The peak where the castle stood on the island was about a hundred meters above the lake below. It wasn't particularly steep, and a road directly connected the castle at the top of the mountain to the simple stone dock at the landing point. So, after only twenty minutes, Liang En and his companions smoothly reached the top of the hill and gazed at the castle, which could be described as quaint and delicate.
“This castle is indeed quite small,” Joan of Arc raised her eyebrows after taking a look at the castle. “But it fits perfectly in this place.”
“Perfectly?” Marie asked, her interest piqued as she looked at the castle. “But there's so much space here, and isn't it better for a castle to be bigger?”
“Of course not,” Joan of Arc shook her head helplessly at the military novice in front of her. Considering that they were all French, she turned around and explained seriously.
“The size of a castle is influenced by many factors, such as the surrounding environment, the number of soldiers, and even the owner's intentions.”
“For example, the logistics of this castle are a significant issue. All supplies need to be transported from far away, and the long supply line severely limits the transport capacity.”
“More importantly, this castle was built here primarily to monitor the lake. Rather than being a true castle, it's more of an armed observation post.”
While Joan of Arc was giving a military lesson, they smoothly crossed the drawbridge at the castle's entrance and reached the front of the castle gate.
At first glance, the gate appeared original, but upon closer inspection, it was clearly a disguised steel door. Liang En's eyes widened instinctively, sensing something was off.
As the gate opened and they entered the castle hall, Liang En's doubts grew because the room was noticeably darker from any angle.
In traditional castles, a dimly lit interior was normal. Castles, being military fortresses, minimized doors and windows to enhance defense and structural integrity.
However, with the changing times, medieval castles gradually fell out of use. Most were abandoned, while some were converted into real estate properties.
Liang En had previously been invited to several such castles, and compared to those, the most distinctive feature of this castle was that it seemed untouched by renovations.
For instance, the first step in renovating such castles typically involved adding more windows for better lighting and ventilation, transforming them from fortresses into residences.
But Liang En saw no such modifications here: all the windows were merely original shooting holes, each with a steel plate serving as a sliding window shutter.
“This is just a bunker with luxurious interior decorations,” Joan of Arc commented instinctively after examining the room. As a soldier from the same era as this castle, she naturally understood the situation.
“It's not just that,” Liang En smiled. By now, his eyes had adjusted to the dim surroundings, revealing more oddities.
“Unlike its ancient appearance, this castle has been reinforced with modern technology. It seems to have the defensive capabilities of current fortifications.”
He noticed that some of the original wooden structures had been replaced with steel, and the walls seemed thicker than any he had seen before.
“Yes, Mr. Liang,” the staff member responsible for their reception said. “The previous owner of this castle was a survivalist, so he had it modified.”
“Modifications? If I remember correctly, even a minor alteration to such ancient castles requires official reporting. How could such extensive modifications be possible?” Elizabeth Bathory asked in surprise.
As the actual manager of Liang En's various businesses, she was well-versed in laws and regulations, so she was astonished at how they managed to extensively remodel an ancient castle.
After all, Liang En also owned his castles, and the annual maintenance costs were considerable. Learning such skills could significantly reduce expenses.
“That’s because these basic constructions were completed over half a century ago when there were no such laws in Italy,” the staff member said helplessly.
“And because of these modifications, this castle isn't highly rated as a heritage site, so it's unlikely to attract many tourists in the future.”
“But the good side is that the laws applicable to this castle are not the strictest ancient building regulations, so future maintenance costs should be much lower.”
“In other words, this castle is a great place to live but not suitable for developing industries.” After hearing the explanation, Liang En quickly summarized.
This wasn't good news for Liang En, as the castle's remote location in Italy wasn't within his usual activities, making it a money pit if used solely as a residence.
“That's right, your summary is very accurate. Anyway, I would never live in this place,” Marie Antoinette said, looking around. “At least for me, this castle is terrible.”
“You're right, but the important part of this castle isn't the castle itself, but the information recorded inside it.” Liang En turned to the French queen and then looked at the staff member.
“Can you show me the location of those mysterious symbols? That's the core reason I chose this castle, and I want to see what they are.”
“Of course, Mr. Liang. Please follow me,” the staff member said, leading Liang En and his companions to the central tower of the castle.
“The symbols are at the top of this tower. They seem to have been carved into the stone from the beginning, but unfortunately, some symbols have been damaged or lost due to weathering at the top of the tower—”
Following the staff member's guidance, Liang En and his companions ascended the spiral, narrow stone staircase toward the tower's top. Judging by the stairs, it was clear this area hadn't been renovated.
“Alright, we're here.” After passing through a bedroom and climbing the stairs hidden behind a secret door, the staff member opened the door and pointed outside. “Good luck.”
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