Just as Evelyn was about to press for more details—was it a trick? Some kind of magic? Or perhaps a chemical reaction?
Before she could ask, the warden had already brought out the person they were looking for.
"Is that him?"
Ethan turned to ask Jonathan. Of course, he recognized the disheveled, messy-haired man in front of him as Rick O'Connell, their target, but he couldn't let it show. Sometimes he had to pretend to be clueless.
"That's him."
Jonathan had also recovered by now. Unlike the locals, he was a 'superior being' from a civilized country and wasn't as superstitious. When Evelyn mentioned magic and chemical reactions, he figured Ethan's display was likely just some sleight of hand.
Just as Ethan had said, "It was just a small trick, nothing to be surprised about."
Back to normal, Jonathan even stepped forward with a grin to greet O'Connell. "We meet again."
O'Connell looked a bit confused. A group of strangers had come looking for him. He figured they were probably after information about Hamunaptra, and he had prepared for that. What he didn't expect was that these people would be so influential—the warden had clearly been afraid of them.
His shackles had already been removed. After wearing handcuffs for so long, his wrists were sore. As O'Connell gently rubbed them, he kept scanning the group, trying to determine who was in charge.
As for Jonathan, who had stepped up cheerfully, O'Connell didn't bother with him. This guy was clearly a clown.
Also, he looked really familiar. Had they met before?
"We want to ask you a few questions."
Evelyn didn't care about anything else. Her mind was fully focused on Hamunaptra. Seeing O'Connell, who might know the location of the legendary city, she immediately stepped forward, eager to question him.
At this point, the warden said to Ethan, "The person you were looking for has been brought. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
He was dying for Ethan's group to leave, but didn't dare say so directly, only keeping a respectful distance.
To his relief, Ethan didn't want to linger. After all, Cairo prison was far from comfortable. The conditions were terrible. Under normal circumstances, no one would want to stay long. So after confirming O'Connell's presence, he casually pulled Evelyn back, who kept trying to get closer, and pointed at Jonathan. "Keep an eye on him. That guy's tied to your gold."
Nothing mattered more to Jonathan than gold. The greedy thief declared he'd definitely watch O'Connell closely and wouldn't let him escape. With that, the group left the prison.
At this point, O'Connell had already determined that the young man who didn't look very old was the leader of this group.
As for the so-called gold? He could guess it referred to the legendary treasure buried in Hamunaptra.
After leaving Cairo prison, Ethan and the others found a relatively clean hotel and checked in. While they didn't have currency from this era, Ethan always carried hard currency like gold and stones during world travel—these could be used almost anywhere.
While arranging accommodations, O'Connell suggested getting new clothes and cleaning himself up. Ethan didn't worry about him running, but just in case, he had Logan accompany him.
In the original plot, Evelyn had saved O'Connell from the gallows, and he had repaid her by leading her to Hamunaptra.
But now, none of that had happened. Who knew if O'Connell would run off the first chance he got? But with Logan around, there'd be no opportunity.
After sorting out the rooms, Ethan ordered some local dishes and asked for them to be delivered.
When the table was full of local food, O'Connell and Logan returned. Seeing the cleaned-up man—handsome and full of presence—Evelyn's infatuation was triggered again. She stared at him, forgetting to blink.
"All right. Now tell me what you got me out of prison for."
O'Connell already had a general idea of why they were looking for him. He just wanted to confirm. He walked to the table, sat down, and started eating heartily.
His time in prison had been rough. He hadn't eaten or slept well. Now that he was out, the first thing he wanted to do was feed his stomach.
Ethan didn't mind O'Connell's bluntness and responded just as directly.
"Hamunaptra. I need you to take us there."
O'Connell stuffed a few large bites of food into his mouth, feeling much better. He poured himself a drink and swallowed before replying.
"How do you know I know where Hamunaptra is?"
Ethan glanced at Jonathan. The habitual thief didn't want to talk at first, but even Evelyn was glaring at him now, so he reluctantly began to 'explain.'
"Remember me? We drank together at a tavern. You got drunk and let a few things slip..."
O'Connell smiled and looked at Jonathan, his expression one of 'realization.' "Ah, so that's how it is..." Before he finished, he punched Jonathan hard in the face, knocking the smirking thief out cold.
Now he remembered. He had seen this guy in a tavern, and the man had stolen a small item he had brought back from Hamunaptra.
He looked at the rest of the group, realizing they had figured out he knew Hamunaptra's location because of this.
He didn't intend to deny it. In fact, he also wanted to return there.
But finding a legendary pyramid in the vast desert wasn't simple. Most importantly, you needed enough funding.
O'Connell had strength, experience, and he knew the way, but not the money. Without proper equipment, traveling through the desert was a death sentence.
But now, the money had seemingly come to him.
By all appearances, this group wasn't short on funds.
"I can take you to Hamunaptra."
Evelyn, hearing this, immediately dropped the unconscious Jonathan to the ground. The extra impact woke the unlucky guy up, but he was groggy and confused about what had just happened.
"You really know where Hamunaptra is?"
"Isn't that why you came to find me?"
"Swear it?"
Not only was Ethan speechless, but even O'Connell gave him a look, silently asking, Where did this idiot woman come from? You're seriously bringing someone like this into the desert to look for the legendary City of the Dead?
"Mr. Rick O'Connell, I will provide all the necessary funding. You'll be responsible for preparing the equipment and supplies. Until we reach Hamunaptra, you'll be our 'commander.'"
Traveling through the desert wasn't easy. Without an experienced guide, it was suicide.
O'Connell had desert survival experience and had even made it back to Cairo from Hamunaptra. In this regard, no one in the group was more qualified to lead.
He was very satisfied with Ethan's offer. As for the gold in Hamunaptra? He wasn't all that interested. Or rather, this was a man who enjoyed the thrill of adventure. He cared more about the journey and also wanted to understand what strange things he had seen there last time.
"Let's have a pleasant cooperation."
"Pleasant cooperation."
Evelyn stood to the side, dazed. She suddenly felt like an outsider. Wasn't she the one who started this expedition to find Hamunaptra?
Just then, Jonathan got up, rubbing his aching head. He still hadn't figured out what was going on.
"Enjoy this meal. You won't get anything this good once we enter the desert."
O'Connell offered sincere advice, though at the same time, he looked at the group with anticipation.
Look at them. A naive, bookish woman who had clearly never suffered. A thief who only knew how to steal. A rich young man who looked strong but pampered. A delicate, pale-skinned Asian woman.
Only the big guy—Logan—seemed capable. Maybe he was a bodyguard? But O'Connell doubted he really understood how brutal the desert could be.
He was really looking forward to seeing how this team would handle the various difficulties they were about to face in the desert.
"It's definitely going to be interesting."
Maybe when the time came, these rich people would pay him more just to get them out of that hellhole. Or maybe they would regret this journey altogether.
"I really don't know if these people can even make it to Hamunaptra."
O'Connell didn't have much confidence in Ethan's group. Ethan, who likely knew he was being underestimated, didn't bother to explain. In any case, once they entered the desert, he certainly wouldn't be the one suffering.
More likely, it would be the brother and sister next to him. Jonathan's thievery was more like a reflex, and Evelyn had clearly studied herself into a fog. Neither of them had been through anything real, so this trip was bound to be entertaining.
As for the exploration team that was also headed for Hamunaptra, Ethan didn't believe they would be able to beat him to the Book of the Dead—not with his interference.
And even if they did find it first, they wouldn't be able to hold on to it.
(To be continued.)