Chapter 121: Another Remnant
Archaeologists often unearth remnants that reveal insights into ancient civilizations. What might seem like ordinary debris to most can yield a trove of intriguing information in their hands.
For instance, through bones and remnants like fruit pits, these scholars can deduce the timing of feasts and the dietary habits of the locals.
Moreover, from the discovery of recipes, they can extrapolate on the region's financial status, logistics, and a myriad of related details.
This is precisely why archaeologists detest private treasure hunters. These individuals focus solely on items of economic value, often destroying vital repositories of historical information.
"That statue must be worth a fortune," Fan Meng whispered, eyeing the Mithras statue resting in the cave's center. He had noticed its uncanny resemblance to one housed at the British Empire Museum in London.
Given that the museum's statue ranked among its top hundred artifacts, Fan Meng speculated that this one could easily fetch millions of pounds if put up for sale.
"Indeed, it's valuable. Unfortunately, we can't sell this statue," stated Liang En, gazing at the ivory-like marble sculpture.
As per British law, Liang En now owned everything within this Sun Cave. However, he couldn't sell any of the items; he was obligated to preserve them.
"So, what you're saying is, not only can't we make money from these findings, but we'll also keep losing money?" Fan Meng widened his eyes after Liang En's explanation.
"More accurately, it's a temporary loss," Liang En remarked, staring at the cave's exquisite sculptures and intact mosaic patterns on walls and floors.
"This place seems to be the most luxurious sun cave in the entire Britain region. With its high artistic value and proximity to the Antonine Wall attraction, there's potential for profit if developed."
"Don't forget, I didn't just buy this cave from that real estate guy. I also acquired over nine hundred acres of surrounding land. Most of it is forests, but developing auxiliary services on the remaining flat land shouldn't be an issue."
"Right! While the cave needs to remain intact, there's no restriction on developing commercial real estate nearby," Fan Meng exclaimed, suddenly enlightened. "Even if it's not on a grand scale here, it's bound to be profitable."
While Professor Brown led his students deeper into the cave, collecting samples from the stone crevices, Liang En hurried out and dialed a number saved in his phone.
Soon, the call connected, and a slightly deep voice resonated from the other end. "Glad to hear from you again, Mr. Liang. What have you uncovered this time?"
It was Dr. David Caldwell from Scotland's Department of Subterranean Treasures, displaying enthusiasm upon recognizing Liang En's call.
Ever since Liang En unearthed that Iron Age gold ring, Dr. Caldwell had been keenly observing this young man. Within a brief six months, Liang En had discovered several historically significant artifacts and made substantial academic strides.
To Dr. Caldwell, Liang En was undeniably a genius in this field. So, upon receiving Liang En's call, his immediate thought was, "What important discovery has this promising young man made now?"
"Yes, I've found a well-preserved sun cave on my land near the garrison site south of the Antonine Wall," Liang En hastily explained, sending across photos he'd taken earlier.
The exquisite sculptures and mosaic puzzles stunned Dr. Caldwell. After a silent pause of about fifteen seconds, he regained his composure to continue the conversation.
"This is a significant find. Give us two to three hours, and our team will be there immediately. Also, Professor Brown from Durham University is a professional in this field. You can trust him."
"It looks like we've got a couple of hours," Liang En pocketed his phone and picked up a metal detector, addressing Fan Meng. "Let's see if there's anything else interesting around."
Judging by the cave's opulence, Liang En speculated that there might be other traces of human activity around. True to his analysis, after exploring an area the size of a basketball court on the rocky slope adjacent to the cave, his metal detector beeped again.
Surveying the surroundings, Liang En realized they were less than 20 meters from the previous cave, and the metal reaction was beneath the rocky ground beneath his feet.
"What did you find?" Fan Meng, drawn by the metal detector's alert, approached. "I recall your detector only reacts to precious metals."
"Yes, it sounds like silver underneath," Liang En put down the detector and began digging with a shovel, with Fan Meng lending a hand.
Soon enough, they revealed what seemed like the upper part of a cave, while Liang En uncovered the source of the metal detector's signal: a 19th-century one-crown horse sword silver coin, bearing a relief of George III's profile.
Strangely, the coin wasn't merely misplaced; it was wrapped in carbonized fabric and wedged into a crevice in the rock.
"Do you think this might be something left by the Freemasons?" Fan Meng suggested, examining the coin. Issued between 1818 and 1820, it preceded the era of the former Freemason who left lead sheets earlier, leading to intriguing associations.
"We'll only know by digging further," Liang En rubbed his slightly numb hands and continued the excavation. Fortunately, this cave was situated much higher than the previous one, resulting in a different quantity of soil to dig through.
Soon enough, they revealed an area beneath the fissure where the silver coin was hidden: a rusted iron-plated wooden board, spanning at least 1.5 meters wide.
"You're right; this place likely holds more than one remnant," Fan Meng remarked, observing the iron-clad wooden board serving as a makeshift door. "But from the looks of this board, it doesn't appear to be from the Roman era. Those clearly machine-made iron nails and plates don't fit."
Table of content
Chapter 122: The Ruined Sun Cave
Realizing the peculiarity of this place, Liang En and the group immediately summoned Professor Brown and his students from the nearby cave. Together, they began excavating.
With the combined efforts of many hands, within just a dozen minutes, the rubble on this nearly square-shaped wooden board had been completely cleared.
"These stones differ from the ones before." Holding a magnifying glass, Professor Brown carefully picked up a few pieces and examined them closely before addressing Liang En.
"Unlike the stones piled up in front of the previous ruins, these here have been previously dug out and then re-stacked."
"So, after the explosion caused by the Freemason member on the mountainside, someone dug up these stones a second time and discovered the cave beneath," concluded Liang En after Professor Brown's analysis, lost in thought.
Liang En's contemplation didn't impede Fan Meng and the students' next steps. Soon, a group of people lifted the iron-clad wooden board aside, revealing a small cave that could only accommodate a grown man.
"Damn tomb raiders!" Professor Brown, having just crawled into the cave for inspection, erupted in a loud curse. Following behind him, Liang En shone a flashlight around and immediately understood the reason behind the outburst.
Because the overall structure of this cave was quite similar to the Mithraic Sun Cave they'd just explored, albeit notably more rudimentary. For instance, while the previous cave had three rooms, this one only had two.
Additionally, unlike the variety of sculptures in the previous cave, this one was empty.
Judging from the wall paintings left behind in the cave, this cave itself was supposed to be a Mithraic Sun Cave, hence the imitation of a starry sky ceiling and the unique Mithraic statues.
However, unlike the nearly pristine Sun Cave nearby, this cave had evidently undergone a man-made catastrophe: the wall paintings had been stripped away in massive chunks, leaving only bare walls behind.
"These paintings couldn't have been damaged more than a hundred years ago." Fuming, Professor Brown remarked, his voice echoing in the confined space, buzzing in everyone's ears.
Almost all the students present glared angrily at the wreckage. The destruction here was severe, wiping out everything related to the Sun Cave's core, be it the central Mithraic statue or the surrounding depictions of religious rituals.
However, Liang En and Fan Meng didn't share the same sense of camaraderie with those present. After all, in the past, the British had similarly peeled off murals in other countries. So, having their own murals destroyed was quite normal, not excessively distressing.
Nevertheless, a tinge of sadness remained on their faces. Primarily because this cave now belonged to Liang En. Therefore, any damage was akin to a loss of his property, making it hard to find much joy.
"What's that?" After a haphazard sweep with the flashlight, they unexpectedly discovered something in the spot where an altar should have been placed.
"Let me see." Liang En pulled out his own flashlight, approaching the edge of the platform. There, he found seven silver coins neatly arranged atop the stone platform, identical to the ones they'd found earlier in a crevice above the cave entrance.
This gave a surreal sense of time distortion, considering Victorian-era silver coins shouldn't appear in an ancient Roman ruin.
"For the Mithraic faith, seven is a powerful number," Professor Brown commented as he walked up at this moment. "So, these seven coins here are likely significant."
"If that's the case," Liang En quickly synthesized his previous acquired information after Professor Brown's explanation, "these coins probably served as a form of payment for taking away murals or sculptures. Similar to how one 'invites' a statue home in China rather than 'buying' it."
Historically, post-Industrial Revolution, non-Christian pagan practices in Europe gradually sparked a revival. Initially clandestine due to the strong religious influence of the time, these activities eventually surfaced openly as religious influence waned.
For instance, in the early 18th century, William Stukeley, an archaeologist, physician, Freemason, and Anglican priest at Cambridge University, led a movement to revive Druidism.
Today, emerging Druidism openly conducts activities. In the first decade of the 21st century, this religion gained legal status in Britain and publicly congregated near Stonehenge on the winter solstice.
Therefore, if some Britons re-adopting Mithraism had found this Sun Cave and took everything related to the religion for their activities, it would be a plausible explanation.
"The most worrying aspect now is that some individuals might have taken these as personal treasures and hidden them away in their rooms," Professor Brown sighed after hearing Liang En's analysis.
"If it truly involves the revival of ancient religions, they would consciously preserve the integrity of those murals. One day, we might get a chance to see what's depicted on them."
One thing Liang En and company could ascertain was that the mural fragments stuck onto surfaces probably still existed. After all, using special tape to remove murals from walls was a highly professional act, something only the wealthy and focused would do.
So, the individuals who stole these murals back then likely had enough money and professionals. Under these circumstances, the murals surviving over a century became a highly probable event.
While Professor Brown and the students sadly filmed this damaged cave, Liang En followed Fan Meng out of the cave's entrance.
"Did you find something just now?" Exiting the cave, Liang En quietly inquired of Fan Meng, making sure the coast was clear. Fan Meng had been the last to enter, and after coming in, he'd tugged at Liang En's clothes, indicating he wanted to talk.
"Yes, a new discovery." Fan Meng produced the silver coin he'd scraped from a crevice above the cave earlier and placed it in front of Liang En.
"When you all entered the cave, I found it too stuffy and crowded. So, I stayed outside and examined this coin. Turns out, I found an unusual mark."
Saying this, Fan Meng pointed at a spot below King George III's head on the coin's front, where the surface should have been smooth.
"This is... the Freemasons' symbol!" Retrieving a small magnifying glass and examining the tiny black dot at that position, Liang En immediately recognized the rice-sized dot as a Freemason symbol constructed using a compass and ruler.
Table of content
Chapter 123: Unexpected Discovery
The tiny Freemasonry symbol stamped on the silver coin suddenly made things more intriguing.
Clearly, apart from the previous Freemason who left behind the information, another group had been here. However, this new batch of Freemasons seemed unaware of the previous member's findings. They found the less impressive sun cave, took the murals inside, and left.
The reason the subsequent visitors stumbled upon this more primitive cave was that it was slightly farther out, unlike the previous one. Hence, they discovered it first.
As history had yet to unveil the connection between the two sun caves, those who found this cave didn't continue their search. Instead, they preserved the grander sun cave.
Liang En suspected the Freemasons took the murals due to ties with revived pagan beliefs. After all, at least half of Britain's surviving pagan beliefs had connections to the Freemasons.
"Since we can't take anything from inside, let's take some pictures in the cave," Fan Meng suggested, eyeing the sun cave adorned with statues.
Liang En pondered and agreed. Their treasure hunt followed standard procedures, so sharing these discoveries wouldn't cause much impact.
However, to protect the artifacts, they couldn't use a flash. Relying on the dim cave lights resulted in murky photos.
"Despite the poor quality, this feels beautiful," Liang En commented after seeing the cave's stunning creations in the photos, lifting their spirits.
Especially the breathtaking starry sky on the ceiling, crafted with glass shards, had a Hogwarts Great Hall ceiling vibe under the dim lights.
"I bet back when this was active, torches and oil lamps created a similar effect," Liang En whispered, gazing at the artificially constructed starry sky on the smooth cave ceiling.
"If it were brightly lit, the sky might not have this feel. The dim light adds a sacred aura," Liang En remarked, lost in thought.
"But it's merely plastered and painted blue on the cave ceiling, with glass layered on," Fan Meng casually dismissed Liang En's awe.
With limited historical knowledge, Fan Meng couldn't resonate with such places, so while Liang En expressed admiration, he scanned their surroundings out of habit.
As Liang En finished his admiration, he noticed a stone near the altar seemed off. Taking out a knife, he gently scraped its crevice.
"What's up?" Liang En asked as Fan Meng bent to examine the altar stone.
"The mortar around this stone seems different," Fan Meng replied, pointing at the slight disparity in the color of the mud near the stone. "Looks like it was removed and put back, implying something might be behind it."
"You're right. The mortar's consistency around this stone differs. There might be something behind it," Liang En affirmed after scrutinizing the area.
Interestingly, this stone was the seventh one, no matter the direction counted. It couldn't be a coincidence.
Realizing this, Liang En guided Fan Meng, using their expertise to carefully clear the mortar holding the stone.
Over centuries, weathering had weakened the mortar. With concerted effort, they chipped away the fragments, and Liang En easily removed the loose stone.
As they moved it, a seemingly longer cave appeared where a solid wall should have been.
"Gold!" Their flashlights illuminated a shimmer, and both Liang En and Fan Meng simultaneously exclaimed in Chinese as a gleam emanated from deep within the cave.
Most metal artifacts, after being buried for years, oxidized and appeared rusty or worn. But not gold. If pure, it retained its original gleam even after being unearthed.
"Let me—" Due to the cramped space, they had to remove gloves and use long wooden tweezers to extract the contents. This wasn't Fan Meng's expertise.
"You do it. My hands are shaking," Fan Meng handed the tweezers to Liang En, stepping back. "I always got reprimanded during bomb disposal for being too rough."
Soon, Liang En extracted what they initially thought was a larger gold sphere. On closer inspection, it turned out to be tightly bound gold foil.
"Gold often symbolizes the sun in religious contexts, and Mithras is a sun god. So, this gold foil hidden beneath the idol likely holds crucial information," Liang En explained, exiting the cave with Fan Meng.
Outside, Professor Brown stood alone at the cave entrance, scanning the interior.
"My student found this. I thought I should inform you," Professor Brown said as Liang En emerged, handing over a gold and enamel thumb-sized emblem.
"Freemasonry!" Liang En's pupils contracted at the golden compass and square symbol on the black enamel. "Where was this found?"
"In a crevice of the previous cave," Professor Brown replied sternly. "Half of it was exposed, deliberately, it seemed."
"What's your plan now?" Liang En asked, realizing the professor sought advice, considering the Freemasons' status in high society circles. Even if they had evidence of theft, acting against them would be challenging.
Table of content
Chapter 124: Decision
"Truth be told, I'm at a loss on what to do now," Professor Brown appeared as perplexed as ever. For a scholar not as young as he once was, the current predicament presented a real quandary.
If he were to let the thieves who stole the murals back in the day off the hook, he felt he couldn't reconcile it within himself. It might haunt him for years to come.
But pursuing the thieves for retribution wasn't a straightforward choice either. Setting aside how much could have changed over a hundred years, the reputation of the Freemasons alone left him lacking the courage to confront it.
Even excluding the obvious exaggerated rumors, the Freemasons themselves were a colossal entity. Confronting even a branch of theirs was an arduous prospect for an individual.
Luckily, this excavation involved more than just Professor Brown. So, after briefly weighing his options and receiving this item from one of his students, he swiftly decided to involve Liang En in handling the matter.
"Alright, I'll take care of this matter," Liang En pondered for a moment, then accepted the emblem. Regardless, the hidden secrets within the Freemasons were enough to entice him into delving deeper.
Moreover, if the other party chose to pursue this matter, he couldn't evade it. Better to face it head-on than passively endure it.
"Oh, by the way, I found a hidden treasure space on the side of that pedestal under the statue," after the emblem exchange, Liang En retrieved the crumpled gold foil and handed it to Professor Brown.
"This is the only thing I found in that treasure space. It might well be something left by ancient Roman-era worshippers for future generations," he explained.
"Under the statue?!" Professor Brown's face immediately displayed a shocked expression upon hearing Liang En's words.
Liang En understood why the professor was so astonished. Given the Mithraic religion's tradition of secretive teachings, all existing information stemmed from other people's records, with nothing originating from within the church itself.
After a brief discussion, Liang En instructed Fan Meng to stay put while he and Professor Brown headed to the Roman ruins at the foot of the mountain.
Professor Brown had a rather rudimentary but adequately equipped laboratory adjacent to the ruins. This allowed them to directly examine the gold foil there.
Gold possessed impressive flexibility, and the foil they had wasn't particularly thin. Thus, within minutes, they successfully unfurled the gold foil and placed it between two glass plates.
As anticipated, rows and rows of Latin text adorned the gold foil, precisely as they had imagined.
Both Liang En, adept with a touch of literary translation, and Professor Brown, specialized in ancient Roman culture, were proficient enough in Latin to craft an article. Therefore, translating the text didn't pose significant difficulty.
However, upon initial inspection, Liang En realized this text was a bit challenging to translate—it was a poem.
In translation work, besides specialized papers, literature often posed the most difficulty.
Quickly grabbing a pen and notebook, he began jotting down the lines. Meanwhile, Professor Brown, noticing Liang En's actions, fetched his own set of stationery and began transcribing as well.
After transcribing everything from the book, Liang En utilized his notes to reorganize the language. Finally, after fifteen minutes of intense work, a hymn praising the resurrection abilities of Mithras, the god, lay on the paper.
It extolled Mithras' capability to die and come back to life, a subject of great reverence given the terror between life and death, often a focal point in prayers to deities.
However, it was also highly likely that this sun cave was linked to the Antony's Wall fortress, emphasizing prayers toward military service.
Once Liang En completed the translation and gained a bit more legendary insight, Professor Brown finished his translation as well. He then pointed at the gold foil excitedly.
"Liang, we've altered history. This is the first document we've found directly from within the Mithraic church itself."
"From within the church itself?" Liang En glanced at his own document. "But the contents of this poem seem quite similar to the information we previously possessed."
"Indeed, you're right. The recorded information doesn't differ much from what we knew before," Professor Brown nodded in agreement. "However, unlike the indirect information we had before, this poem allows us to peek directly into the ancient Mithraic church's internal records, providing a different perspective that corroborates a lot of information about Mithraism."
"I see." With Professor Brown's explanation, Liang En comprehended the artifact's significance.
Just like the tale of Zhang Xianzhong's sunken silver at the Yangtze River mouth in the East, despite numerous records and folklores, its authenticity could only be confirmed upon discovery.
As the two finished meticulously cleaning the gold foil and completing the documentation, Liang En's phone rang. It was Dr. Caldwell personally arriving at the site with tents, notifying them in advance.
"When you come down, head straight to the temporary archaeological lab near the Roman ruins. We've just discovered a gold foil engraved with a hymn praising Mithras. We're processing it now," Dr. Caldwell announced.
Hearing of Dr. Caldwell's impending arrival, Liang En briskly summarized their recent discovery and directed him to their current location. As expected, less than ten minutes after the call ended, the faint sound of a car engine outside heralded Dr. Caldwell's arrival. After waiting for a dozen minutes, Dr. Caldwell pushed the room's door open and entered.
"This is a significant find, once again rewriting the archaeological history of Scotland," Dr. Caldwell exclaimed enthusiastically upon entering. "I dare say this sun cave is the finest among those unearthed to date."
"The finest?" Liang En queried, a bit puzzled. "But I recall several sun caves in Rome, Italy, with larger areas. Moreover, the Mithras Tauroctony statue housed in the British Empire Museum seems to be larger too."
"Yes, everything you said is correct. However, those were fragmented before," Dr. Caldwell shrugged. "What you have here is a cohesive, well-preserved sun cave."
With excitement gleaming on his face, Dr. Caldwell continued, "By the way, do you know who owns this land? I believe this sun cave is best preserved in situ and opened to the public in the future."
"Truth be told, if it were Her Majesty's land, handling matters would be considerably easier, but in case it's private land—"
"You need not worry about that, Doctor," Liang En gestured to himself. "When seeking excavation permits, the other party directly sold me this wasteland."
Table of content
Chapter 125: Wrapping It Up
"I've decided to call you Lucky Lad from now on." Upon hearing Liang En's declaration of ownership over this piece of land, Dr. Calderwell paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Otherwise, there's no way to explain how you managed to get those golden collars and, in such a short time, stumbled upon such a precious relic."
Upon learning that this relic now belonged to Liang En, Dr. Calderwell immediately discussed with him the issue of ownership regarding the Sun Vaults.
The reason being, in contrast to movable treasures, these immovable relics, while completely privately owned, didn't grant the owner full disposal rights.
In other words, the owner not only needed to spend a considerable amount of time, money, and effort using the nationally prescribed methods to maintain these relics, but the means to benefit from them were also very limited.
For instance, many ancient castles faced this situation, to the extent that the owners had to expend vast fortunes to maintain them.
This was why occasional news featured ancient castles being sold cheaply, and why Dr. Calderwell discussed with Liang En the possibility of representing the nation in acquiring this relic.
Because, for the vast majority of people in this world, they couldn't afford to maintain such relics.
Of course, Liang En politely declined the doctor's purchase request. He believed this place was different from those castles or certain relics and held enough investment value.
After all, it was a relic very close to the Anthony Great Wall, and due to the presence of that ancient Roman town, there was even a simple road directly leading not far from the Sun Vaults, making transportation convenient.
Moreover, all movable artifacts found in this relic, like gold foil and statues, were considered part of the relic itself at this point and wouldn't be separated from it.
More importantly, compared to those immensely spacious and complex castles, these Sun Vaults were not only smaller in size but also had simpler structures inside. So, even the most costly maintenance expenses wouldn't be too high.
On the other hand, as these types of relics mostly had extremely high maintenance costs and very low returns, they were undoubtedly heavily undervalued in national acquisition prices.
For the simplest example, a statue similar to the top 100 artifacts in the Great British Museum could be termed a national treasure, but Dr. Calderwell was only willing to offer 1.7 million pounds for the entire relic, including the statue.
Honestly, 1.7 million pounds couldn't be considered a small amount anywhere, but compared to the value of this relic, another zero should be added to the figure.
Unfortunately, unlike movable artifacts, these immovable ones were often undervalued in purchases. Even now, this 1.7 million pounds was only because of Liang En's somewhat renowned reputation in archaeology; someone else might offer just 1.5 million.
"Honestly, I also think it's more suitable for you to keep this relic." After the negotiations representing the Scottish local government concluded, Dr. Calderwell, in a personal capacity, spoke to Liang En.
"After all, the content of your relic and its location are more suitable for future development, and the funds needed for maintenance are not high. Keeping it will evidently create greater value."
Of course, Dr. Calderwell's current job didn't really allow him to make such statements. He only did so as a friendly reminder between acquaintances with Liang En.
Liang En naturally appreciated Dr. Calderwell's reminder. Thus, in subsequent archaeological work on this Sun Vault, he also showed a friendly attitude.
For instance, unlike many private landowners who demanded high prices from researchers excavating and studying on their lands, Liang En suggested that as long as they were willing to pay a series of land taxes, he could offer this relic for research to the Scottish side's professionals free of charge.
Thanks to Liang En's compromise, a final agreement was quickly reached for the research work on this relic: the museum declared that they would complete the research within a year and cover the entire property tax instead of Liang En.
Furthermore, the museum also pledged to maintain and preserve all artifacts within the two Sun Vaults at cost and hand them over to Liang En after the research concluded.
"So, we'll probably be busy for the next year." On the way back to London after signing the agreement, Fan Meng, driving, said to Liang En, "Because we'll need to prepare some funds for the commercial investment after developing this relic."
"You're right. Thankfully, we have the commission from the Bosworth Earl to find Verland. Based on our previous collaboration, if we can complete the task, the remuneration won't be meager."
"Yes, that Earl is quite generous with money, but the condition is finding that Viking colonial settlement that exists solely in lost legends."
Fan Meng shook his head. He wasn't very optimistic about this. After all, this thing was merely a legend. The only reason he acknowledged it was because Liang En took on the task.
At least during this period of interaction, he realized that when Liang En searched for various lost relics or treasures, he possessed unprecedented abilities compared to others. Perhaps he could turn the impossible into possible.
"By the way, can you swim?" Talking about the upcoming task, Fan Meng suddenly asked about something. "Since the steward mentioned preparing a boat for us, it means we might need a sea voyage."
"I can, but I'm average. So, it's indeed necessary to improve for this sea adventure." With Fan Meng's prompting, Liang En shrugged. "I remember you should be good at this."
"I learned it during my service, but honestly, for modern sailors, as long as you know how to jump from the ship's side wearing a life jacket, you don't necessarily need to know how to swim."
The military practiced swimming because certain military actions, such as landing operations, required soldiers to possess this skill.
However, for modern sailors on sea vessels, swimming skills weren't so critical for survival in the vast sea; the core was actually in rescue operations. After all, swimming couldn't get you to land in the far sea.
"That's quite interesting because I remember medieval sailors not only couldn't swim but actively avoided learning this skill." Liang En laughed.
"Why?" Fan Meng was curious. "I can understand not knowing how to swim since not everyone can. But why would they actively avoid learning it?"
"Because in past superstitions, it was believed that once a person learned to swim, the sea, after tasting them, would desire them, leading to easily encountering maritime disasters when setting sail."
"A completely unscientific superstition." Fan Meng scoffed at this notion. "Just like the era that prohibited women from boarding ships, utterly illogical."
"You're right, but unfortunately, in an age when people were still in ignorance, they didn't have science to explain everything they encountered." Liang En shook his head with a smile. "So, they could only use superstition to fill that void."
Table of content
Chapter 126: Pursuing Myth
Both Liang En and Fan Meng leaned towards scientific skepticism, not particularly interested in pure myth or legends.
However, ever since Liang En gained the Midas touch, his interest in such things sparked. Not because he believed those legends were true, but because he hoped these tales could trigger the Midas touch with enough information.
Returning to London, the two stumbled upon an embossed invitation in their apartment's mailbox, bearing intriguing golden letters, summoning them to an unexpected quest.
"I can't believe my eyes! Someone's asking us to hunt for the Philosopher's Stone!" Liang En exclaimed incredulously upon opening the invitation—a call to participate in a quest for the Philosopher's Stone.
"I think you're right. It's an event hosted by a renowned YouTuber," Fan Meng quickly checked his phone and logged onto a webpage, turning the screen towards Liang En.
"This guy, known as Old Mike, has over seven million followers on the video platform. He mainly explores mysteries related to legends and myths."
"According to the records here, the target was chosen through a vote. Previously considered targets included the Sword in the Stone, fragments of the True Cross, and Merlin's Staff."
"Why didn't he just target Avalon directly?" Liang En arched an eyebrow, scrolling through the guy's profile, finding the past program's voting.
"Also, I'm not quite sure why he invited our Panda Exploration Studio. Our studio hasn't been around for even a year; we're not that famous."
"I think he mainly invited you," Fan Meng pointed to the Old Mike's past videos. "Because of your deciphering of ancient Egyptian texts. Ancient Egypt has always been mysterious to everyone—"
"I understand. It's for the showmanship," Liang En nodded. Clearly, for a YouTuber specializing in ancient legends, inviting a professional related to mysteries could captivate the audience.
As for why he invited Liang En specifically, it might be because of his youthfulness and not being an academic scholar, making this invitation more appealing.
"The prize money is up to £150,000, and they cover the expenses during the filming. Seems like top YouTubers really make good money," Liang En mused.
"More importantly, they'll provide items or documents related to the quest, giving us a starting point," Fan Meng added.
Compared to the prize money, these quest-related materials intrigued Liang En the most. Since they were about the Philosopher's Stone, they might hint at its existence.
"The only issue now is, since everyone knows the Philosopher's Stone, capable of transmuting metals, doesn't exist, how will they pick the winner?" Liang En frowned, reading through the competition's final process.
"They say it'll be chosen through votes," Fan Meng scrolled through his phone.
"There'll be a panel of experts to verify the findings. Then, the audience will judge based on what's found and the process of searching."
"Meaning, I just have to find some ancient artifact related to the Philosopher's Stone and tell a good story to win the prize," Liang En concluded.
"Exactly. Storytelling might even be more important than the findings in this event," Fan Meng nodded. "After all, it's an online show, and the audience prefers interesting content—"
Ding ding* Before Fan Meng could finish, Liang En's phone rang.
It was Dr. Calderwell from the Scottish National Museum, inviting Liang En to participate in this event hosted by Old Mike, the video YouTuber.
"I just saw the invitation in the mailbox," Liang En glanced at the card. "Is this event related to the museum?"
"Yes, it's a collaboration between us and the media to foster public interest in history," Dr. Calderwell's voice came through the phone.
"Frankly, I suggest you participate. Such events strengthen the connection between you and the museum, beneficial for your future endeavors."
"Besides, you're already one of the prominent young archaeologists. Educating the public about our work is a responsibility we must fulfill."
"Alright, I'll consider it seriously," Liang En nodded subconsciously, then hung up, pondering.
While the Philosopher's Stone had no scientific grounds, countless historical figures pursued its existence. For Liang En, the information left by these predecessors might activate his Midas touch, earning him cards in this field.
After weighing the pros and cons, Liang En decided to attend. He wasn't a tomb raider or involved in shady excavations, so he didn't mind being in the spotlight.
Eliminating these concerns, he saw participating before setting sail as a good opportunity to earn some money and collect a few cards.
Deciding swiftly, Liang En contacted Old Mike using the phone number on the invitation.
The excitement on the other end was palpable, as Old Mike hadn't expected professionals like Liang En to respond. He thought finding social media influencers or amateur scientists would be good enough.
"Mr. Liang, I'm thrilled that you're joining the competition. It starts in a week, and during this time, we'll communicate and provide relevant information. You and your assistant can come, as long as the team doesn't exceed five members—we'll cover travel and expenses—"
"Understood. Here's to hoping everything goes smoothly," after listening to Old Mike's plans, Liang En nodded in agreement before ending the call.
"I'm definitely going. Think about it, we're chasing a mythical legend," Fan Meng stated firmly as he saw Liang En hang up, adding, "I know this legend is just human imagination, but the process of pursuing it should be fascinating, worth spending time and effort on."
"Alright, if you're decided, then we'll go together," Liang En said. "Oh, I need to call Pierce and ask what precautions he suggests for this kind of business collaboration."
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Chapter 127: Cultivation
Pierce felt genuine envy toward Liang En's invitation, but as the owner of the Emerald Gem Curiosity Shop, it wasn't convenient for him to assist Liang En at this time.
However, that didn't mean Pierce couldn't do anything about it. After explaining some knowledge about this commercial event, he asked Liang En if he could help promote his store.
Liang En wouldn't refuse a friend's offer, so he agreed to casually mention the Emerald Gem Curiosity Shop during the shooting.
After ending the call with Pierce, Fan Meng returned to his room, gearing up for a few rounds of gaming. Meanwhile, Liang En cleaned up his space upon returning, then settled onto the bed.
Of course, he wasn't about to sleep; instead, he immediately focused on the "Sun Apostle (Sealed) (SR)" card.
This was his second card related to extraordinary professions. Because the first, the Historian, had integrated into various aspects of his daily life, he was more excited about this new occupation.
Upon extending his consciousness to the card, Liang En swiftly understood its usage. It was quite simple, unlocking the card step by step with the limit of Legendary Power.
"The first level, one point; the second level, two points, each level increasing by one point compared to the previous one," Liang En murmured softly. "Thankfully, it doesn't double each level."
After grasping how to use the card, Liang En started calculating in his mind. With only 7 points of Legendary Power, he felt a bit constrained. He needed to calculate how much Legendary Power to allocate.
After a lengthy half-hour of contemplation, Liang En decided to invest 3 points of Legendary Power limit into this card. Soon enough, the card transformed from "Sun Apostle (Sealed) (SR)" to "Sun Apostle (Groom) (SR)."
Clearly, the card's levels were based on the internal ranking of the Mithraic faith. According to existing records, the hierarchical levels of this religion were Raven, Groom, Warrior, Lion, Persian, Sun Chaser, and Father.
Moreover, Liang En learned from his primary profession, the Historian, that his ability to part-time in secondary professions was limited. At his current intermediate level, he could only part-time in four types of secondary professions.
However, Liang En wasn't worried about it for now. Finding secondary professions that met the criteria was exceptionally challenging, and this opportunity seemed like a stroke of luck. Filling these vacancies was almost impossible.
After consuming three points of Legendary Power limit for the Sun Apostle card, Liang En successfully unlocked the card to the second level, resulting in a significant change in the card itself.
Initially gray with chains, the card turned silver after infused with Legendary Power. Moreover, five images appeared on it: a raven, a cup, a wand of Mercury, an oil lamp, and a Venusian crown.
Upon extending his consciousness to these images, Liang En realized each represented a unique skill. Unfortunately, activating these skills also required Legendary Power points.
"Is this system designed by penguins? Everything needs a recharge," Liang En quipped after figuring out how it operated. Activating any image required an amount of Legendary Power consistent with the unlocked level.
For instance, to illuminate the three images at Raven level – the raven, the cup, and Mercury's wand – each required one point of Legendary Power. In contrast, illuminating the lamp and Venusian crown at the Groom level needed two points.
What's worse, these illuminations followed a sequence. Liang En could only illuminate the images in sequence, starting with the Raven level before progressing to the Groom level.
After ranting about the additional charges, Liang En began to worry. If he didn't illuminate these skills, leveling up this profession would be meaningless. Yet, he lacked enough Legendary Power to illuminate all of them.
"Let me think." Liang En sat on the bed, rubbing his temples in distress. This was truly a dilemma for him now.
Continuing to invest might be disastrous if the skills weren't useful. But if he stopped, it meant almost half of his Legendary Power would be a sunk cost.
"Forget it, let's invest a bit and see." After much contemplation, Liang En decided to continue consuming the Legendary Power limit. After all, this power was fundamental to him; not utilizing it properly would be foolish.
Soon, with another point of Legendary Power limit consumed, the previously gray raven image turned golden. Simultaneously, the image seemed to come to life on the card, and information flooded Liang En's mind.
"Taming Ravens (N). Throughout history, tamed animals have been valuable companions to humans, serving as mounts, tools, or even weapons. In mythology, some could extend these animals as an extension of their bodies.
Skill Card (Permanent) (Occupational Attachment Skill): By infusing Legendary Power into the fertilized eggs of corvid animals, they gradually undergo modification and taming, becoming aides to the Sun Apostle."
"Cool!" Liang En whispered after seeing the description of the new card, utterly thrilled about this profession. What's more, compared to other animals, corvids were relatively easy to find.
Especially now, during the breeding season in London, crows tended to lay eggs beyond their capacity to nurture. Thus, if Liang En found a crow's nest and took a couple of eggs, it wouldn't disrupt their breeding cycle.
The reason for choosing crows was twofold. Firstly, they were the largest corvid species, growing to over half a meter in length as adults, with a wingspan exceeding 1.1 meters, resembling certain birds of prey.
Secondly, they were distributed across the entire northern hemisphere, incredibly adaptable. They were simple to rear and had adapted to cohabitation with humans over the long years without feeling depressed from spending time with them.
After making a decision, Liang En immediately set out to find crows. When he returned to his residence, grimy from the adventure, two hours later, he carried three crow eggs.
Only during the actual operation did Liang En realize this skill had certain requirements for the crows themselves. Therefore, finding suitable crow eggs required quite a bit of running around.
Fortunately, crow nests in the city weren't that concealed. Once he mastered the technique, it was easy to find enough crow eggs. So, after exploring seven to eight nests, Liang En finally found three eggs that met the requirements.
He chose three because, during the initial seven days of cultivation, each egg required one point of Legendary Power. Hence, the current limit of what he could cultivate was three eggs. Fortunately, beyond this, the entire cultivation process didn't require Legendary Power anymore.
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Chapter 128: The Ravens and the Show
Over the next few days, Fan Meng had to figure out a way to avoid Pierce, who was housing three ravens in his room. Ever since infusing them with legendary power, these ravens grew at an astonishing rate, making each day feel like a month had passed.
Not only did they grow rapidly, but these ravens also had voracious appetites, consuming what an ordinary raven would in a month. In a world where energy conservation mattered, significant food supplements were necessary for their growth.
Fortunately, despite their vigorous eating, these creatures didn't consume an exorbitant amount collectively. So, Fan Meng could easily bring back raw meat without catching Lewis's attention.
After about a week of bringing the ravens, they had already grown to the size of fledged adult ravens. Indeed, fueled by legendary power, these ravens matured a month's worth in just a day.
Under normal circumstances, it takes two to three weeks for ravens to hatch and a little over a month for them to be nursed. After that, they would stay with their parents for about half a year.
Hence, if these seven days represented seven months, it almost entirely encapsulated the time a raven would spend from birth to leaving its parents.
After the final infusion of legendary power, Fan Meng carefully scrutinized the three ravens standing before him. These ravens didn't appear drastically different from ordinary ones, except for their notably more agile-looking pupils.
That sensation wasn't mere illusion because these specially bred ravens possessed far greater intelligence than their counterparts, akin to children in their early teens.
For Fan Meng, ravens attaining this level of intelligence could serve a significant purpose.
For instance, during wilderness exploration, these ravens could serve as impeccable sentinels. In urban areas, they could effortlessly access confined spaces that humans couldn't enter for reconnaissance.
Moreover, by expending legendary points, Fan Meng could link his vision with these ravens. Each legendary point allowed him an hour-long connection with one raven.
To him, this equated to having three highly agile drones, unlike the buzzing normal drones, the ravens hardly raised anyone's suspicion.
"Ding-dong, ding-dong—" Just as Fan Meng was appraising these trained ravens, the doorbell suddenly rang. "Alright, you guys stay put on the cabinet."
Fan Meng knew it was time; Smith had sent someone to pick him up. Instructing the three ravens on the table, they flapped their wings and perched on the cabinet, concealing themselves.
As soon as they settled, Fan Meng headed to the living room and opened the door.
Standing outside was Lewis, the young man sent by Mike, the content creator, who was tasked with taking Fan Meng and his group to the competition venue.
"Ready? Let's get going." After grabbing the suitcase in the living room, Fan Meng, Lewis, and Diana Black, who emerged with luggage from the side, left the room and boarded the car headed towards the meeting point in the heart of London.
Upon arrival, Fan Meng noticed a total of six groups, including his own, participating in this treasure hunt. However, judging by what they carried, most seemed to be non-professionals.
After a brief interaction, Fan Meng's earlier assumption proved correct. Out of these six groups, counting his own, three were professionals while the remaining three were not.
Among the non-professionals, one group constituted a trio of girls forming a singing ensemble, another comprised of two famous craft content creators from YouTube, and the last was a couple, both actors, currently in a romantic relationship, fresh from a TV drama.
The meeting point was a square near the Tower of London, and at a corner of the square, several individuals held various equipment, filming someone enclosed in the center.
As a renowned content creator on YouTube, Lewis didn't actually look old, appearing at most in his forties. However, his Mediterranean appearance significantly diminished his visual appeal.
Nevertheless, becoming a renowned content creator didn't hinge on looks for Lewis. At present, he stood on a platform, addressing the camera confidently.
"Now, it's time for our new show, and this time, our theme is finding the legendary Magic Stone."
"Of course, we're neither Harry Potter nor Nicolas Flamel. So, our goal this time is merely to seek items related to this legend."
"We're delighted to have invited several celebrities to join our activity. Among them—" Following the sequence, Lewis introduced each participant to the audience before the camera.
Based on the scrolling text on the tablet facing the camera, these amateur treasure hunters seemed incredibly famous in their respective fields. In contrast, professionals like Fan Meng weren't well-known.
After a brief introduction of the participants, everyone boarded the bus arranged by the show's crew and headed north as planned.
According to the itinerary, the bus would head straight to Cambridge. During the journey, they would search for the first clue, and whoever found or believed they found a clue could signal to stop the bus and proceed to the next step.
"Alright, now it's time for the most crucial clue." After boarding, Lewis retrieved six wooden boxes from the overhead compartment, placing them in front of the cabin.
"These six boxes correspond to your six teams," Lewis addressed the participants seated. "Each box contains items related to today's theme and corresponding hints. Your task is to find corresponding objects based on the box's contents."
As the boxes were identical, the order of selection made no difference. Hence, adhering to ladies first and alphabetical order, they organized the sequence for selecting boxes.
"Quick, what's inside?" After Fan Meng returned to his seat holding a box, Dulis urged him to open it and check its contents.
"Don't rush." Fan Meng settled in his seat and fastened the seatbelt before opening the wooden box. Once the lid was removed, a scroll appeared before them.
It was a parchment scroll, though it looked antique, Fan Meng, being a professional, immediately recognized it as a modern replica.
"This thing does create an atmosphere," Dulis remarked as, at Fan Meng's behest, he untied the ribbon around the parchment scroll. "But what's written here?"
After a quick glance, Dulis frowned. Though it resembled English, it wasn't.
"Let me see. This is... Latin." Taking the document from Dulis, Fan Meng quickly identified what it was. Then he flipped through the box.
"Why are you rummaging through the box here?" Seeing Fan Meng start to search the box, Dulis inquired with some confusion.
"Few here might recognize Latin, and we're filming an episode now," Fan Meng explained as he rummaged through the wooden box.
"So, they've definitely included a corresponding translation in the box. Otherwise, the other participants would be stuck at the first step, and that wouldn't make for an interesting show."
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Chapter 129: Twist of Fate
As Liang En tapped around the box, he discovered a wooden panel tucked above it. Using a small knife to pry it open, they found a note inside.
"British Library front desk, show this scroll to the librarian wearing a gold hourglass badge. They'll provide your next clue."
"It's indeed a game." Liang En chuckled after reading the note. "Quite different from our usual treasure hunts."
"You're right." Fan Meng nodded, curious about the scroll. "So, what's written on it?"
"A strange-looking poem, but it's likely a cryptic hint for the next step." Liang En smiled, raising his hand. Soon, Old Mike approached with a cameraman.
"Congratulations on solving the puzzle in the box." Old Mike held up the microphone. "From now on, you're free to act on your own, with Hans, the cameraman, accompanying you."
"Understood. Please park now." Liang En nodded, instructing. Soon, the car stopped by the roadside. Liang En, Fan Meng, and the cameraman named Hans hopped out.
Because Liang En cracked the puzzle swiftly, they hadn't ventured far from the city center. They quickly hailed a taxi to the British Library.
They arrived at a modern building with red walls and a gray roof beside the King's Cross Station. Inside, they found the front desk attendant.
This confirmed Dr. Calderwell's earlier call, indicating that this event wasn't solely organized by the YouTuber; several institutions were actively involved.
After presenting the scroll, the young female attendant promptly fetched a book—a guide detailing the history of the British monarchy.
"Alright, what does the Latin riddle on this scroll say?" Fan Meng asked Liang En, examining the scroll after receiving the book.
"It says, 'To find what you seek, go to where the true king resides. For only the king among kings can grant you what you desire.'"
"Then there's this book." Liang En produced the book. "A page here is folded, detailing the timeline of the Stuart dynasty."
"So, combining the contents of this book, our target should be located in a palace used by the Stuart dynasty."
"But I noticed a folded corner on the subsequent page..." Fan Meng flipped through the book. "It documents Queen Victoria of the Hanoverian dynasty."
"Let's focus on this one." Prompted by Fan Meng, Liang En skimmed through the book. "The library stamp indicates it's a discarded book, so random folding might be normal."
Thus, Liang En decided, and they boarded a bus headed to Hampton Court, about twenty kilometers from central London, where the Stuart dynasty often frequented.
Before departing, using their soul connection, Liang En summoned the three ravens that had grown into adulthood, letting them perch on the car's roof as they headed to Hampton Court.
However, unknown to Liang En as they boarded the bus, Old Mike, watching the live stream, wore a shocked expression.
"Boss, I remember the setup in that paper box. Wasn't the next step for Mr. Liang to go to the Buckingham Palace entrance?" One of the two writers who knew the entire setup looked puzzled at Old Mike.
"That old book might have an issue." Old Mike quickly grasped the situation. "Because we only instructed the front desk staff to hand over the books to the person with the scroll, without telling them the folded corners held significance and shouldn't be touched."
"What should we do next?" The writer looked nervous. "Should I call Hans and ask him to bring Mr. Liang back?"
"No, don't bring them back." Glancing at the viewership numbers on the computer screen, Old Mike made a decision.
"After all, every team's success or failure adds to the show. Besides, viewers might prefer seeing amateurs besting professionals. So, it's alright if Mr. Liang fails."
"And in the end, they did find our real clue, right? If they act quickly, once they realize the mistake at Hampton Court, they can return without much delay."
At this point, Old Mike shook his head gently and looked at the writer. "Other than you and me, who else knows about the folded corners in the book?"
"No one else. We handled it personally. Nobody knows what we did here." The writer shook their head.
"Good. Keep this to yourself." Old Mike gazed seriously at the writer. "Mr. Liang was specially invited through a lot of favors and efforts. It'd be troublesome if he finds out about any mishaps."
Meanwhile, Liang En, Fan Meng, and the cameraman arrived at Hampton Court. Liang En introduced the three ravens perched on his shoulders and head to the live audience.
"Why did you bring these ravens?" Hans, the cameraman, asked, eyeing the three ravens close to Liang En.
"Of course, for searching for clues ahead." Liang En produced the scroll written in Latin on parchment.
"It says, 'Among kings.' This dual emphasis likely refers to a higher entity than a mere king or a place at a higher altitude," he pointed out. "I believe there are only two places according to this hint: either atop the Tudor-style palace's throne hall or in the palace's associated chapel."
Considering that placing something in a room might risk it being accidentally taken, Liang En felt it more likely that the item was on the roof.
Hence, he thought that if he approached the staff with the scroll now, they might rent him a drone to retrieve the item from the roof.
Compared to a drone, Liang En believed it more precise and simpler to dispatch his ravens at this moment. It would also prevent any damage to the artifact.
As expected, after a brief conversation with Hampton Court's staff, they granted permission for the ravens to search the roof. Additionally, they signed an agreement allowing Liang En to take away anything found during the roof search.
For the staff at Hampton Court, such shows were not entirely new. Hence, they had a well-thought-out protocol.
For requests like Liang En's, asking to send ravens to search the roof, it was the easiest to agree to. They perceived animal performances as harmless to the artifacts themselves.
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Chapter 130: Further Clues
"In fact, using the crows is really convenient." After getting permission from the museum, Liang En directed the crows to fly towards the roof while explaining to the camera.
"You know, these animals are naturally attracted to shiny little things, so they'll help collect anything small and shiny on the rooftop."
"I reckon the items our YouTuber placed should be very conspicuous, both in size and weight. So, I believe that sending my animal friends out should quickly pinpoint the target."
After conveying these words to the camera, Liang En sat by the flowerbed as if resting, but in reality, he established a connection with one of the crows using a bit of legendary power.
Bathed in sunlight, Liang En swiftly used the crow's eyes to search for several glimmering traces on the roof. Aside from some parts of the building's structure, he discovered several peculiar items.
However, what struck him as odd was that these items were not above the throne hall but on the roofs of spaces clearly belonging to the royal family, such as the queen's chamber or the spa courtyard.
"Perhaps it's because those main palace buildings are too crucial to clutter." Liang En pondered this while directing three crows to retrieve the shiny objects.
As the crows kept returning and dropping what they had, Liang En noticed that most of these items were not what he desired.
For instance, among the heap of things brought down by the crows, most were just shiny plastic pieces, resembling remnants of some packaging bags blown onto the roof by the wind.
Fortunately, after circling a few palaces, the crows discovered nests hidden in some obscure corners of the buildings, containing genuinely valuable items.
While the owners of these nests were absent, Liang En had his crows fetch each of the treasures and bring them to the edge of the flowerbed where he was stationed.
Observing the dozen or so items before him, Liang En speculated that the organizers of this competition might have overlooked the local crows, and the items he prepared might have accidentally been taken by these little creatures.
Besides a collection of coins, some clean while others rusted, there was a meticulously crafted metal cylinder.
This cylinder had a diameter of over two centimeters and a length exceeding fifteen centimeters. Although it initially appeared dusty, a simple wipe revealed its underlying golden hue.
"This is an ancient cigar case capable of holding a single cigar." Liang En examined the metal cylinder carefully. "Silver-gilt material, resembling styles from the 17th or 18th century."
"Which means the secret we're seeking might be inside this cigar case?" Fan Meng inquired, eyeing the cigar case in Liang En's hand.
"That seems likely." Liang En nodded. "Look, this container belongs to the 17th to 18th centuries. And the book we found earlier had corners folded related to the Stuart Dynasty. This period aligns perfectly."
Carefully scraping off the wax sealing the cigar case, Liang En used tweezers to extract a wax-coated paper from within. Due to time, the paper had turned an unappealing brown-yellow.
"This is just an activity; does it have to look like this?" After examining the paper's condition, Liang En commented. Organic artifacts like this were prone to issues or even damage through repeated use, unlike metallic relics that professionals knew how to handle.
Therefore, Liang En couldn't fathom why such fragile artifacts appeared in the activity. He understood how to handle them, but amateurs participating might easily damage them.
Regardless, since the object was found, further examination and deciphering its contents became more crucial.
Thus, Liang En, accompanied by staff from Hampton Palace, swiftly arrived at the palace's artifact preservation department, utilizing their tools to clean the paper.
Soon, the paper was cleansed, and Liang En read aloud the contents: "Sever all connections with Chet and W.C. Let the iron hook inform you of the location now and dispose of those things."
From the note and its content, it seemed like an order from a high-ranking individual to subordinates to transfer materials, most likely something illegitimate.
"Now that you know the location, where do you think it is?" Fan Meng, having read the note's content, asked Liang En.
"Not entirely sure." Liang En flipped the paper, finding it blank on the back, without a single word. "I presume the other party might have used some obscure coding."
"After all, when messages are relayed through intermediaries, it's likely the information wasn't reliable, hence the sealing of the container. In such cases, relying on intermediaries to deliver messages is improbable."
"Therefore, the other party likely sent the message alongside the container, but at that time, perhaps only the sender and receiver knew where the crucial information was hidden."
Fortunately, being at Hampton Palace, after a brief exchange with staff, they swiftly obtained permission to use the palace's instruments.
According to Liang En's speculation, whatever they sought was either on this piece of paper or inside the cigar case. Either way, he required specialized tools to view it.
However, just as photographer Hans prepared to enter the laboratory to document, a phone call detained him outside.
"This part isn't crucial anyway; not filming won't make a difference." Seeing Hans not enter, Liang En shrugged, then proceeded to examine the items he'd found using the tools on the workstation.
He initially inspected the paper repeatedly, but he had to admit that, after several checks, the paper's back remained as empty as it seemed at first glance.
Upon using a fiber optic to examine the cigar case's interior, Liang En found it densely engraved with dozens of mysterious symbols—numbers, English letters, and grid-like patterns resembling Chinese characters. Without a reference, deciphering these symbols seemed impossible.
Thankfully, Liang En had a backup plan. He meticulously copied these symbols and then used the "Cipher Breaker (R)" ability on the paper.
The extraordinary power indeed worked, but due to Liang En's lack of familiarity with this specific cipher, it consumed two destiny points before he could translate the short sentence.
"So, that's it!" After reading the translated content, Liang En joyfully clenched his fist against his chest. The translated sentence was a location.
"What did you find?" Witnessing Liang En suddenly become excited while examining the paper, Fan Meng was startled at first, then asked.
"We're heading back to London next." Liang En picked up the translated paper. "I've figured out the location of the next clue."
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