"Care to guess the riddle?" This clearly had the hallmarks of a Sphinx, a creature known for guarding treasure. Evan recalled a description of Sphinxes from the "Monster Book of Monsters" - for a millennium, they had been employed by wizards to protect their valuable possessions and secret hideouts. Sphinxes were highly intelligent creatures that enjoyed riddles and anagrams. They were open to communication with wizards, though typically only when guarding something became perilous. Despite their seemingly temperate demeanor, Evan had no doubt that a wrong answer would lead to dire consequences. Confronting an enraged Sphinx would also mean dealing with over a hundred pursuing Goblins.
Given the circumstances, Evan had no other choice but to respond to the riddle, hoping it wouldn't be too challenging. "I choose to respond. What is your riddle?" Evan inquired.
The Sphinx sat on her hind legs, blocking the center of the road, and smiled at Evan. "In this world, there is a creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening. What creature is this?" She blinked, wearing a mysterious smile as she gazed at Evan.
This was the famous riddle of the Sphinx, known as the riddle of life. Anyone familiar with Sphinx lore would recognize this question. The correct answer was a person. In the morning of life, a person was a helpless baby who crawled on all fours. In the afternoon, they were in their prime and walked on two legs. In the evening, in old age, they needed the support of a cane, representing the third leg.
"Indeed, it's a person," Evan replied. "But why this riddle?"
He wanted to understand why the Sphinx had chosen such a straightforward riddle. While Evan had agreed to help her with her shackles, this didn't quite align with the typical behavior of a Sphinx. She wouldn't simply let him pass without reason. If Goblin's just let the Sphinx guard the treasury in exchange for casual help, it would be highly dangerous. Wizards offering assistance without reason wouldn't serve as any better guardians.
"Because I genuinely miss my homeland, and your presence reminds me of it," Sphinx replied, her smile warm. She stood up, extending her two front legs to one side. "And also, I can sense your good intentions. However, as for your Goblin companion, I know him well. He's been involved in many nefarious deeds and deserves punishment."
Sphinx was a benevolent magical creature, representing nobility and kindness. She didn't appear in many legends and wasn't responsible for the construction of the giant Sphinx in ancient Egypt to commemorate herself or exhibit the benevolence of a pharaoh.
"Thank you," Evan said and gently used his wand to unlock the shackles on the Sphinx's hind legs.
As he did so, the shackles shattered, and Sphinx was free. "Do you need assistance in leaving?" Evan asked, his impression of the creature improving.
"No need. There's an underground river beneath us that will lead me out of here," Sphinx explained. "I can hear the flowing water. These Goblins won't be able to find me."
"Very well. Where is your homeland?" Evan inquired.
"In the depths of the Sahara. If you ever find the time, you're welcome to visit," Sphinx replied. "Farewell, human wizard, and thank you once again for your assistance."
With that, Sphinx ran along the path into the distance, gradually disappearing from sight. Evan waved a goodbye and turned around.
At the end of the path was a semicircular hall, and Evan could see the sincere front doors of the treasury. Evan beckoned for Zuosey to come forward and placed his hand on the door.
The treasury gate vanished, revealing a cave entrance. Inside, the number of treasures exceeded imagination—piles of gold coins, golden goblets, various pharaoh's inner and outer coffins, statues in silver armor of various gods, finely crafted scarab beetle charm amulets, and pure gold from floor to ceiling. It was as if the cavern was stacked with mirrors.
Nicolas Flamel's cavern of pure gold, which Evan had seen before, would likely pale in comparison. However, Evan didn't have the same feelings of awe this time. Instead, he felt regret for arriving too late. The valuable items had already been sold off to the Malfoy pack by Zuosey, leaving behind only a heap of useless gold and relics devoid of magical power. Evan couldn't fathom why these Goblins were so rigid about these things. Nevertheless, there were still many valuable ancient Egyptian artifacts of high artistic and collectible value. Zuosey had either dug them up or stolen them during his criminal activities, and behind each item lay a dark, bloody history. Evan had no right to these treasures; they belonged in the hands of the Egyptian Ministry of Magic. Only such artifacts could secure Zuosey's lifetime imprisonment.
"Remove the enchantments from above; take these things with us," Evan instructed, kicking one of the boxes on the ground. These boxes had been expanded with the Extension Charm and could hold a considerable amount.
While Zuosey had been stuffing his possessions into these boxes, Evan didn't hesitate to help himself to a few items that caught his eye, including tablets, beautifully decorated books, and objects inscribed with hieroglyphics. Although some of these had already been sold by Zuosey, there were still hidden treasures.
Evan was eager to return to studying ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics to unlock any secrets held within these artifacts. Egypt, a land cherished by ancient Spiritual Gods, was teeming with mysteries waiting to be unearthed. Evan and Hermione couldn't explore it all on this trip, but these findings made their journey worthwhile.
After an hour of organizing, they had packed up all the valuable items and treasure. "Let's go back!" Evan declared, waving his wand. "We'll bring these things back for confiscation."
Without a doubt, Zuosey's fate was sealed, and he would face disgrace and ruin. In the face of such evidence, there would be no escape for him. Evan didn't need to intervene; the Aurors would handle the situation, and even Gringotts Goblins wouldn't be able to assist him.
As Evan looked at the astonishing wealth and artifacts before him, he couldn't help but think that the Ministry of Magic should award him the prestigious Order of Merlin for his contributions—preserving Egypt's cultural heritage, defending against ancient underworld and dark forces, and ensuring the protection of priceless treasures.
When Evan returned to the Gringotts hall, Hermione, Bill, Fleur, Gabrielle, and Laurie were still engrossed in their discussion about the Sun vestige matter. The sheer size of Bayle Ramesses' city and the uncovering of the vestige led them to speculate that the entire Sun vestige area was astonishingly vast. Bill believed that there might be a significant space behind the stone door of the obelisk hall. Considering the possibility of finding an ancient book like the "Book of the Dead" in there, the associated level of danger was exceptionally high.
As time passed, some defensive spells and curses might weaken, but the most perilous magic would endure. Particularly in a place like the Sun vestige, dating back to the heyday of Pharaoh Ramesses II, the curses were beyond imagination. Ramesses II was regarded as a spiritual god in that society, which added another layer of complexity to the situation.
"I suggest that this time, with Zuosey leading the way, the danger within the Sun vestige is such that the three of you should reconsider," Evan interjected as he walked past. He overheard Bill trying to dissuade Hermione, Fleur, and Gabrielle from going.
"You need not worry; we should reconsider our excavation of the Sun vestige. We don't need to go there," Evan stated firmly.
"What do you mean?" All of them were taken aback.
"Evan, what's going on?" Hermione inquired anxiously. She knew Evan well enough to understand that his expression meant he had something important to say.
"I just had a conversation with Mr. Zuosey downstairs. He seems to have had a change of heart and is preparing to voluntarily deal with these matters," Evan explained, taking a seat next to Hermione. "Crimes like murder, theft of precious ancient artifacts, and collusion with dark wizards have caught up with him. He's looking at spending the next half of his life in prison, and he won't have the time to have us excavate any vestige."
"A change of heart?" Everyone looked at him in surprise, struggling to comprehend what Evan had just said. The idea that a goblin could experience such a transformation was almost inconceivable, much like Voldemort turning into a good person.
"Where is Mr. Zuosey now?" Laurie inquired.
"He's in the back, handling those boxes. It might take a bit longer," Evan responded, his tone serious. "Time is of the essence, and we must deal with Mr. Zuosey regarding this matter while congratulating him on his change of heart. There's much to be done. If I'm not mistaken, this may be the biggest case in Egyptian history, possibly spanning several centuries. Therefore, I suggest you go summon the Aurors as soon as possible."
Bill hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Evan's earnest expression, he nodded solemnly. As a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he understood that the tasks Evan undertook were far from ordinary for a young wizard.
If Evan said that Zuosey needed to be brought to justice, then it was likely true, even if it seemed incredible. As a Curse-Breaker with years of experience in Egypt, Bill also understood the significance of Zuosey's actions and the implications for the Egyptian magical community and Gringotts.
"I'll bring the Aurors back immediately. You all wait here," Bill said quickly before Disapparating.
"What's going on?" Fleur whispered, her brows furrowed as she studied Evan.
"Mr. Zuosey..." Laurie suddenly called out.
Following her gaze, everyone noticed that Goblin Zuosey was slowly moving several large boxes from a side door. These boxes were quite heavy, and even with magical assistance, moving them was a strenuous task. Several goblins rushed forward to help, but Zuosey pushed them aside and headed directly to the center of the hall.
"What did you do to that goblin?" Hermione asked in a low voice, leaning close to Evan's ear.
"Naturally, I used the Imperius Curse on him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so cooperative," Evan replied, meeting Hermione's concerned gaze. He quickly took her small hand, trying to calm her down.
Evan signaled for Fleur, Gabrielle, and Laurie to come closer so he could explain the situation.
"You're saying that the goblin willingly attacked you? That's despicable!" Gabrielle exclaimed, her worry evident in her gaze.
"That's why you seized his vault and made him confess under Veritaserum," Fleur added, a slight smile playing on her lips. She was quite interested in the goblin's vault that Evan had mentioned.
"In those boxes, there's evidence against Zuosey..." Laurie said excitedly, her gaze fixed on Zuosey's box. If Evan's words were true, then Zuosey was in serious trouble, something Laurie had secretly hoped for. However, using the Imperius Curse and Veritaserum was a bold move.
"Evan, if it's discovered that you used the Imperius Curse..." Hermione began, gripping Evan's hand tightly. She carefully considered the entire situation. If there was enough evidence to incriminate Zuosey, but Evan's use of the Imperius Curse and Veritaserum was revealed, it could lead to significant trouble. Regardless of Evan's intentions, using Unforgivable Curses could result in serious consequences.
"After the Aurors arrive, I'll dispel the magic. There won't be any trace left for anyone to find. Zuosey is surrendering of his own volition, moved by my words. Whether others believe it or not, they won't have any evidence," Evan assured her, displaying great confidence in his magical abilities. When it came to the Imperius Curse, there was a lack of effective testing methods within the magical community, let alone at Evan's skill level. Only a wizard of Dumbledore's caliber could possibly detect Evan's use of the curse.
A few moments later, the bustling Gringotts hall fell silent. There were faint explosions, and Aurors descended from the air, while numerous Ministry of Magic officials arrived through the fireplace.
Bill's notification had been taken seriously, and the Egyptian Ministry of Magic had been alerted to Zuosey's activities.
"What's going on?" a concerned goblin asked, hurrying forward.
But what surprised him, and everyone else, was when Zuosey suddenly collapsed in the middle of the hall, surrounded by the boxes he had brought. The next moment, countless treasures, including ancient idols, ornate inner and outer coffins, mummies, exquisite jewelry, numerous golden masks, and a vast amount of Galleons in gold, spilled out from the boxes. It left everyone in shock.
It was as if they had stumbled upon a treasure trove. The evidence against Zuosey was overwhelming, and in the face of such astonishing proof, he quickly confessed to all his crimes.
Due to the enormous wealth involved, the case progressed swiftly. As a witness, Evan was summoned by the Egyptian Ministry of Magic multiple times. While nobody believed Zuosey's claim of a change of heart, they awarded Evan a medal for his cooperation.
Over the next month, Evan and Hermione remained in Egypt, assisting with the Ministry of Magic's investigation and taking the opportunity to explore the country.