Blood tax

Chapter 209 Belomon Ruins

After Roland's simple but futile persuasion, Griffith and the inspection team left Kaiming Town in the early hours of the morning.Although the quasi-knight had hesitation and misgivings about this relic inspection activity in his heart, there was nothing he could do.

On the one hand, the girls who are traveling with them are independent enough in thinking. The remains of creepy mutant creatures are placed in front of them, which may scare them to tears, but it will inevitably arouse their curiosity and want to explore the mutation. On the other hand, Homenwarts is the best high school of magic in the world, and it is noble and fashionable to pursue the truth among crazy and grotesque clues, and it is absolutely impossible not to do summer homework just because of worry and fear unable.

They left town and followed manicured waterways and lakes.The previous battles had driven the mutated creatures into the distant mountains, so the road to the ruins was easy and pleasant.Swamp-encircled hills loomed far in sight, stretching to the north to majestic snow-capped mountains.

The Belomon ruins are near the source of the swamp.Several expeditions have investigated it, publishing papers on its geological features and classification of civilizations in reputable journals.Before setting off, Sonia compiled the papers and found that many prominent pioneers had set foot in this ruins, including the headmaster of Homonwatts, the spellcaster Supreme Tyberion, who was still a professor at that time.It's just that the headmaster's thesis was not very good. He piled up some specimens and statistics, gave some meaningless analysis, and then ended it hastily. Academic journals, this paper cannot be published.

The ruins were originally an ancient cave under the swamp, where trolls and human pagans once settled and worshiped, building altars and holy places, until geological changes caused the diversion of underground rivers and completely disintegrated their temples.

The team looks forward to unearthing distinctive geological samples to write the report, and if they can find some fragments of ancient civilizations hidden by the stagnant water and silt of ancient swamps, then it can be called a worthwhile trip.

In this way, the expedition team gradually left the world inhabited by humans.The sun is slowly slanting to the west, and the hazy light red sunlight pours on the water surface, reeds, shrubs and low hills one after another.

To the northeast of the swamp are towering mountain peaks that no one can reach, looming in a mist.Between the sinister, jagged cliffs, there is an unstoppable whistling whirlwind, like a loud and clear cry.

Howling melodies are vaguely mixed with wild music, as if they came from a reclusive primitive tribe.

It evoked some subconscious touch that made Griffith's heart beat violently.He looked around and found that the faces of several girls were obviously shaken and uneasy.But no one suggested turning back now.

"there."

The guide pointed ahead.In a sparkling pool of water, stands the ruins of a temple sunk deep in it.

Although it has been half-destroyed and tilted over the years, the thick stone, rough shape and unrecognizable incomplete statues above the water still give people a sense of inviolability and solemnity.

"The silent swamp is boundless,

"In the lonely north,
"Snowmelt and dry vines descend from distant mountains,

"Among the broken ruins,

"The tidal call never ceases."

Sonia tapped the note in her hand, and began to talk about the exploration of the Belomon ruins in the book.The mysterious narrative style made the atmosphere of the group even more dignified, and no one paid any attention to her for a while.

This is very embarrassing, Griffith barely put together a few words:
"Is this the record when the ruins were first discovered?"

"Yes, yes." Sonia, who was answered by someone, breathed a sigh of relief. "From the perspective of architectural style and materials, the ruins have undergone many repairs and expansions, and civilizations of different eras have left traces."

At dusk, the boat stopped at the edge of the ruins, put the expedition team and supplies on board the ruins, and then slowly went away. The voice of the boatman gradually faded away under the setting sun:
"At this time in seven days, we will come here to pick you up."

The entrance to the ruins is right in front of you.Griffith glanced back at the swamp under the setting sun, the light was receding, and a heavy and oppressive atmosphere had unconsciously enveloped them.

"Come on, let's go," Sonia breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "It's T-day, 6:40 pm."

……

The place to disembark is a solid and wide platform, even the erosion of swamps and years can't change its stability.The structure of the building demonstrates the civilized skill of its builders, and the platform and inward passage alone are of interest to study.There must have been rich murals and statues on the stone walls, but unfortunately they have all been lost in history.

The silent passage from the platform to the interior of the ruins is like a big mouth, deep and dark, with strange smells surging, and even unspeakable wailing and sorrow, lingering and twisting in the ears, lingering.

After coming to this ruins, Griffith felt a strong anxiety and impulse.The sense of despair that had nowhere to vent in the mutated creatures and the swamp became clearer in front of the ruins.

"There are many traces and thoughts left here, and divination is difficult to pry into the secrets." Galadia also returned from listening and meditating, and muttered with a puzzled expression, "Maybe it's because the ruins are too old."

At this time, experienced guides and helpers start to move.There are 12 of them in total, carrying large and small rucksacks, ropes, nail picks, lighting fuel and clean drinking water are all available.

Exploring the ruins is really an expensive activity.This time the exploration is expected to take seven days, plus the time to go back and forth from the swamp, it will cost three thousand silver lang per day.This amount includes the application for official per-day exploration concessions, the cost of guides and hired labor, and the purchase of equipment, fuel and food.

The money is now shared between Galadia, Sonia and Fiona.For their family background, this is not such an astonishing expense, it is just the necessary education expenses for the growth stage, relatively speaking, the safety and comfort of the journey is more important.

If it were those trainee spellcasters of commoner origin, the nature of the summer exploration topics would change.If they don't have the money to hire guards and helpers, they have to go deep into the dangerous ruins with a small group of people carrying limited supplies. When they encounter danger, it's really unbearable, and many people just disappeared into the darkness. Can't go back.

……

After everyone briefly confirmed the location and itinerary, Sonia began to urge everyone to prepare to go deep into the ruins.

Griffith followed her, watching the girl check the map, designate anchor points and rope positions, and arrange the order of the team.

Different from the image in the prom and college, Sonia was wearing a capable and slim red hunting suit, her light blond hair was coiled behind her head, revealing her elegant neck like a swan between the collar.She doesn't need to do the work of digging and laying ropes, and she has help going up and down cliffs and gentle slopes without soiling her clothes.

Sonia watched the work of the expedition team, and from time to time raised some thoughts that were neglected by everyone.Her words are clear and sweet, but they are very accurate and concise, and she can clearly point out the omissions in the work, her tone is gentle yet majestic.

This is really an ideal fiancée candidate... In the ruins with poor lighting, Griffith had to keep vigilant, but he couldn't help others, so he couldn't help but think wildly.

The entrance to the Belomon ruins is a huge cave inside the temple, surrounded by jagged boulders.The temple sunken in the swamp was built on top of the cave like a cover. You will see this dark pit not far from where everyone got off the boat, and you can go down to the core of the ruins.

After many explorations by other expedition teams, the road here is also very clear.After the guides and civilians fixed the ropes, they hoisted the advance team, customers and supplies down in sequence.

Griffith first fixed the descending rope for Sonia, and then looked at Miss Elf not far away.Galadia gave him a serious look, pointing to Sonia to let him pay attention to his duty.

The entrance to the ruins is amazing.Griffith had never seen anything like it.Sunlight shines into the cave through the cracks in the rocks, leaving dappled light and shadows.Huge human-shaped stone statues are carved on the towering stone walls, the size of a finger is already larger than that of an adult male.Although the face has been destroyed, the thick and distant breath can still shock people's hearts.

"This relic used to be a holy place of an ancient sect," Sonia explained softly to Griffith who was beside her during the descent. "According to records, the statue is a statue of a prophet. The officials destroyed the faces of the stone statues and destroyed the documents of the believers."

Sonia was a serious student, a curious scholar of the occult, history, and archaeology, and eager to make those around her study like her.

When she was explaining, she looked intently at the huge cold stone statue, and her tone was very calm.But the hand holding the rope tightly was trembling slightly.

Griffith looked down.The first crew had reached the bottom of the pit, and there lit bonfires were lit.The small fire flickered in the distant darkness, but made the pit even more dangerous and terrifying.

"We still need a few minutes to reach the bottom," Griffith said. "The scene here is really like a horrible oil painting. The professors will be impressed by the report!"

Sonia nodded immediately: "If it were me, I would draw Miss Tidwighe on the attached picture of the investigation report. She is as bright and beautiful as the morning sun. This is a survey of the social composition around the ruins. Well, it is so."

"Coincidentally, I have already drawn a picture like this," Griffith said as he took the notebook from his waist and handed it to Sonia, "I named this "Legendary Ranger Tidwig Hee at Tinefe" S!"

"That's a good name, it feels like a sociological event!" Sonia cast a lighting spell with great interest, "This is the first time I've heard that you can draw."

"I'm a realist," Griffith nodded rather complacently, "As a staff officer, drawing pictures is a must-have ability."

Sonia flipped through the notebook for a while, and asked with some doubts: "I only found one painting~ Why does this look like a haystack in a knight's manor, and in the distance is the spire of the Nephis crystal tower ,yes?"

"Yes."

"This," Sonia was even more confused, "is this man?"

"The great Roland knight." Griffith glanced at his notebook, confirmed that he was right, and nodded seriously.

"Ah~ Then who is this girl who is obviously not an elf?"

"The little girl from the unknown manor."

"Why is Knight Roland hugging this little girl!" Sonia was startled, "Where is Miss Tidwighee!?"

"Tidwig is in Tinefes."

The whispers between the two were a bit loud, and Fiona and Lana who were not far away were already laughing hahaha.

Sonia quickly reacted, covering the corner of her mouth that was about to turn up, and gently patted Griffith's head with her notebook.

The heavy darkness in the ruins seems to have noticed the brisk and joyful laughter, and hides deeper with a terrifying atmosphere.Soon, a group of people arrived at the camp at the bottom, and the warm firelight and solid ground made people feel at ease.

(End of this chapter)