King of Tomb Raiders

Chapter 27

"That's all."

I was taken aback, but knowing that Suren had more to say, I waited patiently.

Suren got up and paced back and forth in the room for a dozen steps. She pointed at the bed beneath me and smiled bitterly: "Actually, everything was captured by the camera system. When I intervened, it was seven in the morning, and you were already lying here. Without the help of the camera, all I knew was that you slept all night and fell into a deep sleep in the morning. I knew nothing else."

I exclaimed "Ah!" and was speechless.

Suren's words undoubtedly meant that when I jumped to the top of the tower, the camera work was also stopped.

My first thought coincided with Suren's: "The problem lies with that bright light; it's disrupting the camera lens's readout!"

Suren looked up and sighed, "Thank goodness you came back safely. At least it proves that the other party had no ill intentions. Compared to Miss Tengjia and Long, or even Bancha and Master Kudie, your fate is the best."

The increasing number of strange occurrences didn't instill fear or panic in Suren and me, but rather a growing fighting spirit. Our tomb raiding instincts made us completely disregard the potential annihilation we might face if we continued our pursuit. Instead, we focused intently on using our brains to try and find a path to the core from these chaotic fragments.

Undoubtedly, the excavation work will continue indefinitely, and no matter what drilling machinery is used, the final result will be revealed in the end.

My current concern is that some unfathomable power lurks inside the pyramids, which could cause immeasurable harm to those who enter.

When they walked out of the tent together, it was almost dusk.

To my surprise, Tina's Rainbow Warriors numbered not forty-four, but at least three hundred. They had erected a continuous stretch of tents around the camp, forming a barrier that firmly surrounded the camp. The lookout ladders in the camp had been removed and replaced with a professional-grade military lookout tower twenty meters high, complete with a simple elevator.

"My God! What's going on? Is this a military exercise?" What shocked me was not the scalpel's ability to mobilize resources, but the fact that the Egyptian military had openly taken over the camp, including all the excavation work.

Egypt's national legislation once included a provision stating that if a pyramid is completely sealed and has not been looted, all its contents, artifacts, including sand and soil, and even any resulting media revenue, belong to the Egyptian government. If the tomb has been looted, the excavators can share the proceeds equally with the Egyptian government.

According to this law, if the Pyramid of Tsar is found to be intact after being opened, all proceeds will belong to the Egyptian government, and Gu Ye and his group will get nothing. This is probably the main reason why the Egyptian military is so actively involved.

The watchtower was likely equipped with two high-magnification, high-precision, automatic camera-equipped military-grade binoculars. Tina's idea was good; from the watchtower, one could already look down directly to the top of the Tulihan Tower. [QIS]

Outside the tent area, at least twenty military supply trucks were parked, all painted with huge Egyptian military insignia.

"This is not an exercise, but real military control." Suren was even more helpless. If she had known this would happen, she would have stopped the Scalpel from its rash move of inviting the military to intervene.

Martin's company is very efficient. Before dinner was even over, Tang had already received a fax that the drill would arrive at the camp in two hours.

This news was undoubtedly the most encouraging. Even the usually aloof Tina showed a rare smile, stood up with a crystal glass filled with wine, and toasted everyone: "To our greatest excavation of the 21st century, cheers!"

Her stance was slightly odd, somewhat like a starting position in free fighting, with one foot firmly planted on the ground and the other foot only touching the ground with the toes. Even her two elbows were uneven, as if she were about to launch an attack or block at any moment.

“Brother Feng, her kung fu seems to be from Jeet Kune Do’s ‘Lightning Kick’.” Suren whispered to me as he turned his head while drinking.

Indeed, Tina's standing posture is derived from Jeet Kune Do, a freestyle fighting style that was once very popular in the United States, which is why it looks both strange and familiar.

“Mr. Feng, as descendants of the four ancient civilizations, shall we drink this together?” Tina had already walked to my table, holding a glass of blood-red wine, with a disdainful look in her eyes.

I had no choice but to stand up, raise the cup, and suddenly stumble forward, the cup flying out of my hand and towards Tina.

This time, I watched her kick intently. Sure enough, her left leg shot out like lightning without warning, shattering the cup in the blink of an eye, a mere quarter of the time it would take an average person.

The wine in the glass spilled all over the table, but not a single drop splashed on her.

Actually, I could kick a cup away, including using the most appropriate leg technique in the shortest amount of time. However, my martial arts skills aren't enough to shatter a cup in mid-air. To shatter it instead of "kicking it away," you need not only power in your toes but also speed.

I started clapping, clapping in complete acclaim, because her legwork seemed to have surpassed that of Bruce Lee, the Chinese-American who founded Jeet Kune Do.

“From today onwards, all weapons belonging to personnel in the camp will be handed over and kept in custody by the military. As for us, the most outstanding Rainbow Warriors in the Egyptian army, we will do everything in our power to guarantee everyone’s safety.” After saying that, she turned to me and coldly warned in a low voice, “I’ve seen your file, but don’t try anything clever here! Those Eastern martial arts you’ve learned are no match for a single kick from me.”

I shrugged, spread my hands, and shook my head helplessly.

I don't know why Miss Tina is targeting me specifically—"There's no reason. We've just met, and there's no conflict of interest between us."

I admit, I couldn't counter or defend against that kick, and the most formidable aspect of the "Lightning Kick" attack that I can think of is the series of flying kicks with both legs, the power and frequency of which are equally astonishing. Just look at Bruce Lee's old fighting records; the martial arts he trained using "electric shocks" have already surpassed the highest level of human physical training.

When Bruce Lee debuted, he shocked the American martial arts world with his "flying kick that shattered a wooden board in mid-air," and Tina's "flying kick that shattered a wine glass" was even more astonishing.

Suren was feeling down. After a brief phone call with the scalpel, she crawled into her sleeping bag.

Tomorrow morning, at five o'clock, just as the sun is rising, the drilling work will begin again.

“Brother Feng, I think…Tina’s reaction to you is a little abnormal. If you’re not afraid to be presumptuous, I’d like to say that she…she has some kind of affection for you…” Suren poked her head out of the sleeping bag, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness.

I stared at a roll of blueprints, not even looking up, and asked, "Goodwill? What goodwill?"

Suren sighed and tucked his chin into his sleeping bag.

I was distracted by what she was saying because I had a rather bold idea: "Suren, I want to go into the tunnel together tomorrow, follow the drilling rig, and do an on-site inspection. Just observing the tunnel from the monitor might lead to a huge misunderstanding."

Suren was quite surprised. The scalpel had repeatedly warned us to stay away from the well to avoid being poisoned.

I walked to Suren's bedside and gazed at her long hair: "I've experienced two strange bouts of amnesia, which proves that the mysterious power can only cause me 'amnesia' and cannot cause any greater harm. This is perhaps the biggest difference between me and others, which is why I made this decision."

Her body appeared slender and delicate in the sleeping bag, completely unlike her fierce and capable demeanor during the day.

I sighed for no reason and walked out of the tent. From Suren's "slight sourness" just now, I could sense that some strange emotions had already spread between us.

The atmosphere in the military-occupied camp had become extremely tense. Four powerful searchlights were mounted on the watchtower, their white beams slowly sweeping across each tent. This didn't resemble an archaeological excavation camp; it looked more like a heavily armed military concentration camp.

According to the information Suren provided, those military vehicles were equipped with the most advanced surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles currently used by the Egyptian military, and the soldiers included complete demolition teams, radar teams, and biological and chemical teams...

The third part: The Bizarre Purgatory

— Chapter 5 — Stealing Light Through a Hole in the Wall —

I stretched my arms wide, hoping nothing strange would happen tonight. Whether Tina liked me or not was completely irrelevant. I had absolutely no interest in a girl of her typical Egyptian descent.

What about Suren? What does her "slightly sour" mean?

If it weren't for the extremely tense atmosphere at the camp, it would truly be possible to relax and have a romantic love affair amidst the stunning exotic scenery of the desert, yellow sand, and majestic pyramids...

As dawn broke, the clanging of metal echoed from the derrick, and I awoke abruptly. I hadn't dreamt; my mind was unusually clear, and my body brimmed with invigorating energy.

Suren and I rushed to the derrick, where Tina was directing soldiers to distribute high-compression oxygen cylinders to the experts who were about to go down the well. This, of course, drew strong protests from Berrenlange, as it was seen as a blatant disregard for his latest achievements in air isolation.

"My isolation layer project has been submitted to the International Union of Biological Sciences and is about to be named the greatest invention of 2006. Ms. Tina, unless you shoot me, I will never wear this bulky metal canister—"

As a result of the struggle, out of the sixteen people who entered the shaft, only he was dressed simply, while the other fifteen, including myself, were all equipped with full sets of oxygen cylinders, biochemical masks, and high-strength antibacterial suits.

The elevator was slowly descending, and I composed myself to a state of utter calm, as if "even if Mount Tai collapsed before me, I wouldn't flinch." I had hidden cameras installed by Su Lun in four places: my collar, chest, thighs, and buttocks. She would be secretly receiving the signals from the cameras inside the tent.

We have made the most detailed calculations and estimates of possible emergencies.

I stared at the still fuming Berrenlang, laughing at his naiveté. The extremely dangerous gases or microorganisms hidden in the air of the enclosed pyramid were beyond the comprehension of current human knowledge. His unwavering belief in his self-created "isolation shield theory" was truly a foolish act of clinging to outdated ideas.

Gu Ye suddenly coughed softly and pointed to the new drill bit that was evenly divided into three sections: "Dr. Tang, according to the X-ray detection results, the thickness of that stone wall should be..."

Dr. Tang waved his hand angrily: "Mr. Gu Ye, don't mention your stupid ray detection again!" His words were full of explosive anger.

Gu Ye gave an awkward smile and immediately shut up. These five people were unparalleled elites in their respective fields; if they were to debate using their professional knowledge, it would take three days and three nights to determine a winner. The first person to shut up was probably the wisest.

I looked up; the protective barrier had been resealed above my head, but I could still breathe easily. None of the people who went down the well carried any weapons—a decision Tina had made specifically for them, as she was worried about the radiation or bacteria inside the pyramid causing inexplicable madness. Having weapons would only lead to accidental injuries.

The elevator reached the bottom of the well, and everyone began to move the drilling rig into the tunnel.

I remained at the back of the line, hoping to carefully observe the section from the bottom of the well to the end of the tunnel, anticipating the reappearance of those magical murals on the tunnel ceiling. The stainless steel casing was spotless, without the usual condensation, thanks to the excellent ventilation system.

Dr. Tang stood on the drilling rig and led the way forward, like a warrior eager to join the battle, pushing the traction mechanism to its maximum power.

The tunnel was quiet. There were no murals, no strange beams of light like the one I'd seen before, and certainly no monsters, long tongues, or stone tablets. Nothing at all; it seemed like just another ordinary underground drilling operation.

My neck was sore from looking up, but I still couldn't find anything.

At the end of the tunnel, Dr. Tang had already directed his assistants to connect the extended drill bit and insert it into the first hole drilled into the rock wall. According to the data displayed on the instruments, the depth of the first hole was exactly five meters. Dr. Tang shouted again, "Let's get an X-ray! Let me tell you exactly how thick this rock wall is—"

I laughed. When authority is questioned, one can't help but fly into a rage, no matter what industry or profession one is in.

Dr. Tang has already started the drilling rig, and the noise level isn't too high. The nameplate on the rig indicates it's also a Martin company. For a mega-corporation specializing in heavy weapons, cannons, and missiles, making such a small drilling rig is truly a waste of its capabilities. Therefore, the quality of the rig and drill bit is beyond doubt.

The powder was just ordinary limestone broken up by a drill bit, nothing unusual.

I stood behind the drilling rig, gazing at the other two black holes in the distance, contemplating whether to climb into the openings to investigate. Suddenly, the rig jolted violently, accompanied by Dr. Tang's eerie scream: "Ah—!"

Then, the drilling rig stopped working. Dr. Tang stood blankly beside the drilling rig's control panel for half a minute, then suddenly raised his arms high and shouted excitedly, "It's through! It's through!"

Indeed, the drilling rig worked for only two minutes before it opened the first hole, which was six meters thick.

Everyone put on gas masks and turned on their oxygen cylinders without prior arrangement. Only Berenlang stood there with his arms crossed, looking down on everyone with an arrogant and disdainful expression.

The drill bit was pulled back, and the moment of truth had finally arrived. I'm sure the people in the ground monitoring room were just as excited as we were.

Everyone was backing away, about twenty meters away from the cave entrance.

The tunnel was completely silent. Everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound, as if the other side of the tunnel harbored the most ferocious prehistoric beast, ready to unleash its gigantic claws at any moment. Incredibly, as the drill was withdrawn, a warm light slowly shone from the tunnel entrance, starting as a pale yellow and then turning golden, bathing the area within ten meters on both sides of the tunnel in a dazzling golden hue.

“God, light…there is light…” Cheney was right next to me, whispering in a dreamlike murmur.

The pyramids are completely enclosed, so they cannot receive sunlight, nor do they emit light automatically—how could they possibly have light?

After half an hour of telescope observation, Tina's barely suppressed anger came through the walkie-talkie: "Mr. Tanino, if nothing unusual happens, I hope you can continue the excavation as soon as possible. We're here to explore a tomb, not for sightseeing—"

As a hardened soldier, her common sense was completely limited to the framework of "doing her best to complete the mission," and she didn't care what was behind the stone wall.

Ignoring Tina's words, Gu Ye suddenly gave me a dry laugh: "Mr. Feng... I remember there was a scholar in ancient China who, in order to read at night, chiseled a hole in his neighbor's wall to let in light. We... we're just like that scholar now..."

His throat tightened, and he made gurgling sounds as he swallowed, as if he were extremely nervous.

He was referring to the ancient story of "carving a hole in the wall to steal light".

As Cheney continued peering into the cave through his binoculars, he raised his voice: "I'd rather believe that the back of the rock face is piled high with luminous pearls."

Dr. Tang laughed wildly: "More than just luminous pearls, it should be piles of gold and luminous pearls, otherwise how could it emit a golden light?"

Indiana Jones's treasure-hunting stories have a huge global appeal, so everyone present agreed with Dr. Tom's conjecture.

All I saw through the telescope was a golden light, seemingly filled with an opaque, fog-like medium, not quite the same as the light I had seen before. The light completely obscured the entrance to the cave, making it impossible to see through.

The fervent desire for gold boosted the morale of the workers, and they quickly reopened the remaining two black holes. Then, they used drills to repeatedly penetrate the stone wall, carving out a doorway one meter wide and one and a half meters high.

A constant golden light emanated outwards until we passed through the doorway and stood in a huge tomb chamber, at least ten meters square. The chamber was filled with golden light, which poured out from another doorway directly in front of us. That doorway was very wide, roughly estimated to be three meters wide and five meters high.

Of course, with such a large entrance, the height of the tomb chamber must be imaginable, probably around ten meters.

The enormous doorways stretched far into the distance, one after another, and we had no idea how far or how many doorways there were. In any case, we had arrived at a huge building filled with golden light.

Berenlang breathed heavily, seemingly unconcerned, and scoffed, "Good heavens! Wearing these ugly, bizarre masks, you'll scare away the mummies and aliens in the pyramids..."

I strained to lift my aching, throbbing neck and looked up at the magnificent, gilded hieroglyphs painted on the flat ceiling of the tomb chamber. At that moment, I had forgotten all about the illusions and mysterious summons; I was completely absorbed in immense curiosity. On the ceiling, there were at least dozens of those strange, neither-ox-nor-horse figures, mixed among thousands of hieroglyphs, each more than five times larger than the surrounding characters.

Apart from Berenlang, everyone was busy looking around and had no time to speak.

“Mr. Tanino, I command you to keep moving forward! Keep moving forward, forward…”

Tina's words seemed out of place in the quiet environment, and Tanino impatiently reached out and turned off the walkie-talkie.

Overall, this is a complete tomb chamber with golden hieroglyphs covering all four walls and the ceiling. Except for the part of the wall that we violently destroyed, the entire area within sight is empty and clean, with no cracks in the stones or walls to be seen.

Cheney muttered to himself thoughtfully, "Huh? The construction style here is definitely different from the Great Pyramid of Giza... or at least it's certainly much more advanced than the other pyramids. God! Could it be that our previous assessment of the Egyptians' architectural skills was completely wrong?"