Chapter 131: Tracing
"What information do you see in these patterns?" Fan Meng examined the designs carefully, utterly confused. "Why am I not getting anything out of this?"
"This is actually a simple kind of code." Liang En pointed at the patterns, a bewildered look on his face. "The patterns themselves don't hold any meaning; it's the threads exposed within them that matter."
"For instance, the Arabic numeral 6 exposes a thread, corresponding to the number 1, which translates to the English letter 'a.' And the one resembling the Chinese character for 'well' corresponds to the number 8, in the English alphabet, it's the letter 'h.'"
"If we translate these letters in sequence, it precisely spells out a sentence: 'White Church, Lockgate Street, George's Apartment.'"
"Did you say White Church?" Upon hearing those words, Fan Meng suddenly got excited. White Church was incredibly famous among detective enthusiasts.
For many non-British, the memory of White Church was linked to the notorious series of murders perpetrated by Jack the Ripper.
Due to the case remaining unsolved, it became the foundation for countless literary and visual works, notably the "Midnight Murders" and "Studies in Terror" within the Sherlock Holmes series. Over the decades, numerous video games and TV shows also took inspiration from this case, turning it into a significant intellectual property of the era.
The reason behind this immense popularity was the persistently chaotic nature of the area surrounding White Church in East London, fostering various fantasies.
Because of this, Liang En began to question the legitimacy of the current show. Considering the ongoing security concerns in the White Church area, he found it hard to believe that a program would be filmed there.
With this in mind, Liang En immediately retrieved his phone and dialed the emergency contact number provided by old Mike. After a few rings, the call connected.
"What's going on? Why is our next location the White Church area? You should be aware of its security—" Liang En directly inquired as the call was answered.
"Apologies, it's our mistake. The page in the book got accidentally swapped, and you were supposed to go search the next target at Buckingham Palace," came a regretful voice from the other end, belonging to old Mike.
If old Mike initially planned to leverage this mistake for higher ratings, the situation had entirely spiraled out of his control.
Especially since Liang En wasn't just an ordinary treasure hunter; he had gained significant fame in Egyptian archaeology, particularly in deciphering ancient Egyptian texts. He couldn't afford to bear the responsibility if something went wrong.
"What should we do next?" Liang En glanced at the door, lowering his voice. Given that the other party had conceded, it seemed appropriate to give them some face.
"I'll compensate you for this. After the competition, I'll pay you an extra £10,000," old Mike promised earnestly. "As for the next steps, it's up to you."
"If you intend to stick to the original plan, I'll instruct Hans to support you in sticking to the initial route. But if you prefer to pursue this current lead, I'll arrange for some bodyguards to accompany you into the White Church area."
"I've decided to go to the White Church area," after a few seconds of contemplation, Liang En stated. "Comparatively, the security in White Church is better than it was a hundred years ago."
"Although the area remains chaotic due to South Asian immigrants, it shouldn't pose many problems during daylight. Just remember to leave before nightfall."
"Alright! I'll arrange for security personnel now. We'll meet up at a designated spot later," after hearing Liang En's decision, a smile appeared on old Mike's face.
What differed from before was that now, he had clearly mentioned the potential dangers, and Liang En chose to continue the journey to White Church. In terms of audience engagement and ratings, this shift would undoubtedly capture more attention than the original plan.
While old Mike was busy arranging security personnel, Liang En, along with Fan Meng and the others, headed straight to London. In a little over half an hour, they arrived at the White Church area.
As the White Church area in East London, it was now regarded as a trendy art district. Many tourist brochures touted it as brimming with vibrant street culture.
However, what these tourist guides didn't mention was that, worldwide, particularly in the Western hemisphere, wherever there was active street culture, illegal activities thrived.
Fortunately, during the daytime, this street was relatively safe, and they had also assembled the security personnel sent by old Mike. Consequently, they smoothly proceeded towards Lockgate Street, their intended target.
"Can we really find what we're looking for here?" Observing the surroundings, Fan Meng furrowed his brow. "The houses here seem considerably younger than the period described on that paper we found."
The reason Fan Meng voiced this concern was evident: both sides of the street were dominated by Victorian-style four-story brick buildings. These structures couldn't have been constructed in the 17th or 18th century.
"It's down to luck. If we're fortunate, we might uncover something hidden from that era." Liang En carefully surveyed the rows of houses on either side.
Simultaneously, he used his only remaining "Detect (R)" card on the card he had found earlier, and the marker appeared precisely where it was annotated on the paper.
Evidently, the most probable scenario was that the item had been concealed underground back then. This ensured its trace persisted through subsequent changes in surface structures, lasting until today.
The building atop the target location now was a typical four-story red-brick structure, noticeably unkempt due to its distance from the main street, appearing somewhat dirty upon closer inspection.
Approaching closer, Liang En realized it was worse than it looked. The building was subdivided for numerous tenants, and the financial status of these occupants seemed evidently precarious.
"What do we do next?" Seeing the colorful graffiti on the walls, even the cameraman, Hans, appeared nervous.
"We find the owner of this house and secure permission for excavation from them." After surveying the surroundings outside the door, Liang En snapped his fingers.
Fortunately, since this house was up for rent, the contact details of the landlord were displayed by the door. After a brief call explaining their intent, the landlord promptly arrived with a lawyer.
As this excavation wasn't anticipated, old Mike hadn't made any specific arrangements. However, after a brief conversation, the landlord agreed to Liang En's excavation, asking for a cash payment of £2,000 instead of the usual split of any findings.
Table of content
Chapter 132: Discovering the Secret Chamber
The reason the landlord proposed a £2000 excavation fee was simple—he didn't believe anything valuable could be unearthed from his property. Hence, he sought visible compensation in advance.
In the UK, treasure hunting was a popular activity. Having encountered similar requests before and ending up with nothing despite promising to split the findings, the landlord not only failed to earn but also had to spend considerable effort refilling the dug-up soil.
With several failed attempts in the past, the landlord opted for cash upfront this time to avoid working for naught.
" How much for excavating just the empty space behind this building?" Fan Meng asked. "Compared to the space behind the building, your structure here is relatively recent."
"You're right, but for just the space, it'll be £1500," the landlord considered, sensing Fan Meng had a specific target in mind and naturally aimed high.
Then ensued a 20-minute haggling session. After a lot of back-and-forth, the landlord agreed to reduce the price by £300, stating that anything lower wouldn't suffice.
"Alright, £1200 it is," Fan Meng sighed, then paid the sum using a credit card, leading everyone into the building.
For Fan Meng, once he pinpointed a target using his card, the value of that target became apparent. Spending a few hundred more or less made no significant difference to him in such cases.
However, to avoid tipping off his urgency and inflating the price, he had to negotiate to ease the landlord's suspicions.
After the payment, they traversed through dimly lit corridors covered in graffiti, reaching the open space behind the room, scrutinizing the surroundings.
This space nestled amidst several four-story buildings, serving as a communal area for these erstwhile inexpensive red-brick apartments.
Most constructions in this district adopted this enclosed style, with three to four small buildings forming a cluster around a central space—a prevalent urban layout during the Victorian era in these parts, albeit outdated now due to insufficient light and communal area.
Although this architectural model fell out of favor due to limited light and public space, it was commonplace during the Victorian era when these buildings were established.
The current space appeared cluttered with wooden sticks and steel columns, strings connecting them, serving as clotheslines—a practice uncommon among the British, who preferred dryers or indoor drying due to the area's aesthetics and frequent rainy weather.
However, due to the small size of rooms in the White Chapel area and the residents' modest economic status, they occasionally adhered to their traditional clothes-drying methods.
This presented a challenge for Fan Meng, especially concerning his metal detector, rendered almost useless amid the abundance of metal stakes used here.
"What's our next move?" Pierce, exasperated with the incessant beeping of the metal detector after a round of scanning, asked Fan Meng.
"Let's use a probe," Fan Meng retrieved two steel rods from his backpack, joining them to create a slender, 30cm probe.
This specialized tool designed for urban treasure hunting allowed them to sense any solid objects near the surface and discern their shape—a sufficient device for urban exploration that rarely required deep-ground scanning.
More importantly, Fan Meng deduced from the card's indication that the hidden object might be a well. Hence, the probe could identify its location.
As anticipated, within five minutes of their efforts, Fan Meng and Pierce found a rigid structure about 20cm below the surface, approximately two meters in width, deviating about three to four meters from the central yard.
Digging through approximately 20cm of soil wasn't overly complicated. With shovels in hand, they gradually uncovered a stone platform about two meters in length.
"Is this a flagpole?" Pierce tapped the clearly assembled metal tube in the center of the stone platform with his shovel, then retracted his assumption.
"No, not a flagpole. If it were, a 3cm diameter is too thin. Besides, I can't fathom what these two joined pipes might be used for," Fan Meng observed.
"The lower half is the hand-press well pipe," Fan Meng walked up to inspect the pipe. "I grew up on a farm, and we had an old-fashioned hand-press well there."
"And if you remove the mechanical structure atop that well, it'd look like this—a stone platform with a half-meter high pipe," he continued.
"Clearly, the upper half of the iron pipe was added later, probably by someone who found this exposed steel pipe and used it to hang clothes," Fan Meng pointed out the weld marks.
The subsequent work primarily involved physical labor. Thankfully, there were several idle individuals around, so Fan Meng quickly spent £300 to hire three people to assist in demolishing the cement platform.
As Fan Meng suspected, the stone platform did not lead to solid ground. As they broke apart the platform, an ancient well emerged from below the remnants of the stone platform.
Evidently, technological advancements replaced pulleys and buckets with hand pumps, eventually forgotten due to the prevalence of piped water, now repurposed as a clothesline post.
"This place likely had a trapdoor," Fan Meng observed the shattered remnants. Below the stone platform, he found something resembling a metal door and hinges.
After a thorough examination, Fan Meng confirmed it was a previously operational hidden door. However, it had been entirely sealed with stones and cement at some point for unknown reasons.
The discovery excited everyone since it was clearly not a standard well setup.
Shining a flashlight into the well, Fan Meng noticed it had dried up. Yet, an area on the well's sidewall appeared distinct from the surroundings.
"A concealed chamber on the well's side? Seems like whatever's hidden here holds value," Fan Meng pondered aloud. "I just wish the hint we received earlier wasn't so vague about what's inside."
Table of content
Chapter 133: The Basement
"We'll need to wait for some time now to ensure that any harmful gases down there dissipate before we can go down," Liang En spoke into the camera during this waiting period.
This treasure hunt differed from previous ones; considering the audience in front of the lens, Liang En had to fill the time by speaking to the camera, engaging with the viewers.
Otherwise, by the end of the show's evaluation, facing the audience's disapproval and missing out on that prize money would be disastrous.
"In a sealed space like this, prolonged closure can easily generate gases harmful to the human body, especially in an underground room where no one's been for a long time."
"So, before entering such a room, always remember ventilation. Otherwise, various serious accidents due to oxygen deficiency are highly likely—"
As Liang En incessantly educated the audience in front of the camera about everyday knowledge, his phone suddenly rang.
The call was from the staff at the Hampton Palace Museum who had hosted them earlier, relating to the cigar tube Liang En had taken from there.
"Apologies, Mr. Liang, the silver-gilt cigar tube you took earlier belongs to our Hampton Palace Museum. Unfortunately, it was lost during the Second World War—"
"So, you mean I need to return this tube to you, right?" Liang En said, somewhat irritated. Clearly, this was an oversight on the museum's part.
"We will compensate you with £750," the staff member's voice came through the phone. "This was indeed our mistake, and we deeply apologize."
"Alright, I'm currently on the White Chapel side—" Hearing the earnest apology, Liang En forgave them.
After all, they were working people, so Liang En felt it was best to be lenient in this regard. Getting a reasonable answer was enough; there was no need to keep on dwelling.
Thirty minutes later, two staff members from Hampton Palace entered the excavation site. Evidently, they had raced over here.
"Here, the item is here." Seeing the two staff members, Liang En handed over the cigar tube. "But do you know anything about this cigar tube?"
"We only know that this item is from the 17th century, produced in England," said the younger of the two staff members.
"And the records within Hampton Palace about this item are very vague, only mentioning that it was found in a cabinet and has been sitting in storage until it was lost during World War II."
"It seems you're unaware of the secrets inside." After the staff members spoke, Liang En smiled and, in front of the camera, shared the discoveries he had just made with these two staff members.
Since Liang En had just live-streamed the process of uncovering the secrets, sharing the information with these staff members at this moment seemed inconsequential.
Clearly, this was an incredibly intriguing story, coupled with its association with Hampton Palace, so these two staff members stayed, awaiting Liang En's next search step.
At this time, the ventilation work underground had been completed. Liang En, donning a gas mask, proceeded down the ladder toward the entrance of the secret chamber.
Upon opening the door made of wood and iron sheets, Liang En found himself in a tunnel entirely paved with bricks.
Surprisingly, although this place was by the water well, it wasn't as damp as one might expect. It merely had a slightly chilly atmosphere.
However, whether for ease of construction or because people in the past weren't tall, the tunnel's height was only around 1.7 meters. Hence, Liang En had to stoop to move forward.
"Hmm—" After shining his flashlight a few steps ahead, he noticed a silver gleam on the ground. As he approached, he found a silver coin.
Continuing forward, he found more scattered silver coins, as if someone hurriedly stole them from the treasury and, in their haste, dropped them along the way.
"Could this be a vault for storing money?" Frowning at the thick stack of silver coins in his hand, Liang En pondered. Considering the chaos of this place in the past, it was highly likely a hiding spot for a gang's money.
However, if this were a hideout for a gang's money, those involved should have anticipated being hunted. Such an unprofessional act of dropping a dozen silver coins along the way was questionable.
Thinking this through, Liang En shook his head and continued forward. After all, the end of the road was not far ahead, and any mystery here would soon be revealed.
The tunnel's end led to a dimly lit basement, even lower in height than the previous tunnel, with an area of only around eleven to twelve square meters. Yet, it was packed to the brim.
Most of the space was occupied by wooden crates and barrels, all showing obvious signs of decay due to time.
Upon opening some of the crates and barrels, Liang En discovered carbonized contents inside. Upon closer inspection, he realized these were luxury goods from France.
The crates contained primarily textiles, such as velvet and lace. The barrels held famous French specialty wines.
Considering that the consumers of such luxury goods were affluent and influential, setting up a hideout in London, close to the market, was reasonable.
Soon, the photographer Hans and a staff member from Hampton Palace descended as well. Under Liang En's direction, everyone began clearing out this basement.
Over an hour later, as a chaotic pile of miscellaneous items had been cleared out, a new hidden door on the wall was revealed.
"I believe behind this hidden door lies the real target," a staff member pointed with a flashlight at the wall. "Just those wines and velvets shouldn't necessitate such a secretive means of transfer."
"You're right." Liang En stepped forward and extracted a silver coin wedged between the hidden door and the floor. "Obviously, behind this hidden door should be a small treasury for hiding money, otherwise this coin wouldn't—"
Stopping abruptly, Liang En realized something was off with the silver coin in his hand. He noticed something different about it from the marks left when he had forcefully removed it from the crevice.
"This seems to be a counterfeit coin." Liang En clipped the flashlight onto a special clip on his helmet and took out a small knife to scratch the coin's surface.
Indeed, after scraping away a layer, the exposed area didn't shine with the typical silver brilliance but rather revealed a distinct grayish hue.
"Yes, this is a type of counterfeit coin." The staff member remarked, "During the era this coin was minted, about 1/5 of the circulated coins were fake. Finding a fake coin in a place like this isn't unusual."
"No, no, no, look at these coins." Liang En produced the coins he had found along the way. "Don't you think these new coins are a bit excessive?"
Table of content
Chapter 134: The Outlaw of the 18th Century
In the dimly lit underground chamber, guided by the flashlight beams, Liang En gazed into the camera lens, raising a silver coin as he began to explain the suspicious nature of these coins.
Ordinarily, regardless of the kind of business conducted by merchants before the internet era, the currency received often had a mix of old and new.
Especially for those engaged in illicit trades, their transactions' distinct nature meant the currency they received rarely included new bills.
But what Liang En found in the secret chamber and tunnels were coins that were excessively new. Those old coins should have had oxidation or signs of wear, yet these silver coins lacked even a scratch.
"Look at these coins; they appear freshly minted, and there's more than one scattered on the ground." Liang En retrieved several coins from his pocket, the ones he had just picked up, and displayed them toward the camera.
"If these coins turn out to be fake, then this place is likely linked to the rampant counterfeit production from years ago. That's why there's an abundance of coins here without a trace of use."
After finishing, Liang En cautiously pried open the concealed door in front of him. Inside, he found a small two-tiered cupboard. "Seems like this is our target."
Carefully brushing aside thick cobwebs and dust, Liang En retrieved three boxes placed inside the secret door.
All three boxes were about the size of shoeboxes, but two were significantly heavy while the third was light.
Clearly, these boxes held different contents. As Liang En's hand touched the lightest box, the white light used for marking disappeared, and three cards appeared in his mind.
However, Liang En didn't inspect his own cards; instead, he continued examining the cramped cupboard from earlier.
Judging by how these boxes were arranged inside the cupboard, there should have initially been items equivalent to the volume of six boxes, but whatever was there before had been taken.
Considering the silver coins found in the secret chamber and tunnels, it was highly likely that this space once contained a pile of meticulously crafted counterfeit silver coins.
So, in an emergency, whoever realized they needed to abandon this place likely fled with the easily spendable coins, leaving behind the inconvenient items.
After a final search of the chamber, ensuring nothing was left, Liang En and his two companions, with the help of the personnel stationed above, ascended with the stash they discovered.
The time spent organizing the secret chamber consumed too much time, and by the time they returned to the surface, it was late afternoon, the skies already darkening.
"Next, we should contact a laboratory." Liang En instructed Fan Meng upon their return. "These boxes likely contain certain organic materials, unsuitable for opening in a place like this—"
"You can come to our side to open these boxes." The personnel who had been waiting above interrupted upon hearing Liang En's instructions.
"I've just contacted our curator; she invites you to the artifact laboratory affiliated with our Hampton Palace Museum."
"Just as you've seen, our laboratory is not only fully equipped but also has numerous professionals to assist your work. Most importantly, our curator mentioned that the funding for this cleanup will be unconditionally covered by the museum."
The Hampton Palace Museum operated for profit, so the curator also had to consider such matters. Obviously, the program Liang En was currently participating in wielded considerable influence, hence the museum's participation would naturally aid in publicity.
For Liang En, having free assistance and space was undoubtedly favorable.
After all, previously, Dr. Calderwell had only requested Liang En's help in promoting various museums, leaving the choice of museums up to him. So, naturally, he agreed to the proposal.
Over an hour later, the laboratory affiliated with Hampton Palace, illuminated by slightly dimmed white lights, showcased a row of transparent boxes on a long table.
"These items we found in that secret chamber belonged to the top outlaw of the 17th century, including the steel molds for four sets of silver coins and a copper printing plate for England's earliest banknote, the Bank of England note," Liang En gestured toward the nitrogen-filled transparent boxes. Each contained a set of metal molds recently treated to remove rust.
In the past several tens of minutes, Liang En not only aided in the cleanup but also continually explained the cleaning and preservation work for these artifacts facing the camera.
There were far more people interested in these specialized matters than anticipated. At least, according to Old Mike, the number of viewers on Liang En's channel had tripled in this period.
For Liang En, this was undoubtedly good news as it allowed him to fulfill Dr. Calderwell's commission of popularizing archaeology knowledge to the public.
In reality, the doctor had been concerned about the insufficient popularization of archaeology knowledge among the public. After all, to professionals, both the Indiana Jones series and the Tomb Raider series were considered illegal looting, and quite heinous at that.
For instance, neither the Indiana Jones series nor the Tomb Raider series followed the proper application and licensing processes from the beginning, leading to a series of severe damages and looting of various cultural relics and monuments.
That's why Liang En agreed to assist the doctor with publicity. As someone from an ancient Eastern country, a visit to the Longmen Grottoes or the Mogao Grottoes would demonstrate the repercussions of damaged artifacts.
It was also why, before embarking on treasure hunts, Liang En always chose to adhere strictly to procedures. Though it might seem rigid, at least it kept him from being labeled a historical vandal.
"Pay attention here." After explaining the prevalence of counterfeit coins during that era, Liang En pointed to a special stamp next to those steel molds.
"According to the information we've gathered, this stamp, composed of the uppercase letters 'W' and 'C,' belongs to William Chaloner, the most prominent counterfeiter in that era."
Someone who dared to imprint their badge on counterfeit molds was by no means an ordinary person. William Chaloner, from various perspectives, could be considered an absolute criminal genius.
For instance, he once petitioned the parliament, accusing the mint of knowingly supplying tools to counterfeiters and requested the parliament to allow him to inspect the mint's production process to prove his accusation.
He also asked the parliament to adopt what he called the 'uncounterable minting process' and its associated counterfeit suppression plan.
Simultaneously deceiving the parliament, Chaloner claimed to committees investigating the mint's malpractices that he could improve the mint's work without increasing costs and prevent currency forgery.
Most astonishingly, Chaloner authored a pamphlet titled "The State of the Mint," presenting a series of evidence to the parliament, using it as an opportunity to request the position of Mint Master.
Table of content
Chapter 135: Newton's Alchemical Book
William Chaloner could be considered a genius in the criminal underworld. Apart from openly challenging the British government, he managed to escape punishment smoothly after being caught red-handed and imprisoned for the first time.
One crucial factor contributing to his escape was the convoluted and ancient loopholes within British law, hurdles one had to leap to prosecute criminals.
Of course, Chaloner himself was cunning in this regard. On one hand, he accused the mint of seeking personal vengeance, claiming his arrest stemmed from offending them.
On the other, he bribed several witnesses. The money from his counterfeit activities allowed him to find individuals of sufficient standing to testify that he was in Scotland at the time of the crime.
But this outlaw was eventually apprehended and executed because his adversary was a more prodigious mind at the Royal Mint, none other than Isaac Newton.
Yes, that's right, the Newton here is the great physicist and mathematician. Yet, compared to his scholarly side, few were aware of his contributions in other arenas.
Indeed, for the people of that time, Newton's most significant contribution wasn't his scientific advancements but his role as the warden of the Royal Mint, salvaging England's collapsing financial sector.
Interestingly, according to recent research, Newton's attainment of this position wasn't due to his academic stature but rather his niece, who was the mistress of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
However, despite being a renowned scientist, Newton surprisingly made monumental strides in a clerical position, managing to enhance the craftsmanship and efficiency of silver coinage with scholarly rigor, while apprehending a slew of counterfeiters, including William Chaloner, without any formal training in criminal investigation.
When his initial attempt at arrest failed, Newton began employing his extraordinary logical prowess to analyze the entire case and closely monitored Chaloner's every move.
Meanwhile, Chaloner, emboldened by his prior victory, grew reckless, expanding his operations from forging silver coins to counterfeiting higher-denomination Bank of England notes.
In their second encounter, Chaloner suffered a colossal defeat. Newton brought forth 14 witnesses and over 30 testimonies, ultimately leading to Chaloner's conviction and execution.
However, just before his execution, William Chaloner penned a plea for mercy addressed to Newton. This letter became the subject of extensive research in later years.
The reason why so many studied this letter was straightforward: counterfeiting was considered treason at that time, and the main culprit faced a one-way path to death. Hence, Chaloner's plea for mercy at this juncture appeared rather abnormal.
Because Newton was merely the warden of the mint and not responsible for a series of legal proceedings, at most acting as a public prosecutor, receiving a plea for mercy at that moment seemed rather peculiar.
Consequently, many later scholars believed that William Chaloner likely possessed some secret about Newton, intending to barter it for his life at the eleventh hour.
This enigma troubled historians for centuries, with some suggesting it was merely a desperate act from Chaloner when all else failed.
Today, within the lightest of the three boxes that Liang En discovered, lies the key to this mystery—a manuscript by Newton.
"Excellent. The staff has already handled that book. Now, let's see what Newton wrote in these documents," Liang En said to the camera Hans was holding.
After enlightening everyone about the love-hate relationship between Newton and William Chaloner for over half an hour, the staff finally signaled Liang En that the manuscript's processing was complete, allowing them to peruse its contents.
"This is quite an intriguing paper," Liang En told the camera held by Hans after skimming through the manuscript. "Because this paper concerns alchemy."
"However, this kind of alchemy differs from the more commonly known pursuit of creating gold. From the manuscript, we can deduce that Newton sought to comprehend the true nature of the world through alchemy."
"In Newton's era, alchemy wasn't seen as mysticism but rather as a means, much like other scientific methods, to explore the unknown."
"After all, scientific development during that time was far inferior to today's standards, so alchemy was naturally an essential method of understanding the world, rather than the superstition it has become today."
"From another perspective, to progress academically, Newton also ventured far into the realm of alchemy."
"Therefore, Newton wasn't just a compiler of medieval alchemy; he elevated alchemical theories to unprecedented heights. However, due to his staunch belief in the particle theory, he couldn't transition alchemy into the modern elemental chemistry."
"For instance, in this paper, Newton integrated alchemy with various other disciplines."
"Take the first part of the paper, where he suggests that the wondrous property of celestial bodies having gravity is due to our universe existing within a vast and extraordinary crucible of God, and alchemy propels the fundamental force that drives our world—"
Some believed Newton was the most famous alchemist of his era because, beyond the initial title, the subsequent content discussed how to create the Philosopher's Stone.
According to Newton's own account in the paper, he sought to produce this legendary item because he considered it the pinnacle of alchemy.
And if this substance were made, it meant he held the key to the divine rules governing the universe and could thus trace the existence of deities.
Unlike the charlatans posing as alchemists, Newton's paper was more of a philosophical treatise than an operational guide.
Though all this information seemed like cryptic scriptures to the audience watching the livestream, Hans continuously hinted to Liang En about the dropping viewership.
Therefore, Liang En swiftly concluded the discussion about the manuscript itself, then delved into why Newton's paper on alchemy ended up in William Chaloner's hiding place.
For Chaloner, who had amassed a significant fortune through counterfeiting, obtaining information about Newton, despite its difficulty, wasn't impossible. Hence, it was natural for him to acquire this paper about alchemy.
As for why he preserved this paper, the reason was simple: alchemy was also a severe offense at that time, punishable by death. Hence, Chaloner evidently intended to use it as leverage against Newton.
However, a series of misfortunes altered the course of events, concealing this secret for centuries.
Table of content
Chapter 136: Winning by a Landslide
This manuscript from Newton's hand unveiled two historical mysteries at once. One was the first direct insight into Newton's choice of alchemy, bypassing secondary sources. While there's a chance Newton prepared for this exposure, given the circumstances, this account is likely genuine.
The other mystery revolved around why William Chaloner wrote to Newton before his death. Evidently, as speculated by many, Chaloner believed he held Newton's secret, attempting to leverage it.
"Alright, that's everything we can analyze about this treasure for now." After explaining the discovery, Fan Meng delved into another burning question.
"I reckon everyone's pondering the value of these findings. Let's delve into how much this stash might be worth."
Most folks aren't keen on overly technical content. Hence, Fan Meng swiftly steered the conversation toward what intrigued everyone.
"An important reminder—should you uncover any treasure, promptly contact local authorities like certified committees or nationally recognized museums."
Before discussing the items' worth, Fan Meng addressed the handling of found treasures as per the program's guidelines, then dove into the main topic.
The Hamptonpton Palace Museum expressed keen interest, especially since the initial discovery occurred within its premises.
Thus, securing these artifacts could serve as a significant draw for the museum, especially given their exposure through a live broadcast, a considerable attraction for visitors.
Negotiations involving money proved most challenging. Fortunately, there were previous auctions for both Newton's alchemical manuscripts and the counterfeit coin-making tools, setting a pricing precedent within a few years. However, due to the police-thief conflict involving Newton and William Chaloner, pricing naturally fluctuated.
In the world of antiquities, an item's value isn't solely about its inherent worth but the tales it carries.
For instance, a mid-Qing dynasty inkstone might fetch only a few thousand yuan on the market, but if used by a notable figure like Cao Xueqin, its value skyrockets several times over. And if proven used during the creation of "Dream of the Red Chamber," it could easily surpass a million yuan.
The items Fan Meng's team unearthed bore witness to Newton's greatest victory as Chief Mint Officer against counterfeiters. Hence, their price should surpass similar items. The precise value became the hotly debated focal point between Fan Meng and the Hamptonpton Palace Museum.
"I recall a burnt manuscript of Newton's fetched a staggering £360,000 at auction. So, valuing this manuscript at £500,000, considering its completeness and content, seems reasonable," Fan Meng stated.
"No, sir, you can't calculate it like that," countered the head of Hamptonpton Palace's artifact acquisition office. "That manuscript had a 1/3 greater quantity and its contents don't pale compared to this one—"
"But this manuscript holds an indisputable, impactful story. That's something to consider; it affects the item's value, even if intangible."
"True, but these intangible stories also carry a certain level of uncertainty. So, I can't wholly take on that risk—"
In front of the cameras, Fan Meng and the Hamptonpton representative clashed. Aware of their audience in the millions, their debate held an element of performance.
Fan Meng showcased historical knowledge and determination while the representative emphasized duty and diligence.
This served as a fundamental aspect of these entertainment programs—establishing personas to showcase unique traits. Although neither Fan Meng nor the representative were experts in this, guidance from on-site professionals made the performance manageable.
With compromise, the deal began to take shape. Their shared desire to complete the transaction hastened the negotiations.
Legally, Fan Meng couldn't privately own these excavated items; they had to be sold to a museum. The urgency on the museum's part stemmed from Fan Meng's freedom to choose the recipient. They aimed to secure these artifacts before other museums.
Finally, Newton's manuscript alongside the counterfeit plates were appraised at £470,000—a decent price, not exorbitant.
Considering this was an acquisition for the museum, the offered price displayed commendable sincerity.
"Hope we have a chance to collaborate in the future." Post-transaction, Fan Meng and the museum representative stood, shaking hands.
The deal left everyone reasonably content: Fan Meng sold the treasures at a fitting price, while the museum obtained intriguing artifacts laden with a captivating story.
This cemented Fan Meng's overwhelming lead in the competition. Compared to others following conventional clues, his serendipitous find seemed more appealing to the TV audience.
Shortly after returning, Fan Meng received a call from Dr. Calderwell. Praising Fan Meng's performance, the doctor believed he successfully educated the public about archaeology.
"No need for thanks, it's the least I could do." Grinning at the doctor's praise, Fan Meng didn't perceive this as a significant contribution.
Five days later, Fan Meng received a prop check for £150,000 and an honorary trophy from Old Mike, on-camera.
"Made £620,000 in a week; that's a pretty good deal," Fan Meng pondered on the way back after lunch. "And beyond money, the biggest gain this time is three cards."
The acquired cards included two common ones—[Detection (N)] and [Legendary Power (N)]—and one rare card—[Alchemy (R)].
[Alchemy (R): In an era where the light of modern science hadn't yet shone, alchemy stood at the forefront of scientific exploration. However, with time, alchemy gradually lagged behind. This field split into modern chemistry and delved deeper into superstition. Enhancement Card (Single Use): Consuming this card grants knowledge of traditional alchemy, but practical application depends on individual comprehension.]
Would you like a deeper explanation or any other adjustments to this translation?
Table of content
Chapter 137: New Skill and the Unconscious
At the outset, Liang En didn't show much interest in this new card. After all, alchemy might have been an advanced technology in ancient times, but in the modern era, it was considered a flawed discipline.
So, upon obtaining this new card, Liang En couldn't fathom what use this skill might have for himself. After all, this era no longer called for alchemists.
However, when he focused his consciousness on the card labeled 【Alchemy (R)】, he unexpectedly discovered that besides strengthening himself, it could also be used to enhance the card 【Sun Apostle (Groom) (SR)】.
Naturally, Liang En merged his 【Alchemy (R)】 card with his consciousness and the 【Sun Apostle (Groom) (SR)】, then selected enhancement.
After choosing enhancement, the second water cup icon on the 【Sun Apostle (Groom) (SR)】 card changed from gray to gold, and information flooded Liang En's mind.
"Alchemy Production (N), before the emergence of modern medicine and chemical industries, potions used worldwide were derived from simple processing of plants, animals, and minerals. Many religions, besides their doctrines, attracted followers due to the essential medical knowledge held by clerics, and Mithraism was no exception. Skill Card (Permanent) (Occupational Skill), this skill not only masters various traditional European potion formulas but also enhances these potions by infusing legendary power, giving the potions legendary attributes."
Initially, Liang En had been excited when he obtained this card five days ago. Legendary potions mentioned in ancient tales, such as the elixir of life, sounded incredibly potent. Yet, after five days of repeated experimentation, he found it considerably weaker than imagined, only strengthening herbs useful for treating colds, indigestion, or simple anti-inflammatory purposes.
Centuries ago, this skill could have ensured Liang En ample status and wealth. But now, it seemed almost useless unless he intended to imitate survivalists.
Enhanced potions' effects and shelf life were akin to modern medicines, making it unnecessary to expend valuable legendary points on concocting what could be bought for a small sum.
Regardless, acquiring a new skill without reducing his maximum legendary points seemed advantageous.
Moreover, by enhancing the 【Alchemy (R)】 card, the 【Potion Production (R)】 card underwent a certain degree of mutation, expanding the potion directory from the 3rd-4th centuries to the 18th century.
This signified that these skills were subject to change. With advancements in his transcendent level and discovering more cards, he might eventually create those legendary potions.
In addition to experimenting with various herbs, Liang En had spent these five days on other tasks, like registering and vaccinating his three ravens, involving professional volunteers, including ornithologists, observing his interaction with the ravens to ensure their welfare.
The experts found it easier to judge animal-human relationships compared to human relationships because animals couldn't fake emotions. Animal behaviorists could easily discern whether the animals were abused and their feelings towards their caretakers.
Equipped with these documents, Liang En could now explore with his living surveillance drones. These ravens could investigate cramped spaces inaccessible to many, proving invaluable in treasure hunting.
After Liang En was escorted back to his room, Fan Meng immediately departed. His father's birthday was approaching, and he had earned an £8000 bonus from this activity, intending to purchase a gift.
Meanwhile, Liang En returned to his room, gazing at the heap of books on the table, sighed, then opened his computer to continue typing.
Since deciding to refine and transport certain books related to Shang Boh Liang and ancient Egypt into this world, he was determined to persist, no matter how arduous it felt.
"So late!" Just as he finished a paragraph and planned to rest for a while, he noticed the surroundings had significantly darkened. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was already 6:30 in the evening.
As he contemplated calling a nearby restaurant for dinner, the phone suddenly rang. It was Fan Meng's voice on the other end.
"Hey, buddy, come down and help. I've got an injured person here."
"What, injured?" The word 'injured' instantly jolted Liang En's nerves. Swiftly grabbing two bottles of herbal concoctions he'd prepared recently for inflammation and hemostasis, he stuffed them into a small bag and rushed downstairs.
This bag was a medical kit Liang En had prepared beforehand. Engaging in this line of work, he had learned basic first aid from Pierce and naturally prepared simple medicines and equipment.
After all, apart from emergencies, medical expenses in the UK weren't low. For minor injuries or illnesses, self-treatment was more appropriate, avoiding unnecessary spending at hospitals.
Indeed, as he dashed downstairs and arrived at a nearby alley, he witnessed Fan Meng examining the wounds of a person lying on the ground.
"How are you feeling now?" Once by Fan Meng's side, Liang En didn't pay attention to the person on the ground but instead checked Fan Meng immediately, always keeping in mind the importance of relationships.
"Don't worry, I'm fine, just a bruised arm," Fan Meng reassured, gesturing that he was fine and then pointed at the person on the ground.
"This guy was attacked by two racists just now. I heard screams and came to help scare them off, but then he collapsed for no apparent reason."
"It seems like he's not injured." Learning that the person had fainted outright, Liang En immediately inspected the man's head but found no visible wounds.
However, upon further examination, Liang En noticed certain signs on the man, uncovering why he had collapsed.
"I've found the reason for his unconsciousness." After a quick check, Liang En displayed a wry smile. "It's evident malnutrition. A shock triggered his body to shut down."
Table of content
Chapter 138: The Coptic
Liang En had reservations about his diagnosis of this person's shock due to malnutrition. Considering the modern standards, it seemed unlikely for someone to suffer from malnutrition in a bustling city like this.
Moreover, the person's attire, though slightly worn, didn't reflect poor quality. Everything looked rather tidy, not characteristic of a homeless wanderer.
"He's a student," Liang En swiftly uncovered a student ID from the individual. Looking at the photo, it seemed to belong to him. The person's name was Daniel, a senior student studying at University College London.
Realizing the individual was a student, Liang En and Fan Meng decided to take Daniel to their car for further treatment.
Perhaps due to the shallow degree of unconsciousness, after placing him in the car seat and giving him an energy drink, Daniel gradually regained consciousness.
"Did you save me? Thank you," after glancing at Liang En and Fan Meng, Daniel immediately understood what they had done before and weakly expressed his gratitude.
"Rest here for a while," Liang En gestured, advising him not to get too excited. Then he inquired about the reason behind Daniel fainting in such a situation.
As Daniel recounted his story, Liang En gradually understood why this young man ended up in that alley and why he had collapsed.
Turns out, Daniel was a student from Egypt, hailing from a barren place in the Sinai Peninsula. Through his efforts and talents, he secured a full scholarship in the UK.
Ordinarily, someone with a full scholarship wouldn't end up in such dire straits. But because he aimed to assist his hometown, he had saved a considerable amount from those funds to support his family.
As for why he was in that alley, it was simple. His hometown needed some solar cookers, and since he couldn't afford new ones, he tried his luck at a second-hand store.
However, what he didn't anticipate was the lack of surveillance in that area and the attack by two clearly racially prejudiced robbers in the darkness.
Had it not been for his timely cry for help and Fan Meng passing by and coming to his aid with a blade, he might not have just lost his money but maybe even his life.
"Alright, let's eat something first," at that moment, Daniel's stomach rumbled. Liang En immediately realized they were all hungry.
"I've got some food for you," Fan Meng took out a sandwich from his bag, handing it to Liang En. Then, he picked up another sandwich, looking at Daniel with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Sorry, because these were prepared for my companion, they contain bacon—"
"No problem, I can eat that," Daniel interrupted, pulling up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a cross tattoo. "I'm Egyptian, but I'm also a Copt."
The Copts are descendants of Egyptians who converted to Christianity in the first century. They're the largest Christian ethnic group in the entire Middle East today, making up about 15% of Egypt's population.
The term "Copt" comes from Arabic, used by Arabs to refer to the indigenous Egyptians, the direct descendants of ancient Egyptians.
However, even with their higher education and urbanization compared to other Egyptians, they still face marginalization in their own country, despite having notable figures like former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Having gained memories from Shen Bao Lian, Liang En had some understanding of this minority group. The key to deciphering ancient Egyptian texts lies in the Coptic language of this ethnic group.
Unfortunately, due to the change in rulers, Arabic became Egypt's sole official language, leading to the decline of the Coptic language. Presently, Coptic survives solely as a religious language.
Upon seeing Daniel's name, Liang En should have realized he was a Copt, as the name Daniel is evidently associated with Christianity. An ordinary Egyptian would typically have a name resembling Maimaiti, similar to the Turkish uncle Liang En had encountered before.
After confirming Daniel's identity by logging into the school's official website, Liang En and Fan Meng decided to drive him back to school. Along the way, they gathered many intriguing stories from Daniel.
"You mentioned ancient relics in your area?" When Daniel spoke of finding inscriptions while shepherding in his childhood, Liang En immediately inquired.
"Yes, I have some small trinkets we found when we young ones were adventuring along dry riverbeds. I thought they'd fetch a good price in London, but they only offered around two hundred pounds," Daniel said, pulling out a few dusty-looking items. Seeing the marks in the car, he realized Liang En and Fan Meng meant no harm and were indeed interested.
"These are indeed from ancient Egypt, but both in quality and carving, they're not considered exceptional," after inspecting them closely, Liang En shook his head.
"A couple of hundred pounds is a lowball, taking advantage of you as a foreigner. The purchase price of three hundred pounds is already top-notch. Even at auction, they wouldn't surpass five hundred pounds."
Liang En drew this conclusion because the five or six items before him, while visibly from ancient Egypt, were made of cheap materials. For instance, the thumb-sized scarab, although appearing to be made of lapis lazuli, was, in reality, blue-glazed pottery.
The other jewelry pieces were similar, using inexpensive colored glass and glazed pottery in place of gemstones.
This was a common practice in ancient Egypt, especially in the crafting of various amulets. The issue lay in wealthy individuals affording lapis lazuli or turquoise for their amulets while the poor couldn't, hence resorting to these budget alternatives.
"Are they really only worth a few hundred pounds?" Daniel seemed dismayed, hoping these items could solve some issues in his hometown. "I believe these pieces are at least a few thousand years old."
"You're correct; these items are indeed ancient. But economically speaking, older doesn't necessarily mean more valuable—" observing there was still some distance to their destination, Liang En briefly imparted knowledge in this regard.
"Don't worry, buddy. This here's Liang En, the guy who decoded ancient Egyptian texts not too long ago. He's one of the top experts in Egyptology in the UK at his age," after Liang En finished, Fan Meng chimed in to support.
Table of content
Chapter 139: Setting Sail Towards the Sea
After learning Liang En's identity, Daniel appeared somewhat excited. Among the predominantly Arabized populace, the Copts always considered themselves descendants of authentic ancient Egyptians. Naturally, they held a certain fondness for someone like Liang En, who deciphered ancient Egyptian texts and promoted the splendid civilization.
While this realization devalued the items he held, the joy of meeting his idol eclipsed any melancholy arising from their lack of worth.
"Mr. Liang, in our ancestral legends, there's a tale that following the dried-up river valley in our village upstream might reveal ancient carvings on the cliff sides."
Daniel quickly shared a village legend that had circulated for countless years. Yet, his expression suggested a skepticism toward the tale. These stories stemmed from elderly villagers narrating myths mixed with a series of legends during their childhood. Daniel found these narratives lacking credibility.
His mention of this legend aimed to invite Liang En to visit his hometown if he had the time. Discovering ancient relics could potentially bolster the village's economy through tourism.
However, Daniel harbored little hope for this endeavor. His subconscious prompted him to discuss matters tangentially related to ancient Egypt upon learning Liang En's identity.
"What were you thinking just now?" As they drove Daniel to his destination and headed back, Fan Meng suddenly inquired, noticing Liang En exchanging phone numbers and emails with Daniel—a departure from Liang En's typical behavior with strangers.
"You know, I've been perusing a series of documents related to ancient Egypt to write my upcoming book as best as I can." Liang En, finding the desired content on the phone, set it aside to respond to Fan Meng's query.
"In the books I've found, there are repeated references to substantial resources transported from the Sinai Peninsula, including a range of valuable minerals."
"I suspect the ruins near Daniel's hometown might be connected to those ancient mines. If found, we might strike it rich."
Unspoken by Liang En was the comparison of his current knowledge with memories from his past life, realizing that the ancient inscriptions discovered by Daniel's ancestors likely originated from a renowned ancient mining site, potentially offering a lucrative opportunity.
However, any journey to Egypt was at least half a year away. Such endeavors required thorough preparation, and Liang En had a myriad of tasks in the first half of the year, leaving little time for this pursuit.
Over the next three months, Liang En remained mostly in his room, determined to compile his first book before embarking on the quest to find Wulan.
Fortunately, despite requiring adjustments based on recent archaeological discoveries, writing progressed relatively swiftly due to having source material.
By May, when the Earl's steward called Liang En, confirming all arrangements were ready for departure anytime, Liang En completed the manuscript for "Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic System."
After sending the manuscript to several scholars and publishers he had met during the previous archaeological expedition, Liang En and Fan Meng packed their belongings in just two days before heading straight to the airport.
As planned, they would fly to Greenland and follow the explorer known as the Red-Haired Son's route in the records, seeking the legendary Wulan.
"Where do you think we'll find this Wulan? In the U.S., Canada, or—?" Once on the plane, Fan Meng inquired about the target of their upcoming expedition.
"If the records are accurate, I believe it should be in Canada."
Despite having some memories from his past life's scientific expeditions, Liang En realized that a simple analysis provided a traceable path in this case.
"Mainly because the Vikings' ships were limited in size, relying solely on human-powered oars and sea currents. Their maritime journeys were severely limited."
"In such a scenario, following the North American East Coast towards the south, it's highly improbable they'd reach the present-day U.S."
"Furthermore, both records and facts indicate the Vikings' motivation was to seek various resources. So, locations too far north in Canada were ruled out."
"After all, Vikings aren't reindeer. They couldn't survive solely on moss growing on rocks and ground. Even if they could consume moss, living in sub-zero temperatures without fuel isn't sustainable for humans."
"By ruling out Hudson Bay and most of the northern territories and excluding the southern coastline of the U.S., I think our search area won't be too vast." Fan Meng glanced at the map, speaking.
"You're right, but a distance of a finger's width on the map translates to several hundred kilometers in reality. It's practically impossible to find it solely by boat." Liang En shrugged.
"So, our real work begins the moment we set foot on Greenland, as we need more information to narrow down the possibilities."
For this reason, Liang En didn't choose to head directly to Saint Pierre and Miquelon when the ship docked, opting to begin their investigation from the source in Greenland.
Upon landing at Nuuk Airport, the capital of Greenland, Liang En and Fan Meng immediately headed to the city's archive.
Thanks to the Earl's status, they could directly access ancient records. However, most of these records were not originals on metal or parchment; they consisted mostly of photos of scattered stone monuments throughout southern Greenland.
Due to the ease with which stone inscriptions endured the test of time compared to imported paper or homemade parchment, archiving primarily relied on some rubbings and photographs of these stones due to their large size.
Soon enough, Liang En and Fan Meng began organizing the batch of materials related to colonial voyages.
Though Fan Meng wasn't familiar with the runic script, Liang En wrote down key Runic symbols for Fan Meng to match through image comparison, directing him to anything relevant.
If the archives were in a larger European or American institution, electronic access would have quickly provided the necessary information. However, given the limitations of this small, relatively crude place, Liang En resorted to the oldest method to search for the desired information.
As only a scant amount of Viking records had survived the ages, within just two days, Liang En organized some highly meaningful data from the archives.
Table of content
Chapter 140: Information and the Ship
After days of searching, Liang En had amassed a wealth of information. These details primarily derived from two epic poems—one being the ancient Norse saga "Red Erik's Saga," and the other, the "Greenlanders' Saga."
Both poems vividly narrated a tale of an individual sailing west from Greenland, discovering a prosperous new land, and eventually returning home in glory. Of course, such epics contained numerous embellishments, akin to the vast disparity between "The Records of the Western Regions" and "Journey to the West."
However, upon comparing and analyzing multiple versions of these epics, Liang En realized that, even discounting information from his past life, this gathered data significantly narrowed down the search parameters.
For instance, one version mentioned the flat terrain near this territory, making it easy to haul ships ashore for maintenance, albeit with some rocks in the bay to steer clear of. Another account specifically highlighted the ground as a soft, grassy land resembling a woolen carpet, peculiarly green even in winter.
If these details held true, combining them with archaeological reports of prehistoric American climates could substantially eliminate many potential locations.
"And I believe the Viking settlements likely resided on an island or a peninsula." Having meticulously pored over a series of documents, Fan Meng suddenly proposed from a military defense perspective.
"Think about it—these Vikings ventured across vast seas to an unfamiliar land. In such circumstances, humanity tends to seek defensible positions when facing the unknown."
"For a group of seafaring colonizers, a place surrounded by water on three or four sides would undoubtedly provide greater comfort. It'd be convenient for evacuation in case of an attack."
"Moreover, this island or peninsula would lie rather northward, experiencing the prolonged winters described in the sagas. But not so far north that nothing could thrive there," Liang En further analyzed.
Fan Meng's analysis wasn't overly challenging to grasp, given that upon careful examination of early colonial settlements during the Age of Discovery, it became evident that they were initially established on islands or peninsulas.
For the side possessing naval supremacy but fewer numbers, proximity to the sea was a wise choice. It ensured ample support in the event of war.
Ancient sagas supported this possibility, recounting interactions with local indigenous people that eventually turned hostile due to cultural and inherent differences.
What now appeared as hostility actually stemmed from an accident. According to the poems, these Viking adventurers inadvertently offered dairy to a Native American chieftain they were hosting.
While dairy posed no significant issue, the widespread lactose intolerance among Native Americans led to discomfort and suspicion. They mistakenly believed the Vikings had poisoned them.
This incident underscored the importance of inquiring about potential allergies before inviting someone for a meal, as it could lead to significant misunderstandings.
"Then let's start our search from Newfoundland." Integrating information from this world with memories from another, Liang En decisively concluded, "The island aligns with the described climate in the poems. It boasts nearby timber production and plenty of berries suitable for brewing—fitting the Vikings' needs."
"Most importantly, it's the largest island in this sea area. Considering the Vikings were colonizers, they'd require ample space for development. Hence, targeting an island seems reasonable."
On the third day in Greenland, having gathered sufficient data, Liang En and Fan Meng boarded a flight headed for the airport near St. John's, Newfoundland. From there, they proceeded by car to meet the awaiting ship at the dock.
Arriving at the dock and reaching the predetermined berth, Liang En spotted a small coastal fishing vessel with a displacement of possibly four to five hundred tons.
"I thought it'd be a salvage ship or a yacht," murmured Fan Meng softly as they identified their target amid a cluster of seemingly similar fishing boats.
"But we aren't engaging in maritime salvage. We need a vessel for convenient coastal exploration. As long as it obeys our commands, any ship will do," Liang En shrugged.
In China, Liang En might have opted for land-based transportation directly. Unfortunately, this locale was Canada's east coast, where infrastructure outside a few human settlements was almost non-existent. Therefore, sailing seemed the more suitable means of exploration, especially given all collected information pointed to a coastal destination.
Once Liang En and Fan Meng hailed the ship from beneath its hull, unexpectedly, Mr. Lubson, the butler, descended the gangway.
"Mr. Lubson, what brings you here?" Liang En expressed surprise, noticing the elder gentleman's graying hair and wrinkled visage. He couldn't fathom someone like Mr. Lubson, a high-ranking figure at the Earl's household, personally joining this expedition.
"I wish to receive your good news promptly and witness your discoveries firsthand," Mr. Lubson smiled.
"Though my health no longer permits extended sea voyages, I intend to await your return in St. John's and assist in coordinating and excavating related matters."
Under Mr. Lubson's guidance, they entered the ship and briefly acquainted themselves with it.
The vessel differed from Liang En's expectations. While a fishing boat in origin, Mr. Lubson had prepared it extensively for this expedition. The ship gleamed spotlessly, devoid of any fishy odor. The compartment previously designated for fish storage now housed a plethora of supplies and additional tools, all catering to their impending adventure.
The ship's captain happened to be Mr. Lubson's second son, formerly the captain of the Earl's yachts. For this crucial expedition, he was specially reassigned.
The other seven crew members were seasoned hands from a subsidiary fishing company affiliated with the Earl, each with over seven years' experience working on similar vessels in this northwestern North Atlantic region. They possessed an intimate knowledge of both the vessels and the hydrological conditions in this area.
"Safe travels." After introducing Liang En to the entire crew, Mr. Lubson shook hands with Liang En and departed, waving from the dock.
"Farewell. Please await our good news," Liang En stood by the railing, waving back. "We'll surely find that place."
Table of content