"It's really unexpected that the other party refuses to reveal our destination now." After Bernard finished the basic registration and left, Fan Meng whispered to Liang En.
As a former foreign legion soldier, Fan Meng's proficiency in French was quite impressive among non-native speakers of the language, so he naturally understood what Bernard had said just now.
"To be honest, this feels to me like when we were given no mission objectives before carrying out tasks back in the day. I hate this feeling of facing the unknown."
"That's the way it is," Liang En sighed helplessly, spreading his hands. "After all, the looting along the eastern and southern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea has become rampant, so we have to prevent some unfortunate situations."
In fact, the act of looting antiquities has a very ancient history. Even in ancient Egypt, some pharaohs and nobles had their freshly buried tombs robbed.
For some people in certain regions and cultural circles, excavating antiquities is a way of life, often something that the impoverished do out of necessity to survive.
To give a simple example, in war-torn areas where shops are closed, fields are burned, and there's simply no possibility of finding livelihoods elsewhere, a person might dig up some antiquities to sell in order to feed their family, and it's hard to blame them.
But the issue is that in many areas, such looting has turned into large-scale activities. In those chaotic regions, some individuals will completely pillage archaeological sites, and even destroy the remains in the end.
For instance, during Egypt's turmoil a few years ago, various looting activities suddenly increased. The number of looted holes in the ground increased significantly.
An even worse fact is that most of these stolen artifacts end up in auction houses in New York or London, or even openly for sale on platforms like eBay.
This situation indirectly indicates that behind many of these looting actions, it's not just about the locals trying to make money; it's part of the international illicit trade in cultural artifacts.
Because of reasons like these, formal archaeological teams like theirs have to choose to keep their research destinations hidden. This prevents those well-informed thieves from getting ahead, digging recklessly, and damaging the sites.
After spending a day in Paris, they took a direct flight to Cairo.
As the airline was Egyptian, the flight attendants all spoke English with an Egyptian accent. This led Liang En and the others to guess what the flight attendants on this plane were saying throughout the journey.
Due to the current winter season, the climate in Cairo, situated along the Mediterranean coast, was quite pleasant. After leaving the airport, it wasn't as scorching as they had imagined.
After everyone arrived at the suburban hotel with their luggage as previously arranged, Professor Jacques, the team leader, announced that they were free to go out and explore on their own. Of course, he also specifically advised everyone to go to crowded places and avoid wandering into the slums.
With a handful of Egyptian pounds exchanged on the first floor of the hotel, Liang En and Fan Meng headed out to the city center. Unlike in London, taxi drivers here didn't use meters at all.
Fortunately, the fare to the city center was only 3 euros from here, so Liang En didn't bother to haggle and simply agreed before getting into the car, heading straight to the downtown area.
Soon, the car was on a wide road leading to the city center. Despite lacking guardrails and being bordered by cement blocks, the well-maintained eight-lane road was impressive.
Especially since there were no speed limits or traffic lights on this road, the driver's speedy driving allowed them to reach the Cairo Liberation Square area, near the city center, in less than half of the expected time. The Cairo National Museum, their destination, was right there.
To be honest, Liang En would rather not save this bit of time. The drivers in Cairo were simply too reckless, swerving and accelerating wildly on straight roads.
Furthermore, the heavily armed checkpoints they encountered before entering the city made Liang En somewhat uncomfortable. Luckily, with their Asian appearances, they looked like tourists. They were only subjected to a metal detector scan without experiencing a full-body pat-down from gun-wielding policemen.
"Since we're here to study ancient Egyptian artifacts and sites, we must visit this place," Liang En pointed across the square at the luxurious two-story stone building, explaining to Fan Meng. "This is one of the world's top museums."
"I can tell," Fan Meng remarked, looking at the armed guards around the museum. "If this place weren't important, there wouldn't be so many armed guards."
The Cairo National Museum was surrounded by armed guards stationed every few steps. Inside, they discovered that getting in required passing through three checks, and they would be searched when leaving as well.
However, the ticket price here wasn't high; a single ticket cost only 100 Egyptian pounds, equivalent to 4.6 pounds. This ticket included access to the main exhibition hall and the Tutankhamun Gallery.
Interestingly, a price list beside the ticket counter stated in both English and Arabic that photography was prohibited inside the museum, but next to this it said, "Unless you purchase a photography ticket."
After buying two entrance tickets and one photography ticket, Liang En and Fan Meng entered the exhibition hall. As soon as they entered, they were captivated.
The ground floor was filled with enormous statues from various temples, some of which were visibly damaged and awaiting repair, while others were extremely valuable and unsuitable for outdoor display.
Compared to the spacious museums in London, the density of artifacts here made this museum seem more like a warehouse. Additionally, most of the sculptures were not only displayed without glass cases, but also without any protective barriers.
"Hey, looks like we're getting in touch with history," Fan Meng commented, not finding any signs forbidding touch, and since the staff in the vicinity didn't intervene, he simply reached out to touch the large statues displayed outside.
Meanwhile, Liang En carefully observed the representative sculptures and took numerous photos of the inscriptions above them. These inscriptions held significant value for him.
After spending nearly two hours thoroughly exploring the ground floor, the two moved on to the second floor. Unlike the large artifacts on the first floor, the second floor showcased smaller items, giving the impression of stepping from a warehouse into an antique shop.
The most eye-catching exhibit was the Tutankhamun Gallery, featuring the world-renowned golden mask placed prominently at its center. Besides this, the radiant gold artifacts displayed throughout the gallery left a sense of being surrounded by opulence.
However, Liang En and Fan Meng spent less time touring than most visitors, as they skipped the paid Royal Mummy Room. For individuals of their ethnicity, viewing the golden coffins was already their limit; the mummies were a step too far.
"I really don't understand why so many people are willing to pay to visit the embalming room," Fan Meng commented, watching a group of chattering American tourists entering the Royal Mummy Room with tickets. "Don't they find it inauspicious?"
"European people seem to be less superstitious about that," Liang En shrugged. "At least, from what I know, there are quite a few folks in London who not only collect mummies, but also keep them at home."
Despite the taboos surrounding it, Liang En and the other person didn't visit the Royal Mummy Museum. Instead, they went to a nearby free animal mummy museum.
It must be said that the ancient Egyptians had a considerable knack for preserving animal bodies for long periods. Therefore, Liang En and the others saw a series of animal mummies in this room, including baboons, crocodiles, lions, cats, and more.
Compared to the adjacent room containing a series of mummies of ancient Egyptian royalty, this room had a much better vibe. At least most of these mummies were enclosed in plaster shells, making them appear less unsettling.
After leaving the museum, it was already 3 PM. Because they were starving and the area was a tourist hotspot in the city center, Liang En and the others followed a group of French tourists to a nearby street to find something to eat.
To be honest, things near tourist spots around the world are pretty similar. For instance, street vendors selling grilled food can be found wherever there are people. However, for some reason, there was no beer available with the barbecue here, only some tea to suffice.
After each of them devoured a large portion of kebab rolls and drank a big cup of freshly squeezed juice, Liang En and his companions, who had been famished just a while ago, finally perked up. They also took the opportunity to plan their next travel destination.
Since the pyramids were scheduled for a collective visit tomorrow, they briefly discussed and decided to stroll around the vicinity while searching for any interesting items.
Although Liang En didn't intend to buy any artifacts or relics obtained through illegal excavation, there were state-run souvenir shops near various tourist attractions in Egypt to promote tourism.
Unlike Liang En's previous world, the state-run souvenir shops in this Egyptian world somewhat resembled the cultural relics stores that early China had for overseas trade. They offered some legally acquired artifacts.
"Why does it feel like every place in Egypt related to artifacts has the same style?" After entering, Fan Meng whispered to Liang En in Chinese.
Similar to the museum they had just visited, this place was crammed with items. Replicas of various artifacts and artworks in the ancient Egyptian style occupied almost every inch of the room.
Thanks to the gift from Champollion, Liang En conversed with the shopkeeper in Arabic after a few sentences in accented English. Upon learning the purpose of their visit, the shopkeeper led Liang En to a row of glass display cases.
"If you're interested in authentic artifacts, you'll find them in these cases," the shopkeeper pointed at five or six glass cases and said, "Take your time looking here. Let me know if you find something you like."
"Are these items all legal?" Despite having done some research beforehand, Liang En still inquired, "We're foreign tourists. Can we legally take these things through customs if we buy them here?"
"Of course, that's precisely why our shops exist," the middle-aged shopkeeper explained, "If you purchase items from us, we'll provide you with an authentication certificate. This way, you can take those items home without any issues."
"Hey, why does it seem like everything here is just junk?" After the elderly shopkeeper left, Fan Meng looked at the items in front of him with confusion.
Inside the glass cases were either tarnished Arabian-style bronze artifacts or various pieces of stone and mud. Only a few gold and silver coins in plastic boxes seemed to hold any value.
"No, no, there are quite a few treasures here," Liang En said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the fragments on the clay tablets and stones. "While they might not have much economic value, from a historical perspective, they're invaluable."
Evidently, the expertise of Egypt's antiquities department in appraising items wasn't much different from that of Fan Meng's. In their eyes, the value of relics was obviously tied to the material and size. Naturally, some significant pieces found their way into these shops.
"And don't forget, in principle, artifacts from before 1883, whether excavated or newly discovered, cannot be taken out of Egypt without approval from the Ministry of Culture or even higher-ranking officials. This applies to research, exhibitions, and even private ownership."
Liang En had reviewed Egypt's laws before coming here, so he sighed and looked at the jumbled mess before him.
"Although the things displayed here might look like rubbish, they're the only legally obtainable relics in this country."
As there were so many items piled here, Liang En decided to use a 【Detection (N)】 card to avoid overlooking any valuable items. In an instant, a white light emanated from beneath one of the shelves.
Bending down, Liang En found that the source of the white light was a small heap of broken clay tablets. And after glancing at the cuneiform inscriptions on one of them, he realized it contained Akkadian text detailing the epic of Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of humanity's oldest known epics, originating from Sumerian poems and legends. The story has various sources and versions, each incomplete due to its more than two-thousand-year-long transmission.
The earliest tablets of the epic come from ancient Babylon and, combined with later discovered Akkadian tablets, form the foundation for modern translations of Gilgamesh. By the 1870s and 1880s, the full epic was already translated.
Regarding why Middle Eastern artifacts were found in Egypt, the reason was straightforward—there was significant cultural exchange between the ancient Middle Eastern countries and ancient Egypt. Hence, discovering each other's artifacts on their respective territories wasn't uncommon.
As for why the clay tablet Liang En was interested in was being sold here as merchandise, the primary reason was that it was mixed in with a basketball-sized pile of broken clay tablets on the floor, making it appear like a heap of trash.
Moreover, upon closer examination, Liang En spotted some intriguing things amidst the pile. So, if things went as expected, he might be able to haggle down the price quite a bit.
"How much for this pile of tablet fragments?" Having made up his mind, Liang En called the shopkeeper over and gestured towards the pile beneath the counter. "I hope you'll give me a fair price."
"12,000 euros." The shopkeeper pulled out a notebook from behind the counter and glanced at it before answering.
"These are some of the oldest pieces we have, so even though they're fragmented and in disrepair, their value isn't cheap due to the inscriptions. However, if they're all authentic, the price is appropriate."
"If they are indeed all genuine," Liang En nodded after considering it, "then the price is fair. But selling them at this price with the possibility of forgeries—"
"How could there be forgeries—" The shopkeeper immediately began to argue upon hearing this but abruptly stopped mid-sentence as Liang En showed him a picture he had just taken.
In the photo, a broken clay tablet was circled in red. Embedded in its broken edge was a plastic sequin, commonly used on clothing. Obviously, such a thing couldn't have existed during the time these tablets were crafted.
"Uh... I apologize." After stooping to take a closer look at the tablets, the shopkeeper immediately bowed to Liang En and pulled out his phone to consult a superior. Soon, a well-dressed Arab man entered from outside.
"Hello, I'm the manager here," the middle-aged man said. "I apologize for the presence of forgeries among these tablet fragments. If you're still interested in these items, we'll compensate you in terms of the price—"
"Buying a bag of broken clay pieces for 8000 euros is truly an unimaginable thing," exclaimed Fan Meng in astonishment as he walked out of the souvenir shop with Liang En.
You see, in France, the average monthly salary of a middle-income programmer was 3640 euros last year. In other words, this pile of clay fragments equated to more than two months' worth of wages for a programmer. It was not a small amount by any means.
"Because I believe there might be something valuable inside this thing," Liang En shook the plastic bag in his hand, saying, "If we can piece together relatively complete clay tablets from it, then spending 8000 euros is worth it."
By the time they returned to the hotel, the sky had already turned dark. So, after having dinner at the hotel's ground-floor restaurant, the two of them immediately went upstairs to their room and started playing a jigsaw puzzle game.
Most of the items in this plastic bag were indeed just small pieces of ordinary clay tablets, some even mixed with a few modern-day fakes, sold as souvenirs to tourists without any issues.
Of course, Liang En's purchase of this bag of fragments wasn't merely for selecting some souvenirs. Soon enough, he followed the faint gleams of light to pick out a dozen or so fragments from the pile.
Assembling a dozen pieces was naturally easier than piecing together the hundreds here, so in a short amount of time, Liang En and Fan Meng managed to assemble a clay tablet about the size of an adult man's palm.
"Surprisingly, there's a complete clay tablet in here." After finishing the assembly, Fan Meng looked astonished at the tablet and said, "By the way, what's written on this tablet?"
"Don't rush, let me take a look. Fortunately, I understand Akkadian," Liang En said as he picked up a pen and paper and began translating the text on the tablet little by little.
"This should be the fifth tablet from the Epic of Gilgamesh, a 12-part series." As he wrote and translated, Liang En gradually revealed the tablet's contents.
"The upper part of the tablet describes how Gilgamesh and Enkidu entered the Cedar Forest together, and with the help of the sun god Shamash, they slew the monstrous god Humbaba."
"The lower part of the tablet then tells how the two of them, having felled many cedar trees in the forest, fashioned a raft from the trees and carried the cedar logs and Humbaba's head, destined for the construction of a temple, back along the Euphrates to Uruk—"
Liang En said, connecting his laptop to the internet, then comparing it with the version translated by a professor from Oxford University more than a decade ago. Soon, he discovered that the content on the clay tablet in his hands contained additional details.
The extra content primarily focused on the beginning of the text. Unlike the existing versions, the content on Liang En's tablet included more descriptions of the sounds the two heard after entering the forest, including bird songs, insect chirping, and the cries of apes.
Clearly, this clay tablet provided an important supplement to a world-renowned literary classic from 3000 years ago.
And just as Liang En was deciphering the identity of this clay tablet, he gained three new cards. Two of them were common [Detection (N)] cards, while the last one was a new R-grade card he had acquired, [Poetic Chant (R)].
[Poetic Chant (R): In the most ancient of eras, only a select few possessed various forms of writing. For the majority, the means to acquire information was through oral tradition.
Hence, in that era, the role of the wandering minstrel was indispensable to society, serving as a crucial link for conveying important information and maintaining a certain level of vibrancy in the community.]
Strengthening Card (One-Time Use): Consuming this card allows the user to gain a certain level of talent in various ancient folk song chants, quickly mastering various poetic chants.】
"I can't see the immediate usefulness of this ability, but since there doesn't seem to be an upper limit to skills in this area, learning a bit more can't hurt."
After selecting and using this card, Liang En felt a vague and inexplicable presence in his mind. Though he couldn't discern its immediate use, gaining a new ability was definitely not a bad thing.
The next day was dedicated to a collective visit to the pyramids. Contrary to what many might imagine, the pyramids weren't situated in some desolate desert; they were right in the Giza district of Cairo.
"Just like a local saying goes, humans fear time, and time fears the pyramids!" Standing on the sandy ground and looking at the massive pyramids before him, Liang En subconsciously remarked.
Unfortunately, the pyramids had been emptied by people 3000 years ago. Even the tomb raiders of that time had become important archaeological subjects if placed in today's context.
Moreover, the ancient Egyptians had a knack for recycling items. At least yesterday at the museum, Liang En saw a single sarcophagus that had held several pharaohs over time.
When the purely sightseeing day came to an end and they returned to the hotel, Fan Meng borrowed a thousand euros from Liang En, stating that he was buying self-defense items, and left. He only returned more than two hours later.
The following morning, everyone woke up early and headed to Alexandria to procure the necessary supplies for the upcoming excavation. After finishing the inventory around noon, they drove directly to Rashid City, located at the western mouth of the Nile Delta.
Once the Nile reaches north of Cairo, it splits into two rivers: the Damietta River to the east and the Rosetta River to the west. These rivers flow separately into the sea, without converging. Just before the Rosetta River joins the Mediterranean, it passes through a small city called Rashid.
Today, this city is an unassuming coastal town with a population of just over forty thousand. However, in contrast to the Europeanized Cairo and Alexandria, this city exudes Arab and Ottoman flavors.
Unlike its present-day desolation, from the Medieval Mamluk period to the Ottoman Empire era, Rashid had been Egypt's foremost port city during Arab and Turkish rule.
During this period, Egypt, as a crossroads between Europe, Asia, and Africa, naturally became a hub for East-West trade. Wealth from the East, such as spices from India and porcelain from China, would first be brought here before sailors took it to Venice, RNY.
During that time, Rashid's port must have been bustling, whereas Alexandria, its contemporary, was comparatively overlooked.
However, with the advancement of technology, ships grew larger. Rashid, situated at the mouth of a river and often affected by silt deposits, eventually couldn't accommodate large vessels due to shallow waters. Consequently, over time, its vibrancy dwindled.
Therefore, as Liang En and the others drove into the city, they found that Rashid hadn't retained many modern traces. It was as if time had paused in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Since they carried quite a few items, their transportation switched from buses to their individual pickup trucks and trucks after leaving Alexandria. Upon entering the city, the radios in their vehicles buzzed to life.
"We won't stop here, heading directly to our destination, the Qaitbay Citadel." Professor Jacques' voice came through the radio.
"Also, follow my instructions on the road later. Do what I say. This place isn't very safe."
"It seems this place isn't as safe as the travel guides suggest." After ending the conversation, Liang En sighed and turned to Fan Meng, who was driving in the driver's seat. "Where are those self-defense items you bought yesterday?"
"They're in the storage compartment in front of you." Fan Meng said, gripping the steering wheel. "These items might not be entirely legal, so when you need to carry them later, it's better to cover them up a bit."
In the front storage compartment of the co-pilot's seat, there are currently two somewhat aged Helwan pistols. These are Beretta 1951 model pistols replicated under permission in Egypt. They used to be standard-issue weapons in the Egyptian army but have since been phased out.
"Yesterday, I bought them along with 80 rounds of ammunition for 1000 euros," introduced Fan Meng. "Given the consistently unstable situation in this region, being prepared with some weapons for self-defense is certainly more sensible than relying on rescue or paying ransom if we're kidnapped."
"You're right. Egyptians aren't always the most reliable in many places. I believe it's more meaningful to be prepared ourselves than depend on them," Liang En nodded, observing the scenery on either side of the road.
Due to the location being in the Nile Delta, unlike before, the surroundings aren't desolate. Instead, they're full of vibrant life, from date palm trees to aquatic plants by the river, breaking the silence of the environment.
Even though it's winter, the midday temperature is still around 25 degrees Celsius. Under these conditions, driving on the asphalt road isn't the most comfortable experience.
Fortunately, the destination is only five or six kilometers away from the city center. So, just a few minutes later, the convoy reaches their destination along the highway.
"We've arrived now." As the group saw the river flowing into the sea along the highway, Professor Jacques' voice came through the radio. "The structure ahead of us is Katebey Castle."
Upon hearing the voice, Liang En, who had been a bit drowsy, immediately sat up straight in his seat and looked towards the front of the vehicle. He saw a building that resembled a temple from a foreign land.
This is a castle from the Mamluk era, situated at the point where the Rashid River meets the sea, five kilometers north of Rashid City. It was established as a fortress guarding a strategic pass.
However, now the castle has completely lost its military significance and has become an ordinary ancient structure surrounded by makeshift houses.
Liang En and the others have come here because the local authorities plan to renovate this building and turn it into a tourist attraction, attracting visitors. Thus, with limited personnel, they've sought assistance from the Louvre Museum in France for archaeological work.
"Katebey Castle?" After the conversation ended, Fan Meng looked at the unimpressive building in front of them with a puzzled expression. "If I recall correctly, there's also a castle with the same name built on the site of the Alexandria Lighthouse, isn't there?"
"You're correct. That's because the sultan whose image is printed on a one-pound Egyptian note was quite an enthusiast for large-scale infrastructure in that era," Liang En replied with a smile. "So, there's no shortage of structures in Egypt named after him."
This sultan was a ruler in 15th century Egypt, and naturally, he didn't prioritize the preservation of historical artifacts. Hence, when constructing this castle, a substantial amount of materials from ancient buildings were utilized.
In fact, such practices were quite common in that era. For example, the outer structures of the ancient Roman Colosseum have mostly disappeared, with the remaining half used as building materials for newer structures by local residents over time.
This is also why inviting the Louvre Museum was necessary for the renovation. The castle's construction involved many components borrowed from ancient Egyptian architecture, requiring careful organization of these elements now.
After getting off the vehicle, everyone swiftly moved some items from the car into the castle. Accompanied by a group of locals, they commenced their exploration of the entire castle.
Upon entering, Liang En noticed a flight of stairs with ancient Egyptian inscriptions carved into the surface on the wall to his right. As he approached, he discovered that although the upper lines contained partially incomplete characters, the remaining royal names indicated that these inscriptions were likely taken from some temple.
Regrettably, due to the convenience-seeking stonemasons of the past who had sliced a column horizontally, both lines of text were significantly damaged, making it impossible to discern their content.
Nevertheless, this was a promising sign, suggesting that the area held valuable artifacts. After placing some tools in the central courtyard, the research team divided into sections under Professor Jacques' guidance and began their search.
Liang En's designated search area was quite small, encompassing only a few soldiers' barracks. This was because Liang En's main objective in this visit was to provide real-time translations of the texts found on unearthed artifacts.
Just as the task was announced, Professor Jacques pulled Liang En over to a wall. Embedded in the wall, at about head height, was a half-intact stone tablet, appearing relatively whole except for minor wear and tear in certain areas.
"This should be a stone tablet left behind by the Ptolemaic Dynasty of ancient Egypt during the Hellenistic period," Liang En quickly translated the content on the stone tablet after studying a few lines. "It mainly praises the donation made by Queen Arsinoe III to the temple."
"Arsinoe III? She's the daughter of the Egyptian King Ptolemy III, the full sister and wife of Ptolemy IV," Professor Jacques, an Egyptology expert, recalled who she was promptly.
"Although she met a tragic end in political struggles, she was quite beloved by the Egyptian populace. The two conspirators who killed her were subsequently exiled, so it's reasonable for such a inscription to have been preserved," Liang En explained.
"But Professor, can we really be certain that this translation is accurate?" Right after Liang En finished translating the tablet, a middle-aged man with a goatee on the side suddenly spoke.
Hearing the skepticism, Liang En turned his head and realized that the one raising doubts was Dr. Sherif, also a researcher from the Louvre Museum's Ancient Egyptian Department.
"Well then, could you point out where I made a mistake in my translation?" Hearing the doubt, Liang En looked directly at the middle-aged man.
After all, this was a language that had been dead for a long time. Even someone as brilliant as Champollion might not be able to ensure a flawless translation. Therefore, Liang En was eager to hear valuable suggestions.
"How can you be certain that your translation is entirely accurate? After all, nobody knows what these long-extinct words truly represent now. You could easily create a so-called accurate translation to pander to the crowd—"
"I hope you can present valuable information instead of just causing disruptions like you are now," Liang En interrupted when he saw that the objections were purely for some ulterior motive.
"Don't act all high and mighty here. Your research, as someone without extensive professional training, is probably just a money-making scheme," evidently, Dr. Sherif must have been facing some issues that led him to vent his frustration on Liang En.
Reflecting on it, he did look like he was twice Liang En's age and had much higher qualifications. But currently, he could only assist Professor Jacques with auxiliary tasks, so it was reasonable for his emotions to flare up.
"Sherif, we're scholars, not politicians." At this point, Professor Jacques' face also displayed his displeasure. "So, when you're accusing others of errors, it's best to provide solid reasons instead of resorting to personal attacks like you are now."
Professor Jacques' reprimand forced Dr. Sherif to retreat and back down, but he continued to shoot angry glances at Liang En from time to time.
To avoid this vexing gaze, Liang En excused himself after translating the current batch of content. He then joined Fan Meng, who was searching for supplies in the camp.
"I finally understand why that guy is still just an assistant researcher in his forties," Liang En summarized the recent events briefly, and Fan Meng commented.
Since Fan Meng's responsibilities included safeguarding Liang En's safety as his childhood friend, he had collected publicly available information about everyone in the team beforehand. So, as soon as Liang En mentioned the situation, Fan Meng had a fairly accurate idea of what was going on.
"This Sherif is a second-generation immigrant like us, but unlike those of us who preserve our ethnic identities, he belongs to the assimilationist group. In the context of our Chinese heritage, he's what you'd call a standard ABC—someone fervently adopting the culture of the host country."
"Actually, his behavior reflects how those old Europeans view you," Fan Meng continued, "After all, Egyptology can be considered a strong suit of Europe, and it's hard for them to accept a non-professional Asian achieving such results."
"Of course, all he can do is criticize you verbally or online. You don't need to worry about safety issues. At least, according to the information I found, that guy is just a typical keyboard warrior."
"You're right, and I'm not bothered by it," Liang En shrugged indifferently and then asked, "By the way, did you find anything valuable here?"
"I found some stone blocks with carvings, but they mostly seem to be fragments," Fan Meng replied, gesturing toward the walls and floor of the tent.
As Fan Meng had mentioned, the craftsmen who built this castle in the past were concerned only about the size of the stones and didn't care much about the content carved on them. Consequently, the content on these stones was disorderly and lacked consistency.
After a brief translation, Liang En discovered that the content was quite scattered, including a partial list of temple offerings and a description of a scene from a certain war.
Evidently, these items must have come from various ruins and were randomly combined together.
After translating all the exposed content, Liang En and Fan Meng expanded their search. Considering that the craftsmen of the past might have placed the inscribed sides facing inward, they began inspecting objects that resembled stone markers.
Soon, in one room, they found something interesting on the floor. It was a semicircular stone, and the precise curvature of its upper half indicated that it had been meticulously carved.
Clearly, such intricate craftsmanship wasn't necessary for a mere stone floor. Thus, this stone was likely scavenged from some ruin by the builders back in the day.
"This thing looks like half of a stonemarker," Fan Meng speculated as he brushed away the dirt from its surface with a broom.
An intriguing fact was that while different civilizations had diverse developmental paths, most of them designed stonemarkers with an upper circular section and a lower rectangular section.
As such, upon seeing the stone on the ground, which was roughly the size of a large computer screen, Fan Meng's immediate assumption was that someone had used the half-stonemarker as a brick to pave the floor.
"Your deduction is quite reasonable," Liang En commented after a glance, "If this stone were thicker, the group of builders might have used it for constructing the walls. So, it's likely a relatively thin slab."
"Moreover, considering the fine texture and meticulous polishing of the stone, it's highly probable that this originated from some dismantled stonemarker of unknown origin."
With this determination, they began to excavate. Fortunately, the construction of the castle had involved minimal use of mortar for the flooring, allowing them to easily unearth the stone from the earth.
The stone was almost 30 cm thick, slightly over 70 cm in width, and nearly half a meter in length—appearing to be the upper part of a stonemarker.
Turning it over, they found engravings on the stone's circular top, depicting the wings of an eagle, a cobra, the sun, and the images of ancient Egyptian deities. These designs indicated a high rank for the stonemarker, most likely associated with royalty.
In the tradition of ancient Egypt, pharaohs were seen as embodiments of the sun god. So, the carving of the sun at the center of the marker suggested that it either held royal decrees or documented certain actions of the monarchy.
As the stone was made of granite and had its inscribed side facing downward as it lay on the floor, the text on the upper surface was fairly well-preserved. After cleaning off the dust, they discovered eight lines of hieroglyphic script.
"Let me see what's written on it." Dragging the stone from the dim room into the sunlight of the castle courtyard, Liang En began translating the text. By now, a number of people had gathered around to watch.
"—The rightful heir to the throne of Egypt, a devout follower of the gods, the rebuilder of the Egyptian kingdom and preserver of human civilization, unconquerable, the bringer of prosperity to Egypt for thirty years, the master of Upper and Lower Egypt, son of Ra, the eternal one, the beloved child of Ptah, King Ptolemy—"
All of this was written in the hieratic script of ancient Egypt. Drawing on his knowledge, Liang En quickly translated the content and recited it aloud.
However, due to the fragmentary nature of the inscription, the information he gleaned from the stonemarker was limited to that of a Ptolemaic dynasty king's donation to a temple.
"You're fabricating this based on the Ancient Greek inscriptions found on donations made by various Ptolemaic kings to temples, aren't you?" A grating voice interrupted the attentive silence.
"Well, since no one here understands what these ancient Egyptian texts actually say, all you need to do is replace one or two names of the pharaohs inside the circular part with the name of the king in power, and you can craft a seemingly plausible inscription."
"Dr. Sherif, I'll reiterate: you can criticize my mistakes, but I expect you to present reasonable arguments rather than resorting to personal attacks."
Since the other party brought this discussion into the public sphere, Liang En had no intention of preserving Dr. Sherif's pride.
"The translation I provided earlier was heard by everyone present, and the stonemarker is right here," Liang En pointed to the stone lying on the ground, "So, please point out my mistakes!"
Upon hearing Liang En's challenge, all attention shifted to Dr. Sherif.
Although the bystanders were unaware of the underlying conflict between the two, humans had a natural inclination to enjoy spectacle. Thus, all eyes focused on them.
"The widely accepted belief now is that ancient Egyptian scripts consist solely of ideograms used for their meanings, while you claim that some of these inscriptions are phonetic."
As all eyes were on him, Dr. Sherif first faltered slightly and then began to defend himself with sophistry.
"While your proposition can indeed translate parts of the content, your interpretation remains speculative without further corroborating evidence. I just don't want you to lead everyone astray based on unverified claims."
With the tension thick in the air, the two scholars continued their debate amidst the audience's rapt attention.
After Sheriff's words fell, the attention of the others on the scene turned towards Liang En. For these professionals who specialized in the study of ancient Egypt, whether this dead language of Ancient Egyptian in the world could be deciphered was closely related to their future. Hence, they were genuinely curious about how far Liang En had progressed in this regard.
"You're right, Ancient Egyptian does indeed appear to be a pure hieroglyphic script, but hieroglyphics also undergo gradual evolution." Realizing that everyone's eyes were on him, Liang En addressed the people present.
"However, with the passage of time, those hieroglyphics also undergo changes. For example, Chinese is an important example of this. The earliest Chinese was composed of hieroglyphs, but with time, they evolved into logographic characters."
"So, in this context, I believe that since the sacred script of Ancient Egypt has preserved a significant portion of hieroglyphs, it's also likely to have evolved into logographic characters similar to Chinese."
"Based on this understanding, I compared the remaining fragments of Coptic, the language that evolved from Ancient Egyptian, with the ancient Egyptian script that has come down to us. Through this process, I gradually deciphered the true meanings of these ancient Egyptian characters."
Liang En briefly explained his process of translating this language. He didn't expect to convince Sheriff, who seemed to be a little obstinate, but he wanted the people around him to understand what he had done.
Those present were all professionals in historical research, so even though Liang En's proposal differed from tradition, it made sense from various principles.
"This is a very meaningful attempt," said a researcher named Phineas, who specialized in Ancient Egyptian craftsmanship. He then looked at Sheriff. "I don't know whether Mr. Liang's conclusions are right or not, but it's at least a breakthrough."
"For us, any conjecture should be allowed. Especially when we're not making new valuable progress in the realm of hieroglyphics in a short amount of time, a new perspective, even if flawed, is still very valuable."
"And you, Mr. Sheriff, I don't know what grievances you have with Mr. Liang. But I need to remind you that in matters of academia, when opposing someone's viewpoint, we need sufficient evidence, not just our own speculations."
Evidently, Mr. Phineas held a high reputation among the individuals visiting Egypt for research. So, after he finished speaking, everyone dispersed to their own tasks, ignoring Sheriff's repetitive arguments.
"We should give him a taste of his own medicine," watching Sheriff sneak away amidst the crowd, Fan Meng walked up to Liang En and spoke softly in Chinese. "Constantly bothering us is really annoying."
"How should we teach him a lesson? Should we beat him up with a sack or toss him into the Nile nearby?" Liang En shook his head in exasperation. "For us, unless we have concrete evidence, resorting to violence would only make us appear desperate."
"Especially since, even though he's being a nuisance, he seems to be engaging in an academic discussion on the surface. So, unless I can find evidence in academia to support my viewpoint, there's not much we can do."
"After all, academic matters like these can only be resolved through academic means. It's similar to how in a debate, you can't resort to punching your opponent."
As night began to fall, everyone gathered together and engaged in a lively discussion. It was at this time that they steered the conversation towards the history of the city of Rashid.
"Excuse me, you just mentioned that this city has another name. What's the story behind that?" While Liang En and Fan Meng were sitting on the side, listening to some scholars talk about the history of the city, Liang En suddenly heard a somewhat familiar pronunciation and quickly asked.
"Ah, that's from the colonial era," Mr. Phineas said earnestly. "For the colonizers, sometimes they couldn't pronounce the local place names correctly, so they would choose a similar pronunciation for convenience."
"In such cases, this place called Rashid naturally got an English name. It's called Rosetta—Liang En, what are you planning?"
Mr. Phineas looked at Liang En in surprise because as soon as he mentioned "Rosetta," Liang En had sprung up as if he had springs on his backside, quickly rushing towards the half-buried stone slab they had uncovered earlier.
"I've suddenly got an inspiration." Liang En said briefly before charging into the room where the stone slab had been placed. Seeing this, Fan Meng followed him into the storage room.
"Rosetta, it's actually Rosetta. I should have thought of it when I saw the first line on that stone slab earlier." Liang En finally recalled the familiar sensation he had when translating.
This was because the lines he had translated from the stone slab earlier were actually the cornerstone of Champollion's study of Ancient Egyptian language, the opening lines of the Rosetta Stone.
The reason he hadn't thought of this immediately was that the original stone slab, when unearthed, didn't have the top part of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, only the Greek version.
Realizing this, Liang En realized that the fragment he had found might very well be the upper half of the Rosetta Stone, which had disappeared in his own world, at least in terms of size.
So, while synthesizing four [Detection (N)] cards into one [Detection (R)] card, he quickly made his way to the room that served as a storage area and arrived at the side of the stone slab.
"Brother, why did you rush over when we're about to have a whole roasted lamb?" Just as Liang En approached the stone slab, Fan Meng also entered the room and asked. "It's about to be served."
"I suddenly thought of something very important." Liang En said as he pulled out a powerful flashlight and a small brush. "Can you tell from the wear marks on this stone what caused most of the abrasions on its surface?"
"I can tell to some extent." As a soldier who had spent a long time on the front lines, Fan Meng had a fair understanding of these kinds of marks, so he quickly found some of them on the stone slab.
"Besides weathering marks, there aren't many signs of abrasion on these stone slabs." Fan Meng carefully examined the stone slab from top to bottom and said.
"And that can only mean two things: either this castle was built on the foundation of an ancient temple, or the construction materials, though from elsewhere, were transported directly via the nearby Nile—"
"It's likely the second one." Liang En said after a moment of thought, because the Nile carries a significant amount of sand and sediment, especially at its mouth. This sediment, along with organic matter, would accumulate in slower-moving areas.
As a result, the Nile's delta area was gradually extending into the Mediterranean Sea. This indicated that during the time these stone slabs were carved, this land near the sea might still have been underwater.
While the two were discussing back and forth, the process of constructing the castle was gradually pieced together. Seizing this opportunity, Liang En used the [Detection (R)] card on the half-buried stone slab.
In an instant, a point of light lit up in Liang En's mind. Interestingly, this point of light wasn't far from his current location—it was right in the small courtyard of the castle.
"That's fortunate— " Seeing the position of these points of light, Liang En felt a sense of relief.
It seemed that the people who had constructed the castle back then had dismantled the Ancient Egyptian structures quite neatly, which allowed the stone slab to arrive here intact. He didn't need to figure out how to transport it further into the desert.
"Are all you scholars this crazy?" Just as Liang En was getting excited about the nearby light spot, Fan Meng suddenly quipped from the side.
"Me, crazy?" Liang En, awakened from his thoughts, pointed at himself with a finger, only to see Fan Meng vigorously nodding beside him.
"Isn't it a bit less urgent to figure out how this castle was built? I can't understand why you'd give up a freshly roasted whole lamb for this," Fan Meng said, puzzled.
"Mengzi, this is much more important than roasting a whole lamb," Liang En gently shook his index finger and said, "If the other party used water transport to bring this stone tablet here, then the builders are likely to have transported the entire stone tablet."
"From the existing text on this tablet, it seems that this stone tablet was part of a temple built during the Ptolemaic dynasty of Hellenistic Egypt," Liang En explained, glancing at a bewildered Fan Meng, then continued.
"And if they used water transport, it means they probably overlooked the weight of these items. In other words, the lower half of this stone tablet is very likely to be here in this castle too."
"But what does that imply?" After Liang En's explanation, Fan Meng felt even more confused. "Is there any special significance in reconstructing this stone tablet? Today, we've found three complete ones and over a dozen incomplete ones—"
"No, it's not the same," Liang En shook his head and clarified, "Because during that Hellenistic era, these temple inscriptions were required to include Greek as a sign of submission to the conquerors."
"Greek..." Fan Meng might not be well-versed in history, literature, or academic research, but he was clever. So, as soon as Liang En finished speaking, he understood the implication.
"You mean, if this is a complete stone tablet, the top part should have the same content written in Ancient Egyptian and then in Greek?"
"Exactly, and if we have such a stone tablet, I can prove to everyone that the translation method I've devised for Ancient Egyptian is correct," Liang En said somewhat helplessly.
"Unfortunately, Egypt's Hellenistic period wasn't very long, and due to shifts in belief, many past temples turned to ruins or were repurposed, so these bilingual stone tablets haven't been preserved intact to this day."
Considering it was evening, it wasn't convenient to work. So, Liang En and Fan Meng returned to the central square of the castle with excited hearts and began to eat the now somewhat cooled roasted whole lamb.
The people present didn't find Liang En's behavior unusual, as true scholars sometimes had a tendency to dive straight into work when an idea struck. In fact, they believed that such individuals were the ones who could achieve immense academic success.
Early the next morning, right after having breakfast, Liang En and Fan Meng headed to a corner of the courtyard where several local workers, their heads wrapped in cloth, were clearing debris under the guidance of a young scholar named Roland.
When Liang En and Fan Meng offered their help, explaining that they were available after finishing their tasks, Roland, the young scholar, displayed a grateful expression on his face.
The reason Liang En and the others were digging here was because the location indicated by the cards he used last night was indeed this place. Of course, the reason he gave to Fan Meng was something entirely different.
"I think I've found it." After about an hour and a half of digging, they had finally cleared away the debris on the surface and reached the ground. At this moment, Fan Meng felt a large stone beneath about an inch of dust.
"It seems like this is really what we're looking for." After clearing a palm-sized area on the ground, Liang En discovered that the flat stone underneath was also black granite.
"You're right, those workers did follow a pattern when moving these stones," Fan Meng whispered to Liang En while clearing the soil from the ground. "Clearly, the stones placed under this building at the fortress entrance are larger than the ones we saw in those other rooms. So, the heavier the stone, the shorter the distance they transported it."
As they chatted, the outline of the stone tablet gradually emerged. Similar to the previous broken tablet, this half of a tablet had its inscribed side facing downward.
This practice wasn't due to the workers having a great sense of cultural preservation. It was because Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs contained many symbols resembling humans or animals. Thus, for religious reasons, they needed to conceal these symbols.
Soon, the outline of the stone tablet was fully cleared. With the assistance of the local hired workers, they leveraged the stone tablet from the ground and turned it over.
"Oh my! This is a major discovery!" Seeing the densely packed writing on the other side of the stone tablet, the scholar named Roland exclaimed.
However, just as he was about to rush over to examine it, Liang En stopped him.
"I have something to do now." Liang En said and asked Fan Meng to take out a cloth to cover the Ancient Greek text on the stone tablet. Then, as he cleaned the stone, he took photos.
"Many people doubt my ability to translate Ancient Egyptian. So, I hope to prove that I genuinely possess this knowledge and haven't resorted to sensationalism."
Glancing at the people who had been attracted by Roland's exclamation, Liang En shot a brief glance at Sheriff, who had been causing trouble, and then spoke loudly.
"The stone tablet we've just discovered is an extremely rare Hellenistic-era temple commemorative stone, and it's relatively well-preserved. This means that the upper portion contains the same content written in Ancient Egyptian sacred script, Ancient Egyptian demotic script, and Ancient Greek."
"Now, I will translate the Ancient Egyptian right here, and you can understand what's written on the stone tablet through the Ancient Greek text beside it. By the time the translation is done, you should know whether I truly understand Ancient Egyptian."
In reality, Sheriff represented the viewpoints of quite a few people present. After all, Liang En was an outsider who had joined this small group. Moreover, his academic qualifications were the lowest among them, which led to some subtle exclusion.
So, Liang En's sudden move at this moment was quite understandable. At least through this method, he could earn the respect he deserved in the shortest possible time.
"Very well, let's proceed this way." Professor Jacques, the leader, said, and then began directing the workers to prepare everything Liang En needed, getting ready for him to translate the Ancient Egyptian text on the stone tablet right there on the spot.
In his eyes, Liang En's age was just right for youthful exuberance, and enduring the provocations from earlier until now had already surpassed most of his peers. Therefore, vindicating himself through this method was only fitting.
Compared to engaging in a verbal quarrel, Liang En's choice to counterattack academically was much more likely to gain the recognition of the scholars present.
Of course, Professor Jacques had a small personal interest in doing this as well. He hoped to be one of the first to witness a significant event in the field of Ancient Egyptian studies.
In the ensuing time, Professor Jacques and another professor sat by Liang En's side, meticulously recording every detail of Liang En's translation of the stone tablet.
On the other hand, a separate group of individuals, led by two experts in Ancient Greek, sat on the opposite side of the courtyard. They swiftly began translating the Ancient Greek inscriptions found beneath the stone tablet.
After 30 minutes, both parties concluded their translations and transcribed the results onto a piece of paper in French. They handed the transcriptions over to Professor Jacques.
"Alright, everyone, come take a look," Professor Jacques said after examining the content for a few minutes. He affixed the two pieces of paper onto a wooden board behind him and continued, "Today, we bear witness to history—a moment of exceptional significance in the field of Ancient Egyptian studies."
Upon hearing Professor Jacques' words, everyone present crowded around the wooden board, studying the writings on the paper. To their astonishment, they found that the content on the two sheets of paper was nearly identical.
This confirmed something significant: Liang En's earlier claims were all true. Through observation, deduction, and a bit of luck, he had genuinely deciphered the Ancient Egyptian script.
Soon, a group of people gathered around the papers, and once they obtained permission, they shared photos of the stone tablet and the transcriptions on their respective social media accounts. The only exception was Sheriff, who had been nitpicking throughout the process; he went against the flow of people and made a hasty exit, covering his face.
"Look, this is the proper way to retaliate against those discriminators," Liang En pointed out, gesturing towards Sheriff who fled like a beaten dog, and Fan Meng whispered in Chinese.
With concrete evidence now in hand, Sheriff's previous actions were instantly recognized as unfounded, deliberate provocations against facts.
Given the scholarly status of the archaeology team members and the significance of this discovery, it was safe to conclude that Sheriff's career in the field of Egyptology had come to an end.
Not to mention that the story of discovering this stone tablet would likely spread worldwide, casting Sheriff as the antagonist in the narrative.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant!" Fan Meng gave a thumbs-up in agreement and remarked, "Shrimp and pork, this approach is far superior to anything I could come up with, at least by a long shot."
What brought even more joy to Liang En was not just this accomplishment. He was particularly elated because, this time, he had five cards appear in his mind, one of which was a previously unseen gold card.
"SSR card—apparently, the historical significance of this stone tablet surpasses everything I've encountered so far in history," Liang En exclaimed, his eyes widening upon seeing the gold card for the first time.
Fortunately, at that moment, everyone else's attention was focused on the translated papers. Fan Meng stood slightly behind him, so no one noticed the change in his expression.
Soon enough, Liang En regained his composure. Considering the commotion caused by the previous use of the 【Viking (SR)】 card, he decided to wait until he was in a stable environment before examining this card.
After all, if an SR card had caused such a stir, an SSR card with a higher rank would likely generate an even greater impact. So, to avoid lingering concerns, he resolved to endure the anticipation and look into these matters when in a suitable setting.
Once these matters were dealt with, Liang En and Fan Meng continued to work together calmly, resuming the translation of the unfinished parts of the stone tablet. However, it was mainly Liang En doing the translation while Fan Meng assisted with cleaning.
Liang En's tranquility stemmed from the fact that he had already received a valuable reward and, considering that he couldn't claim ownership of this artifact, he could naturally maintain his composure.
However, it was clear that others weren't as composed as him. Once the significance of this monumental discovery was confirmed, Professor Jacques wasted no time and immediately made calls to both the Louvre Museum and the Egyptian authorities to ensure they were informed promptly.
From noon onwards, the secluded little castle became a bustling hub. The small square, usually frequented by nearby villagers and fishermen, was now packed with a variety of vehicles.
Prominent figures who had never set foot here before arrived one by one. Apart from the Egyptian heritage officials, there were also personnel from the French and Irish embassies in Egypt.
Upon hearing about the significance of the unearthed artifact and the deciphering of the Ancient Egyptian script, they all came to express their interest. What took Liang En by surprise was that even the Irish embassy's Ambassador personally showed up.
"Delighted to meet you," as Liang En was the only East Asian present, the Ambassador, who appeared to be in his forties, quickly walked over and extended his hand for a handshake.
"Who would have thought that the scholar who uncovered such an important artifact and deciphered its contents would be an Irishman? This is likely the most significant contribution we Irish have made to archaeology," he said. Even though there was an element of performance in his statement, there was also a substantial amount of genuine sincerity.
On one hand, Ireland traditionally had a reputation for being the intellectual underdog in Europe. This reputation was even humorously referenced in the famous British sitcom "Yes, Minister," where the intelligence of the Irish was a recurring comedic theme.
So, even when an Irishman like Liang En, who didn't look conventionally Irish, achieved such a feat in history and archaeology, the Ambassador still felt a sense of pride.
On the other hand, for the Irish Ambassador stationed in Egypt, aside from routine diplomatic affairs and occasionally solving problems for Irish expatriates or tourists, he had little else to do.
Hence, upon hearing that an Irishman had deciphered the secrets of Ancient Egyptian language, he immediately had his driver take him here to soak in the attention.
"When negotiations come around, we'll firmly stand by your side." Of course, making a meaningful presence wasn't going to be mere words. The Ambassador quickly revealed his additional purpose for coming.
"Although we are a small country, that doesn't mean we are any less committed to safeguarding our citizens' interests than those larger nations. Therefore, all members of our embassy will strive to secure your rightful benefits as much as possible during the upcoming negotiations—"
As a professional diplomat, the Ambassador was evidently aware that compared to the Egyptian authorities and the Louvre Museum, Liang En was a small entity. Thus, he seized upon Liang En's most pressing need and offered his assistance.
Over the next few days, a swarm of reporters arrived to interview Liang En. Each time, Liang En would invite the Ambassador, whose last name was Beckett, to join him.
Naturally, this was a mutually beneficial arrangement. After all, apart from specialized academic matters, Liang En wasn't particularly adept at handling the press. The Ambassador, on the other hand, excelled at this and used the opportunity to gain more exposure.
"Just now, you were interviewed by The Times. It seems my decision to work for you was probably the wisest choice I've made since joining the foreign service, apart from joining the foreign legion," the Ambassador remarked once Fan Meng and the others, who were acting as security guards at the entrance, left the room.
"Don't mention it. I've done nothing else this past week except deal with the media," Liang En said, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness. "What's more important is that this work doesn't even come with a salary."
"I think becoming famous is much more important than making money," Fan Meng shrugged and added, "Also, if things go as planned, in three days when the weekend arrives, these matters will likely come to a close. We'll be able to finish our work here and head home."
"That would be great," Liang En smiled. Truth be told, the trouble caused by these reporters seemed to outweigh the challenges posed by the environment and the workload combined.
If it weren't for the help of those professional diplomats who had brought their own supplies and come to assist, Liang En felt he might have easily messed up these affairs.
Clearly, this was a formal archaeological operation. Therefore, Liang En and his team couldn't possibly obtain any unearthed artifacts from here, nor could they expect to gain significant wealth.
Even for Liang En, this archaeological endeavor resulted in an unexpected loss:
In the moment the stone tablet was excavated, Liang En realized that there wouldn't be any security issues afterward. He had Fan Meng dismantle the two handguns that had cost a considerable amount of money and then threw them into the Nile River.
Of course, this didn't mean that Liang En and his team gained nothing from this archaeological expedition. Just as the influential figures arrived for inspection, the key individuals from the excavation received invitations from the Egyptian authorities.
"We appreciate everything you've done for Egyptian archaeology." On a weekend three days later, during the item handover ceremony held in the Egyptian capital Cairo, a middle-aged man shook hands with Liang En and said.
Subsequently, this prominent Egyptian figure presented Liang En with a Level 1 Republic Medal and announced that he had been granted the title of Egyptian Honorary Citizen. In an instant, the flashes from the cameras below turned into a sea of light.
Apart from Liang En, several members of the archaeological team were also bestowed with various honorary medals by the Egyptian authorities. These medals were a recognition of their contributions to this archaeological work.
The Rosetta Stone, now divided in two, was designated as a national treasure of Egypt. It was to be sent to the Cairo National Museum for restoration and would be displayed to the public after the restoration was complete.
By the way, in this world, the colonial-sounding name "Rosetta Stone" would no longer be used. Instead, it was replaced by the name "Rashed Stone," which was filled with local characteristics.
"To be honest, this time at least we didn't come here for nothing." As Liang En and Fan Meng returned to the hotel after the reception banquet, Liang En whispered to Fan Meng, "Although the yearly earnings aren't substantial, we've managed a steady income. Slow and steady."
Liang En's statement was due to the fact that besides the honors, he had gained some tangible wealth from this endeavor. However, this wealth wasn't artifacts but rather prizes related to copyright:
Now, the Egyptian authorities had granted Liang En the copyrights related to the Rashed Stone. With the assistance of legal representatives from the embassy, Liang En had signed an agreement with the Louvre Museum.
According to the agreement, apart from retaining his production rights, Liang En also granted the Louvre Museum the rights to produce reproductions or related products of the Rashed Stone. "Earning around 60,000 euros a year, and it's a lifelong arrangement. This isn't a small sum." After hearing Liang En's words, Fan Meng shrugged and remarked.
"You're right. On average, it's equivalent to one and a half years' income for a Londoner." Liang En chuckled too. "So, I need to live as long as possible to earn more."
"What are we going to dig up next?" After chatting and laughing for a while, Fan Meng suddenly asked, "I think I can't resist the urge to find the next treasure."
"We're heading to Bath this time." Liang En smiled and replied. "We'll enjoy the hot springs there and relax. Plus, we'll look for the treasures scattered in that area."
Ever since Liang En deciphered these ancient Egyptian texts, several universities and archaeological labs had sent invitations to him over the past few days. Naturally, aside from his alma mater, Liang En was selective in responding to those invitations.
Considering how uncomfortable the days in the desert were this time, Liang En decided to accept the invitation from the University of Bath after careful consideration, and he intended to recuperate there for a few days.
Bath is a small city situated in the eastern part of the county of Avon in England. It is the only city in the UK listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located about 100 miles away from London.
This is a highly renowned tourist town in England. The city's name, "Bath," literally means "bathing" in English. It received this name due to the presence of natural hot springs that were discovered here during the Roman era.
Being a civilization that greatly appreciated bathing, the ancient Romans naturally didn't pass up the opportunity in this location rich with natural hot springs. They built baths here that exuded Roman charm, and the remnants of these baths have survived to this day.
The reason Bath is referred to as a "small city" is due to its population of less than 90,000 and the absence of towering skyscrapers. However, it's precisely this characteristic that has led to the proliferation of numerous ancient buildings in the area.
The layout of the Bath old town area was meticulously designed and constructed by the famous 18th-century architect John Wood.
If drawing a comparison, this city is quite similar to the Huaqing Palace complex built during the Tang Dynasty in ancient China, both being urban centers that developed around hot springs.
Because of its extensive history, Fan Meng wasn't surprised that Liang En chose Bath as their next treasure hunting destination. After all, these places where affluent people vacation tend to leave behind valuable items.
That night, upon successfully returning to London, Liang En immediately locked his room door and began examining the cards he had acquired earlier.
Out of the five newly acquired cards, four were the most common type. Among them, three were "Detection (N)" cards, and the other was an "Appraisal (N)" card.
Of course, because these cards were all quite common, Liang En only briefly looked at them before sorting them into their respective categories. His focus then turned to the golden (SSR) card.
"Is the place I'm in now truly a parallel world to the original Earth?" Upon seeing the card, Liang En shook his head vigorously in an attempt to clear his mind.
[Key of the Door (SSR): Rest assured, this is not like the bubble universe of Uz Sotos, but it can similarly open a previously unprecedented door. Of course, this only applies to you personally and won't affect the entire world like Uz Sotos did.
Just as the Rosetta Stone bridged modern and ancient times, the Key of the Door can blur the boundary between reality and illusion, opening the door between the real world and legend.
Enhancement Card (One-time Use): After the user employs this card, the card "History Seeker (Basic) (UR)" will be permanently upgraded to "History Seeker (Intermediate) (UR)".
Note: This card enhances the soul. The enhancement process takes 24 hours, during which the user will remain in a comatose state. Hence, when using it, ensure the safety of the surrounding environment to avoid unnecessary risks.]
"Opening the door between the real world and legend?" Gazing at the words on the card, Liang En's expression turned solemn. This statement contained information that could be considered a challenge to his beliefs.
After all, this world, much like his previous one, didn't contain any supernatural phenomena. Thus, the phrase "blurring the boundary between reality and illusion" in the text invoked various thoughts in his mind.
However, after some contemplation, Liang En decided to use the card. After all, for him, this card set formed the foundation of his existence, and anything that could enhance this fundamental aspect was exactly what he needed at this moment.
After deciding to use the card tonight, Liang En wasted no time in greeting Fan Meng, who currently resided in the adjacent room. He conveyed that he was quite tired now and requested not to be disturbed throughout the following day.
Otherwise, this diligent friend of Liang En's might very well resort to calling the police and breaking down the door when he couldn't get a response, leading to Liang En being dragged to the emergency center.
Although Liang En had enough money to afford a hospital visit now, any danger would complicate matters.
"Don't worry, I won't disturb you, as I'm planning to rest the whole day tomorrow as well." Fan Meng, wearing just his pajamas due to the well-heated room, poked half his body out of his room and reassured Liang En.
Unlike Liang En, who had been quite busy in Egypt, Fan Meng had been even busier, making it necessary for him to take a proper break. Consequently, he naturally wouldn't bother Liang En the next day.
After making all the necessary preparations, Liang En changed into his pajamas and lay silently on the bed. He then closed his eyes and activated the newly acquired SSR card.
Considering the considerable discomfort and profound physical changes he had experienced with the previous card, the Viking (SR) card, Liang En tensed his body in anticipation of the impending pain as he chose to activate the card.
However, as he prepared himself, Liang En found that the situation was entirely different from his expectations. The golden card, after disappearing, transformed into a stream of golden light that entered his mind and turned into a cluster of golden-red flames.
Simultaneously, the fundamental card he possessed, the History Explorer (Beginner) (UR), also ignited with the same flames, transforming the entire card into flames as well.
As the flames burned, from each flame extended a chain resembling a living snake, which then linked the two flames. Subsequently, energy began to circulate between the two flames.
Meanwhile, unlike the last upgrading experience that felt akin to torture, Liang En felt a distinctive difference this time – a profound relaxation that encompassed his entire body during the upgrading process.
In this state of complete relaxation, Liang En quickly fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke once more, he realized that the room was still shrouded in darkness.
"Awake already?" Thinking he had merely taken a short nap, Liang En retrieved his phone and checked the time. To his surprise, an entire day had passed.
"This means the previous card has already taken effect?" Realizing that a full 24 hours had gone by, Liang En immediately thought of those cards in his mind and soon discovered their transformation.
History Explorer (Intermediate) (UR): Time inevitably erodes many things, but certain existences can always acquire knowledge, wealth, and power from history.
Contrary to common belief, history is not limited to factual records; in numerous nations and cultures, history is transmitted through myths.
As a History Explorer, the power at their disposal can convert these crystallized fragments of information through time into energy, which can then be projected into the real world in ways modern people can't comprehend.
Occupation Card (Permanent), possessing uniqueness. Permanently bound to the user's soul and cannot be removed. Other cards can only be used through this card.
"In other words, I can now unleash some supernatural abilities?" After reading the two new lines of text on the card, Liang En's face revealed a surprised expression.
Although the skills he had previously acquired were also related to the supernatural, he hadn't possessed any kind of projecting power that truly belonged to that category.
Fortunately, Liang En could still imagine what these abilities were like. After all, he had possessed a card called "Cazan Copper Pot" before with a similar skill, and he had used it.
Unfortunately, this upgrade only provided Liang En with the foundation for these types of skills. Therefore, until he obtained cards related to these new upgraded supernatural abilities, there was no difference between him and his previous self.
"However, what kind of treasure do I need to find to acquire these types of skills?" Soon, Liang En was lost in thought.
He had previously noticed that the skills he acquired were related to the items he found, but he was unclear about what he needed to find to obtain the new upgraded supernatural abilities.
"Oh well, I'll stop thinking about it." After pondering for a while about how to find something related to the supernatural in a world devoid of any supernatural abilities, Liang En shook his head, got up, and prepared to eat something.
After filling his stomach, Liang En first checked the time and decided to get a good night's sleep. After all, it was already 9:30 in the evening, and anything could wait until tomorrow morning.
"You've become quite famous this time." Early the next morning, Liang En encountered Pierce in the Emerald Gem Antique Shop. As soon as they met, Pierce exclaimed with an astonished tone.
"I saw news about you in a bunch of newspapers these past few days. Even the TV news was broadcasting about you discovering the stone tablet and deciphering ancient Egyptian script."
"Thankfully, they focused on the stone tablet rather than me. Otherwise, I might not be able to continue my treasure hunting work in the future." Liang En shrugged.
"Don't worry, even if your picture's up there, it doesn't matter." Pierce waved his hand casually. "After all, treasure hunting work is targeted at ordinary people, and the general public usually doesn't pay attention to this kind of news."
"By the way, there's something else." After discussing Liang En's previous adventure in Egypt, Pierce brought up another important matter.
"As you know, many of our clients are wealthy individuals. So, after they saw the news about you, quite a few expressed their desire to have you participate in the next auction."
"If I have the time, I'll try to make it." After hearing this news from Pierce, Liang En nodded. "Of course, I probably won't have much time lately. You know there are many academic matters that need my attention—"
"Understood, understood." Pierce nodded. "During this period, your priorities should certainly be your own affairs. And I think it's better for you not to rush over immediately after receiving an invitation."
"At least now you have a certain status in the academic world. So, even though you might not have as much prestige as those white-bearded scholars, you shouldn't let those wealthy people call the shots—"
As a friend, Pierce understood that while Liang En's appearance at such an auction would undoubtedly boost the sale of items, he still valued friendship and long-term benefits.
After bidding farewell to Pierce, Liang En and Fan Meng drove to Bath. Throughout the entire day, Liang En engaged in various discussions about archaeology with scholars and students at Bath University.
It wasn't until the evening that he finally reunited with Fan Meng in a hot spring hotel, dragging his weary body with him.
Compared to the seemingly lifeless Liang En, Fan Meng, who had completed the tasks Liang En had assigned in the city and had spent most of the day exploring, appeared lively and much more energetic than before.
"I've taken care of the things you instructed me about earlier, so we can start working tomorrow morning." After soaking in the hot spring, Fan Meng reported to Liang En.