I need to know if you're good enough 3
After lunch, Nazreen sent Hidayah, Erika and Daniel back to the office while Hidayat and his assistant, Sharmeena went to the orphanage. After sending the three friends to ARK Corporation building, he drove to Cerberus' lair with Anston to meet up with his father-in-law and his grandfather-in-law.
According to Loh Liwei, it was time for Nazreen to be inducted and tested further to ensure that he is truly worthy for his treasured granddaughter, the next matriarch of the Loh clan.
True to its name, the entrance to Cerberus' lair is hidden at the oldest Chinese cemetery of Country C. A land that houses most of Country C's Loh clan's predecessors and some other prominent families.
Arriving at the main cemetery gate, Anston instructed Nazreen to slow the car's speed and drive towards the northern part of the cemetery. Nazreen dropped the speed to almost 30km/hour. The drive was fas considering the speed but still slow enough for the man to take a good look at the unique designs, carvings and inscriptions of different cultures.
Some tombs even had guardian statues and or gates that 'protects' them. The cutest decorations he saw was for a Hokkien clan cluster that has four Sikh statues partnered with a dog that make up the corners of the cluster's barricade.
As he drove deeper into the area, he notices that the tombstones are posher and richer in decorations. He could even see some Steele made of bronze or gold which was uncommon among the Chinese community.
After driving for about half an hour, they reached another gated ten-feet stone wall enclosure. Nazreen stopped the car in front of a metal box on a post with a keypad on. He then entered the access code that was given by Anston on a piece of Sugiharagami; a Japanese paper made from Kozo (Paper Mulberry). Thereafter, the gate slowly opened inwards and Nazreen ignited the car engine again before driving in.
Inside, he could see more tombstones with a simpler Hakka Steele design. Only a couple of them has more elaborate design and double the height. Curious, he asked Anston, "how come there are some headstones that are designed differently from the rest?"
"Those bigger headstones belong to the previous clan heads. Most of them were made of Blue Limestone. Not only that, the design has to be designed by the heir within one month of the deceased demise. So for example, if grandfather and uncle Kamari passes away, Hidayah will be the one to be designing their headstone. But, if Hidayah were to succeed the 'throne' before both of them dies, the next-in-line, namely Hidayat, will be the one to design the headstones. The one we will be going to today is our first patriarch and only crypt." Anston explained. "But if you want to know, Hidayah already designed both patriarchs' headstone and even prepared the inscriptions to go with the headstone" he chuckled thinking back to his cousin's weird obsession for preparing way beforehand.
"Okay…" Nazreen acknowledged. He was weirded out by the idea of preparing them beforehand too. However, her eccentric behaviour is rather endearing too.
"Stop by that big tree," Anston told Nazreen while pointing to a century-old Acacia tree with hanging vines. Nazreen parked the car as instructed and they alighted from the car. Nazreen then checked to confirm that he had locked the doors before following Anston towards the crypt.
Standing in front of the entrance, they could see various unscrambled Greek symbols engraved around the door frame. Anston pressed on the carvings in a sequence and quickly stepped away. Seeing Anston's odd action, he followed suit.
Gruk gruk gruk
A sound as if a mechanism were being ignited and stones were being ground again each other. The tile in front of the door slowly dropped and slide inwards, showing an underground stairway.
"Let's go. The elders have been waiting." Anston said. NAzreen followed the man descending the stairs. As they go further, the halfway lit up. Halfway down, he could hear the secret passage door move again.
After walking for what it seems like an eternity, Anston finally stopped in front of a double-leaf door. He knocked on the door three times before pushing the door open. "Satan," he greeted the man sitting behind the desk and nodded towards the other that was sitting in opposite the man.
"Anston, Nazreen, come in.." Since 'Satan' had addressed them by name, Anston greeted the man again, "Yéye!" Anston walked towards Loh Liwei and stopped behind him before reaching out to hug the old man.
Nazreen greeted the old man and his father-in-law.
"You're late!" Loh Liwei sounded his grandson.
"Yéye… I came here straight after lunch with the twins and gang. You know how the girls can drag their chattering, right?" Anston tried to defend himself. Well, it was the truth anyway… They were delayed by Erika and Hidayah's talk about the itinerary for the holiday and also about her confession to Leoniel.