They sat in silence for a while. The sun had begun to set, and shadows gradually deepened in the office. Finally, Dinara stood up.

"It's getting late. I'll drive you to the hotel. And tomorrow early morning, we'll head to the lake. It's quite a journey, so I advise you to rest well."

Alexei also rose, discreetly returning the medallion to his inner pocket.

"Thank you again, Dinara. Really."

She smiled faintly.

"You're welcome. After all, our grandfathers were connected by this secret. Perhaps we're destined to solve it together."

They left the museum, and Alexei suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if someone was watching them. He looked around but noticed nothing suspicious among the passersby and parked cars.

When they got into Dinara's car, he asked:

"By the way, who else knows about my arrival and the medallion?"

Dinara fastened her seatbelt and started the car.

"Only Uncle Ermek. I told him you came with some find related to the 1954 expedition, but without details." She drove out of the parking lot. "Why do you ask?"

Alexei shrugged, looking in the side mirror.

"Just a strange feeling. As if we're being watched."

Dinara tensed but remained silent. After a few minutes, she turned onto a busy avenue and said:

"You know, let's go have dinner first. I know a good place not far from here. We can also talk about tomorrow's trip."

Alexei agreed, though he noticed that Dinara checked the rearview mirror several times, as if she too sensed someone's presence.

The restaurant turned out to be a small, cozy establishment serving national cuisine. They sat at a table in the corner with a good view of the entrance. After ordering pilaf and tea, Dinara leaned toward Alexei and said quietly:

"Your instincts might not be wrong. Lately, there's been a lot of… interested parties circling around historical artifacts, especially those connected to Issyk-Kul."

"What do you mean?" Alexei asked, equally quietly.

"After the collapse of the USSR, many archives and repositories were left without proper security. Valuable artifacts disappeared, documents were lost or stolen. Now these items are surfacing on the black market or in private collections." She paused as the waiter brought tea. "And in recent years, one person has been particularly actively interested in everything related to Issyk-Kul antiquities."

"Who?"

"Timur Karabaev. A local oligarch who made his fortune in the mining industry. He finances archaeological expeditions, buys artifacts, creates private museums… At first glance, everything is legal and even noble. But rumors suggest many of his methods are far from ethical."

Alexei frowned.

"And you think he might know about the medallion?"

"I don't know. But he maintains close ties with the museum management and sponsors many of our projects." She fell silent when the food arrived and continued only after the waiter had left. "Perhaps it's just a coincidence. But be careful, Alexei. Don't show the medallion to anyone except my uncle."

They began eating, but Alexei had lost his appetite. Dinara's words made him wary. What if his grandfather was right and the medallion could indeed lead to something dangerous? What if someone was really following them now?

He discreetly surveyed the restaurant. Regular patrons, families, couples, groups of friends. Nothing suspicious. And yet the feeling of anxiety wouldn't leave him.

"If you're afraid, we can cancel the trip," said Dinara, noticing his concern. "The medallion has remained secret for decades. It can wait a bit longer."

Alexei shook his head.