"Oh no! Evans Kahn really came back!"
Accompanied by that wizard's terrified shouting, the entire camp erupted like an ignited powder keg.
Countless chaotic footsteps erupted from all directions. Shouts filled with fear echoed through the chaos.
"Damn it, who told me this was just a routine investigation mission!"
"Hiss... I should have realized when I saw Mr. Bill's brother! They all actually came, so this matter must be related to him!"
"Quick, quick, quick! Forget about that—assemble first! Don't keep that person waiting!"
Evans's frustration grew as he heard those barely audible, frightened voices.
Was it really necessary to be this scared?
He didn't think he'd done anything particularly wrong back then. Why did everyone look at him like they'd seen a ghost?
Fortunately, the shouting didn't last long. About half a minute later, a neat row of people stood before Evans and the griffin Ankhaton.
Some wore Auror uniforms, some had just changed into pajamas, and some hadn't even had time to pull up their pants—yet they all stood rigidly before him, eyes straight ahead, as if waiting for a superior's inspection.
He dared say that even when facing the Auror Office Director, these people had never stood this neatly!
Honestly, if not for a few whose appearances were really off, these Aurors were standing quite properly and very orderly.
But looking at those rigidly standing Aurors, Evans's frustration only intensified.
Wasn't it just that I'd beaten them up a few times? Not everyone had been beaten either. Among these people, familiar faces only made up about a third.
How come the others who'd never seen me were also terrified? Even more afraid than those who had?
What rumors about me were these people spreading?
Evans shook his head and spoke helplessly. "What are you standing here for? Go complete your tasks—do whatever you need to do."
"Yes!"
Accompanied by uniform shouting, the Aurors stiffly turned around and walked toward their respective tents, trembling noticeably as they went.
"Long time no see, Senior!"
A familiar voice came from behind. Evans turned to see Charlie walking this way, limping slightly as if nursing an injury.
"What happened to you?"
Charlie looked down at his calf, then raised his head with a carefree smile.
"Nothing serious—just a minor injury. I already drank healing potions. Should be fine by tonight."
"I brought Fawkes along. Later, I'll have him treat you." After Evans finished speaking, he asked, puzzled, "Where are Bill and the others?"
"Inside discussing strategies. I just came out to use the bathroom and happened to hear what those people said, so I came to greet you." Charlie's expression seemed strained, as if he were barely maintaining his composure.
Seeing Charlie's barely contained smile, Evans helplessly shrugged. "Let's go. Let's join them first."
After rounding several tents and scaring several patrolling Aurors into trembling, Evans finally arrived at Bill's temporary camp.
Just lifting the tent flap, he heard Bill's steady voice.
"...After Senior arrives, we'd best search around that pyramid first to look for clues. By then, the permissions I applied for should also come through, and we'll all go to Gringotts' archives together to see if there's corresponding information."
Having spent several years as a Curse-Breaker in Egypt, Bill had broken countless magical seals and tombs and translated countless ancient texts and parchments. He considered himself quite knowledgeable about Egyptian history. But that pyramid was completely outside his knowledge. He didn't even know how it had suddenly appeared, nor was he clear what those monsters inside and that strange black mist were meant for.
"If searching for information still yields no clues..." Worry flashed in Bill's eyes before he noticed his teammates were no longer looking at him—they were all looking toward the entrance.
He turned his head, somewhat puzzled. Surprise flashed across his face.
"Senior!"
"Long time no see." Evans smiled at Bill and studied the two men and one woman beside him.
Since this was originally meant to eliminate the Hunting Association's remnants, he hadn't planned to call too many people. Besides his Egyptian friends and the Weasley brothers Charlie and Bill, he'd only called the three people he'd gotten along best with when attacking the Ministry: Jafari, Badru, and Naunet—all local Egyptian bounty hunters with considerable abilities. Dissatisfied with Ankhsethi's dictatorship and having had their bounties withheld, they had successfully rebelled with Evans's support. He'd called them because their bounty hunter identities made them more suitable for hunting those remnants.
"Must be two years since we've seen each other?" The bald, dark-skinned, burly man, Jafari sitting on the far left, showed Evans two rows of white teeth.
"Yes, two years have passed without even a letter, except for holidays." The woman beside Jafari regarded Evans with obvious resentment in her eyes.
Badru, sitting innermost, didn't speak—only silently nodded at Evans.
"It's not just holiday letters, right? For your birthdays, didn't I also send gifts?" Evans casually waved his hand, pulled out a chair beside Bill, and sat down. He also pulled out the nearby chair so Charlie could sit more comfortably.
After doing all this, he looked at those three, then at Bill beside him.
"I noticed those Aurors didn't seem very afraid of you all?"
Clearly, this group had been discussing matters, but when he'd been on Ankhaton watching, those Aurors' attitudes were relaxed. Only after seeing him did they become tense.
"Afraid? Why should they fear us?" The bald, burly man, Jafari, scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. However, Bill, beside Evans, instantly became strange, as if he were about to burst out laughing.
"When I arrived just now, they looked like they'd seen a ghost. Within half a minute, they'd lined up before me, looking as if being even slightly late would get them killed on the spot." Evans's expression was very helpless. "Who's spreading rumors about me? What's my reputation like now?"
Bill turned away, his shoulders shaking as if he were struggling hard to hold something back.
And Naunet, sitting not far away, didn't have such good composure.
"Hahahaha!" The woman covered her mouth, releasing a series of wild laughter. After laughing for half a minute, she finally stopped, though her tone still carried thick amusement.
"You mean, the Egyptian Ministry's most terrifying nightmare—who alone can overturn an entire 50-person Auror squadron, carries countless terrifying magical creatures, and whenever in a bad mood will grab a few Ministry officials as beast feed..."
The descriptions became increasingly absurd. Evans finally couldn't stand it and interrupted the woman's words.
"All right, stop talking! Let's discuss that pyramid instead!"