Back at their hotel, Ryo and Aiko couldn't stop discussing the hidden passage and treasure room they had discovered. The day's adventure had left them exhilarated and eager for more. They decided to return to the palace the next day, armed with a plan to uncover more of its secrets.
That night, they pored over the photographs they had taken and the notes they had made. Aiko carefully examined the ancient script they had found on the letters in the hidden chamber, while Ryo tried to find any historical references to hidden rooms in the palace.
"We need to figure out what these letters say," Aiko said, squinting at the faded ink. "There might be clues here."
"I know someone who might be able to help," Ryo replied. "Professor Mehta at the local university is an expert in ancient languages. Let's visit him tomorrow."
The next morning, they headed to the university. Professor Mehta, a kindly old man with a wealth of knowledge, welcomed them into his office.
"This is fascinating," he said, examining the photographs of the letters. "These are written in an old dialect of Sanskrit. It will take some time, but I can translate them for you."
"Thank you so much, Professor," Aiko said. "We really appreciate it."
"Come back in a few days, and I'll have something for you," he promised.
With that, Ryo and Aiko returned to the palace. This time, they were more cautious, avoiding the areas where they might run into the elderly man again. They headed straight for the hidden door and re-entered the secret passage.
They retraced their steps to the treasure room, but this time, they took a different passage that branched off halfway. The narrow corridor led them to another hidden chamber, this one larger and more elaborate.
The room was filled with more treasures, including ancient artifacts, paintings, and a large, intricately carved wooden box. Aiko carefully opened the box, revealing a collection of old maps and scrolls.
"These maps look ancient," Ryo said, unrolling one carefully. "They might show us more hidden passages."
As they studied the maps, they realized they had found detailed plans of the entire palace, including several more hidden rooms and secret passages.
"This is incredible," Aiko said. "We need to explore these."
Just as they were about to leave the chamber, they heard voices approaching. They quickly extinguished their lantern and hid behind a large statue. Two men entered the room, their conversation barely audible.
"This place needs to be sealed off," one of the men said. "We can't have tourists finding it."
"I know," the other replied. "But we need to move the treasures first. We'll come back tonight."
Ryo and Aiko exchanged a worried glance. They waited until the men left before emerging from their hiding spot.
"We need to get these maps out of here," Ryo whispered. "They'll lead us to more hidden rooms."
They quickly gathered the maps and left the chamber, carefully making their way back to the main part of the palace. They managed to exit without being seen and hurried back to their hotel.
That evening, they spread the maps out on their bed and began plotting their next moves. They marked the locations of the hidden rooms and passages, excited by the prospect of further exploration.
"We have to be careful," Ryo said. "Those men are serious about sealing these places off."
"I know," Aiko replied. "But we can't stop now. We're uncovering history."
Over the next few days, they continued their explorations, discovering more hidden chambers and artifacts. Each new discovery fueled their excitement and determination to uncover the palace's secrets.
When they returned to Professor Mehta, he had the translations ready.
"These letters tell the story of a royal conspiracy," he explained. "It seems there were plans to hide the treasures and keep them safe from invaders."
Ryo and Aiko were stunned. They had stumbled upon a piece of history that had remained hidden for centuries.
"This is amazing," Aiko said. "We have to share this with the world."
Ryo nodded. "But first, we need to explore every last secret this palace holds."
With renewed determination, they prepared for another day of adventure, knowing that the mysteries of the City Palace were far from being fully uncovered.