The sun had fully risen over the Egyptian desert.
Golden light stretched across the excavation site, illuminating the towering cranes, tents, and the massive shaft that descended deep beneath the sand.
Hassan stood beside one of the vehicles, speaking rapidly on his phone.
On the other end of the line were officials from the Egyptian Ministry responsible for the land around the excavation.
Their voices sounded cautious.
Then one official spoke firmly in Arabic.
"لا يمكننا بيع هذه الأرض. هذا موقع أثري حساس."
(We cannot sell this land. It is a sensitive archaeological site.)
Hassan wiped sweat from his forehead.
"لكن المشروع يعمل بتصريح رسمي. نحن مستعدون لدفع المال."
(But the project is operating with official permission. We are willing to pay.)
There was a short pause.
Another voice joined the conversation.
"كم أنتم مستعدون للدفع؟"
(How much are you willing to pay?)
Hassan hesitated.
"Please hold for two minutes," he said quickly.
He ended the call and immediately dialed another number.
Albert answered almost instantly.
"نعم يا حسن؟ ماذا يحدث؟"
(Yes Hassan? What's happening?)
Hassan spoke quickly.
"الحكومة لا تريد بيع الأرض. لكنهم قالوا إنهم قد يوافقون مقابل مبلغ كبير."
(The government does not want to sell the land. But they said they might agree for a large payment.)
Albert's voice remained calm.
"كم يريدون؟"
(How much do they want?)
Hassan hesitated.
Then he answered.
"نصف مليون دولار."
(Half a million dollars.)
There was a brief silence.
Then Albert laughed quietly.
"هذا أقل مما توقعت."
(That's less than I expected.)
Hassan blinked in surprise.
Albert continued calmly.
"اشترِ الأرض الآن."
(Buy the land now.)
Hassan nodded quickly.
"حسنًا."
(Alright.)
Albert added one more thing before ending the call.
"وتذكر… هذه الأرض الآن تحت سيطرتنا."
(And remember… this land is now under our control.)
The call ended.
Hassan immediately dialed the government official again.
The official answered quickly.
"هل قررتم؟"
(Have you decided?)
Hassan spoke clearly.
"نعم. سنشتري الأرض مقابل المبلغ الذي طلبتموه."
(Yes. We will buy the land for the amount you requested.)
The official sounded slightly surprised.
"نصف مليون دولار؟"
(Half a million dollars?)
Hassan replied calmly.
"نعم. وسندفع فورًا."
(Yes. And we will pay immediately.)
There was a short pause.
Then the official answered.
"حسنًا. سنرسل الأوراق الرسمية خلال ساعة."
(Alright. We will send the official papers within an hour.)
Hassan smiled slightly.
"اتفقنا."
(Agreed.)
He ended the call.
Across the excavation site, Albert stood with Arun near the entrance to the shaft.
Hassan walked toward them.
"It's done," he said.
Albert nodded.
"Good."
Arun looked relieved.
"So the land is ours now?"
Albert smiled slightly.
"Yes."
He placed a hand on Arun's shoulder.
"You can work freely now."
"No interruptions."
"No government problems."
Arun looked toward the shaft that led deep underground.
"The discovery down there…"
Albert finished the sentence quietly.
"...is about to change history."
Then Albert looked toward the desert horizon.
Because something felt wrong.
Far away, beyond the excavation site—
a dark helicopter was approaching silently over the dunes.
And whoever was inside it…
was not coming to negotiate.