Michigan is located in the Great Lakes Region of America, staring across the lakes at Canada, and is also known as the "State of the Great Lakes." The famous Detroit City is located in Michigan, and Midway City is just east of Sault Sainte Marie City, along the southern bank of the Saint Marys River, a picturesque small town. Due to the abundance of water, it's also called the "Island in the Great Lakes," famous for its beautiful natural landscapes and cultural elegance.
Midway City has long been ranked among the best tourist cities in the Great Lakes Region. It's not only because of its rich water systems, a paradise for all kinds of angling enthusiasts, but also because the Midway City Museum houses countless artifacts from Ancient Egypt, especially from the 19th Dynasty, one of the most prosperous dynasties in Ancient Egypt. Numerous research institutes and project groups have been established around this museum, contributing significantly to the investigation and analysis of Ancient Egyptian history.
When Deathstroke first heard this argument, he felt speechless. You take people's artifacts and then claim you've contributed to investigating their history; isn't it a bit too shameless? But later he learned that many Ancient Egyptian artifacts scattered around the world weren't necessarily all stolen; some were voluntarily given.
It's well known that People of Ancient Egypt have long been extinct. Today's Egyptians have no blood relationship with the People of Ancient Egypt, nor do they inherit their culture. Modern Egypt belongs to Arab Civilization, believing in Islam. Many of Ancient Egypt's historical cultures are inseparable from mythology, which leads to limited research possibilities on Egypt's domestic historical culture.
And the history and artifacts left by Ancient Egyptian Civilization are indeed too many, leaving a heavy mark in human history, attracting numerous scholars wanting to study this period. But Egypt's current situation is contradictory; they need the culture of Ancient Egypt to attract tourists but are restricted by religion from openly promoting it. So they came up with a solution, which is to conduct joint research.
The People of Ancient Egypt loved to record and were quite accomplished in art, resulting in a vast number of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, making it one of the rare rich mines in human history. Therefore, Egyptian authorities often loan artifacts for others to study, allowing them to maintain good relationships with scholars worldwide, strengthen their international influence, and evade criticism from the Arab World, which is a pretty good solution.
Scholars from different countries focus on different directions. Clearly, scholars in America love to study the 19th Dynasty, which is one of the most glorious dynasties of Ancient Egyptian Civilization. Pharaoh Ramses II distinguished himself through numerous victories, had a long life, and was deeply loved by the People of Ancient Egypt. Due to America's world influence, it received the largest slice of the pie.
America's Ancient Egyptian cultural research center is located in Midway City, Michigan. No wonder Diana asked Deathstroke to come here. If a sign near the Midway City Museum fell over and hit ten people, nine out of ten would be Ancient Egyptian artifact experts.
Deathstroke's mindset is quite complicated now. On one hand, he feels a sense of schadenfreude: Serves you right for forging artifacts when confronted by someone who truly knows their stuff, right? On the other hand, he's a bit concerned about Shiller being exposed. Because just like Shiller said, things have got to this point, and the artifacts can only be real, or everyone would have been working for nothing, including Deathstroke himself.
Understandably, Deathstroke contributed to finding the mural. Although Diana didn't say it, his attitude showed that he appreciated Deathstroke's efforts. Otherwise, you couldn't trust a superhero to have a good attitude toward a mercenary who kills for money. It's the first time Deathstroke received such a good attitude from a member of the Justice League.
But if the whole thing is exposed, Deathstroke becomes an accomplice, adding trouble at Justice League's most anxious time, and he would definitely be remembered for this, making it difficult to operate in America in the future.
Deathstroke began considering whether to secretly assassinate this expert. However, there were more than just one expert here; kill one, there's still a bunch. This thing is really hard to wrap up.
He decided to first observe Dr. Hall, to see if he could find any leverage. If he could threaten him to change his statement, that would be great. If not, he'd have to think of other ways.
Deathstroke's worries didn't last long. Because when he reached the balcony outside the second-floor window of the Midway City Museum to observe the manager's office, he saw a very familiar figure entering the office.
"Good noon, Dr. Hall." Shiller wearing a light yellow-green casual suit, hair neatly combed back, stepped forward and shook hands with the man in front.
"You've finally returned." The man called Dr. Hall was tall, with dark skin and a determined face, looking more like a warrior than a PhD. He firmly shook Shiller's hand and guided him to sit on the sofa in the reception area, "Is the plan going smoothly?"
"Certainly. That damn group of thieves should have learned their lesson. But your old nemesis Hayven is too cunning; he resigned from his position as the director of the Cairo Museum and escaped during Cairo's confusion when it was unsealed."
"That's enough." Dr. Hall rested his hands on the armrests, crossed one leg, and said, "Over the years, he's damaged and sold countless Ancient Egyptian artifacts. If we don't make him suffer, he would be even more unrestrained. Mr. Rodriguez, if it weren't for you, we'd really be in danger this time."
Shiller lowered his head and laughed, took a sip of water, and said, "Actually, I'm also surprised you agreed to this plan."
"Why?" Dr. Hall raised his eyebrows and asked.
"I know you're a genuine scholar who values historical research highly. The forgery of artifacts is still somewhat…"
"Oh, no, my friend." Dr. Hall shook his head and said, "Why should those who don't respect historical culture at all be allowed to use despicable means to steal everything, while we can't use some small strategies to deal with them? Anyway, no genuine artifacts were damaged, and Hayven has learned his lesson. That's enough."
"Thanks to you too." Shiller said, "I merely proposed a plan. It was you who used your expertise to create the convincingly fake 'Frenes Snake,' otherwise it wouldn't have fooled Hayven."
"Ha, that guy." Dr. Hall's tone contained strong disdain, "Back in University of Zurich, he was a useless loafer. I dare say he couldn't tell how many Pharaohs Egypt had. If he sees something resembling an Ancient Egyptian artifact, he treats it as a treasure. Fooling him is the easiest thing in the world."
"I indeed witnessed his lack of professionalism on this trip." Shiller also shook his head and said, "That Hesingnag has some skill, tricked him, and took the mural. Guess where he hid it?"
"Oh, where did he hide it?" Dr. Hall seemed very interested.
"In the Tutankhamun Exhibition Hall!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
After Shiller spoke, Dr. Hall burst into laughter. He patted the armrest and said, "That arms dealer knows him quite well. The last time this guy inspected the exhibition hall was probably the year he took office, which must have been 15 years ago. Hiding the mural in the upstairs exhibition hall is simply a brilliant strategy. If you don't search for it, he won't find it even if he searches until the next century!"
The two continued to ridicule Hayven for a while. Dr. Hall shared many embarrassing stories from his university days and then asked, "What about that French arms dealer?"
"You know I can't do anything to him," Shiller shook his head and said. "Behind him is France's largest arms manufacturer and the French government. Otherwise, how could he secure so many artifact transfer contracts in a short time? But, thanks to him, our plan was able to proceed."
"It's all thanks to your expertise, Mr. Rodriguez, your seasoned experience," Dr. Hall sighed and said. "I wouldn't have been able to find such a person if it were up to me. Our operation this time will at least let the field of Ancient Egyptian artifact research take a break for a few years. But only a few years."
"We haven't sacrificed much, have we?" Shiller said. "Aside from taking some time to produce the fake artifacts and going to Cairo that delayed some of my business, we didn't pay a very high price. Getting a few years of peace is already quite good."
"You're right. I was being overly sentimental," Dr. Hall said. "I think you can understand. I've spent most of my life dealing with these artifacts, each carrying fascinating history. I don't want any of them to be harmed, but there's always someone like Hayven..."
"Have you ever thought that maybe this plan could go deeper?"
"Oh?"
"We just created a fake artifact that looks the part, and with your endorsement, even seasoned veterans like Hesingnag and Hayven were fooled. This proves that professionals like you are indeed in the minority; most people lack discernment."
Dr. Hall squinted his eyes. "Tell me more."
"You see, you professionals require authentic artifacts for historical research. But those who hire mercenaries to steal the artifacts only need them to decorate their collection rooms. They're not concerned about the authenticity, only the value, right?"
"I understand," Dr. Hall said. "They want artifacts, so we'll give them artifacts; as many as they want."
"Exactly. This plan proves that creating a fake artifact that can fool them is not difficult at all. As a world-renowned expert on Ancient Egyptian artifacts, as long as you drop a hint, even fake ones become real. Let them play with those modern crafts while you keep the real artifacts for research, and that's the best method."
Dr. Hall tapped lightly on the armrest. He said with slight concern, "Using my professional skills for these things sounds unethical, but I'm really fed up with those greedy artifact dealers! As I told you earlier, in recent months, artifact thefts have become increasingly rampant. Midway City Museum alone had 16 incidents in a month. How long can this go on?"
"Doctor, the key to this is not about ethics. As you said, why can they use dirty means to steal artifacts while we cannot fight back?"
"Then you think the key lies in..."
"There's a risk in mixing the fake with the real," Shiller said. "People like us outsiders simply can't distinguish which are real and which are fake. Putting fake artifacts in the mix might attract their attention, but if it affects artifact research..."
"That, you don't have to worry about. I can distinguish at a glance which ones are real and which are fake."
"Of course, I'm not worried. But after all, conducting cultural and historical research is a long-term job. After a hundred years, where will we find experts like you to identify artifacts? By then, won't the real and fake be indistinguishable?"
"That, you don't..." Hall seemed like he wanted to say something, but suddenly stopped and changed his tone. "I mean, I can pass my knowledge to my children. He will become an expert like me. We will always have the ability to identify real artifacts from fake ones."
Shiller nodded and said, "That makes it easier. However, whether this plan can continue to be effective remains to be tested by time. Immediately starting large-scale mass production would likely be too risky. Why don't we start with the 'Frenes Snake'?"
"Are you suggesting..."