Chapter 47: The Strange Statue

Chapter Forty-SevenThe Strange Statue

Historians across the nations of the Northern Continent all agreed that the Fourth Epoch was shrouded in a thick fog, making its true appearance impossible to see clearly.

Records from that period were riddled with gaps and ambiguities in almost every respect. Unearthed tombs, ancient cities, and documents were few and far between, too scarce to form any truly effective corroboration.

Yet that did not mean no one studied the era. Few and far between still meant that some ruins and materials did exist.

The original Klein had been a fervent enthusiast of Fourth Epoch history. He had read a great many papers and books, and the current Klein still remembered quite a bit of their contents:

Whether it was the Solomon Empire, the Tudor Dynasty, or the Trunsoest Empire, their architectural styles had been closely related. Their defining traits were violations of common sense, disorderly asymmetry, and a fondness for black.

The most representative features were candlesticks that hung downward from ceilings and slash-like branded patterns across black walls.

It was precisely because of that that when Klein raised the hurricane lamp and saw metal rods extending down from the dome overhead, with candlesticks set at their bottoms, his first reaction was that this underground structure belonged to the Fourth Epoch—belonged to that ancient time hidden beneath heavy fog, the object of countless historians’ and archaeologists’ regret.

“Several papers mentioned that in different buildings, the number of candlesticks inside varied. Although those three great empires admired an asymmetrical beauty, they seemed to have strict and meticulous rules in every aspect… Three on the left and two on the right was the highest standard ordinary civilians could enjoy. That was judged from architectural layouts and the remains of houses…”

Klein raised his arm and held the hurricane lamp higher. As he slowly moved forward, he counted the candlesticks on both sides.

The hall was wider than he had expected. He walked for at least a hundred meters before he finally saw a platform half a meter above the ground in front of him, and the heavy wall marking the end of the space.

“Forty-one upside-down candlesticks on the left, forty on the right… This—this is a bit exaggerated. What class did this place belong to? A great noble? Hiss, the Antigonus family and the Zaratul family were both Fourth Epoch nobles… and both were powerful and terrifying Beyonder families. The other great nobles should not have been weak either…”

Carrying the hurricane lamp, Klein continued forward and saw the steps at the side of the half-height platform. On the black stone bricks that covered its surface were marks like cuts from knives and axes.

Is this truly a Fourth Epoch ruin?

As thoughts flickered through Klein’s mind, with the aid of his keen vision and the lamp’s light, he discovered that atop the half-meter-high platform stood two iron-black seats—huge seats, ancient seats, seats looking down upon the space below.

Two of them in total!

Two? Why are there two? According to the layout, the chair here should belong to the person with the highest status and greatest power in this place, but there are actually two? Coequal great nobles? Twin earls? Twin dukes? Twin princes?

Klein slowly felt that his historical knowledge was beginning to prove insufficient.

He clearly remembered that many papers had mentioned that within the Solomon, Tudor, and Trunsoest Empires, hierarchy had been strict and distinct, the classes sharply divided and not to be overstepped. Based on that theory, within a single faction there should not have been coequal leaders.

“Strange…”

Klein muttered, as though speaking for Miss Bodyguard’s benefit.

“What is strange?”

An illusory, drifting voice suddenly sounded from behind him. Within the dark, broad, empty, and silent ancient hall, it was especially hair-raising.

The corner of Klein’s mouth twitched. He…