Hamunaptra

With the war in Egypt over, all of Skylar's forces returned to Great Britain as quickly as possible. Although the wizard's Apparition made intercontinental travel very fast and convenient, Walpurgis was still lurking in the shadows, and Skylar dared not let them leave their positions for too long.

Skylar stayed in Cairo for a few more days, mainly to discuss a new alliance with representatives of the Twelve Tomb Keeper Families.

Although the Tomb Keeper Family has a long and distinguished history, it was Anubi half a century ago, leading to the extinction of its lineage and its gradual fading from the memory of the wizarding world. Rebuilding its influence will not be easy, but Skylar has the money, reputation, resources, and connections to provide significant assistance in this regard.

Skylar also needed a trustworthy ally who was familiar with Egypt so that his influence could gradually extend into the Africa region.

Both sides will engage in in-depth, mutually beneficial cooperation in the business, political, and academic spheres. Skylar will also lend his experienced team to assist them in developing various business projects in Egypt, including the branch that Aegis Security Company will soon establish in Egypt, which Skylar intends to entrust to Elusi.

Although Elusi is relatively inexperienced, she is shrewd and tactful in her dealings with others, and has also demonstrated remarkable talent and ability in magical innovation. She has just joined S. H. I. E. L. D. and needs an opportunity to prove herself; in Skylar's view, this task is perfect for her.

After finalizing the details of the new alliance with the Tomb Keeper Family, a satisfied Skylar planned to return to Great Britain immediately. However, the Scorpion King Statue that he had been keeping in his pocket space suddenly began to move.

Ever since the statue fell into Skylar's hands, he had spent a lot of time studying and investigating it, but he still couldn't find any clues. Helpless, it could only be left idle in his pocket space, and he almost forgot about it himself.

Skylar carefully took it out and examined it closely in his palm. A barely perceptible fluctuation of magical power was instantly captured by his Magic Eye. Immediately afterward, he clearly saw a faint black halo quietly emerge on the surface of the statue. The halo was as ethereal as a thin mist, vaguely revealing a strange and profound aura.

Skylar knew that something in this place must have triggered the Scorpion King Statue's reaction, which wasn't surprising, given that the treasure itself had been obtained in Egypt.

After acquiring the Scorpion King Statue, Skylar also spent time specifically researching this period of Egypt history.

The Scorpion King was a real historical figure, but his existence is poorly documented in Muggle history, and wizarding history offers only brief accounts.

The Scorpion King's real Mathayus, and he was Akkadians.

Before the pyramids were built in ancient Egypt, the various Egypt were ruled by the cruel Memnon, whose power stemmed from the assistance of a highly skilled sorcerer. Ultimately, Mathayus, along with his brothers and friends, successfully assassinated the sorcerer, overthrowing Memnon 'Memnon rule and gaining magical powers in the process, earning him the title "Scorpion King."

Over five thousand years of dynastic changes, Mathayus's family had long since declined and his bloodline had been severed. However, ancient books and secret histories record that he may have secretly left behind descendants, whose bloodline quietly spread among the people. Some unofficial histories and legends even claim that Mathayus left behind a mysterious legacy of the "Scorpion King," which can only be inherited by his direct descendants.

Even if it were true, finding his bloodline would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Moreover, after countless generations of intermarriage and reproduction, his descendants' bloodline would probably be diluted beyond recognition.

Skylar's first thought was naturally of the Twelve Tomb Keeper Families, which is understandable. As far as Skylar knew, the Twelve Tomb Keeper Families were the oldest bloodline in the Egypt wizarding world today.

But upon closer inspection, it doesn't seem right.

Skylar and the Tomb Keeper Family have been working together, coexisting, and fighting side by side for quite some time now. If the Scorpion King Statue were to react to them, it should have appeared long ago. Why has it waited until now?

Then Skylar thought of a new possibility --

The prisoners who were originally under Anubi's command, but were now captured alive by them.

This inference is the most reasonable.

Anubi's ability to dominate the Egypt wizarding world and keep the Egyptian Ministry of Magic in check for decades, despite the changes in its ministers, is not only due to his own exceptional strength, but also to the contributions of his valiant warriors. Among them, the most important players are undoubtedly the "Seven Deacons" of the Cairo Black Market.

With that in mind, Skylar immediately set off.

The entrance to Hamunaptra Prison is not on the ground.

As the last layer of sandstone camouflage slowly cracked open under the pull of magic, the temperature noticeably dropped as Skylar followed Ashira underground. An old, dry aura filled the air, mingled with the echoes of blood, iron, and the lingering magic of ancient seals.

Ashira walked ahead.

She was shorter than I had imagined, with a slightly hunched back, wearing a seemingly simple dark brown robe, and leaning on an unadorned, withered wooden cane.

Her steps were slow but extremely steady, each step landing precisely in the right place, as if she had walked this path countless times before.

Skylar noticed that she walked with almost no extra sound. Skylar's gaze gradually became serious. This old woman was the oldest and most senior member of the surviving Tomb Keeper Family, and also the most distinguished member of the delegation negotiating with Skylar. She was said to be over a hundred years old.

It seems that her strength has not declined with age; on the contrary, she may be an old man like Dumbledore. Even if she is not as good Anubi, she should not be far behind. If we underestimate her because of her age and appearance, we will probably suffer a great loss.

Skylar followed behind her, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He could clearly sense that at least three layers of killing arrays were set up in this passage, ready to be triggered at any time. These arrays were filled with terrifying magic that Skylar had never seen before, and the runes were written in ancient Egypt script that even Skylar could not decipher.

This underground prison was less secluded and less heavily guarded than Azkaban, but it was older and more dangerous than Skylar had imagined.

It should be noted that Hamunaptra is not an official prison under the jurisdiction of the Egyptian Ministry of Magic, but rather a private prison run by the Tomb Keeper Family for generations, similar in nature to Skylar's own Coiling Dragon Dungeon. Skylar speculates that the history of this prison can probably be traced back to the era when ancient Egypt sorcerers were active, and the Tomb Keeper Family simply inherited it from some powerful ancient being.

Halfway there, Ashira slowed her pace, but didn't stop. She simply spoke in a calm tone, as if stating a fact she had already confirmed.

"Mr. Malfoy, the people you are to see are not ordinary prisoners. Every single one of them has the blood of the Tomb Keeper Family on their hands. It's not just the fighting on the battlefield, but more than a decade of plunder, torture, and sacrifice."

She didn't turn her head, but she was clearly observing Skylar's reaction.

Skylar's expression remained unchanged; he simply followed her pace, speaking calmly and deliberately, "That's precisely why I had to come in person."

Ashira tapped her cane lightly on the ground with a muffled thud. She finally stopped, turned around, and stared at Skylar with her eyes, weathered by time yet still sharp.

"Many young people say that," she said slowly. "They think they're high enough to demand that others let go of their hatred. But hatred is never a choice, it's always a consequence."

This sentence contains no emotion, yet it carries a heavy weight.

Skylar did not immediately refute. He looked up at the reliefs on the rock walls on both sides of the corridor, those symbols of judgment, death and protection, which had been repeatedly carved, covered and repainted, clearly having undergone reinforcement and revision by countless generations.

"I never intended for you to forgive them," he finally said. "I just need a brief chance."

"Opportunity?" Ashira narrowed her eyes slightly, as if reassessing the young man before her. "What do you want to gain from these people?"

Skylar turned his gaze back to her, meeting her eyes without looking away. "An answer. An answer that could only exist within them."

This time, Ashira did not immediately refute.

She looked at him silently for a long time, as if weighing the weight of his words. Then, she slowly said, "You should understand that if I nod, it means I will be going against the will of the majority of the tribe."

Her tone remained calm, yet it subtly conveyed a sense of cold, resolute determination.

"So," she stared at Skylar, "What makes you think I'd pay such a price for you?"

"Grandma Ashira," Skylar said, his tone still respectful but without the slightest hint of yielding, "I won't put you in a difficult position, nor will I require you to violate the principles of the tomb keepers. I simply need to see them with my own eyes."

He paused briefly, his gaze calm.

"If you are willing to give me this opportunity, I, on behalf of all the forces of the Sleeping Dragon Society, promise you that I will definitely provide you with a satisfactory return."

Ashira did not answer immediately.

She stood there, leaning on her cane, her gaze passing over Skylar and landing at the end of the deep passageway, as if examining a future that existed only in memory and premonition. In that instant, the weariness of an elder seemed to be stripped away, leaving only a decision-maker who had survived countless life-and-death situations and choices.

After a moment, she chuckled softly.

"You're quite clever. You didn't ask me for promises, nor were you in a hurry to give anything in return; you just let me judge for myself whether this step was worthwhile."

She slowly turned her head and looked at Skylar again. Her gaze was no longer sharp, but rather held a weight of caution.

"The Tomb Keeper Family have spent far too many years merely guarding the Old Testament and the grave. It's time to bet on the future," she said, her cane tapping lightly on the ground with a crisp echo. "In that case, this time, I'll bet on you."

Ashira turned to the side, raised her hand and pressed it on the sealing runes of the stone door. The ancient runes dimmed layer by layer, and with a low "thump," the heavy stone door began to slowly open. The long-sealed cold air and darkness surged out together, yet it was eerily quiet.

The stone gate was completely open.

The darkness, like a long-awaited abyss, quietly awaited his entry.

Skylar nodded slightly, said nothing more, and stepped inside.

Behind him, Ashira stood quietly, watching his figure disappear into the shadows.

The old man finally smiled faintly, yet with unwavering certainty.

"Go, young man. Let me see how many more surprises you can bring to this world..."