With a cigar dangling from his mouth, Garfield asked casually, "Brother, what's your name? Why are you here? You miss home?"
The bald man exhaled smoke and replied calmly,
"My name's Wang Defa. I'm here to complete a task assigned by my boss up above."
"Oh." Garfield nodded thoughtfully.
"Good name. I think people all over the world mention you every day."
Wang Defa looked helpless. "What can I say? Times change. Popular culture evolves."
Then he glanced sideways at Garfield. "By the way… you really are from Kamar-Taj, aren't you?"
Garfield nodded. "My master is the Ancient One."
"I'll be heading to Asgard in a few days, too," Garfield added casually. "Going to call Odin father."
Clatter.
Wang Defa nearly dropped the cigar from his mouth.
"Brother," He said seriously, "Don't scare me like that."
Garfield waved a paw. "I am treating you like family, that's why we're being honest. Look at the trust between brothers."
Wang Defa stared at the sky for a moment, then sighed.
"Alright, I lose."
He picked up the cigar, looked at it thoughtfully, and said,
"I don't think I'll smoke this anymore. If I tell people it's a gift from you, it might sell for a fortune."
Garfield calmly pulled out a full box. "Authentic Cuban high-end goods. Limited edition. For smoking."
"That's too embarrassing." Wang Defa said… while kicking the entire box into his pocket and taking two more deep puffs.
After a moment, Garfield asked again, "So, brother… what exactly are you doing here?"
Wang Defa thought for a while.
"It's not convenient to explain. But I can promise you one thing, I'm not here to destroy the world."
"I'm here to retrieve something from Anubis that never belonged to him."
I see.
Garfield finally understood why the Ancient One had warned him before sending him here…
There's someone special present. Don't interfere and don't get too involved.
Anyone who dared demand something back from Anubis had backing that was no joke.
But whose?
The Eastern Heavenly Court?
Olympus?
The Silver City?
Garfield didn't know and didn't intend to find out.
Curiosity killed the cat, after all.
"Alright." Garfield said. "Brother Wang, we'll give you respect. We won't interfere in your business, just don't mess with ours."
Wang Defa nodded, then asked, "Aren't you worried about Imhotep destroying the world?"
"What can he do?" Garfield rolled his eyes. "At worst, he'll mess around in this desert."
"If he dares step outside." Garfield added lazily, "Before he even figures out how to use a cellphone, someone will come along and give him a discount on his legs."
"…That's true," Wang Defa admitted. "I was worrying for nothing."
One man and one cat continued chatting… from cigarettes, to food, to the undeniable truth that instant noodles taste better when soaked in cold water.
As for why braised beef noodles never actually contain beef…
Neither of them could explain it.
Perhaps that was the difference between reality and fantasy. Compared to their leisurely mood, Alex's emotional state was a complete mess.
Hope.
Despair.
Hope again.
Despair again.
The constant swings made his heart feel like it couldn't take much more.
Why did I ever put on that cursed bracelet? he thought bitterly.
If he hadn't brought this upon himself, he'd be back home right now… enjoying a peaceful life…
Instead of sitting in a sweltering metal train, surrounded by endless yellow sand, wondering if he'd live to see tomorrow.
Inside the carriage, the curator leaned close to his confidant, Lock-Nah, and whispered,
"Lock-Nah… do you think it'd be a good idea for me to build a relationship with that orange cat now?"
Lock-Nah shook his head firmly. "Curator, I think people are easier to communicate with than cats."
The curator frowned.
"Cats can't be that smart." He said confidently. "Their IQs are lower, after all."
He reached into his pocket and triumphantly pulled out two pieces of dried fish.
"Look. I came prepared."
"Curator… that is not an ordinary orange cat." Lock-Nah closed his eyes and sighed.
The curator waved him off. "It's still a cat, isn't it? And cats like dried fish."
With that logic firmly in place, the curator marched out of the carriage, dried fish in hand.
Lock-Nah watched him go, then silently clasped his hands together.
…May the gods bless you.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream