 euros reward."
Around 8 o'clock in the evening, Liang En and his team completed their inspection and cleaning, returning to the fork in the path to cook dinner. It was then that Liang En started recalling and organizing everything he had witnessed earlier.
"I suddenly thought of something," Liang En inquired after preparing the meal. "Why would that guard unit choose such a dangerous moment back then to hide these so-called treasures?"
"Could it be for the empire's honor?" Pierce suggested. "Think about it, an empire on the brink of destruction—the Emperor likely wished to safeguard these symbols of the royal family to prevent desecration."
"No," Liang En shook his head. "Though Emperor Constantine XI fought valiantly, valuing his dignity, this act of hiding treasures seems peculiar."
"If preserving dignity and preventing these items from falling into enemy hands were the aim, then he could have easily destroyed them in Constantinople without the need to transport them here."
"Could it be funds for re-establishment?" Fan Meng interjected, but before anyone else could respond, he retracted his statement. "No, it doesn't fit. These items not only lack value but are conspicuous, unsuitable for such a purpose."
For restoration funds, gold, silver, or commonplace high-value goods with small sizes and no distinctive features would be more suitable.
The Eastern Roman Empire's royal family wouldn't be oblivious to this. Therefore, this pile of odds and ends couldn't possibly be their contingency plan.
"The fact that the assailants could mobilize already strained resources for this indicates its significant importance, possibly surpassing city defense," Liang En tapped his forehead thoughtfully.
"And these two boxes of items were worthless at that time, evidently not worth the trouble for this small team of loyalists to carry them so far."
"Especially considering the layers of fresh plaster on the walls," he continued. "This treasure vault seemed to have been constructed long ago, but when these people brought the boxes here, the church was already abandoned."
"Pierce," Liang En turned to his companions, illuminated by the fire. "I believe there might be more here than we know. So, I plan to re-examine that chamber tomorrow."
"It might encompass the entire church," Fan Meng added suddenly. "During my training, instructors often mentioned crucial items being hidden in seemingly ordinary places. So, it could be anywhere."
After spending a night's rest at the fork not far from the exit, Liang En and his team rose early the next day to inspect the entire church within the mountain.
Their method was straightforward: using metal detectors along with tapping to trace possible traces of treasures. Without advanced equipment like ground-penetrating radar, this was their best option.
Their examination revealed that this mountain church had undergone multiple renovations, evident from layers of paintings even on the main hall walls.
This extensive refurbishment posed a challenge for Liang En's team. The treasure seekers from back then might have left traces, but now, with each reconstruction, those traces had likely vanished.
Fortunately, the passive card, "Keen Observation (R)," had been effective. As Liang En searched the main sanctuary of the church, a discrepancy suddenly caught his eye.
Based on earlier observations, this church carved into the rock mimicked external church structures. Therefore, even though structurally unnecessary, numerous domes and pillars were built.
However, he noticed an anomaly: an excess of pillars in this area.
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Chapter 167: Greek Fire
This church nestled within the mountains boasted faux pillars not only in the central hall but also carved into the stone walls, giving it the appearance of those churches found outside.
Normally, each pillar corresponds to an angle of the dome. However, the density of the faux pillar where the cross was placed in the sanctuary was notably higher.
Despite these densely arranged faux pillars having false arches atop them, these arches looked much stiffer compared to the contents above other columns.
"These faux pillars are made of volcanic cement, quite different from those directly carved out of the stone walls around us," Fan Meng pointed out, scraping off several layers of mud and ash from one of the faux pillars.
"So, these pillars were added later." Liang En carefully observed the structure of these pillars and the false arches above them, wearing a pensive expression.
Summoning three ravens equipped with light sources and cameras, Liang En and his friends glimpsed more peculiar structures through the display screens.
"It seems someone used these faux pillars to prop up a few stone slabs above." Due to their height, these areas were often overlooked during renovations, leading to some naturally occurring cracks.
The cracks near the stone walls made Liang En realize that the protrusions above the false arches weren't directly cemented onto them but rather separate structures independent of the stone walls.
"But how do we remove these things?" Fan Meng, looking at the stone slabs, expressed frustration. "These slabs weigh at least a hundred pounds each, and they're 4 to 5 meters above the ground. Just the three of us—"
"Let's call for help. Use the satellite phone to contact Mr. Skoode and the others, ask them to bring tools quickly," Liang En suggested after some thought. "This situation is clearly beyond what we can handle on our own."
Quickly retrieving his satellite phone, Liang En contacted Mr. Skoode, who agreed to send support upon learning that Liang En's uncle might have been found.
Before the support arrived, Liang En and his group thoroughly inspected the entire church. Apart from confirming that six stone slabs were propped above those faux pillars in the sanctuary, they found nothing of value.
"Your Excellency, how did you get here?" A day and a half after the call, a team guided by clues left by Liang En arrived at the small valley beneath the church, and unexpectedly, Mr. Skoode was among them.
"Of course, I had to come. When I was young, I wasn't very healthy, so I mostly stayed home. Therefore, I always hoped that after his adventures, my uncle would tell me his stories," Mr. Skoode shared emotionally.
"My uncle took great care of me. Each time he ventured out, he brought back interesting trinkets and would spend a whole day explaining the world outside to me," he added, his eyes welling up.
For the next hour, the priest brought by Mr. Skoode offered a simple prayer for the remains before zipping up the body bags.
Once done, Mr. Skoode left early with the remains but left behind two strong men and plenty of supplies to assist Liang En and his team with their work.
With this assistance, Liang En's team soon managed to safely remove the six stone slabs suspended above the stone walls.
Contrary to expectations, behind these slabs was an intact mosaic. Upon inspecting with new radar equipment, they confirmed solid rock behind it, devoid of hidden chambers.
"Don't tell me these slabs were the last remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire." Staring at the slabs placed on the ground, Fan Meng seemed incredulous. He thought they might hide a crown or a scepter.
"Wait, there are inscriptions on these slabs." As soon as the slabs were lowered, Liang En, along with Pierce, began cleaning them with brushes. He found writings on the side facing the wall. "What's documented here? A treasure map or something else?" Fan Meng inquired curiously, looking at the unfamiliar script on the slabs.
"This seems to be some kind of peculiar formula," Liang En murmured softly, then proceeded to read aloud the Latin text he had translated. "Resin, olive oil, alum, pitch, sulfur—"
"This formula seems to be for setting fires." As a former soldier, Fan Meng quickly understood the potential use of these ingredients when combined.
"Setting fires, you mean setting fires?" Prompted by Fan Meng's insight, Liang En immediately turned to the two strong men sent by Mr. Skoode who were waiting nearby. "Quickly, clear out these slabs."
Under Liang En's guidance, the five individuals on-site, each armed with a small brush, began cleaning the slabs. This task didn't require much technical expertise, so even the two inexperienced men quickly caught on.
Indeed, teamwork makes a big difference. So, after over forty minutes of work, the side of these six slabs, covering approximately one square meter each, was thoroughly cleaned.
Of these six slabs, four bore inscriptions in Latin, while the other two contained several mechanical design drawings. Due to their concealment, these slabs were remarkably well-preserved.
"These things can indeed be deemed the final treasures of the Eastern Roman Empire." After examining the Latin inscriptions and diagrams, Liang En nodded in affirmation. Pierce also displayed agreement.
"Tell us, what exactly are these?" Seeing Liang En and Pierce's expressions, Fan Meng wore a curious look. "I can only tell that these two sets of drawings depict pumps operating on the principle of siphon."
"You're right. Those patterns are indeed apparatuses used for liquid propulsion. And the liquids they propel are the special substances documented on the other four slabs." Pausing intentionally, Liang En then unveiled the mystery.
"All the secrets regarding Greek Fire are recorded on these six slabs." He continued, mentioning the significant fuel formulas, manufacturing methods, and, most importantly, the blueprint for the flame projector and its critical points.
As Liang En finished speaking, a bronze-colored card and three black iron-colored cards appeared in his mind. Evidently, his inference was correct, hence this positive mental feedback.
"Greek Fire!" Both Fan Meng and the two strong men helping out wore expressions of astonishment. They had pondered countless possibilities but never anticipated finding these legendary entities.
"Are you certain this is truly Greek Fire?" Fan Meng asked with a voice trembling with excitement.
"I can say with a hundred percent certainty." Liang En pointed at one slab. "Because this slab specifically mentions the reason behind all this—their identity as 'fluid fire' and its launching device."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 168: Discovery
The Greek Fire, an ancient liquid weapon invented by the Eastern Roman Empire, was primarily used in naval battles.
The names we now know it by, like Greek Fire or Roman Fire, were titles given by adversaries—the Arabs—while the Romans referred to these weapons as "Fire of the Sea," "Flowing Fire," "Liquid Flame," or "Fire of Prevention."
This weapon remained among the highest military secrets of the Eastern Roman Empire, significantly contributing to its military victories and often salvaging the fate of the empire.
According to later historians, this formidable incendiary weapon played a crucial role in the empire's longevity over a thousand years.
Unfortunately, despite records about this weapon persisting for a long time, the exact formula vanished into history due to the Eastern Roman Empire's stringent secrecy measures.
It's recorded that to maintain secrecy, the production of this weapon relied solely on oral transmission, prohibiting any written records. Its manufacture was confined solely within the confines of the Constantinople Imperial Palace.
Moreover, only the descendants of the closely guarded Greek Fire inventor, the Galenikos family, and the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire were privy to this secret. Even within the Galenikos family, the knowledge was transmitted orally.
Not only was the production of Greek Fire shrouded in secrecy, but its usage was also strictly controlled. Those on the front lines—engineers, firemen, and technicians—only held fragments of the entire weapon system's secret.
This robust risk management mechanism ensured that even if some individuals leaked information, others couldn't recreate Greek Fire, preventing the Eastern Roman Empire from falling victim to its potent weaponry.
Throughout history, instances occurred where the Eastern Roman's Greek Fire fell into the hands of their adversaries. For instance, in 814, Bulgarians seized 36 fire-spouting devices but couldn't use them due to the lack of knowledge about fuel ratios, ultimately discarding them.
Similarly, Arabs captured a Byzantine fire-attack ship in 827 but spent centuries attempting to create a catapulted incendiary weapon called "Nafa," unable to make it spout fire or ignite upon contact with water.
In reality, Greek Fire had several limitations; it demanded specific weather conditions, wind directions, and terrain for effective use. Unfavorable winds could easily lead to self-inflicted damage.
If the defended area was too expansive, its efficacy decreased. Nevertheless, the legend of Greek Fire persisted across the Western world.
People were curious about why the Eastern Roman Empire, amidst relentless attacks from the Arab Empire, managed to survive. This was precisely why Liang En's revelation about the secrets of Greek Fire inscribed on these slabs stunned everyone present.
"These slabs were ordered to be hidden here by Emperor Constantine XI," Liang En explained while examining the inscriptions. "The last emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire commanded his most loyal followers to carry this secret to the Empire of Trebizond when he learned of the empire's imminent demise."
"He dreamt of a deity revealing to him that the empire's turning point might emerge in the East," Liang En added, addressing the skepticism among the others.
"Today, we might consider making such a decision based on a dream as absurd, especially considering it might have been a product of wishful thinking. However, in ancient times, such dreams were often viewed as revelations, particularly for an emperor, enough to mobilize his forces towards a cause."
"Constantine XI's initial thought was Trebizond, considering it a branch of the Eastern Roman Empire. Hence, in that final moment, he disregarded dynastic disputes, hoping to sow the seed for the empire's resurgence."
"Unfortunately, Trebizond merely aimed to survive, even executing those fleeing Constantinople to prevent provoking the Ottomans."
"Faced with this situation, the loyal emissaries sent by Constantine XI had no choice but to resort to a backup plan—bringing two boxes, camouflaged as protection, to this secret church belonging to the Palaiologos dynasty on the Anatolian Peninsula."
"In despair, this faithful group placed their hopes in the divine, concealing the secret in the temple, praying for the empire's salvation under divine protection."
With these words, Liang En stood up, pointing at the six slabs on the ground. "However, history tells us their dream shattered, and the Roman Empire vanished completely into the annals of history."
As Liang En finished speaking, the room fell silent.
For the Western world, the fall of Constantinople marked the end of an era. Witnessing and learning about the history linked to the empire's demise left everyone emotionally stirred, requiring some time to regain composure.
"Now it's time to inform the Turkish archaeological department," Liang En instructed, ensuring the site was thoroughly cleaned. Then, he began using equipment and silicone provided earlier to create molds of these stone tablets.
For this expedition, Mr. Skoode had specifically obtained official archaeological permits from Turkey for Liang En. Given Liang En's prior experiences, the Turkish authorities readily issued the permits.
With these permits, Liang En could legally excavate these relics. However, as per global norms in joint excavations, any findings belonged to the local government, not the excavators.
Nevertheless, this didn't mean that legal excavators couldn't gain anything from such efforts. Liang En had the right to share research with the Turkish authorities.
Documenting artifacts through non-damaging means such as molding and photographing formed a part of this research and demonstrated his authority.
This research authority was exclusive; others wishing to study these artifacts would require permission from Liang En or the Turkish authorities. Obtaining such permission often involved payment. Unfortunately, the inscriptions on these six slabs contained limited text and information, which might not yield substantial financial gains for Liang En.
In this era, flamethrowers were far more effective than the ancient Greek Fire, and those archaic machines lagged significantly behind.
Consequently, these once vital secrets of the Eastern Roman Empire had become valueless relics, outdated and lacking practicality in the present day, retaining only historical significance.
However, from another perspective, this expedition would earn Liang En more prestige than his previous discoveries. Compared to the less captivating interest in ancient Egyptology, Greek Fire seemed more appealing to the masses.
"Decipherer of ancient Egyptian scripts, discoverer of Greek Fire's secrets—these titles do sound impressive," Liang En mumbled softly. "Maybe my future title will be even longer than Dragon Mom's; by then, introducing myself will certainly be very impressive."
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Table of content - Next Chapter
Chapter 169: Harvest
In terms of efficiency, the British archaeological team might come off as a tad bureaucratic, taking their time with many matters. However, compared to the Turks, these Brits were remarkably swift and efficient.
For instance, despite the Turkish archaeological department knowing of Liang En's excavation work and Mr. Skoode himself having informed them, this group of individuals only sluggishly made their way over by noon on the third day.
Thankfully, with the assistance of the two hands sent by Skoode, Liang En and his team were able to hand over their work and relax, catching a ride back to Trabzon by car before boarding Mr. Skoode's private plane back to Constantinople.
From there, the plane swiftly carried Liang En's team and their luggage straight to England, while Liang En and his two companions planned to spend a few days exploring Constantinople before returning.
After all, having come all the way to Turkey, it wouldn't do to just rush back to England after a few days in the wilderness. That kind of life would seem a bit too dull.
"This expedition's yield is simply enormous," exclaimed Pierce, brimming with excitement. Unlike Fan Meng, who earned a £15,000 reward this time, Pierce didn't take a penny.
Because Liang En agreed to make two stone slab replicas upon returning and hand over the second one to Pierce for sale through his channels.
Pierce wouldn't make much from this deal; he'd only take a 3% minimum commission as an intermediary fee. The real value lay in enhancing his network through this transaction.
"By the way, my father hopes you'll invest in our family store," suddenly mentioned Pierce to Liang En as the three were enjoying an authentic Turkish bath.
"You're joking, right?" Liang En's initial reaction was disbelief. He knew the Emerald Merchant, the Murphy family's store, was thriving and had no need for external capital.
Based on Liang En's rough private estimates, including property, the store's fixed assets ranged between £900,000 to £1.2 million, with an annual net profit of £70,000, three times the average disposable income of a British household.
Moreover, the Murphy family had been running this store, belonging to their lineage for generations, and introducing external funds seemed out of place.
"If you ever find yourself in need of money, I can lend you some without any interest," Liang En suddenly thought of something and promptly told his friend.
"Where did that come from?" Pierce, lying on a belly-stone enjoying a massage referred to as 'Tanrak' by the burly, bearded masseur with an Irish accent, chuckled and responded in English.
"Both my family and the store are fine; you can have a lawyer look into it. The reason my father proposed this is because he believes having you invest in our store would be more beneficial for its development."
"Actually, there have been a few others interested in investing in our store before, but they either fancied the house connected to our store or wanted us to become puppets for certain wealthy individuals, and that's not our way."
Pierce turned over as directed by the masseur, continuing to get a back massage, then looked at Liang En.
"From what you've done so far, your character is evident, and your recent actions show an intuition that surpasses the ordinary."
"After all, what you've unearthed recently might take a lifetime for others to find even one, yet you've discovered so many in less than a year."
"Besides luck, we see in you a tremendous potential for growth. And for us, this is the best opportunity we can seize."
"Got it. Let's discuss this matter further after we return to London," nodded Liang En. For him, acquiring a stake in this store brought many benefits, especially regarding distribution channels, so he naturally didn't oppose the idea.
Having relaxed thoroughly after a bath, Liang En and his companions retired to their rooms. While lying on the soft bed, Liang En began examining the cards he had previously found.
Among the three black cards, two were common—[Detection (N), while the other was a valuable [Legendary Power (R), allowing Liang En to raise his legendary power limit to 9 points.
"Just a step away from 10," Liang En remarked, picking up the silver box containing the relic ring he had found earlier and wore around his neck.
Ever since gaining this legendary power, Liang En had a vague sense that this ring might be closely linked to his next step in this domain. He was eager to uncover this mystery.
As for why this relic's legendary power was only at one point, Liang En believed it might be because this item was associated with humans in legends, relatively unrelated to myths.
Although in the later period of the Byzantine Empire, the emperors claimed this weapon was bestowed by the gods, the mythical parts in the overall legend were scarce. Therefore, information regarding this was equally rare, limiting the legendary power to just one point.
The other card was a permanent skill card, one that could be actively used. Interestingly, this card's usage seemed slightly different from before.
[Greek Fire (R): Once, this potent flamethrower saved the Eastern Roman Empire, sustaining the ancient empire's fate for millennia.
Now, this power, lost in history, will be revived, becoming a significant aid to historical explorers, helping them overcome various obstacles on their path.
Skill Card (Permanent) (Incomplete), allowing the preparation and transformation of spellcasting tools and materials through the consumption of legendary power. Subsequently, one can wield those hellish flames with flexibility.]
According to the card, this card was currently incomplete, needing Liang En to create a flamethrower and fuel container before it could be used properly.
"A makeshift flamethrower?" Lost in thought, Liang En pondered over these details. Even before completing the card, he could infer its potential effects from the simple description.
"Indeed, after enhancing the core card abilities of historical explorers, my acquired abilities seem increasingly incompatible with this world itself."
Liang En welcomed the changes within himself, considering them positive, as they were derivatives of core skill advancements.
Relaxed in his mood, Liang En took out the Eastern Orthodox cross he had found in the bank earlier and started to examine it. While Mr. Skoode had taken away a pile of documents left by his uncle, he left the silver cross for Liang En, stating that he only took his uncle's belongings and this particular aged silver cross wasn't among them.
"I believe my uncle would approve of this," Mr. Skoode had said at the time. "He would certainly hope that a certain adventurous descendant could continue down his path."
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Chapter 170: The Cross and the Letter
Liang En took out this cross at this moment because, compared to the other items in that safe, this cross looked very out of place.
Yes, it was indeed peculiar. For Mr. Conrad, while documents could help his relatives find his whereabouts, this seemingly ordinary cross stood apart from the rest.
Though the cross was made of silver, its craftsmanship was rather average, and its history didn't span more than 100 years. If sold, it wouldn't fetch more than 200 to 300 pounds.
More importantly, the entire Conrad family followed the Nordic branch of Christianity, yet this cross was Eastern Orthodox.
"I have this feeling that this cross holds some kind of secret." Liang En turned the cross in his hand, clearing off the debris stuck to it.
As he cleaned the side of the cross, he discovered a stain beneath which a monastery's name was engraved.
Monasteries' names and codes appearing on crosses weren't unusual; most of these crosses were crafted by monasteries or churches themselves.
Apart from their own use, these religious institutions often gave these items to devout believers. Hence, it wasn't uncommon to find such crosses in the hands of outsiders. Although not abundant, they weren't exceedingly rare and could be given as mementos to faithful believers.
The issue lay in Conrad not being an Eastern Orthodox believer. Therefore, his possession of this item and storing it in the safe must have held some other significance.
"If Conrad truly sensed he might be in danger at that time, he might have left some clues. Experienced individuals tend to leave contingency plans."
Liang En, deep in thought while lying on the bed, resolved to visit the monastery recorded on the cross the next day.
This cross represented the final puzzle piece in this whole affair. Without unraveling it, he felt a lingering unease.
So, early the next morning, Liang En greeted his companions and headed to the restaurant to grab a few sandwiches before making his way to the monastery.
The Ottoman Empire mostly upheld religious tolerance, visible even in the capital, where churches and monasteries stood as symbols of the local faith.
The monastery Liang En was heading to wasn't ancient. It was one of the newer Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Constantinople's urban area, merely over a hundred years old.
"May I help you?" A bearded Orthodox clergyman inquired as Liang En knocked on the monastery's iron door through a small window.
"I have something left by a deceased person from your monastery," Liang En presented the cross, explaining, "I've been entrusted by the deceased's relatives and wish to learn more about the person."
"Let me see." The clergyman took the cross and inspected the engravings on its side. "This indeed belongs to our monastery, but it seems quite aged." After several minutes of examination, he finally made a move.
He unlocked the heavy gate with a key, inviting Liang En into the solemn yet simple monastery.
"Our monastery was built in 1858, commemorating the victory in the Crimean War two years earlier. It's also a place for Orthodox believers who perished fighting for the Ottoman Empire," he explained. "Besides, we store items for Orthodox locals and provide accommodation."
As they conversed, they reached the main building of the monastery. Instead of entering directly, they turned to the side of the structure.
"For those who store items here, we give them a cross as a token. When they or their representatives come, they present this token to claim their belongings."
Saying this, the clergyman selected a key from his bunch of ancient keys, unlocking a door and leading Liang En into a warehouse with thick walls and narrow windows.
"The cross you've brought is quite old, maybe over half a century old. So, I'm unsure if what you're seeking is still intact."
Once inside, the clergyman turned away from Liang En, opening a cabinet and examining numerous thick scrolls. He spoke to Liang En, "It's fine as long as it exists." Liang En, gazing at the shelves, remarked, "My task is to retrieve the belongings for the relatives. Time's toll hasn't affected its significance."
"I understand. What you're taking back is the essence of kinship. It's more valuable than any tangible wealth, but many fail to comprehend this."
The clergyman nodded and, retrieving a yellowed envelope from beneath, handed it to Liang En. On the envelope, the recipient was addressed as 'Old Skoode'.
"Thank you." Liang En expressed gratitude to the clergyman before leaving the monastery.
The letter was evidently meant for Old Skoode, so Liang En intended to return it to him upon his return.
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