In "The Serpent's Shadow" by Rick Riordan, a character confronts Anubis in a setting that is filled with moral ambiguity. The speaker expresses dismay at finding Anubis in what they perceive as a corrupt and questionable environment, suggesting that the location and its activities are far from virtuous. The term "den of iniquity" emphasizes a strong judgment against the behavior observed there.

The dialogue captures a moment of surprise and disapproval, highlighting the contrast between Anubis’s divine nature and the human institutions that can sometimes embody moral failings. The confusion culminates as the speaker tries to reconcile their expectations of a godlike figure with the reality of his surroundings, ultimately questioning the legitimacy of the space described as a “school.”