Clement furrowed his brows, continuously working out directions with the compass in his hand.
Echo watched as the high-tech device-practically a miniature computer-flashed and shifted, gradually reconstructing the original layout of the now-ruined pyramid. It was clear Clement had done extensive research on this place, even generating a 3D model of the structure.
“29 degrees, 58 minutes, 50 seconds north,” Clement murmured, reading off the coordinates.
Echo immediately chimed in, “Shouldn’t it be 22 seconds?”
The 30th parallel north was famous for its mysteries-like the Bermuda Triangle and the lost Atlantic civilization. Many believed the ancient Egyptian pyramids, perhaps built with advanced or forgotten technologies, aligned with this exact latitude. Specifically, the apex of the Great Pyramid pointed at 2958’22” when accounting for atmospheric refraction, marking the cosmic alignment perfectly.
Clement’s eyes flicked toward the sarcophagus beside him. “This might actually be Ramses II’s real pyramid,” he whispered in awe. “2958’22”-it’s too precise to be a coincidence. A miracle, truly.”
“I don’t care what kind of miracle it is,” Ryan cut in coldly, his voice heavy with menace. “If you don’t act now, you can stay here and enjoy it forever.”
Echo instinctively stepped back and grabbed Ryan’s hand, glancing around like she was scouting for an exit.
Clement didn’t waste a second, quickly stuffing the strange compass back into his bag and tapping away at it with precision.
The two of them, fully synchronized, ended their high-tech exchange without a word-both aware that ignoring Ryan could earn them a one-way trip to this ancient tomb.
Ryan shot them both a sharp, icy glare, the deadly tension making them shiver.
Echo felt Ryan’s grip tighten on her hand and let out a silent sigh, forcing a smile as she looked up at him. “I mean, I don’t know much-I just learned the basics about the pyramids. Honest.” She knew better than to test Ryan’s patience. Not with her sanity intact, at least.
Ryan let out a cold snort and yanked Echo closer, keeping her firmly by his side. Whatever they needed to discuss could wait. Right now, staying close was the safest bet-who knew what else might jump out before he could react?
Echo stumbled into Ryan’s chest from the force of his pull, feeling the heat of his anger. She stayed put without complaint, recognizing the warning signs.
But strangely, despite knowing Ryan was pissed, she didn’t feel the usual fear or anxiety. Sure, she’d never been terrified of him, but there would always been a flicker of unease.
Now? She felt… safe.
What the hell? Had that fall scrambled her brain or something?
Echo gave her head a little shake, pressing herself closer to Ryan, still puzzled by the odd sense of calm.
“There’s a…,” Clement started to say, tracing the outline of a sun god emblem.
Just as Clement turned to speak to Ryan and Echo, Ryan raised a hand, cutting him off. His eyes sharpened with a glint of danger as he cocked his head, listening intently.
Then he heard it-footsteps. They were chaotic yet deliberate, echoing down from somewhere above.
Echo and Clement froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
“Hawk and his team?” Echo whispered to Ryan, piecing together that Hawk was the only other group in the pyramid.
“No,” Ryan muttered, his frown deepening, a chilling edge creeping into his expression.
Whatever was coming-it wasn’t Hawk.
Clement and Echo froze in shock. Were there other people in the pyramid besides Hawk and his team?
Echo glanced over at Clement, who leaned against the edge of the ivory bed, frowning. In a low voice, he muttered, “I don’t know if the people after me are still here, but I only saw three of them.”
“Should we just blow this place up and make it easier?” A low voice suddenly echoed through the chamber, loud enough for Echo, Clement, and Ryan to catch every word.
Echo’s brow furrowed, and without thinking, she clutched Ryan’s arm tighter.
“Blow it up? Easy for you to say. If we could, they wouldn’t have ordered us to come down here ourselves,” another voice, hoarse and rasping, responded. “Think about who we’re dealing with. Blowing it up might be easy, but the retaliation? You and I wouldn’t make it out alive, and our bosses wouldn’t either.”
“Street Family?” Echo’s eyes narrowed as she quickly put the pieces together.
She had reviewed the intel before they arrived-this area was under the Street Family’s control, and they had a long-standing feud with the Dark Family. Looked like they were here to seize a rare opportunity.
“Little Ryan… This is all your uncle’s fault… It’s me who drag you down” Clement muttered, still slumped against the ivory bed.
The moment he heard Echo mention the name, Clement realized what was going on and glanced at Ryan with regret flashing in his eyes. But before he could finish speaking, Ryan’s hand shot out like lightning, clamping around Clement’s throat.
Echo gasped in alarm, immediately grabbing Ryan’s wrist. She glanced from Clement’s choking face to Ryan’s cold, unforgiving expression.
“I told you not to call him Little Ryan-are you trying to get yourself killed?” she blurted, then turned to Ryan, her tone light but pleading. “Boss, you’ve got at least one relative left-me? I’ve got no one. I don’t even have anyone to call me by a nickname! If you don’t want him, let me have him. I could use an uncle. Please, don’t strangle him,” she begged as she pried at Ryan’s fingers.
Ryan glared down at Clement but, hearing Echo’s words and noting the absence of sadness or pity on her face-just a bit of urgency-let out a cold snort. “Fine. I’ll let you off this once. No one drags me down,” he muttered, finally loosening his grip and releasing Clement.
As soon as Ryan let go, Echo shook her head. “If Boss didn’t want to come, no one could’ve forced him. He came here because he wanted to, knowing the risks. Don’t start talking about dragging anyone down,” she said, helping Clement catch his breath with a few pats on the back.
Ryan shot her a look and, without warning, yanked her back to his side with a rough pull. His expression stayed hard and cold, leaving no room for argument.
Clement, still gasping for air, managed a weak smile as he looked between Ryan and Echo. “Guess I’m your uncle now, huh, Little Echo?”
Echo rolled her eyes. Did he really have to add ‘Little’? She figured it was best to let it slide, though, and instead focused on the noises above them.
The sound of footsteps echoed clearly through the chamber-chaotic but with an underlying order. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that there were quite a few people up there.
“Damn it! Where is that mechanism? Why can’t we find it?” Hawk’s frustrated voice rang out, followed by the sound of frantic tapping and clinking tools.
Echo’s heart leapt with hope, and she almost called out-until something felt off. Her eyes snapped to Ryan, whose brow was furrowed deeply.
The sound was coming from the sarcophagus above them. But how the hell was it reaching all the way down here?