Koulibaly has been standing motionless on the round platform for half a day. In this half a day, the master took him as a model, carefully carving the stone carvings in front of him. The stone used for the sculpture is a piece of black marble from Dimi.

Sweat was oozing from Ebonelli's body, his feet were already shaking from fatigue, and the midday sun was hanging high, which made it even more difficult for him to endure, and he felt like he was about to faint.

Finally, Koulibaly's eyes darkened, and he fell to his knees on the round platform with a puff. Seeing Koulibaly fall, the master had to stop his carving work. When the two Athore guards dressed in rich satin saw this, they walked quickly towards Koulibaly, and they tried to pull Koulibaly to keep him in his original motion, but they were stopped by the giant master waving his hand.

After stopping the guards, the Giant Master walked up to Koulibaly himself, and he grabbed his arm to lift the dizzy Koulibaly from the ground. Koulibaly immediately nervously wanted to go back to his original movements after a little regained his senses. The master waved his hand at him and helped him to sit down on the steps of the round platform. Before the master could speak, the two maids brought the tray with cold water and fruit to the two of them.

"How are you feeling?" The Giant asked Koulibaly.

Koulibaly couldn't understand the Giant's Asolic language, but he could tell from the Giant's tone and demeanor that the Giant Master cared about him. He patted his chest apologetically, saying that he was okay and could continue to stand back.

The Giant Master held out his hand to one of the maids, who immediately took a thoughtful step forward, and lifted the tray in her hand in front of Koulibaly. The Master picked up a glass of water from the tray, and he handed it to Koulibaly himself. After seeing Koulibaly take the glass of water in shock, the master said to him, "Let's get here today, you can have a good rest." ”

The Master smiled at him under Koulibaly's nervous gaze, then reflexively returned to his sculpture, picked up his tools, and continued to work on the parts he had not yet finished.

Koulibaly drank a glass of water and rested for a while. He saw that the master was still working in front of the sculpture, he did not know what he meant, and he did not dare to move around at will, so he stood back on the round platform and continued to do what he had done before.

The Giant Master shook his head and smiled at Koulibaly's honest appearance, and then he ordered the guards to take him back to the camp to rest.

Koulibaly was taken out of the camp where the Great Master was by the guards of the Great Master, and he returned to the place where he had been taken out. A workers' camp not far from the Giant Division's camp. After returning Koulibaly to the camp, the two guards quickly left without saying a word.

Seeing that the workers in the camp had been taken to the water ring to tow the stone carriers, Koulibaly returned to the barracks alone in a daze. In this cramped workers' barracks, there were only eight blankets on the floor, and nothing else. Koulibaly sat idly on his blanket.

At this time he felt hungry, but it was past the time to distribute the food, and after looking around, he had to slowly lie down on his blanket and relax. He tried to keep his tired self asleep as much as possible to avoid the discomfort of this bout of hunger.

Just as he was tossing and turning on the blanket, the door of the barracks was suddenly slammed open, and a guard with a scimitar in his hand entered, which frightened Koulibaly and made him get up quickly, and stood still and did not dare to move.

But then from behind the guard came a maid of Azore, who carried bread and berries, and she walked up to Koulibaly and handed him the plate along with the food on it.

Koulibaly couldn't believe his eyes. It was not until long after the maid and the soldier had left that he placed his plate on the blanket with trepidation, and then he sat down and tentatively picked up the food from the plate. After waiting for a few more moments, until he was sure that no one was coming, he carefully ate the food on his plate. As he ate, he thought that these delicious foods must have been sent by the stonemason who had carved his image just now.

At night, Ugunelli returned to the barracks along with six other workers from the Southern Continent, and Koulibaly told them what had happened to him during the day.

"I don't know who the guy who called me away this morning was able to send a beautiful woman to bring me food." Koulibaly said with some smugness.

"Brother, don't talk big, no one has seen a beautiful woman bring you food." A dark-skinned worker with big eyes and hair stuck to his scalp said with a smile.

"Koanda, look at this." Koulibaly took out a plate from under the blanket and said to him, "That pretty woman brought me food on this plate, and if you smell it, it smells of bread." ”

"Koulibaly, I'll take a sniff and see if it still smells of a pretty woman." Another worker said with a smile.

"Koulibaly, have you been standing there all morning?" Ebonelli asked.

"Yes, brother, you know, I'm almost tired from standing there motionless." Koulibaly said, "In the end, I couldn't hold on and I went down. ”

"You're down? Oh, my God. "You didn't get whipped, did you?" ”

"No, not only did I not get whipped, but the stonemason brought me a glass of water to drink." Koulibaly said with a smile.

"The stonemason you just described, his appearance is very familiar to me. Isn't that the one, the one—" Umenelli recalled, "the one we saw in the quarry at the time, the one that Ziff and Vimos called the Giant?" ”

Watching Umenelli imitate Zif's pronunciation of "Giant", Koulibaly realized, "Oh! Right! Oh my God, yes, that's him. I remembered what Ziff and Viemos had told us at the time, that he was called the Giant.... ”

"Oh my God, you've been taken to his camp and you've been with him all morning..?" Oumenelli asked in surprise.

Koulibaly nodded a little smugly, "yes." ”

"Do you know how good he is?" Ebonelli said in surprise, "The brothers on the construction site call him the big boss, but here he has the final say on everything." ”

"Really?" Koulibaly asked, "Are you sure he's that good?" But I don't think he's just a stonemason with guards and servants. ”

"Brother, of course I'm sure." "Do you know that the Assor foreman who led us to the work will sweat with fear when he sees his men? ”

"Are you talking about the big gray-robed leader?" Coanda only reacted at this time and asked Ebonnelli.

"It's him, it's him." Oumunelli said.

"You're talking about that guy? I remember his man in a burqa, who reprimanded our foreman last time. The foreman was so frightened that he fell to his knees and did not dare to stand up for three meals. Koanda said.

"All the people in the burqa are powerful, and they seem to be at the mercy of the man you see today." Ugunelli said to Koulibaly instead.

"I didn't expect him to be so powerful." Koulibaly whispered.

"Do you remember what Ziff explained to us? They said he was a great teacher of wisdom. Oumenelli said.

"Yes, I remember. I remember Ziff saying that in their Huron, such people were called rabbis... "Well, the people here listen to him, perhaps because he knows how to build such a large building." ”

For more than ten days, every morning, Coulibaly was escorted by soldiers to the camp where the giant division was. Sometimes he'd model all day, other times he'd been placed in a hut with chairs and fruit waiting for the master to summon him, and if he'd be lucky, Koulibaly could wait until the sun went down. Many times he sat in his chair and stared at the fresh fruit on the table and swallowed, but he never dared to pick one up.

On a hot afternoon, Koulibaly was taken out of his hut by the soldiers and once again stood on the small round platform that belonged to him.

"Master Gutrief, come and see this man from the Southern Continent. You can see how good his figure is, his limbs have golden proportions, his whole body is full of strong muscles, and his jet-black marble skin like Dimi's black marble, all this gives people a different kind of beauty. The giant said to Gutrief, who was standing beside him and had come to find him.

"Master, this work you have sculpted... It has a very unique style. I've never seen anyone sculpt a Nanlu before. Jushi you.. Always groundbreaking. Gutrive looked at the stone sculpture in front of him and asked, "Where do you plan to place it?" ”

"I'd like to put it in the arched doorway facing the southern continent, and of course, that will be until Dingirla reaches the fifth floor." The giant master said as he admired his unfinished work.

"Where are you going to put it?" Gutrive said, "There... Not bad, put it in that position. That would be conspicuous. ”

"Well, the places where Grandmaster Ademuoğlu designed for Dingirla to place the sculptures are perfect." "I have to carve some outstanding stone statues for it myself." ”

"Oh, of course. The sculptures placed there are only as meaningful as if they are made by you. Gutriv paused slightly, then turned to the Giant Master and asked, "Giant Master, I wonder if Grandmaster Ademuolu is still in the heart of the tower now?" ”

"He's still there." The Giant Master said, "The only two Grandmasters in our Master Craftsman Guild have been sent there by me. You know, the work of the heart of the tower is the focus, it's all about it. Of course, the tower body is also very important, and I hope that the five masters in charge of the main project will work harder and not slow down the overall progress. ”

"Yes. Giant, we will definitely not drag down the overall progress. Gutrive said.

"Tell me about your work in selecting talents." The master looked at the sculpture and asked Gutrif, "Tell me who would be more suited to take over the work of Darishur Smith, who died in this accident." ”

"As you know, the people I inspected were all craftsmen from Huron. In this way, others may think that I trust the Huron people a little too much. Gutrive said.

"It doesn't matter, as long as the person you select has enough experience and exquisite skills, it doesn't matter where he comes from." The giant master said.

Gutrive nodded, "I'm relieved to have you as a master." I have roughly two candidates now. But in the end, I haven't fully thought about which one to use. ”

"Well, you can think about it again, and if you think about it, remember to inform the other masters." The giant master said.

"Yes, Giant." Gutrive asked, "Master, there's one more question I'd like to ask you meant. ”

"Say it."

Gutrif hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Master Great, as you know, Master Dalishuer is also a member of our Master Craftsman's Guild. If we're a new masonry inspector, isn't it... Do you want to recruit this newcomer as a member of our Master Craftsman Association? ”

"There is no necessary relationship between the two, Master Gutrief." "Although we have been committed to the continuous inheritance and development of the Master Craftsman Association, in many cases, the most important thing is whether a person is in line with the essence of the belief and spirit of the Master Craftsman Association. For those craftsmen who have a wealth of knowledge and exquisite skills, you can first appoint him to the necessary work. As for whether or not we should invite him to join the Master Craftsman Association in the end, we will have to wait for a certain amount of observation and understanding of him before making a decision. ”

"Master, you're right, I understand." Gutrive said.

"Okay, so tell me about the latest investigation into that accident these days." "Who do you think is responsible for this accident?" ”

"Giant, in addition to the problem on the equipment, I have made a new discovery in the past few days of investigation." "When all the pulley-equipped workers were interrogated separately from the rope-making workers, it was found that several of them had a different story. That is, they had all seen a man with a black viper tattoo on his neck appear in their camp. Now I have ordered the camp guards to search for this man with all their might. It is now almost certain that the damage to the block of pulleys was not accidental, but man-made. The person who did the tricks should be the one with a black snake tattooed on his neck. ”

"Is that the pattern you are talking about a black viper with four eyes?" The Giant Master asked.

"Yes, Giant." Gutrive was surprised and asked, "How do you know, Master?" I also got this news early this morning. ”

"That's the mark of the Absu Snake Society." The giant master was a little hesitant for a while, and then sighed, "I didn't expect them to infiltrate here." ”

"Absu Snake Secret Meeting? Giant... What is that? ”

"It's an ancient and mysterious organization. Long before the establishment of the Guild of Masters, the Absu Snake Secret Society existed. No one knows when, by whom, or why they came together. But for a long time, the Absu Serpent Society was like a poisonous snake hiding in the dark, and it always threatened not only the development of the Master Craftsman Society, but also the rule of the entire empire. It is also said that the rise and fall of the empires of this land are inextricably linked to them. ”

"There is such an organization." Gutrive was surprised and said, "Since they have such a strong force, this... The death of Master Dalishuer's master must have been caused by them, right? ”

"I think so, since someone saw that sign at the camp, it wouldn't be wrong." The giant master pondered and said, "It seems that this matter is really not an accident. Rather, they did it. ”

"Giant Master, our Master Craftsman Guild, including Dali Shu'an and those in the camp, are just ordinary people with skills after all, why are they hated by others?" "We're just doing our job, are we building a building that threatens people and kills them?" ”

"Ordinary people?" "Master Gutrief, you see yourself a little too ordinary. I can tell you for sure that people like you, who have the knowledge and technology, are far from ordinary people. ”

"Giant..."

"I ask you, if in the distant dark ancient times, when people were still living in the dark, they drank blood. The man who first mastered the use of fire, when he first appeared in the world with a torch in his hand, guess what the rest of the world would think of him? ”

"The first to use fire? That must have been very shocking and exciting. I think people will remember him and worship him. Gutrive said.

"Master Gutrief, you're only half right." "I think people will eventually revere the first person who can control fire, they will remember him, and they will worship him as a god. But I have to say that before that, there will be many people who will be very afraid of that person when they see someone who can control fire for the first time, and regard him as a scourge that will bring destruction. ”

Gutrive gasped, and after a moment of calm and thought, he said slowly, "What do you mean, Master..... I seem to get it. ”

The master nodded and said no more, he raised the tool in his hand and chiseled down a spare part of the stone carving.

After a long time, when the master had stopped what he was doing, Gutrive looked at Kulibaly, who had been standing still on the round platform, and said, "Master, since there has been such a thing as murdering a stonemason before, I think you should be more vigilant. ”

"When the Lord Regent came here yesterday, he also said that he would send more guards to the camp." "But I don't want that to happen, because too many soldiers will interfere with the work." I hope that the people here will be more active and full of expectations to participate in the construction of Dingirla, instead of relying on external oppression and constraints to force them to work. ”

"Giant, you said that the regent he, he actually came here yesterday? And you politely declined his request to send troops? Gutrive asked in surprise.

"Yes, what's the problem?"

"No, nothing, Giant." After a moment's hesitation, Gutrive asked, "I wonder if the Lord Regent has expressed any opinion or opinion about our project?" ”

"Opinions?" The master put down the chisel and mallet in his hand, and the maid immediately brought a towel and a glass of water. After rubbing his hands with a towel, the master picked up a glass of water and took a sip before he said slowly, "No, he has never had any opinion on the construction and progress of Dingirrata. He is more concerned about the consumption here. ”

"Oh.... It's no wonder, after all, that the project is very ambitious and the cost is staggering. Gutrive took another glass of water from the maid's tray, and then he said to the great master, "I think the Lord Regent must have done a lot of work to keep such a large project going smoothly. ”

"Kuberit, you can sit there and rest for a while." The giant took a sip of water and waved his hand at Koulibaly, who remained motionless.

Koulibaly knew that the Kuberi that the giant had called out was himself. The Giant Master didn't call Koulibaly's name right, but Koulibaly knew this, but he didn't dare to correct it to the Giant, so the name Kuberi was so wrong that the Giant Master called it down. Koulibaly couldn't understand a word of Atholl except his own name, but he understood what he meant when he saw the master wave his hand at him, and his tense muscles began to relax.

"Kuberit? What a strange name for the people of Nanriku. Gutrive looked at Kulibaly, who was sitting on the side of the round platform, and said, "Master, do you know much about the people of the Southland?" I've heard that at the southernmost tip of the Southern Continent, there is an endless world of ice and snow. ”

"Master Gutrief, are you also curious about those distant worlds?" The Giant Master asked Gutrief.

"It's okay.." Gutrive took a sip of water and said, "Exploring the unknown is not also the creed of our Master Craftsmen's Association. ”

"Hmm... I don't know if you've ever heard of the Anka people, Master? The giant master asked.

"Anka... Giant, I've heard of them. Gutrive thought for a moment and said, "For thousands of years, they gave birth to a splendid civilization in the Southern Continent, until a few hundred years or more, their civilization, along with their kingdoms and people, gradually disappeared into this world. Until now, no one knows where they went. ”

"Yes. You're right. Today, we in Yazor have occupied all the places where the Anka people once lived, and there we have found many architectural relics left by the Anka people, which are magical and beautiful. I sent a master craftsman from the Guild of Masters and Craftsmen to go there, and he drew all the buildings he saw and brought them back to me. On top of that, he also brought me some very special things that he found there. ”

"Something special?" Gutrive asked.

"Yes, there's one thing that's special and surprising. It is a painting on special paper produced only in Nanriku. ”

"Is it just a picture on special paper?" Gutrive asked.

"Well, that particular piece of paper is the one called papyrus. It can still be seen occasionally, but most of it is dilapidated, and the method of making it has been lost for a long time. I think that method of making paper disappeared with the Anka. In fact, the most special thing about that kind of paper is that as long as it is stored in a dry place, even after thousands of years, the painting on those papers can still maintain its original clarity and brilliance, and will not fade in the slightest. ”

"That kind of paper, I've heard people talk about it, and yes, it's special. It is also the crystallization of the Anka civilization. Gutrive asked, "Master, what is that painting on your picture?" ”

"It's painted on it... It's the whole world. The giant master said softly.

"The whole world?" Gutrive asked in surprise.

"Yes, the whole world. Although the painting is somewhat sketchy, and the painting is centered on the southern continent, all the prominent signs depicted in the picture, such as large rivers, mountains, waterfalls, and coasts, can be found in reality. ”

Gutrive asked incredulously, "All marked?" All the coasts, mountains and rivers? ”

"Yes." The giant master said.

"Giant.. If that's the case.." Gutrive said in disbelief, "If that's the case.... Could it be that .. The Anka people, a long time ago, have explored the whole world? That's why they could have painted a picture like that? ”

"I think so." "I think that at that time, the great empires of the world had not yet been established, and most of the peoples were still in the age of chaotic and ignorant settlements. The advanced Anka people, they bravely explore the unknown in this world, they have traveled to every corner of the world, they have recorded all kinds of things they have seen in the world, and they should also bring the first light to the chaotic people everywhere. ”

Gutrive pondered for a moment and muttered, "Great, to hear you say this, it is very likely that those Anka people who once created a glorious civilization have traveled to every corner of the world in an environment where there are no enemies. ”

"I yearn for that time." The giant master walked a few steps, and he looked up in the direction of Dingirla and said.