It was because of OConnell's actions that this argument broke out after their return.
"You left Little Forest alone to face those Black-Robed freaks!"
Evelyn shouted at the man at the top of her lungs. "We haven't found her yet! How could we come back first?!"
"I really can't believe you would do such a thing."
Jonathan was curled up on the sofa in the living room, ears pricked to eavesdrop. To be honest, he was the one person who wasn't worried about Mori Tsukisa at all.
—That girl could kick down a wall and snap his arm with one hand (almost). How could she die in the desert?
—Furthermore, it was impossible for any evil spirit to be resurrected. Places with low levels of civilization were just barbaric, ignorant, and superstitious about all sorts of bizarre legends.
Like his sister, he also thought those Black-Robed freaks were talking nonsense.
He guessed Little Forest must have taken her maid somewhere to play.
"I'm telling you, Evelyn." The argument in the room continued. "Listen to me. You were drunk and didn't see it. In that sandstorm that blotted out the sky, something ate Henderson."
"Do you remember the 'carpet of insects' Mori Tsukisa mentioned?"
"I strongly suspect it was those bugs."
"Scarabs?" Evelyn gasped for air, her face full of mockery. "OConnell, do you think I'm a three-year-old Child? You expect me to believe that a species that never existed, or existed but has long been extinct, is the killer?"
"That's a legend! How could you abandon her because of a legend!"
"I said, I'm just getting you back first. I'll go back!" OConnell impatiently helped Evelyn pack her luggage, only for the woman to quickly pull the items out one by one.
"I'm going back with you!" Evelyn balled up her clothes and threw them on the bed. "Those Black-Robed Figures are liars! We have to find her!"
"Can you just leave on the boat first?"
"If I leave, what if you don't go look for Mori Tsukisa? Have a heart, sir, you promised me!"
"I only promised to find Hamunaptra for you!"
The two argued back and forth, their voices growing louder and louder.
Jonathan crossed his legs and leisurely lit a cigar.
This time he had brought back an entire bag of gold vessels. If he could find the right time to sell them, Evelyn's tuition and their big house would be secured.
Accompanied by the sound of the argument, the man even began to whistle happily.
Knock—Knock.
The room went silent.
"It's not those persistent freaks again, is it?" Holding his cigar, Jonathan pressed his ear against the door to listen for a moment.
"Who is it?"
Knock—Knock.
"Open the door, Jonathan!" inside, Evelyn poked her head out angrily. "If it's those people, I must—"
Squeak.
Jonathan pulled the door open.
"Hi! Sister Evelyn, I'm back!"
The three of them:...—
This was the first time Mori Tsukisa had seen Evelyn so angry.
The three of them performed the exact same actions—arms crossed, heads lowered, staring without blinking at Mori Tsukisa, who was sitting obediently on the sofa.
And Nagini.
And... Imhotep.
"Tell me, Mori Tsukisa, where did you go?"
Evelyn crossed her arms, ignoring the girl's meaningless nonsense like 'the desert is so pretty,' 'oh oh oh I found a camel,' or 'wow did you meet the Black-Robed Figures,' and kept asking the same question.
"Tell me, where did you go?"
Evelyn was angry at Mori Tsukisa, but mostly she was angry at herself. How stupid could she be to lose a real person for the sake of a so-called 'dream'?
This person was a young girl who had been with her for a long time, with no one to rely on, alone in a foreign land, with no relatives and no protection—weak and innocent.
She had almost lost her because of some bizarre history and texts!
Evelyn felt immensely guilty and was furious at her own stupidity.
"I..." Mori Tsukisa's large eyes darted around. "I was in Hamunaptra—"
"Hamunaptra was blocked by giant stones; the hole we dug ourselves was at the feet of the Statue of Anubis." Evelyn counted on her fingers, her eyes carrying a threat. "That entrance was buried by yellow sand long ago."
"Where did you go in? And how did you get out?"
Mori Tsukisa blinked.
Suddenly, she opened her arms toward Evelyn, her small mouth widening into a grin, showing a row of white teeth as she acted spoiled:
"Won't you give me a welcome-back hug?"
Evelyn kept a wooden face, extending a forefinger to press against Mori Tsukisa's forehead, pushing her firmly back into the sofa. "Don't give me that, I'm immune now—I'm telling you."
"Every time you cause trouble, it's like this."
"Back at the library, when you ruined a book's cover, you did this to make me take the fall for you."
OConnell covered his face and sighed, patting Evelyn to tell her to step aside so he could ask.
The rugged man's questioning was much more concise and direct.
"Did you steal the book of the dead?"
Mori Tsukisa corrected him, "It was a loan."
"Alright, then, did you 'borrow' the book of the dead?"
"Yes."
"Jonathan says that the octagonal box-shaped key is also with you?"
"I borrowed that as well."
Jonathan interjected, "I didn't agree to lend it to you."
OConnell glanced at him, and the other man sheepishly made a gesture to shut up.
"So, both the key and the scripture are with you." OConnell leaned against the desk, one foot on the ground. "Have you opened it?"
"No." Mori Tsukisa shook her head.
"No? Both the key and the scripture are here, and you've suppressed your curiosity and haven't opened it?"
"Nope, I'm just a girl with no curiosity and a very boring personality."
OConnell rolled his eyes; he finally understood why Evelyn was always getting worked up because of Mori Tsukisa.
"Change of subject." The man tucked his thumb into his belt and pointed his other hand at the suit-clad Imhotep. "Who is this bald guy?"
Mori Tsukisa shifted her hips, leaned closer to Imhotep, and patted his broad, thick shoulder like she was showing off a treasure. "Ha! Ha! I was just about to introduce him!"
"This is my brother! Nobi Nobita!"
The three of them:...Is she an idiot?
She must really take us for fools, right?
OConnell squinted with a subtle expression, looking at Imhotep and then at Mori Tsukisa—the two of them were indeed dressed very 'expensively': although the girl was still in travel clothes, her earrings, necklace, and even the hairclip on her head were all sparkling with gemstones.
And this bald guy... his crisp, well-tailored suit looked even more pricey.
But those weren't the most important things.
"You're saying..." OConnell laughed out of frustration, his mouth twitching twice. "This guy and you..."
"Different skin tones!"
"No resemblance in facial features!"
"Even the names and surnames are different!"
"And this man who just greeted me with a strange accent—"
"Is your... brother?"
Mori Tsukisa opened her innocent and simple large eyes and nodded obediently.
Beside her, the bald man with sharp, chiseled features and deep-set eyes—just like a Child, with his legs together and palms on his knees—nodded obediently along with the girl.
The synchronization of their movements was extremely high.
"He's my biological brother."
"Sen! Get! Su! Sa!"
Evelyn's angry shout reappeared in the room.
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