The next day, the trio found themselves at Cairo Prison — a noisy, foul-smelling place filled with the groans of prisoners and the clanking of metal.
Well, to explain why they were here — Jonathan had finally confessed.
Apparently, the "gift" he'd given Evelyn wasn't exactly acquired through honest means.
He'd stolen it from a man who might actually know where it came from — and that man, as fate (or bad luck) would have it, was now rotting in this prison.
"I can't believe you lied to me!" Evelyn snapped, glaring daggers at her brother as they walked through the grimy courtyard.
Jonathan, completely unfazed, replied smoothly, "I lie to everybody, dear. It's a gift."
"But I'm your sister!" Evelyn shot back, indignant.
"That makes you more gullible," Jonathan said with a grin.
Daniel just sighed, hands in his pockets. "Family drama after breakfast—how refreshing."
He glanced around the grimy courtyard — guards yelling, prisoners groaning, the air thick with dust and sweat.
Then his eyes landed on a rotund man with a greasy mustache, chewing something lazily
"Hello, you must be the warden," Daniel said, recognizing him instantly — Gad Hassan, the same man who, if he remembered right, was destined to end up as scarab food.
The man looked up, unimpressed. "Yes. Gad Hassan. What do you want?"
"We'd like to see one of your prisoners," Daniel said evenly. "A man named Rick O'Connell."
The warden raised a brow, eyeing them suspiciously. "Ah, that guy … he's scheduled to be hanged."
"Why would you want to see a dead man?"
Evelyn straightened, her tone crisp and professional. "Because he might know something about this." She held up the ornate key-box Jonathan had stolen.
Daniel quickly stepped in, giving Jonathan a subtle signal to pull her back. "Not helping, Evelyn. Let me do the talking."
He turned toward the warden, flashing a friendly smile. "You see, the man you're about to hang—he's got some very important information."
The warden squinted, unimpressed. "Information about what?"
Daniel leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough to sound mysterious. "Hamunaptra."
That got the warden's attention immediately. His eyes widened, and he stopped chewing. "The City of Gold?" he asked, almost whispering the words like they were sacred.
"Yeah," Daniel said casually, crossing his arms. "That city. The man you're about to hang—he's been there. Knows the way."
The warden's greedy grin spread slowly across his face. "And you're certain of this?"
"Positive," Daniel replied smoothly. "He survived the desert, came back with this." He gestured toward the key-box in Evelyn's hands. "You think a trinket like that just falls from the sky?"
"So," Gad said, squinting suspiciously. "You people want to talk to this prisoner… so you can get the information and go find the treasure on your own, eh?"
Daniel smiled easily, holding his hands up as if in defense. "No, no, no, nothing like that, my friend. You see, this is ancient gold we're talking about. You don't just find it from a bit of gossip. We need a guide—someone who's actually been there and lived to tell about it."
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "And you, being the man in charge here, can make that happen. Right?"
Gad narrowed his eyes, chewing his date seed thoughtfully. "What's in it for me?"
"Ten percent of the treasure," Daniel said smoothly, flashing a confident grin.
The warden's expression turned calculating. "Twenty percent."
Daniel shook his head, sighing as though the man had just asked for the moon. "Twenty percent? Come on, Warden. That's too much. You see those two?" He gestured toward Evelyn and Jonathan, who stood bickering quietly nearby.
"They're the sponsors—wealthy archaeologists, big names, deep pockets. They're already claiming eighty percent of whatever we find. Without their money, supplies, and… certain knowledge, getting anywhere near Hamunaptra would be impossible."
Evelyn blinked. "Wait, what—"
Jonathan nudged her sharply. "Go with it," he muttered under his breath.
Daniel continued smoothly, never breaking his stride. "So that leaves ten percent for you, ten for me. Not bad, eh? You'll be the richest man in Cairo. Ten percent of an ancient pharaoh's gold isn't something to sneeze at."
Gad's expression softened, greed gleaming in his eyes. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. The richest man in Cairo, you say…"
Daniel smiled. "Exactly. Think of it—silk robes, gold rings, maybe your own private palace by the Nile."
The warden chuckled, belly shaking. "You've got a silver tongue, my friend. Fine. Ten percent it is."
"Excellent," Daniel said, flashing his most charming grin. "Now, why don't we go meet the man who's going to lead us to Hamunaptra?"
The warden spat out his seed and waved a hand. "Bring the prisoner!" he barked to the guards.
***
After about fifteen minutes, the guards finally dragged him out — Rick O'Connell.
He was a mess.
Prison rags hung loosely over him, his once-handsome face now half-hidden beneath an overgrown beard and a tangle of filthy hair.
Chains rattled around his wrists and ankles as two guards shoved him forward. Yet despite his state, there was still something unshakably confident in the way he stood — like a lion trapped behind rusty bars.
Evelyn's eyes widened, almost gleaming with excitement. "Oh my— You're— you're actually him! I just need to ask— where did you find this?" She lifted the key-box eagerly, stepping closer to the bars.
Before Evelyn could continue, Daniel quickly stepped in, placing a hand between them. "Eve, maybe let me handle this one."
She blinked. "What? Why?"
"Well , for some good reasons " said Daniel with a smile .
No way in hell was he letting that kiss happen — not on his watch.
*****
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