harleyscars Page 141
Page 141
Ignoring the probing in her words, Takada Yuuki pressed further, "Where exactly is that observation point?"
“Notre Dame.” Ariel said the name, but then shook her head. “More accurately, it’s a specific section of the river seen through the eyes of an abandoned gargoyle statue in the Notre Dame tower.”
"But after the Notre Dame fire, some of the structure was damaged, and we cannot be sure whether that observation point still exists or has been changed."
"So, the USB drive was just a cover? The mentor only stole something useless?" Sato Miwako looked at Chishima Saori's corpse, her feelings complicated.
"It's not entirely a facade."
Ariel refuted this claim, stating, "The USB drive may contain the Foundation's internal list of treasure distributions, some asset records, and a network of contacts, which is equally important for mentors to consolidate power and eliminate dissidents."
"But the 'dynamic key' to unlock the physical treasures may not actually depend on a fixed number or physical object. Instead, it may require combining the information hidden in the 'Silent Mona Lisa,' the observation point on the banks of the Seine, and other unknown elements that can only be revealed at a specific time."
After examining the messenger's body, Matthew came over and reported, "There was no identification, and the weapon was from the black market and cannot be traced."
"This secret room is a temporary facility. Apart from basic monitoring and communication equipment, there's nothing of value. The mentor... made a clean getaway."
“He must have had a backup escape route.” Ariel was not surprised. “But we disrupted his plans. He failed to obtain the complete key and exposed the code name of the mentor, as well as the fact that he was personally overseeing things in Paris.”
"This is a major breakthrough for us."
She turned to Yuki Takada and Miwako Sato, her expression serious: "Gentlemen, the situation is now clearer, but also more dangerous."
"The mentor knows the extent of our involvement, and he might have one of two reactions:"
They could either hide for now and wait for a better opportunity.
Or... use even more drastic measures to eliminate all those in the know, including us, and also those of you who may know some of the secrets.
Yuki Takada continued, "We must find the real entry point before he makes another move, or at least, gain enough evidence and the initiative."
His mind raced, connecting all the current factors and analyzing: "Chishima Saori said the key was fake before she died, but she seemed to be trying to point out where the real one is."
"She has worked at the Louvre for a long time. Could she know some information that even your group doesn't have? For example, alternative observation points? Or does the painting itself hold other secrets?"
Miwako Sato suddenly squatted down and carefully examined Saori Chishima's drooping hand.
Amidst the dust and bloodstains, there appeared to be extremely faint marks, as if scratched with a fingernail.
It wasn't a complete word; it was more like a fragmented symbol, or... part of a letter.
“Look here!” she called out.
Several people gathered around. On the ground was a slightly distorted scratch, resembling the overlapping strokes of a "C" and an "L". Next to it was a mark that looked like the Roman numeral "II", but the strokes were very faint and almost impossible to discern.
“C…L…II? What does that mean?” Matthew frowned.
“A room number in the Louvre? A locker code? Or…” Ariel pondered.
Yuki Takada stared at the mark, then looked up at the "Silent Mona Lisa" on the monitor screen in the secret room.
Under certain lighting, the folds of the woman's skirt in the painting seem to vaguely form patterns resembling vines or water ripples.
“Perhaps it’s not letters and numbers,” Yuki Takada said slowly. “It’s the flow of water.”
The curves of the 'C' and 'L' can be seen as an abstract simplification of the Seine River's course as it flows through the Louvre and Notre Dame.
'II'...maybe it doesn't refer to the number two, but rather to two streams, or...two beams of light?
This interpretation invigorated everyone.
“The Seine does have a slight bend between the Louvre and Notre Dame, but what does ‘two beams of light’ mean?” asked Miwako Sato.
A flash of realization crossed Ariel's eyes: "The Lighthouse!"
"Or more accurately, a historical navigational beacon. When the Louvre was originally a fortress and prison, there were ancient lighthouses on the Seine to guide ships. One of the abandoned lighthouses was located precisely where the line of sight intersected from a particular angle of Notre Dame!"
She immediately marked it on the electronic map.
Soon, the coordinates of a location on the banks of the Seine, near the Pont des Arts, were determined.
“There’s a stone lamp base here that’s long been abandoned; it’s now just a decorative historical relic. But if Chishima Saori is trying to suggest something about this place…”
"We must check it out immediately."
Chapter 182 The Banks of the Seine
Yuuki Takada concluded, "Although our mentor has temporarily retreated, he has likely deciphered Saori Chishima's hints or learned the true location through other channels. Time is not on our side."
“Agreed.” Ariel nodded. “Matthew, arrange the evacuation and cleanup of the scene. We can’t alert the French police with a large force, or we’ll make things worse.”
“Mr. Takada, Ms. Sato, we need to work together again. This time the location is an open riverbank, which is riskier.”
Yumi Miyamoto heard the entire conversation through the communicator from the command vehicle.
Ariel issued another instruction: "Ms. Miyamoto, please take charge of the traffic monitoring system and try to monitor any unusual vehicle or pedestrian gatherings around the Art Bridge."
The plan was quickly formulated.
To avoid attracting attention, the group split up.
Matthew's team was responsible for handling the beginning and end of the basement and providing external support.
Yuki Takada and his group disguised themselves as tourists taking an evening stroll along the Seine and headed towards the abandoned lamp base.
As the sun sets, it dyes the Seine River a golden-red hue.
The Pont des Arts is covered with love locks, teeming with tourists, and street performers play romantic tunes, creating a world apart from the recent gunfight in the basement.
The three strolled along the riverbank, seemingly leisurely, but in reality, their nerves were on edge, watching every suspicious figure around them.
Yuki Takada noticed that two or three seemingly idle pedestrians would occasionally glance at them unintentionally, but they did not show any obvious hostility—they were probably Matthew's peripheral team members.
They quickly found the abandoned stone lamp base.
It is half-embedded in the wall of the river embankment, its surface covered with moss and traces of time, making it look like it blends into the surrounding environment and is inconspicuous.
"right here."
Ariel whispered as she took out a high-precision laser rangefinder disguised as a lipstick and pointed it at a barely noticeable indentation on the lamp base, resembling a crosshair.
Then adjust the angle and look towards the Louvre on the opposite bank of the river.
"The angle needs to be calibrated. Theoretically, when the last ray of sunlight passes through a specific window in the Louvre and projects onto the lamp base, intersecting with the line of sight that still exists at the Notre Dame observation point..." she explained as she operated the device.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Yuuki Takada caught a glimpse of an ordinary-looking sightseeing boat on the river. The boat seemed to be slowing down slightly, and there was a faint light flashing at the bow—it was the reflection of a telescope or sniper scope!
"Something's up! A cruise ship on the river at three o'clock!" he shouted, simultaneously grabbing Ariel and Sato Miwako and pulling them behind the railing on the embankment.
Almost at the same moment!
With a soft whooshing sound, a small piece of stone dust flew up from the stone lamp base where they had just been standing!
It's a sniper rifle equipped with a high-efficiency silencer!
The tourists, unaware of the danger, remained immersed in the beautiful sunset.
"We've been exposed!" Sato Miwako pressed herself against the railing, her heart pounding.
Ariel's face darkened: "They came too fast! It's the mentor's people, or... other forces!"
On the cruise ship, several figures dressed in ordinary jackets but moving swiftly began to lower small boats, clearly intending to forcibly disembark.
Meanwhile, at both ends of the art bridge, several men with steady steps and sharp eyes appeared, parting the crowd and flanking them.
They're surrounded! And on the open, easily defensible banks of a river!
“Matthew! We’ve been ambushed! There are enemies on the riverboats and at both ends of the Bridge of Arts! Requesting backup!” Ariel shouted urgently into the hidden communicator.
"Hold on! We're breaking through their outer perimeter! Three minutes!" Matthew's voice came through the sound of hurried footsteps and vehicle engines.
Three minutes, in the current situation, feels like an eternity.
Yuuki Takada quickly surveyed his surroundings.
Their location on the embankment was relatively concave, and the railings could provide some cover, but once the enemy surrounded them, there would be nowhere to escape under crossfire.
The river was blocked, the bridge was blocked...
His gaze fell on the murky Seine water at his feet, then on the abandoned lamp base with a small dent in it.
The part where the lamp base connects to the embankment wall seems to have become somewhat loose due to years of water erosion and the recent sniping.
An adventurous plan took shape in his mind.
“Ariel! That lamp holder! Can it be rotated or moved?” Yuuki Takada asked urgently.
Ariel paused, then instantly understood: "Many old navigation light mounts have bases that allow for fine-tuning the angle! You mean..."
“Take a gamble! Treat it like a real key! Adjust it, point it towards the Louvre! Now!” Yuuki Takada shouted, drawing his baton from his waist and telling Miwako Sato, “Sato, cover us!”
Sato Miwako nodded without hesitation, took out pepper spray. Although its effect was limited, it could create chaos. She kept a watchful eye on the enemy approaching from the direction of the Art Bridge.
Ariel and Yuuki Takada risked being sniped again as they rushed to the lamp base.
Yuuki Takada used a baton to pry into the gap between the lamp base and the wall, and pried hard, while Ariel, disregarding her image, used her shoulder to brace against the cold stone base, cooperating with the effort.
"Creak...creak..." The stone seat made a teeth-grinding grinding sound, and it seemed to actually be able to rotate!
The small boats on the river were getting closer and closer, and the enemy at the bridgehead broke through the crowd's obstruction and rushed down the steps, less than fifty meters away from them!
"Hurry up!" Sato Miwako shouted anxiously, already able to see the cold gun in the hand of the person at the front.
"It moved!" Yuuki Takada roared, feeling the stone seat suddenly loosen and slowly rotate a tiny angle along a pre-set, almost rusted track!
The indentation at the top of the lamp base, like a crosshair, was perfectly aligned with a window in the Louvre reflecting the setting sun in the distance!
The miracle happened!
There was no earth-shaking noise, nor any extraordinary phenomenon of golden light.
But just as the lamp base was aligned, a huge, seemingly solid stone slab on the riverbank near their feet slid inward with an almost inaudible mechanical whirring, revealing a dark, downward staircase entrance that could only accommodate one person at a time!
A gust of wind carrying a heavy, damp feeling and a musty smell rushed out from the entrance.
Entrance!
The real entrance is right here!
Hidden within the banks of the Seine!
"Here! Get down here quickly!" Yuuki Takada shouted.
Miwako Sato slid sideways into the entrance first. Ariel followed closely behind.
Before entering, Yuki Takada glanced back.