v3 Chapter 251： Owl and Doom (2/2)

Just like all cities have a city center, Rome is no exception. Its city center is in the Roman Forum.

More than a century ago, it was just a desolate, barren swamp with mosquitoes, no one living there, and even the Romans buried their dead relatives here, but after centuries, the large drainage ditch led away the valley. The water turned the water here into hard ground.

At that time, Rome was still in the Republican era. People paved the way here, built temples and Basilica, so that it became more and more prosperous, and gradually formed a huge square. In the era of the Empire, because of the continuous expansion of the territory And the explosion of the urban population, the original Roman Forum has been unable to meet the needs, so five new squares have been built around it.

But there is no doubt that the Roman Forum is still the most central area. The former emperor Marc Aurelius has given a memorial in memory of Caesar here, and the gilded pillar in front of the podium is all the roads leaving Rome. It is also the end of the proverb ”All roads lead to Rome.”

But Zhang Heng didn't come here to visit tonight. He walked through the huge arches built by Augustus and passed through the center of the square, where a vine, an olive tree and a fig tree were planted. Known as the sacred tree of Rome, Zhang Heng looked up to see the temples located on the Capitoline Hill, where the gods of Rome are worshipped.

Two of the most magnificent temples stood on the top of the mountain, one left and one right, respectively, the temple of the **** king Jupiter and the goddess Juneau.

Zhang Heng knew that Otrus was in one of these two temples. He didn't waste time and walked up the wide stone steps.

During the day, Roman Forum is almost the most lively place in the entire Roman city. The crowds are crowded, and devout believers line up in front of the temples, large and small, and beggars will ask them at this time. Food or copper coins, vendors will haw each of their goods at the stalls around the square, and Basilica will always have a wonderful quiz ...

But now, after entering the world of the night, all this is quiet again, only the flame of the Vesta Temple is still burning.

Zhang Heng did not encounter any obstacles on the way, and soon climbed to the top of the mountain.

Afterwards he hesitated ~~ first came to the Jupiter Temple on the left, the flames on the altar had extinguished, leaving only some charred bones and garlands around, Zhang Heng bypassed the altar and came When I reached the closed bronze gate, I threw away the stones I picked up on the road.

After a while, the bronze door slowly opened, and a young priest rubbed his eyes and poked his head out, but he looked around, but did not see any figure outside, and then looked further away. I saw an owl standing at the wall and couldn't help cursing.

The owl is always a symbol of doom in Rome, so it is not a good thing to see an owl.

The young priest dared not look around anymore, retracted his body, and closed the door again. What he didn't notice, however, was that when he was staring at the owl, a figure above his head slipped into the temple silently.

Zhang Heng has been practicing stealth during this period of time, and with the blessing of [Creuss Heart], even if he passes by ordinary people, it is difficult to be found as long as he is not seen.

Zhang Heng was not in a hurry. He waited in the shadow of the ceiling for a while, and then returned to the ground until the young priest walked back to his residence, and then he reached the marble statue of Jupiter.

Zhang Heng's gaze was not on the life-like statue of art, but on the stone seat under the statue. He squatted down and touched the vent below.