Chapter 1129 - 357: Temple’s Enigmas (Part 3)

A thought occurred to him.

He put away his magic wand, adjusted the collar of his linen robe to make himself look more like an ordinary foreign traveler, then stepped toward the bustling market of Memphis.

The marketplace was rather noisy. The streets of Memphis were always lively and bustling. Wide cobbled roads were crowded with stalls, and vendors shouted at the top of their lungs; their voices echoed one after another. The air was infused with the smell of roasting various things, spices, and the silt from the Nile River, so rich it seemed almost tangible.

After all, it was a metropolis.

Just like cities of the future such as New York, London, Shanghai - crowded.

"Gathering travelers and merchants from every corner of the world."

Ian walked leisurely, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of goods—the Nubian merchants’ gold wares gleamed in the sunlight, Phoenicians sold deep purple dyes, and several vendors pushed wooden carts, hawking fresh wild fruits and coconuts. In the distance, a group of children laughed and chased each other, nearly bumping into him, before giggling and running off.

Ian did not mind.

He stopped in front of a barbecue stall, the lamb skewers on charcoal sizzling, fat dripping and stirring up a plume of smoke. The stall owner, a wrinkled old man, grinned widely when he saw Ian pause, revealing a mouthful of mismatched yellow teeth.

"Care for a skewer? Premium lamb, marinated with desert spices; I guarantee you’ve never tasted anything so delicious!" Whether ancient or modern, vendors understand how to shout their offers and boast.

"Alright."

Ian fished out a few local copper rings and handed them over, took a bite of the skewer. The meat was tender, and the flavor of the spices burst on his tongue, a spicy taste with a hint of sweetness, indeed unique.

"Not bad." He nodded in appraisal.

The old man smiled proudly: "Of course! It’s my family recipe, even the Pharaoh’s chefs come to steal the secrets!"

This was evidently another boast, but for advertising, it was forgivable; merely the most ancient form of marketing. Ian raised an eyebrow, smiled dismissively, and continued forward. As he turned a street corner, the sound of drumming and flutes caught his attention. A group of people had formed a circle around a juggler performing fire-swallowing and acrobatics. His bare torso was painted with colorful designs, movements agile as a serpent, eliciting cheers from the spectators.

Ian stood at the edge of the crowd, watching with interest. After the performer finished a round, he picked up a clay bowl and went around asking for money. As he passed Ian, their eyes met briefly. The performer’s eyes, reflecting the sunlight, showed a strange amber hue, like cat’s eyes, carrying a sense of alertness and scrutiny.

Ian discreetly tossed in a few copper rings, the performer nodded slightly, then turned to the next spectator.

"Interesting..."

Ian muttered to himself.

He obviously realized that the performer was also a wizard, and not an Ancient Egypt wizard; it was puzzling what purpose he was hiding here for.

But everyone was akin, he was not someone who would snitch, Ian was a top student, but he only liked to report things occasionally. Ian continued strolling aimlessly until he passed a narrow alley, overhearing a few men speaking in hushed tones.

"...another disappearance, this time a young girl."

"Shh! Not so loud! You want to stay alive?"

"But it’s so strange! It’s the third one this month..." Their discussion wasn’t exactly quiet, and Ian’s footsteps paused as he pretended to adjust his boots.

In reality, he was straining his ears.

Listening closely.

"I heard they vanished at night, without a trace."

"I’ve heard... people saw shadows near the temple..."

Their conversation indeed was informative.