Chapter 107: Gobekli Stone Array

It was noon.

The sky was azure and cloudless, sunlight bathing the earth.

The Turkey-Syria border.

Inside Turkish territory, a convoy of three desert-colored military Humvees drove west to east on Highway D-52.

Although Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and leans politically and economically toward Western Europe, geographically, climatically, and culturally it is unquestionably a Middle Eastern nation.

At that moment, inside the Humvee at the center of the convoy.

The vehicle was driven by a U. S. Marine wearing desert camouflage, right hand on the steering wheel, left hand resting on the window frame.

In the passenger seat sat Leon, wearing a dark brown fur-collared jacket, black combat trousers, and his blond hair parted.

Leon gripped his right fist, lowered his chin, rested his right elbow on the door, and gazed out the window with a somewhat wistful expression.

Outside the window the sun shone brightly, the distinctive desert scenery unable to cheer this Umbrella intelligence officer.

In fact, Leon had spent at least nine months in the Middle East.

He didn't exactly hate it, but Leon had truly had enough of the desert.

Moreover, he was tired of Middle Eastern foods like chicken and lamb wraps, really having no enthusiasm left.

Yet his orders were to remain in the Middle East, continuing to investigate any suspicious cities and ruins.

After all, the Sheheba fog incident in February earlier that year had caused tens of thousands of deaths.

To avoid a recurrence, the company needed to thoroughly search the Middle East, detect and contain any relics or artifacts that might trigger anomalous phenomena in advance.

If it were just that, Leon would understand and have no complaints.

The source of his melancholy was the feeling that he was merely hitching a ride on someone else's coattails, finally free from paying for taxis and enjoying free transportation.

Thinking about this,

Leon slightly raised his head, using the rearview mirror to observe the person seated in the back.

That person had black female short hair, wore sunglasses, a red fitted jacket, and black tight leather pants.

Because of the sunglasses, Leon couldn't see the other's face clearly, but judging by the visible parts not obscured by the lenses, their appearance was unlikely to be bad.

Ada Wong.

The company's top intelligence operative.

On December 19, 2000, namely this morning, they arrived at the U. S. stationed in Turkey's Kahraman Base.

Leon happened to be conducting an investigation in Turkey, so his superiors ordered him to go to Kahraman Base to assist Ada in carrying out the mission.

According to the information given to him by his superiors, the company had arranged for Ada's identity as a Chinese-American historian collaborating with the US Military, and moreover a top talent in that cooperation.

Thus when Leon hailed a taxi to Kahraman Base, he happened to see Ada being escorted forward and backward by military officers.

Because of Ada's prominent status, the base specially dispatched a Marine squad to escort her, and incidentally brought Leon along to the destination.

Although he didn't have to pay for a taxi, Leon still felt as if the company had singled him out.

"Heh~."

At that moment, Ada in the back seat gave a light laugh, indicating she had noticed Leon's little movement.

"..."

Leon kept his expression unchanged, turned his head, moved his gaze away from the rearview mirror, and looked once more at the scenery outside the window.

Suddenly!

"Screech—!" the Humvee veered uncontrollably to the right.

"Wozhefa!" the Marine cursed loudly, immediately gripping the steering wheel with both hands.

! (x2)

The Humvee's sudden loss of control also made Leon and Ada tense up.

"Phew! Close call!"

Fortunately, that Marine's driving skills were good; he managed to stabilize the vehicle on the winding road, but still couldn't help letting out a sigh.

This Humvee was their squad's mascot, having survived numerous dangerous urban skirmishes and encounters, yet remained sturdy.

Why did it malfunction today?

The Marine was somewhat puzzled.

After a minor hiccup, nothing serious, the convoy continued east for over ten minutes and finally reached the destination—

Göbekli Stone Array.

The stone array sits atop the summit of Göbekli Hill.

Driving along the side road up to the hill, one sees a large shading canopy erected in the central position.

Around the canopy are numerous tents of various styles, a few simple huts, and assorted civilian vehicles.

It appears a scientific team is stationed here.

The U. S. military convoy drove straight to the edge of the canopy.

Came to a stop.

Disembarked.

A corporal walked up to Ada and respectfully said, "Miss Wang, if there's nothing else, we'll return to base first."

"Hmm, thanks." Ada replied blandly.

Upon receiving Ada's signal, the Marines drove back.

The convoy had just departed when a man wearing a vest and thick-lens glasses hurriedly approached Leon and Ada.

Stepping forward, the old man extended his right hand and smiled: "Kuiers Xiersi, honored to meet you, Miss Wang."

As Ada shook hands with Xiersi, she wore a very natural smile and said: "The honor should be mine, Professor Xiersi."

"Too kind; if it weren't for Miss Wang's investment support, our progress couldn't have been this fast—please follow me."

Xi Ersi withdrew his right hand, turned and briskly walked toward the entrance of the large shed, and, unable to hide his excitement, said:

"Miss Wang, we have all been waiting for your arrival to jointly witness the greatest discovery of the early twenty‑first century!"

"Let's go, rookie." Ai Da instantly folded back her smile, and, still cold, gave Leon a brief reminder.

"I'm not... forget it!"

Leon had just begun to explain, but saw Ai Da already walking away, so he swallowed his irritation, jogged, and caught up with Ai Da and Xi Ersi.

Soon, the group entered the shed.

The elderly man earlier, Kui Erxi Ersi, is a professor in the History Department of Oxford University and also one of the leading figures in archaeology.

Xi Ersi led an archaeological team composed of his own students, and in September 1999, based on clues, they discovered this ruin.

Even in the preliminary excavation, the archaeological team reaped considerable findings.

On several T‑shaped stone pillars at the surface, various animal reliefs were carved, and what further astonished Xi Ersi's team was that, after testing, these carvings were at least ten thousand years old.

Ten thousand years!

Humans at that time were still in the Stone Age, so how did they transport multi‑ton boulders from dozens of kilometers away to the top of the hill?

And this is only the surface; all evidence indicates that a larger space likely exists beneath.

If excavation could continue, it would undoubtedly overturn humanity's understanding of history.

Unfortunately, the archaeological team lacked ample funds, and with the Turkey‑Syria border in great turmoil, small and medium‑scale battles occurred frequently.

Thus, almost no capitalist was willing to shoulder the high risk to invest in a project that only enriches history.

But Umbrella was an exception.

The White Queen, who, like the Red Queen, monitors the world, reported the matter to Sui Bian.

Having obtained Sui Bian's permission, the White Queen acted at once; she granted Ai Da a wealthy historian identity, and then used that identity to invest in Xi Ersi's team.

The Red Queen also, masquerading as Washington's side, issued orders to the Kahraman Base, directing the Marine Corps to expand patrols, ensuring the normal excavation of the Gobekli Stone Array.

This is why, as a leading figure in archaeology, Xi Ersi is profoundly grateful to Ai Da.

(End of chapter)