"You're planning to give me your watch?!" Jonathan's eyes widened in disbelief. He was certain Herman was just messing with him.
Those watches were definitely not cheap. If he sold them to the right wealthy buyer, he could probably buy a mansion in London!
"Consider it payment. If you can introduce me to a guide—someone truly knowledgeable about Egypt's history and legends—then they'll be yours." Herman had long since lost any interest in Rolex watches.
After all, once he returned to his own time, he could get as many as he wanted. In fact, Rolex would probably be eager to gift entire collections to billionaires like him just to boost their brand image.
Trading a handful of ordinary trinkets for the power of Anubis was an incredible deal. Herman already had a plan forming in his mind.
The voice calling out to him certainly wasn't the so-called power of death. Still, taking some time to study Anubis's power before seeking that voice wouldn't hurt. For Herman, time was the least valuable thing he possessed.
"Someone who really knows Egypt's history and legends? Of course! I know just the person! My sister—she's an expert, completely obsessed with Egypt's history!"
"Yes! She's the expert! She'll definitely meet your requirements, boss!" Jonathan, ever the money-minded opportunist, didn't hesitate to sell out his own sister.
And that... was exactly what Herman wanted. Naturally, he didn't let on how much he already knew about the siblings.
"Your sister?"
Herman feigned confusion.
His Oscar-worthy performance looked completely natural.
"That's right! Anything about Egypt—you name it, she knows it!" Jonathan was still held in place, frozen by telekinesis.
However—
His earlier panic had vanished. His eyes were glued to Herman's wrist, completely captivated by the glittering watches.
"Very well... deal."
Herman released his telekinetic hold. Caught off guard, Jonathan lost his balance and collapsed to the ground.
Even so, despite the fall, his gaze never left Herman's wrist.
"If your sister agrees to help me, they're yours." Herman brushed his wrist lightly, and the priceless watches vanished into dimensional space.
He wasn't some lust-driven fool.
He simply needed a guide to help him locate the City of the Dead, where Anubis's power resided, and the resting place of the Scorpion King.
Both locations were sealed by barrier-like nodes, similar to the space that had once housed the Reality Stone within that abandoned building. Herman couldn't just fly into space to observe them, nor could he sense them remotely through his power.
When he first arrived in this era, he'd already surveyed the entire desert from the market, but found no trace of anything supernatural.
His Super Vision could perceive minute details, but it wasn't like Heimdall's sight that could pierce through seals and barriers.
"My god! Your witchcraft... it's incredible!" Jonathan's small eyes nearly popped out as he witnessed another supernatural scene. With his sharp, monkey-like features, it was hard to imagine how he had such a beautiful sister.
"Just a few simple tricks. Lead the way."
Herman chuckled softly. His calm gaze made Jonathan instinctively nervous.
"Come with me! I'm a straight-up guy—when I say my sister's capable, she really is. You have no idea how obsessed she is with Egypt's history."
"She's actually over there at the market right now. You know, we came from Cairo. My sister works at the National Library."
Jonathan spoke rapidly, clearly trying to get on Herman's good side.
But when he tried to move closer, Herman's calm eyes flicked toward him again. Jonathan shivered instantly, his scheming thoughts vanishing on the spot.
"Brother… you must be a man of great power. I've only ever felt that kind of authority from those high-and-mighty lords."
Jonathan began to feel a growing sense of awe toward Herman.
He led Herman through the bustling market streets, weaving through the crowd. Wanting to earn those Rolex watches, he had no intention of trying to shake him off.
"Power? Perhaps."
Herman wasn't sure if "the authority of the Law" or "divine power" could really be called power. The effect his gaze had on Jonathan hadn't been intentional—it was simply the natural pressure a higher life form exerted on a lesser one.
"Let me see… she should be around here somewhere."
Jonathan guided Herman through the crowd until they arrived at a stall selling old trinkets.
"This thing's already broken. I can only give you ten bucks at most. Trust me, those gold diggers won't buy junk like this."
The voice belonged to a young woman, clear and melodic like a lark's. She wore a black veil that concealed her face as she crouched before the stall, bargaining with the vendor.
She was Evelyn, the heroine of the Mummy series. Even wrapped from head to toe in coarse linen garments, her graceful figure couldn't be completely hidden.
"Hey! My dear little sister!"
Jonathan's grin lit up like he'd just found a pile of Rolex watches, his tone brimming with exaggerated affection.
"Damn it, Jonathan! What trouble have you dragged me into this time?"
Evelyn turned to look at him. Behind her black veil, her beautiful face still carried a faint smile—until her eyes fell on the man standing beside her brother. Her expression shifted immediately, recalling Jonathan's long history of disastrous escapades.
"This gentleman… did he steal something from you? I can help pay him back. Please, don't make things too difficult for him."
Evelyn handed over ten dollars for her purchase, carefully packed a small clay figurine, and hurried toward Herman and Jonathan.
She had clearly misunderstood the situation between them—though perhaps "misunderstood" wasn't quite the right word. After all, Jonathan really had tried to steal from Herman earlier, and the habitual thief had been caught red-handed. It was just that Herman hadn't come seeking compensation.
"Um… sir… what exactly did he steal from you?"
At first, Evelyn was momentarily captivated by Herman's striking appearance. Her amber eyes lingered on his face for a long while before she remembered to negotiate on her brother's behalf.
"My dear sister! You've got it all wrong! This is my good brother—oh right, brother, what was your name again?"
Jonathan had meant to bluff his way through the introduction, but only when he opened his mouth did he realize he didn't even know Herman's name. His expression turned awkward as he glanced toward him.
"Just call me Herman," Herman said, giving the Western name tied to his first identity in the Marvel Universe—[Fallen Director].
"Right, right! Long time no see! I completely forgot his name! Herman's an old friend I met during my travels in the East!"
Jonathan was the type who could lie without hesitation.
However, his flimsy acting couldn't fool his sister, who had grown up seeing through him.
A "close friend" whose name you can't even remember?
"An Easterner? China?"
Though Evelyn suspected her brother was lying, she couldn't quite guess what he was planning. She simply glanced at Herman, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
"Mhm."
Herman nodded.
"China is also an ancient civilization, its history even older than Egypt's. I've long wanted to see the Terracotta Warriors in person."
"Could you describe what the Terracotta Warriors look like?" Evelyn's eyes sparkled with fascination, her love for ancient civilizations shining through.
"Perhaps I could just show you a photo?"
As he spoke, Herman reached into his dimensional space and retrieved a promotional photo of the Terracotta Army. His pocket dimension was cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends—this particular photo was something he'd casually taken from the Daily New York Press.
"A color photo!?"
Evelyn took the photo from him and stared in astonishment, her wide eyes far more charming than Jonathan's ever could be. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll. It was almost baffling how two siblings from the same mother could look so different.
"The latest photo-coloring technology," Herman said smoothly.
He was a natural liar, though this one was half true. Color photography had already been invented during World War II—it was just still rare and hadn't yet reached the public.
"Oh my goodness! They're absolutely stunning!"
Evelyn didn't question it. She was simply awestruck by the vividness of the color image, the sight of the Terracotta Warriors filling her with genuine wonder.
"I must see them with my own eyes one day!"
Her voice carried firm resolve. Beyond her obsession with Egypt's history, she also held a deep fascination for other ancient civilizations around the world.
"You'll get your chance," Herman replied with a light chuckle.
He knew all too well—had Evelyn and Jonathan not stumbled into the Marvel Universe, they would indeed have witnessed the majesty of the Terracotta Army decades later. Not only that, but this woman would even have the chance to face the resurrected Dragon Emperor himself.
"This photograph is incredibly precious… let me think. You don't seem like someone short on money—what could I offer in exchange for it?"
Evelyn couldn't take her eyes off the photo as she spoke.
Jonathan seized the opportunity.
"Perfect timing! My friend here needs your help! Let's talk business!" His mind was still fixated on the Rolex watches.
"You need my help?"
Evelyn looked at Herman, puzzled.
She was only a scholar—a gentle historian. What kind of help could she possibly offer him?
...
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