The scene rapidly slipped out of control.
Garfield, O'Connor, and Jonathan arrived at the front just as Anck-su-namun and Evelyn were fully engaged.
O'Connor initially moved to separate them, then paused.
After a brief assessment, he chose to wait and see.
Imhotep did not intervene. O'Connor did not intervene.
And so, a strange situation emerged… a group of people standing around, watching two women fight beneath a death god's pyramid, like spectators comparing whose vehicle had superior combat performance.
Wang returned shortly afterward.
He brought the curator and Lock-Nah with him, along with a woman in a modern combat uniform.
She carried a handful of metallic scales in one hand, a compact melon-shaped grenade hanging at her waist.
A tall, beautiful girl with long, straight black hair.
A good car.
Her silhouette was smooth and powerful, lines clean and balanced.
Matte-black combat plating hugged her frame, reinforced with external armor that looked both practical and lethal.
She bore an uncanny resemblance to Queen Ida, though if she were wearing a long red dress, the similarity would have been unmistakable.
Garfield felt a strong urge to recruit her.
Hei Changzhi glanced at the ongoing brawl and clicked her tongue. "Heh. Men."
Wang Defa scratched his nose awkwardly.
She turned to him immediately. "Wang, I wasn't talking about you."
Garfield noticed Wang's eyes flicker for a moment.
Oh, he thought. He definitely had expectations.
"Enough."
Imhotep finally decided the spectacle had gone on long enough.
He stepped forward and forcibly separated the two combatants, Anck-su-namun restrained by him, Evelyn pulled back by O'Connor.
The two women continued glaring at each other, neither willing to concede.
Had they not been stopped, the outcome would have been decided decisively and violently.
Imhotep and O'Connor each moved to console their respective wives.
At this point, Imhotep had already made up his mind. He wanted out.
He shoved Alex toward Evelyn and O'Connor, then pointed sharply at the pyramid entrance.
"Go inside. Find the Scorpion King. Once he's dead, the bracelet will fall off."
With that, he wrapped an arm around Anck-su-namun and turned to leave.
O'Connor, apparently possessed by a sudden death wish, opened his mouth.
"What? Scared?"
Imhotep's brow twitched. He did not answer and continued walking.
O'Connor was not finished. "Hey, Imhotep! Don't be a coward!"
Imhotep stopped.
This was… embarrassing.
He glanced at Anck-su-namun, silently begging for a graceful exit.
Unfortunately, she had finished fighting, was still furious, and had absolutely no grasp of the bigger picture.
She lifted her chin proudly. "My love, don't be afraid. He's only a mortal. He can't defeat you."
"…" Imhotep stared at her. She… sold me out.
What now?
Imhotep was officially stuck.
In the end, pride won. A man who wants to save face must suffer.
Imhotep ground his teeth, shot O'Connor a murderous glare, and declared, "I, the High Priest Imhotep, do not fear a mere mortal."
Before anyone could stop him, he released Anck-su-namun, seized O'Connor by the collar, and dragged him toward the pyramid entrance.
"Honey! Wait for me!" Anck-su-namun cried, suddenly realizing something had gone terribly wrong.
She rushed after them.
Evelyn, seeing the situation collapse into inevitability, followed immediately.
Then the curator.
Lock-Nah.
Jonathan.
One by one, they all entered the pyramid.
Outside, Wang and Garfield stood in silence. They exchanged a look.
"It's over" Wang said.
Garfield sighed. "He's doomed."
"Buying a car really requires careful consideration."
"Exactly." Garfield replied solemnly. "You can't only look at the exterior. The interior matters far more."
They sighed again.
Cigars lit, Wang and Garfield followed them inside.
After a brief hesitation, Hei Changzhi clenched her teeth, adjusted her grip on her equipment, and followed Wang into the pyramid as well.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream