Iron Bull taucht wieder auf

Kapitel 57

Tanino roared, "To hell with the responsibility! I just want the gem! I just want the 'Eye of the Moon'—"

With a whoosh, Natura swiftly drew his pistol and pointed it at Gu Ye's forehead. He had just ambitiously and officially donned his military uniform, preparing to change his image and status, and for Gu Ye to speak to him in this tone was simply a sign that he was tired of living.

“Mr. Tanino, please be more polite. On Egyptian territory, you must learn to respect others, understand?” The cold muzzle of the gun was pressed against Tanino’s forehead, and the safety was immediately released. Natura’s tone was definitely not a joke.

No one spoke up to offer any advice. The scalpel lifted its eyelids to look at the two people who had suddenly stopped, then slowly closed its eyes again, remaining silent.

Gu Ye's eyes glared, like a frightened bull, but in the end he chose to submit, obediently raising his hands and speaking in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, High Priest, I was too impulsive."

Natura made a graceful holstering motion, the dark short gun spinning four or five times on his right index finger before swishing it back into its holster. He smiled nonchalantly and said, "It's good that you know you were wrong. We'll have plenty of time to cooperate in the future."

Tano dejectedly took out a cigarette, lit it, took seven or eight deep drags, let out a satisfied sigh, and slumped into the chair next to him.

Being able to stop the military's violent actions was my greatest victory, so I was filled with confidence for a moment.

"What do we do next?" Gu Ye's voice was completely hoarse. Since discovering the "Eye of the Moon Goddess," he had roared wildly no less than ten times. Even the best voice couldn't withstand such abuse.

Natura laughed: "Gentlemen, the gem has already appeared, so why worry about not being able to obtain it? Besides, you are all top experts in the tomb raiding world, how could you let such a small problem stump you?"

Aside from the venomous snakes and radiation, there's another shortcut to obtaining the gem: use a high-pressure nail gun to shoot steel nails connected to a cable into the roof directly opposite the stone platform. Then, swing down the cable, avoiding the snakes, and land on the platform. After obtaining the gem, grab the long pole or rope held by the person by the pool and swing back—

Of course, the prerequisite for doing this is that there must be enough anti-radiation suits to fully protect the people who are adventuring to retrieve the treasure.

This "needle in a haystack" method of tomb raiding was originally mainly used to seize treasures in deep valleys teeming with snakes and insects.

The surgeon once gave me an example: in a monastery behind Mount Everest in Tibet, he risked everything to retrieve a seven-colored malachite hidden in its underground palace. He made a desperate attempt, like "finding a needle in a haystack," surviving a massive swarm of tens of thousands of ferocious snow centipedes in a fraction of a second, and obtained the gem worth 4.3 million euros, which is still carefully preserved in a velvet display at the British Museum.

I nodded to Natura: "High Priest, you have something to discuss with Mr. Gu Ye, so I'll take my leave now."

Gu Ye's stubbornness and madness are giving me a headache. It's better to let him work hard and recklessly first, and then I can step in and offer advice after he's hit enough walls.

I am not afraid of venomous snakes, but I am very wary of the intense white radiation from the "Eye of the Moon".

No one tried to stop me, as if I were a transparent person who could come and go as I pleased. Oh well, in front of a group of scheming martial arts masters, it's safest to stay out of the spotlight to avoid being envied and secretly kicked when I'm down.

A heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung over the camp. Lights shone from the tents beside the derrick, where soldiers remained to guard the five monitors, ready to receive signals from the cameras inside the pyramid. Nearly ten hours had passed; the cameras would soon run out of power.

After the workers left, the camp became the temporary command post of the desert legion.

As they approached, Robert led a small patrol, flashlights gleaming in his hands, scanning the dark corner between the tents and the military vehicles. Seeing his triangular eyes, one could easily picture the eerie, venomous snakes in the tomb.

"Mr. Feng, General Tina requests your presence." He said this in a low voice as he passed me, then swaggered off on his patrol.

I approached Tina's tent. This secretive meeting suggested that Tina had some secret to reveal to me. I wasn't interested in Egyptian government affairs; I only wanted to get some information about tigers from her.

Tina stood facing the tent entrance, holding a pistol in both hands, exuding a fierce and sharp aura that swept over me.

"Looking for me? What do you need?" I smiled as I walked into the tent, smelling a faint scent of perfume in the air. I noticed she had just finished washing and dressing, her lips slightly pouting and bright red, giving her an unusually sexy look.

“Yes, Mr. Feng, I need your help with something. Can we get straight to the point?” She tossed her two pistols onto the cot beside her and pointed readily to the sofa on her left: “Please sit down. What would you like to drink? Chinese tea or coffee?”

I ordered a coffee, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a huge leather suitcase with its lid open next to the bed, inside which were seven or eight weapons of various lengths.

Tina sat down on the sofa next to me, pointed at the box with her toe, and said, "My private armory, do you have any weapons you particularly like?"

I laughed and shook my head: "I'm not an extreme, crazy terrorist in the Middle East, I'm not interested in weapons." A real master killer only needs a dagger or a pistol, there's no need to go to the trouble of carrying a dozen weapons, it's not like I'm rushing around for a show.

Tina paused for a moment, seemingly considering her words, before speaking slowly and deliberately: "Mr. Feng, it's not easy to meet an expert like you in the desert. I know you're arrogant and disdainful of anything or anyone in the Egyptian government, but now, as an ordinary girl about to fight tooth and nail to save my father and brother, I want to ask for your help—"

I smiled calmly to show that I was listening attentively.

"The Desert Legion's encirclement is controlled within five kilometers, and the High Priest Natura, nominally the president's right-hand man, has long since become a thorn in the side of the military within the government. I can boldly predict that within forty-eight hours, he will take control of the camp and use me as leverage to force the president to resign."

This news doesn't shock me. The camp is still under the control of the Rainbow Warriors. If Tina gives the order, it should be Natura who is taken down.

"So what? The Rainbow Warriors can take on ten men each, and there are eight thousand loyal guards in the Presidential Palace in Cairo. They'll arrive by helicopter within fifty minutes with just one phone call. So there's nothing to be afraid of, right?" I reassured her, taking the opportunity to observe her expression and see what her true intentions were.

“Mr. Feng, you’re mistaken. If the Desert Legion can turn Natura against them, how can they not turn the Guard Commander, the captains and squad leaders of the Rainbow Warriors? The purpose of inviting you here is to tell you frankly that I have nowhere else to turn, and there is no one I can trust—except you…”

I burst out laughing, thinking that Tina's words could be taken as the funniest joke ever.

Tina took an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to me: "Mr. Feng, I know what you suspect. Please take a look at this letter—you will understand that everything I have said is true."

I hesitated for a moment, considering whether it was necessary for me to get involved in this power struggle.

Tina's hand rested on the back of my hand across the coffee table, her tender affection replacing the fierce murderous intent in her eyes.

My heart softened, and with a sigh, I pulled out the letter. The first thing I saw was the bright red personal seal of the Egyptian president on the lower half of the letter, while the title of the letter was the English word "Letter of Appointment".

Since it is a letter of appointment, the wording is inevitably dull and bureaucratic, nothing more than "appointing so-and-so as the Special Minister of Administration of the Egyptian Government, who can act first and report later at any time to deal with all criminal acts that endanger Egypt's national security and territorial integrity."

“If Mr. Feng agrees, I would like to fill in your name in the blank.” Tina’s face was serious, and she spoke with great care.

I placed the letter on the coffee table, avoiding her hand, and said with a faint smile, "Remember we've already discussed this issue, and I've given a definite answer that I will not accept any position offered by the Egyptian government, much less work for the government. This is the last time I'm clarifying this, so please remember it clearly."

"Wind, help me thwart Natura's mutiny—" Tina's words suddenly became more direct.

I found it even more amusing: "Alright, alright, General Tina, if you brought me here just to joke around and relieve your boredom, I'm not in the mood for leisure or entertainment. Farewell..."

Before I could get up, Tina grabbed my wrists with both hands, forcefully pulling me back down: "Listen to me, Feng, Natura has received orders from the military that after obtaining the 'Eye of the Moon,' they will massacre the camp, leaving no survivors. If you don't act, you'll only face death, including your beloved Miss Suren—it's absolutely true! I won't lie to you; at this time, no one can stand aside and protect themselves..."

"Really?" These claims are somewhat exaggerated, but it's entirely possible. The dead are better at keeping secrets than the living, and the military is adept at using bloodshed and massacres to cover up any secrets.

“It’s true! I swear on my life, on the honor of the President of Egypt, and on the honor of my deceased mother, Princess Nosie of Great Britain and England, that everything I just said is absolutely true.”

This was the first time I'd heard Tina recount her background. She spoke of Princess Nosie, once hailed as "England's Golden Daisy," whose popularity far surpassed that of Princess Diana. But Princess Nosie had always been seen as a "single goddess" by the British public; how did Tina, this daughter of Egypt, suddenly appear?

My mind was a bit muddled, and suddenly I blurted out, "What do you want me to do? How can I help you?"

Tina's recounting of her background instantly shifted my affections towards her. Years ago, when I first arrived in Europe, I traveled with my mentor to England, France, Germany, and small Nordic countries. I witnessed Princess Nosie's stunning beauty at a fundraising event at the University of London for children with AIDS in Africa. By my own standards, all of Princess Diana's virtues combined don't even amount to half of Princess Nosie's.

She was once my dream girl, but of course, that was just a ridiculous dream of a young boy, and I never mentioned it to anyone.

Looking closely at Tina's face, one can vaguely see the charm of Princess Nosie from back then, only with more of the wild and fierce nature unique to Africans.

"Have you seen enough? If this is accomplished, I can stay with you forever, letting you see as much as you want, day and night..."

Tina's explicit confession suddenly stirred a sense of unease within my infatuated heart. A faint, strange fragrance lingered in the tent, not from Tina's perfume, but rather—

In a secluded corner next to the table, a bright green incense stick, about twenty centimeters long, was burning, with swirling smoke constantly billowing out.

"What...what's that scent?" I sneered, pushing Tina's hand away. I'd read an interview with Tina in the Cairo Daily; given her personality—"preferring military uniform to feminine attire"—it's absolutely impossible for her to wear makeup for no reason. Our relationship hadn't progressed to the point of being overly affectionate, so why the need for such cheesy and explicit talk? And the reason I blindly agreed to her request stemmed from a sudden, confused moment in my mind.

The problem must lie with that incense stick. Any goodwill I had towards Tina and Princess Nossie vanished instantly.

Tina's face turned cold, and she flatly denied it: "Fragrance? What fragrance? It's just ordinary sandalwood incense!"

Although the Egyptians did not understand "poisoning magic," their ancient witchcraft is an indispensable part of the global pantheon of occult arts. Mind reading, soul-capturing, and mind control... these have all been detailed in the audio magazine "Exploration."

If Tina were to resort to hypnotic spells to get my help—that would be the greatest insult to me.

I suddenly stood up and slapped the back of my head, sweeping away the numbness and confusion in my mind.

Tina stood up, her face flushed, and opened her mouth to explain something, when suddenly a sharp, high-pitched howl came from outside: "Report...report—"

Tina strode out of the tent and blurted out urgently, "Underground! Something's happened underground again!"

I followed him out, and the beam of the searchlight had already caught up with a soldier who was running wildly from the derrick. He was one of the men who had been sitting in the tent watching the monitors.

"Report—the camera is malfunctioning, General Tina! General Tina..."

In his desperation, he ran towards the large tent in the valley.

The curtain was suddenly lifted, and Gu Ye jumped out first, shouting, "What is it? What is it?"

Natula jumped out as well: "What is it? Report it immediately!"

Under the beam of the searchlight, the soldier, who had lost his boots, clutched his throat and gasped for breath. He was still ten steps away from the entrance of Gu Ye's tent when he staggered forward and collapsed onto the sand.

In a flash, it was Robert who reached the soldier first. He grabbed the soldier's arm and dragged him toward us without saying a word.

I understand that all the Rainbow Warriors revere Tina as their superior, and any situation that occurs in the camp is reported to her first, not to the self-righteous High Priest Natura. Robert, in particular, didn't even glance at the two men, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to Tina.

Natura reached for his gun again, shouting, "Robert, what are you doing? Whose orders are you taking?"

Robert strode toward them without a word. Behind him followed a patrol of soldiers carrying submachine guns, their muzzles instinctively pointed at Natura.

This small detail reveals just how intense the power struggle between Natura and Tina is. It's safe to say that once Natura gains control of the camp, she will absolutely not allow Tina to leave alive.

After assessing the situation, Gu Ye suddenly ran towards the tent next to the derrick.

This is the smartest approach. The information the soldiers need to report comes entirely from the monitors. Once they get to the tent, everything will be clear at a glance. Why argue here about who to report to?

I was only a few seconds slower than Tano; we arrived at the tent entrance almost at the same time.

The image on the first monitor has gone out, likely because the camera's power ran out and it could no longer transmit images.

On the third monitor, the entire screen was filled with venomous snakes—in fact, when the workers evacuated, the camera was ultimately focused on the surface of the stone platform. With a six-meter drop, it was impossible for venomous snakes to appear on the platform.

I exclaimed in surprise, "Ah!" Tanino had already jumped over, repeatedly calling out in Japanese, "Strange! Strange! Strange!"

The second and fourth monitors showed no images, but the scene on the fifth monitor once again shocked me. Its camera was pointed at the entire pool, and now it was impossible to distinguish between the stone platform and the bottom. Everywhere was teeming with venomous snakes, their bright red tongues flicking in and out in a defiant manner.

"How could this happen? How could this happen—" I murmured to myself.

This is an unanswerable question. It's unclear whether the stone platform has descended or the snake formation has increased in height. In any case, the "Eye of the Moon Goddess" is now completely submerged under the heavy cover of venomous snakes, with only occasional glimpses of white light shooting out from the gaps revealed when the snakes twist their bodies.

The spot where the mummy used to be has now been replaced by piles of venomous snakes, and nothing can be seen anymore.

"Baka! Baka! Baka..." Tanino shouted angrily, finding this bizarre outcome utterly unacceptable.

If the gemstone is covered by a venomous snake, both fire attacks and searching for it like looking for a needle in a haystack will inevitably be much more difficult. Even more frightening is that if the cause of this change cannot be determined, there is a possibility that the gemstone may sink underground forever and never be retrieved.

Gu Ye kicked the table legs wildly a few times, causing one of the monitors to fall to the ground with a loud crash, followed by a hissing sound as white smoke billowed from the machine.

"It was you—who delayed my plans, wasn't it? It was you who dissuaded the High Priest from stopping the fire attack, wasn't it? Baka, you..." Gu Ye shouted with bloodshot eyes as he rushed towards me, grabbed my collar, and twisted my wrist with his elbow, using a ruthless grappling technique from judo to flip me over and throw me away.

Why should I be polite to a mad dog like this? Following the direction of his right wrist's rotation, I took advantage of the momentum to do a somersault, not only neutralizing his torque but also grabbing his right wrist. Using the Wudang Taoist "Small Capturing Hand" and "Dislocating Tendons and Bones Hand" skills, with a pull and a push, a soft cracking sound was heard, and his right wrist was dislocated, hanging limply.

At this moment, my right leg was already inserted between his legs. With a shove of my shoulder, Gu Ye was sent flying five meters away, landing hard on his back with a thud.

“Baka…ga…” The fierce and wild nature of the Japanese was once again manifested in Tanino. The moment his back hit the ground, he rolled up and jumped up, raising his left hand high, roaring as he charged at me for the second time.

Part 5: The Cave of Ten Thousand Snakes

— Chapter 9 — Finding a Needle in the Ocean —

Defeating Tanino is nothing special; I'm also worried about that "Eye of the Moon." Such a precious gem—if it were to remain buried deep in a snake pit, wouldn't that be a tremendous loss to human civilization?

Gu Ye's "hand chop" came crashing down on my head with a whoosh. I didn't want to get entangled with him for too long, so I turned slightly to the side and took the blow with my left shoulder, gaining half a second to attack. I then used my right palm to cut his carotid artery. With just this one move, he was enough to collapse and be unconscious for more than half an hour.

Ignoring the pain in my left shoulder, I leaned closer to the screen and watched as countless venomous snakes piled up on top of each other on the gemstone, almost blocking out all the light.

Natura and Tina practically burst into the tent side by side, not even glancing at Gu Ye lying on the ground, but anxiously asking repeatedly, "What happened? Why did the snakes suddenly rise up?"

I don't understand this problem either. If the snakes are really rising at this rate, they will probably overflow the pool soon, cover the entire tomb chamber, and then take over the entire tunnel.

I have already easily forgiven Tina for the trap she just set for me. After all, in such a complex power struggle, everyone has to constantly come up with "ingenious tricks" to consolidate their position.