Chapter 850: Arrival
The journey from Dublin to Marseille took Liang En more than six hours, mainly because there were no direct flights between the two places, so they had to transfer in London. Fortunately, as night was about to fall, they finally saw the coastline and the blue Mediterranean Sea through the airplane window, indicating they had reached Marseille.
"This city should be one of the few French names that foreigners, other than Paris, are familiar with," Jeanne murmured as they drove to the hotel.
"Yes, people from different countries have different levels of knowledge about another country, but Marseille might be a common point of recognition for many foreigners regarding French cities."
Liang En knew exactly what Jeanne meant. For example, Chinese people might first know the French names Havre, Alsace, and Lorraine, mainly because these places were mentioned in two famous primary school texts, "The Last Lesson" and "My Uncle Jules."
As for why Marseille is a well-known French city among various countries, it's because of its significant role during the French Revolution. After the revolution broke out, locals actively supported it, sending 500 volunteers to Paris in 1792 to defend the revolutionary government. As they marched, they sang their marching song, "La Marseillaise," all the way from Marseille to Paris. This song later became the French national anthem, known as "La Marseillaise." This is why people remember this place, as the city is linked to the entire country through this song.
According to their previous plan, they would travel around here and wait for their subordinates to gather information, then decide the next steps based on that intelligence.
Early the next morning, Liang En and his companions left the hotel to begin their tour. Marseille is a prosperous commercial city and a hub for cultural exchange, serving as a meeting point for various civilizations. The city's population has always been diverse, including people from the Mediterranean, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 25% of Marseille's population is of North African descent, mostly Algerians and Tunisians. Demographers estimate that in the near future, Marseille will become the first European city with a Muslim majority. Additionally, it has the third-largest Jewish community in Europe. However, immigrants from Southeast and East Asia often choose northern France over the south due to local security issues.
Fortunately, as tourists, sticking to the main attractions and areas near their hotel should be safe, with only the need to guard against pickpockets.
Their first stop was Marseille's port, the true heart of the city. The port came first, then the city. Nowadays, the port is divided into the Old Port and the New Port. The Old Port, located within the city bay, is a great tourist spot, while the New Port serves as the main seaport. The docks are surrounded by various restaurants and museums, and the most striking feature is a giant Ferris wheel, visible from afar, clearly meant for tourists to enjoy the cityscape.
"The view from up here is beautiful, completely different from touring on the ground," Jeanne said, pressing against the window like a child as the Ferris wheel rose.
From the Ferris wheel, the scenery below was panoramic: ancient fourteenth-century castles, densely packed modern yachts, solemn old churches, and stylish modern buildings. The area teemed with people of various ethnicities, blending Eastern and Western cultures, truly showcasing Marseille's "cultural mosaic" as a southern French port.
Next, they took a boat to Fort Saint-Jean, a fortress with three towers on a small limestone island less than 200 meters long and 168 meters wide, about two kilometers from the port. In the 1520s, King Francis I ordered the fort's construction to defend against Spanish invasions. It housed cannons and could accommodate up to 300 soldiers. Due to its strategic location, it was a contested site during wars, but as naval technology advanced, the fort lost its strategic value and was converted into a state prison. In 1953, the French government designated it as a national historical monument, funding its restoration and opening it to the public.
The island became more famous as a prison than a fort, especially from Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," where Dantès was imprisoned. Soon, the boat docked, and they walked a path surrounded by high walls leading to the fortress. Every few steps were blocked by walls and gates, requiring them to turn right, a design to hinder attackers' weapon use.
The path ended at a drawbridge. After crossing it and passing through the gate, they saw the main fort. Compared to other castles, its interior wasn't particularly distinctive, except it felt colder, partly due to its prison past and the lack of non-military modifications, with thick walls and narrow windows. The island's location also contributed to the cold atmosphere.
When Liang En and Jeanne climbed to the fort's rooftop, they saw a straight rock on the island's southwest corner, the former prison cemetery. In Dumas' story, Dantès pretended to be the dead Abbé Faria and was thrown into the sea to escape, reborn as the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo.
This platform attracted many tourists, and as Liang En and Jeanne looked out, they saw the bustling city and the calm Mediterranean Sea.
"Can we see our target from here?" Jeanne asked, leaning close to Liang En as she gazed at the distant city. "I remember you said the target wasn't in the city center."
"That's right," Liang En nodded, "but it's already within the city limits."
"Yes, that's true, but it's not good news for us," Jeanne sighed, looking at a cluster of buildings near the coast. "Think about it, nearly two hundred years have passed. The buildings there might have been rebuilt multiple times, making it harder to find Marie's treasure."
"I'm more optimistic about this," Liang En shrugged. "After all, Marie's treasure filled two whole wagons. Such a fortune wouldn't go unnoticed if discovered. So, I believe it's still there, waiting for us to find it."
Thank you for reading this far! You can access more chapters from HERE by joining my Patreon community. You'll gain exclusive early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
As a member of my Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
- Early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
- You also get access to all the novels I'm translating, you can find them here HERE.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
- Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
