Blood tax

Chapter 211 The Sanity of Archaeologists

Sonia was so happy that she almost dragged Griffith to dance in circles.She immediately caught up with the hireling who had just left, and returned with a fossil.She read the notes happily, and tapped the ground with her toes from time to time.

Professor Bell's investigative notes were additional information that could serve as reference material to enhance her own work and, more importantly, piqued her curiosity.It is definitely a rare adventure to encounter a great archaeological discovery in the ruins.

Griffith didn't know much about occultism, but he keenly noticed that Professor Bell should be in a state of extreme excitement when he wrote the speech, so that the logic was a little confused.The professor's team should have blasted away the limestone layer first and discovered the remains of ancient forest fossils.In the subsequent excavations, they achieved great results, and they discovered the fossils of an archaic creature that left clear striped and wavy marks that evolved continuously.

This is the logical order that the speech section of the notes should have.

It can be seen that the discovery of this batch of fossils has amazing academic value, so much so that when Professor Bell wrote, his mind was full of archaeological discoveries of ancient creatures, and he made grammatical mistakes that even first-year students would not make.Moreover, he did not discover this apparent error until he sent the note to his patron.He must review his manuscript three times, but he doesn't think there is a problem.

The professor's sanity was miraculously evaporated in the face of this astonishing discovery.He spared his precious hands to escort the notebook and the batch of fossils away like a child eager to show his parents a butterfly he just caught.

Griffith asked with some concern: "Knight Roland believes that the mutation near the swamp was the cause of the previous battle, and the time is not far from Professor Bell's excavation work. These fossils shouldn't have dangerous radiation, right? "

Galadia hurriedly examined the fossil, but found no abnormalities.

Everyone gathered around Sonia and read the follow-up of the professor's notes together.It reads like this:
"We've made some amazing finds in the limestone and in the bone piles.

"It was some huge, misshapen fossils, of a completely unknown species; we thought at first it might be some kind of plant.

"However, on further research we found that these were some pupae with wavy strips attached. The specimen was broken, but it could be seen as a strange structure like a cavity.

"Its limb structure presents irregular radial patterns and many indescribable deformities, which are more distorted than known mutant creatures. Around the center of the torso, there are many ridges, and from this branch limbs or tentacles. All the limbs were found tightly attached to the torso, and we suspected it could unfold, and the dissection confirmed our suspicions."

"Look at these stripes," Sonia pointed to the specimen sketch drawn in the notes, and proposed some radical and bold ideas, "These are the traces left by large ancient creatures, like highly evolved creatures. We may be able to The ancient fossils of their community have been unearthed in the ruins!"

Griffith gazed at the indescribable composition.If this is a creature, then it must have many wriggling tentacles growing on its body, or it must be wrapped in vines.

"Sonia, don't get excited, keep calm during archaeological and historical research, and don't lose your mind because of a sudden discovery," Galadia rubbed her companion's blond hair, "The discovery of this ancient creature still needs more and more detailed evidence Come support."

"Galadea, what you said is very reasonable!" Sonia grasped the elf's hand, her eyes shone like sapphires, "If these are not fossils left by living things, how did these clear traces come about? Flowing water and weathering will not leave such vivid imprints. Everyone, after we arrive at the main camp, let's change the route, I want to go to the professor to dig a piece of slate and bring it back for analysis. Okay, okay! "

"..." Galadia didn't expect her words to be continued like this for a moment, and looked at her companion with wide eyes.

Ever since seeing these reports, Sonia has been in a state of high arousal.She acted quickly, drafted several official letters during the break time, and planned to hand them over to the officials of Nefes and Turanburg respectively after the investigation, to apply for permission for the subsequent excavation and protection work, and proposed to form a multi-party dedicated research station.

Her beautiful eyes shone with wisdom and focus, and she carefully explained every detail mentioned in the notes to everyone. After she finished the notes, she began to talk about other things, even the intergenerational characteristics of ancient shellfish. Don't let go.

When everyone couldn't take it anymore, she grabbed Griffith and told him.

"Family tradition, don't worry about it," Fiona whispered to the worried people, "I heard from my father that the previous Miss Lamor was an archaeologist who was keen on learning and exploring. The current Earl traveled to wonders and monuments all over the world. Later they got married, honeymooned to the dangerous ruins of the South, the Countess danced on the totem of the primitive tribe, and the Earl had to fight the locals who were furious Only then was he able to escape.

"..." This made everyone even more worried.

"The countess is quite stable now," said Griffith who finally took a break and was about to drink some orange juice.He had seen the Countess many times at dinner parties, and she had impeccable elegance and decorum, much more sedate than Sonia.

Fiona shook her head hilariously: "Have you seen Sonia's small warehouse of mysticism?"

"I've seen it," Griffith gestured to everyone, "bigger than her bedroom."

Before Galadia and Lana could show their surprised expressions, Fiona raised her index finger and shook it: "Then you haven't seen the Countess's small warehouse? She is as big as a classroom in the basement of the Earl's Mansion." The room is full of... well, indescribable collections."

Galadia covered her face, and she looked at Sonia sitting not far away, as if she was looking at a piece of sodium metal that would be thrown into the water at any time.

"Let me tell you, don't tell others~" Fiona lowered her voice and told everyone in a mysterious and mysterious way, "My father said that the Earl and his wife did not give up this hobby after they had their eldest son Nolan, Sony Ya was conceived by them on a stone tablet in a western ruins."

"How did Earl Chalon know? (Why is it on the stone tablet?)"

Griffith and Lana asked in unison, and then let out a long "oh".

Galadia took out her notebook and beat them.

……

Exploration is a very difficult thing. Leaving aside the big and small dangers that may be encountered at any time, the diet, washing and rest during the investigation must be simple.

Galadia, who is very concerned about eating, prepared a lot of food for everyone in advance, including biscuits, bread, chocolate, canned meat and dried vegetables, honey and coffee, as well as large bags of raisins, nuts and some orange juice to supplement nutrition.These foods are not very delicious after eating too much, but they are easy to carry. After a tiring exercise, everyone has nothing to complain about.

However, Sonia hardly ate.When everyone stopped to rest tiredly, she read the professor's notes in high spirits, compared maps and specimens, and whispered softly.

That night, her condition became even more strange, and she even began to bite her fingers and hair like never before.She bounced around and took the fossil of the ancient creature to the dogs in the team to smell it, asking them to look for similar traces nearby so that she could dig up a few pieces too.These poor animals are used for sentry when they are resting.Frightened out of their wits by the unknown breath, they curled up and whimpered.

Beautiful girls who do weird things are often tolerated extra, and even a little more cute.When they are immersed in learning and research, their dedicated temperament is even more delicious.Still, Sonya's actions startled everyone, even the hirelings before Fiona.

It's not easy to do it now...

Galadia looked at Sonia who didn't eat or sleep, made a cup of tranquilizing flower tea, and handed over this difficult task to Griffith.

"Sonia, take a break." Griffith came to the girl with tea.

Sonia's good spirits are worrying, as if the fire of her life will be extinguished at any time due to excessive combustion.Seeing Griffith approaching, she happily opened the notebook and pointed him to one of the records:
"The skeletal fossils discovered by Professor Bell are different from existing specimens and records of terrestrial organisms.

"This is a curious, unpolished structure of bone and tissue, very regular and smooth, oval in shape, somewhat resembling the brain of a squid, hollow, presumably to encase vital body tissue and withstand the terrible pressure of the seabed .

Seeing how excited she was, it was impossible for her to talk well and let her drink tea and rest... Griffith listened silently, and quietly wrapped his right hand around Sonia's shoulder.

"However, there is no sign or evidence of an ocean in the Belomon ruins. The professor guessed that these strange creatures entered the swamp from the upstream of the river. However, the structure of other parts is consistent with the existing marine life and legends. Creatures are dramatically different again. Ah, what are you doing, woo, woo—”

The girl turned a blind eye to his presumptuous actions at first, and continued to explain very attentively, until Griffith suddenly grabbed her chin, opened her mouth, and forced down the Ningshen scented tea.

Sonia struggled desperately for a while, and the scented tea began to work.She plopped into Griffith's arms and fell asleep with alarming speed...

On the third morning, Sonia woke up groggy from her sleep.Everyone looked at her with concern.

After forced rest, her condition improved a lot, she ate a lot of breakfast, and her beautiful eyes became much more normal.

The expedition was able to start again.

The cave in front of me is so vast and vast beyond imagination, as if the soil and rocks here have been excavated entirely, and a towering mountain has been piled up elsewhere.

The contours of the terrain are also strange, with layers of cliffs and cliffs like layers of melted chocolate.

This spiral-like mysterious place slopes downwards, leading to the unknown and dark underground.Luminous crystals and moss form a galaxy-like light belt on the top of the head and on the cliffs. The wind whistles and passes through the cliffs and tunnels, and enters and exits the caves, making whistles and flutes.

The main camp of the Purifiers is located here.According to the detailed map identification, we found the camp on a protruding rock near the afternoon tea time.

The camp faces the dark spiral abyss ahead, and behind it is the way we came.Insect-proof mosquito nets, burnt-out bonfires and leftover cooking utensils suggested that someone had been there, but the scene was empty.

The repairers in charge of security immediately dispersed to check the camp, and the hired workers who carried the supplies also put down their luggage to rest.

Sonia took the map and turned it upside down to look at it: "It's not right~"

This flat rock is about a hundred paces wide, and it can barely be used as a camp.A boulder larger than a house was abruptly across the center of the camp, making vision and movement very cramped.

Lana quickly completed the search and returned from the nearby area. He said to everyone: "We found some traces of battle nearby, as well as broken bows and arrows, knives and guns. There was a small-scale battle here, but there were no corpses or blood left."

Fiona stroked her long, smooth hair, and her expression became solemn: "Could it be that this place has been attacked? We need to report this situation to the Ranger and the garrison as soon as possible."

"Miss Sif is a seasoned ranger and a Sequence 7 Extraordinary, and Bessarius, the Purifier chief officer, is a powerful Extraordinary," Galadia first expressed her thoughts, "Working with Miss Sif as a camp The guards should also be the local Extraordinary Claytan, let's wait here, maybe they will return soon and tell us what happened."

Although there are still many secrets waiting to be discovered in the Belomon ruins, it is located within the sphere of influence of humans and elves after all. After long-term inspections and purification, even if there is danger, it has been suppressed to a controllable range.

All the people present also agreed with the elf's opinion, and felt that there was no need for such a thing, so they went back home, and began to establish a peripheral defense line for vigilance and rest.

Sonia felt that there was something she couldn't figure out all the time, so she took the map and sat next to the big rock, staring at the cliff ahead and continuing to think.Griffith walked towards Galadia.

The elf girl was looking around vigilantly.Seeing the prospective knight approaching, she said with a serious expression, "You should stay by Sonia's side at this time to protect her safety."

"Well, but..." Griffith felt that what she said made sense, and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Be more professional!" The elf turned him in a circle angrily, and pushed him in Sonia's direction, "I approve you to take care of Sonia first during the inspection."

Griffith obediently carried out the elf's will.For a Shutoral, it is his duty to protect the safety of the lord in such a suspicious environment.Although Sonia has always been very talkative, Griffith himself should not give up his post for other things.

Having said that, this boulder is really neat... Griffith thought as he looked at the boulder against which Sonia was leaning.This rock has an oval bottom and a relatively rounded outline. Although the upper part has jagged protrusions and spikes, it also presents a semicircular arc on the whole, making it hard to imagine where it fell off. .

Griffith came to Sonia's side.The girl is looking at the map intently and thinking about something.He looked up by himself, and the rock wall stretched toward the darkness above his head, gradually closing in like a dome, and getting narrower as it got closer to the ground.There are still dots of light shining on the dome, just like a starry sky.

"Could it be that this stone fell from above... Sonia, should we beware of landslides?" Griffith lowered his head and said to Sonia.

No one answered him.A roll of open maps fell to the ground, and the edge of the rock was empty.

(End of this chapter)