169: Shadow of the Nine Cauldrons

South Pacific, Black Alloy Base.

Inside the medical room, Osiris had just changed into a brand-new black combat suit made of nanomaterials. The empty left sleeve was perfectly tucked into the garment, as if he had been born with only one arm.

Before him, a holographic projection lit up, and the image of an elderly British man with graying hair, dressed in a crisp butler's uniform, emerged. The old man's gaze was gentle, but beneath that gentleness lay a majesty polished by the years.

"Mr. Osiris," the old butler bowed slightly, his standard London accent devoid of emotion. "Lady Elizabeth has asked me to convey that during Mr. Lin Feng's stay in Europe, we do not wish to see anything 'unpleasant' happen."

Osiris's gray-blue pupils constricted slightly.

The Cavendish Family!

He naturally knew what this family meant in Europe. That lion entrenched in the British Isles might seem to be dozing peacefully on ordinary days, but once its reverse scale was touched, its bared fangs were enough to tear apart any jackal that dared to provoke it.

"Just a treasure-hunting internet celebrity, is he worth such a grand gesture from you?" Osiris's voice was laced with a chill.

"He is not an internet celebrity; he is the Lady's guest," the old butler corrected, his tone remaining calm. "Additionally, the Lady has also asked me to remind you that your 'Spark' fund at Credit Suisse, as well as several energy projects in the North Sea, seem to have been... a bit too active lately."

A threat! A blatant threat!

Osiris's remaining right hand suddenly clenched, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He could ignore a warning from a country, but he could not ignore the fangs of this financial lion. What the other party had gripped was the lifeblood of his plans to rebuild his guard and make a comeback!

After a long while, Osiris slowly unclenched his fist, his face returning to its signature, emotionless indifference.

"Tell the Lady that I am more than happy to respect her guest."

"A wise choice." The old butler bowed again, and the image slowly faded away.

Osiris stared at the spot where the image had vanished. In those gray-blue eyes, frantic murderous intent and extreme rationality were in a fierce struggle. Ultimately, the murderous intent receded, leaving only a cold void.

Lin Feng... right now, he was a canary protected under the wing of the Cavendish Family.

But a canary always has its day to leave the cage. And he was the most patient hunter in the world... Two days later, London Heathrow Airport.

A Gulfstream G650 private business jet landed smoothly on a dedicated VIP tarmac.

Wang Dalong's fat face was pressed against the porthole for almost the entire flight, his face full of wonder. "My god, Brother Feng! A Gulfstream! One trip on this thing would wipe out half my life's savings! This old lady is way too rich!"

Lin Feng walked down the air stairs expressionlessly, oblivious to the luxury around him. To him, this was no different from riding in a military transport plane, except the seats were softer and the noise was lower.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom had been waiting by the tarmac for some time. The old butler who had appeared in the holographic image earlier was standing by the car door with a smile.

"Mr. Lin, Mr. Wang, it has been a long journey. The Lady is waiting at the manor."

The car left the airport, drove through the picturesque country roads on the outskirts of London, and finally stopped in front of an ancient manor as grand as a movie set.

The residence of the Cavendish Family, Devonshire Manor.

This building, passed down for centuries, had not suffered the slightest decay under the wash of time; instead, it had settled into an awe-inspiring sense of weight and majesty.

Led by the old butler, the two walked through a long corridor lined with portraits of past dukes and entered a conservatory bathed in afternoon sunlight.

An elderly woman with silver hair, draped in a cashmere shawl, was sitting in a wheelchair, quietly pruning a pot of orchids.

She was Elizabeth Cavendish.

Time had carved deep marks on her face, but those azure eyes remained clear and wise.

"Mr. Lin, welcome to Devonshire." She put down her small scissors and looked at Lin Feng with a smile.

"My Lady." Lin Feng nodded as a greeting. Wang Dalong stood to the side, looking a bit awkward, doing nothing but grinning foolishly.

Lady Elizabeth seemed long accustomed to all kinds of people. She didn't mind Lin Feng's social withdrawal or Wang Dalong's awkwardness; instead, she maneuvered her wheelchair and gestured for the old butler to take a wooden box from a nearby safe.

"I know my request is abrupt. To dispel your doubts, please look at something first."

The wooden box was opened, revealing a yellowed black-and-white photograph inside.

Lin Feng took the photograph.

With just one look, he held his breath!

In the photo was a bronze tripod of ancient and simple design!

The body of the tripod was covered in mottled verdigris. With three legs and two handles, its form was powerful and majestic, filled with the ruggedness and strength of a primitive era! Most importantly, on the belly of the tripod, an ancient totem as twisted as a dragon or snake was engraved. Lin Feng had only seen that style of totem on rubbings of the oldest oracle bone inscriptions!

That was "Ji" Province!

One of the nine tripods!

This national treasure, which existed only in myths and legends, had actually appeared in a photograph in such a real way!

"This is... the only photograph my father took of the antiquities he was studying before he disappeared." Lady Elizabeth's voice carried a sense of melancholy. "He said it was the greatest creation he had ever seen in his life, the 'origin' of your civilization."

She paused, her azure eyes looking deeply at Lin Feng.

"Mr. Lin, as long as you can help me find my father's whereabouts, I will tell you everything I know about this tripod."

"Where is it?" Lin Feng blurted out, his voice a bit raspy with excitement.

Lady Elizabeth shook her head. "We can discuss that after you find my father."

She gestured to the old butler to take them to a massive study next door.

"This was my father's studio back then, and the place where he was taken away by those Germans."

The two stepped into the study and were instantly struck speechless by the sight before them.

The entire study, from floor to ceiling, was filled with dusty documents, parchment scrolls, maps, notes, and various metal parts. The sheer volume was like an abandoned warehouse of a small library.

"For over seventy years, I have collected every piece of information I could find related to my father's disappearance. It's all here."

Lady Elizabeth's voice came from outside the door, tinged with exhaustion.

"I am tired. I'll leave the rest to you."

With that, she maneuvered her wheelchair and quietly departed.

The heavy oak door was slowly closed.

Inside the study, only Lin Feng and Wang Dalong remained, along with... a room full of secrets that had been sealed for over seventy years.