The dim yellow light fell on the smooth ceramic tile floor, casting a warm shadow similar to a sunset. A leather shoe stepped on this shadow, the black figure cutting through the sunset halo, as if beheading the sun itself.
It stopped, turned around, and stood still. Through the legs dressed in suit pants, one could look at the glass case of the museum. Inside it were some slightly damaged papers full to the brim with ancient Egyptian characters.
At that moment, the heavy footfall came from the side. Mark rushed over with a box in his hand. The figure that stood in front of the showcase was still bowed, engrossed in the items displayed.
A bit helplessly, Mark said, "Why are you still here? We've got the stuff. Let's get out of here."
As he spoke, he lowered his head to look at the box in his hand. Inside it was a beetle model that looked like a gift. From the outside, there was no difference from the memorabilia sold in the museum.
Staring at the silent and engrossed Shiller, Mark said, "Are you really from the KGB? Can't you be a bit more professional? We're on a mission, is this really the time to sightsee?"
Shiller turned his head. Instantly, his eyes lit up with white light as if a bunch of white flames had been lit inside his pupils. Mark instinctively stepped back, then suddenly reacted, saying, "Isn't it just the power of the moon god? I have it too. Stop playing around, let's get out of here!"
Mark turned around and walked away. Shiller didn't say a word, but followed him behind.
As soon as they left the museum, they saw a car driving out of the darkness. Standing in the light at the museum entrance, Mark took a cautious pose. He felt for the gun on his waist, and sensed the power of the moonlight. After confirming there was no mistake, he walked down the steps.
The car stopped in front of the museum. A man with long hair and a cane approached them. Seeing two people still at the entrance of the museum, the man seemed very surprised, but then he quickly said, "Have you guys seen Deputy Director Pietro? He invited me to come take a look at the items up for auction ..."
Narrowing his eyes, Mark said, "You're lying. The moment you saw us, your spine stiffened, your arm tensed. You're on guard. And you hesitated for a second before saying that name, as if you were making up a false one ..."
"Who are you? And why are you acting like a jittery security guard?" The long-haired man didn't budge. He said, "My name is Arthur Haro, I'm a General Practitioner. I have an appointment with Deputy Director Pietro. This museum has an item up for auction that I need to check out so I can decide whether or not I want to buy it ..."
"You really don't need to explain so much to us." Mark did not let his guard down at all. He said, "You're trying to justify your actions, but it also shows you're troubled ..."
Seeing Mark take out his gun, Arthur raised his hands with a somewhat helpless expression, "Alright, if you don't trust me, let's go find the Deputy Director together, shall we?"
Mark loaded his gun, but did not aim at Arthur, instead keeping it in hand. He looked at Arthur and asked, "Where are you from?"
"The neighborhood over. I rented an apartment there." Arthur looked Mark up and down, then said, "You're an American, first time in Austria? This museum is definitely worth a visit. It's one of the rare Austrian museums that holds treasures of ancient Egyptian civilization ..."
While Arthur and Mark were chatting away, Shiller remained in the light emitted from the museum's gate, his back to the light, his expression hid from anyone's view. Arthur kept glancing at Shiller from below the steps, seemingly weary of Mark's buddy.
Mark, realizing that they were making no progress, inadvertently revealed the box that had been put into the inner pocket of his clothes. The box that contained the beetle, had the common packaging of museum souvenirs. A diamond-shaped opening on the front cover gave a glimpse of its content.
The moment Arthur saw the beetle, he retreated two steps. As he was about to lift his cane, Shiller finally descended from the steps. He brushed Mark's arm, signaling him to put the box away, and then said to Arthur,
"Let's find a place to talk."
Mark's eyes widened. He turned to look at Shiller, not because of what he said, but because of his voice.
Just now, Shiller's voice sounded completely different from when he was in the interrogation room. His voice was extremely hoarse and was constantly garbling words. Mark didn't know that a human's vocal cords could produce such a voice, like a tape being jammed, as peculiar and awkward as a child just learning to speak.
Luckily, Arthur understood Shiller's intent. He looked around somewhat cautiously. Many of the surrounding buildings had lit windows, suggesting he was worried about eavesdroppers. He turned around to open the car door. Shiller followed and sat in the passenger seat.
Mark hesitated for a moment, gripping the gun in his hand, before getting into the car as well.
The atmosphere inside the car was incredibly tense. Arthur felt that Shiller's position could be swayed, so he started, "You both should be from America, just like me, only that I came here somewhat earlier…"
"I'm not deceiving you, the deputy director here holds an artifact I'm interested in. He displayed the artifact online and it piqued my interest, so I came here to negotiate with him."
"But unlike what I expected, he broke our agreement and sold that artifact to you guys first…"
Arthur sighed, then said, "I am dedicated to the research of ancient Egyptian civilization and culture, the artifact you have is crucial for me. I hope to purchase it. How much did you guys pay for it? I can pay a bit more…"
"Your lie is completely unconvincing." Mark commented, "Contradicts itself, full of holes. You said previously that this is an auctioned artifact, but now you're saying you had a private agreement with the deputy director. You said you were a general practitioner, but now you say you left your post and have been living here for a long time…"
"Is your friend always like this?" Arthur asked, keeping his eyes on the road as he drove, "Is he a paranoid schizophrenic?"
The car twisted and turned its way, gradually leaving the populated streets. The more deserted it became, the slower the car went. Mark had raised his pistol, aiming it squarely on Arthur's head.
At this time, Shiller got out of the car and stood in front of it, seemingly waiting for the two inside the car to get off.
Seeing this, Mark with his steadfast gun-holding arm pushed open the car door to follow, keeping the gun pointed at Arthur's head. Arthur stepped out of the car. He was not panicked at having a gun pointed at him, instead, he clutched his cane with one hand and the car hood with his other.
He turned his head to survey the surroundings. Facing Mark, a strange light flickered in his eyes. He said, "I see, you're a sinner full of chaos, your sins are almost unforgivable, I can see the evil flames in your soul..."
Faced with his words, Mark hesitated. He was unsure what was influencing his mind, but the darkness in front of him began to blink, and the massive terrifying figure of Khonsu flickered in the darkness…
Suddenly, Arthur heard a tapping sound coming from the hood. He turned his head to see Shiller, dressed in a suit and holding an umbrella, gently tapping the car's hood.
The sound of a metal object being tapped was slightly irritating. Arthur turned his head, his eyes gleaming. Suddenly, he froze.
Mark didn't know what on earth Arthur had seen on Shiller through his mysterious vision, but as Arthur turned his head to look directly at Shiller, the light in his eyes flickered twice and then went out.
Arthur stepped back, looking pale. He pointed at Shiller with his cane and said, "You, you…"
He swung his cane, the tip of which emitted a strange glow. However, just then, with a "bang", Shiller grabbed the umbrella with both hands, swung it upward, and knocked the cane out of Arthur's hand. Following up with a forward thrust that hit Arthur square in the chest, Arthur was knocked to the ground.
Just as Arthur struggled to stand up, a shoe stepped on his chest. Shiller twirled his umbrella, and with a "swoosh", the tip revealed a sharp blade. The blade of the umbrella knife plunged into Arthur's throat with a "squilch."
Shiller raised his hand, and as his blood splattered, the umbrella "popped" open, not a speck of blood staining him.
As the blood splattered onto Mark, he didn't even have time to dodge. Everything had happened too fast. A series of actions were executed precisely, gracefully, fatally.
Mark stood stunned at the spot. Suddenly, he saw Shiller turn his head and look at him, a white light illuminated his eyes.
Mark suddenly recalled that he was an agent of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, and just a few hours ago, Shiller had claimed to be from the KGB.
Mark gulped and stepped back, "No, don't, we're on the same side now..."
The last thing he saw was the handle of the umbrella growing steadily larger in his field of vision.