Chapter 1125: Nile River
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Listening to the driver’s introduction of Egypt’s unique culture, the endless traffic jam had become less intolerable. But the driver’s accent and proficiency in English had become a big issue. They had to mostly get by with guessing and gestures, and both Zhang Zian and Wei Kang were worried about whether they had heard or understood something wrongly.
He He started to complain through the walkie-talkie, “Mr. Wei, where’s the hotel that we booked? Don’t tell me it’s just like these dirty and broken hotels. I’m going to go back!”
Wei Kang shared a helpless look with Zhang Zian before answering. “Xiao He, we have to be prepared to tough it out since we’re here on a scientific expedition. Don’t be so spoiled…”
After some explainining, He He was still extremely against staying in these hotels, saying that she didn’t feel safe.
Actually, she wasn’t in the wrong either. Up until now, all of the hotels that they had seen by the street side were all really old and dilapilated, and the people that were going in and out of the hotels seemed a little shady too. Safety really was a concern.
In the end, Wei Kang could only say, “Don’t worry, the hotel that we have booked is different from all of these. It’s legal and safe.”
Before he had finished speaking, the road before them finally cleared. The driver took advantage of the chance to slam on the accelerator, rus.h.i.+ng through the most jammed part of the road.
Not too long later, after a sharp turn, the scenery beside the street that they were driving on had become drastically different. There were Mercedes-Benz cars, or even higher-tiered sports cars being driven on the street. The ensemble of luxury hotels and high-cla.s.s buildings made them wonder if they had stumbled onto the wrong set.
The driver explained that Cairo had been split into old and new segments. The old city was dirty and messy. The new city was a lot better.
Rather than saying that these two parts were “old” and “new,” it was more accurate to say that they were the “poor man’s street” and the “rich man’s area.” The income gap existed everywhere in the world.
The taxi drove across the Nile River on a bridge. Seeing the Four Seasons Hotel right in front, He He finally stopped her complaining, feeling that Wei Kang was pretty generous.
Wei Kang had chosen to stay here for two reasons. One was safety. Secondly, it was because this hotel was very close to Cairo University. They were only seperated by the southeast corner of the Giza Zoological Garden, and they would be able to reach it just by going down Murad Street.
For the next few days, he would bring the four students to do a series of exchanges with Cairo University’s teachers and students in the biology major, so it was more convenient to be staying near there.
They had communicated with the hotel beforehand with regards to Fina and Famous’ stay. They attracted some attention but, thankfully, no trouble.
He He was staying in her own room. Wei Kang and the three male students were sharing two twin rooms. Zhang Zian had shamelessly asked for a single room with the excuse of having to take care of Famous and Fina. Wei Kang had originally planned to share a twin room with him.
Wei Kang knew that these youngsters wouldn’t be able to stay still and would definitely grasp any chance they can to go out and sightsee while they were in Egypt, so he continuously nagged at them to not leave the hotel alone and to hurry up and pack their luggage before sleeping off the jet lag. If they wanted to sightsee, they had a full day to do so tomorrow.
Zhang Zian brought Fina and Famous into their own room and hung up the Do Not Disturb tag. The three boys were already loudly discussing playing Mahjong or trying out their luck at the casino on the top floor tonight, but he really had no interest in following them.
The facilities of the hotel weren’t too bad. The central air system had successfully s.h.i.+elded them from the harsh summer heat of the outdoors. More importantly, his hotel room’s balcony directly faced the Nile River. As long as he pulled the curtains back and walked out, he would be able to enjoy the pulsing waves of the Nile River while leaning on the railing.
There was a pair of chairs along with a small round table on the balcony. Fina unceremoniously picked one of the chairs, curling on the soft seat and falling into deep thought as she watched the Nile River.
After Zhang Zian finished packing his luggage, he picked up his phone to release all of the elfins.
“Meow meow meow! Tokyo’s hot! Egypt’s hot too! I can only strip!” It was as though Snowy Lionet had had a nightmare and was spouting nonsense the moment it came out. Not a split second later, it realised that it was actually very cool indoors, and it ended up rolling all over the floor in glee.
Zhang Zian gave it a look.
“What? Filthy men! Let me tell you, don’t you dare pull this on me! I’ll cut off your b.a.l.l.s if you do!” it threatened, all teeth and claws.
What could Zhang Zian do but pout and return to the balcony?
Snowy Lionet turned its head back in confusion only to see Fina’s lonely silhouette. Only then did it understand what Zhang Zian was trying to tell her. Go be with Fina, he meant, don’t let Fina get too caught up in her memories.
Snowy Lionet spat silently at Zhang Zian. So annoying. It had already planned to do so from the start.
It teetered over to the balcony, jumping successfully onto the chair that Fina was on only after several tries and enthusiastically calling out, “Your Majesty! You must be exhausted after your trip! Let me, your humble servant, have the honor of grooming you!”
It pushed its face desperately toward Fina’s. All it got back was Fina pus.h.i.+ng its face away with a paw in rejection after it snapped back to life, but it had finally gotten out of the slump of its memories.
Vladimir immediately rushed to the balcony after getting released too, jumping onto the table and enthusiastically declaring to the whole world, “The poor catizens of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, it’s time to band together!”
“Meow!” Galaxy stared at Vladimir before speaking, seemingly under its breath. “Vladimir, good luck!”
Vladimir clenched its fist tight in confidence. “No problems! Our cat-flag will be flown all over the world!”
Galaxy nodded. “Meow! Galaxy means good luck as well when we’re back in Binhai City!”
Vladimir didn’t understand. The strays of Binhai City had already banded together, and the Holy Cat statue was taken care of as well as brought over to Egypt. There was no imminent danger of it reviving again, and the cat torture incidents had already been stopped. Their only mission left was to spread their mission to the whole country or even the whole world. The wildfire of the cat nation had already been sparked. What else would they need good luck for?
It had wanted to ask more questions in its confusion, but Galaxy had already run off to check out the other rooms.
It was used to the ambiguous way that Galaxy liked to speak anyway, so it gave up on asking for more answers. They were already here in Egypt, and they couldn’t go back on short notice. It was here to at least set up a Meow Meow Doctrine branch in Egypt before going back, using Egypt as a springboard to bring their ideals to the entirety of the Middle East and Africa, or it would be a wasted trip. No matter what happened in Binhai City, it wouldn’t be too late to settle it after finis.h.i.+ng its mission here.
After Old Time Tea was released, it spread its limbs to relax its muscles, stumbling upon Galaxy and Vladimir’s conversation too.
Right then, Zhang Zian placed the box with the Holy Cat statue off to the side.
Old Time Tea looked at the statue and at Vladimir again, muttering under its breath in thought. “Nothing is all-powerful. Everything has a weakness, and someone will always be able to defeat you.”