Ill-Intentioned Visitors

Before long, the members of the "Mountain Antelope Squad" finished cleaning up the burial items in the stone chamber. With nothing else to do, they gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves, their faces beaming with barely suppressed joy.

"Haha, we've struck it rich this time!"

"Yes. With this money, I can get a wife and live a peaceful life for the rest of my days. I won't have to go out hunting and risking my life anymore."

"I'm planning to buy a better Gene Potion to see if I can break through to the Second Tier of the Transcendent."

"Don't be too happy yet. Let's talk about getting out of here alive first."

"."

But everyone knows that the person they should be most grateful to for surviving until now is "Dr. Nicholas," who is currently doing something strange in the corner.

But no one dared to ask, and no one dared to disturb them.

There is such a thing as addictive drugs in this world.

Rein was like an addict, frequently injecting himself with Paralyzing Toxin using a syringe.

After each injection, the body's immune system will fully adapt to the dose of toxin within half an hour.

Then add a little more and inject again.

Even without looking at the system's data panel, he could clearly feel that the paralyzing sensation caused by the [Dog-headed Paralysis Toxin] was getting weaker and weaker.

Once toxin resistance reaches a certain level, it almost reaches complete immunity. Eventually, it becomes as natural as drinking water; you can drink it without worry.

It probably won't be long before it reaches that level.

Now that the elusive monster was gone, Rein and the rest of the "Mountain Antelope Squad" patiently waited in the stone chamber.

The distant sound of gunfire could often be heard in the passageway, as if it had traveled through countless twists and turns before finally reaching the ears, becoming so faint as to be barely perceptible.

One can imagine that other hunters had encountered a monster and were engaged in fierce combat.

However, that's none of their business.

This small stone chamber provided everyone with a temporary safe haven.

This "safe house" was found by Rein following the special symbols carved on the wall, like solving a Rubik's Cube, requiring a certain skill. It wasn't something you could find by just randomly wandering around.

Although the maze was large, it couldn't withstand the large number of people.

Tens of thousands of hunters entered the underground this time. No matter how complicated the maze was, some lucky ones stumbled in by accident.

However, the other Scavenger Gang were not as lucky as the "Mountain Antelope Squad".

The "Dog-headed Man" in the maze can emerge from cracks in the walls at any moment, easily taking a person's life. Not only are there monsters, but also traps.

One wrong step could mean fatal danger.

Small to medium-sized Scavenger Gang of a few dozen people generally cannot withstand a few setbacks.

Sooner or later, the more experienced hunters would realize that this was a labyrinth. But no one knew the Monkel Ancient Language, and no one could, like Rein, roughly guess the structure of the labyrinth after just one glance.

There may be other "safe houses," but those ancient characters on the stone carvings are incomprehensible and may be overlooked.

The more anxious people are, the more they want to find an "exit." They frantically run around the maze like headless flies, unaware that only a few survivors remain.

During the few hours of waiting, several groups of hunters who had strayed into the wilderness arrived, but most of them left dejectedly.

The survivors, their faces filled with terror and despair, rushed into the "safe house" in a panic, only to find themselves encountering the resting group of Rein, which made them feel no more at ease than if they had run into the monster.

In such a confined environment, there is no burden whatsoever in committing murder, and even unfamiliar companions are "dangerous factors" that must be guarded against.

This is experience that any hunter knows.

Therefore, the members of the "Mountain Antelope Squad" were on high alert for any movement.

Upon discovering an intruder, more than a dozen muskets would be aimed at the intruder, since they were carrying a "huge sum of money" and no one dared to be careless.

Most of those who strayed in were injured, and more or less carried some treasures they had found in the maze. Still in shock, and seeing the dark muzzle of a musket, no one dared to stay and hurriedly left to avoid misunderstanding.

Most importantly, no one expected that the stone chamber where Rein and her group were staying was any different from the ones they had encountered before. There was absolutely no need to risk staying in the same place.

Of course, there are exceptions.

That means the intruders were stronger than the "Mountain Antelope Squad," which made them act with impunity.

The Duke's Mansion recruited mostly small and medium-sized Scavenger Gang this time, ranging from a dozen to several dozen people, with very few teams having several hundred people.

A team of this size simply cannot withstand any turmoil. If they wander around this Underground Palace for a while, it would be a miracle if even a few of them survived.

Rein and her group stayed in the stone chamber for five or six hours, encountering more than a dozen groups of fellow travelers, but most of them were incomplete teams of three to five people.

Finally, after once again forcing the assassins clearing the way to retreat back into the tunnel with his musket, Rein realized that trouble might be on his way.

Five or six hours have passed since the group entered the tomb.

The surviving hunters encountered danger less and less frequently.

In the beginning, "Dog-headed Man" could emerge from the cracks in the rocks at almost any time; but now, you might not encounter one even after walking for half an hour.

Everyone understood that the number of those "dog-headed monsters" was not infinite. The thirty to forty thousand people who entered the Underground Palace had probably already exhausted them with their lives.

In the pitch-black passageway, a group of people were making marks along the way, trying to find the exit of the maze.

But no matter which way they went, they found that the markings had no pattern at all.

This is a medium-sized team called the "Iron Feather Scavenger Squad".

Before entering the Underground Palace, there were three to five hundred of them. But now only these thirty-odd people have survived, nearly 90% of them have perished.

Then, by sheer chance, the assassin clearing the way discovered Rein and her group in the "safe house".

This situation was also reported.

"Commander, there's a Scavenger Gang in the stone chamber ahead! They look like the 'Mountain Antelope Squad'."

"Huh, that small group hasn't been wiped out yet? How many of them are still alive?"

"Twelve."

"How is that possible! They haven't suffered many casualties?"

"."

Coincidentally, this Scavenger Gang knew the "Mountain Antelope Squad".

They also knew that this small group usually only had a dozen or so people.

Now they've encountered this damned maze. Countless Scavenger Gang that are far stronger than them have been wiped out, yet they've survived?

And there were almost no casualties?!

This is quite surprising.

The leader, [Elephant Foot] Beji, is a veteran powerhouse at the Third Tier and is quite famous among solo hunters.

He listened to his subordinate's assassin's report, frowned, and immediately realized something. "Let's go! Let's go take a look!"

The commotion of dozens of people walking in the passageway was quite loud, and the "Mountain Antelope Squad" naturally noticed them as well.

The team members also tensed up.

The opposing force outnumbered them several times over, putting them at a significant disadvantage should a conflict break out.

"Commander, someone's here, at least several dozen people."

What should we do now?

"If they really have malicious intentions, we'll fight them to the death! I'd rather die than give up the treasure I risked my life for."

"Me too!"

"."

Bart Commander Bart listened with a solemn expression.

If you don't have that many valuables on you, then you've just run into them. Those with nothing to lose have nothing to fear; we're all hunters, and even if someone has malicious intent, they wouldn't kill for the sake of killing.

But now that he has a large sum of money, the situation is different.

If they were really robbed, all the things they risked their lives for would have been used to benefit others for nothing. No one could bear that.

It was obvious that the other side had a large number of people and was too powerful to win by force.

Bart didn't entrust the safety of his group to the kindness of those unknown people.

Now we can only prepare for the worst: fight or retreat.

But leaving this stone chamber now isn't a good option either.

Thinking of this, he turned his gaze to Rein, who remained calm and meditating with his eyes closed, and asked, "Mr. Nicholas, what do you think of us?"

Rein didn't even lift his eyelids, and said calmly, "Let's wait and see."

"Good!"

Hearing the calm tone in those words, Bart was overjoyed, and his unease suddenly subsided.

Knowing that the other side had a large and powerful force, his calm demeanor showed that he was fully capable of handling this "important person".

But Bart also tried many times to recall when he had ever associated with such an important person.

But I still have no recollection of it at all.

Soon, the members of the "Iron Feather Scavenger Squad" walked out of the passageway.

The firelight illuminated faces wearing gas masks, their expressions somewhat grim.

These guys were fully armed, and most of them were covered with equipment several times more than they would normally carry, which looked like spoils of war or things they had taken from their dead comrades.

Click, click, click

The two groups met face to face, and gunshots rang out in unison.

A dozen or so muskets were matched against dozens.

The atmosphere instantly became tense and hostile.

At that moment, a path parted from the other group, and a person stepped out.

He completely ignored the gun barrels and said with a half-smile, "Hey Bart, what do you mean by this? You and your brothers are planning to greet me with guns?"

Bart glanced at the other person's attire and recognized him, looking slightly surprised. "Chief Beji?"

Although he remained calm, he secretly sensed something was wrong.

He never expected that the one who came would be a Third Tier Extraordinary!

The vast majority of High-tier Extraordinary are concentrated under the command of great nobles or in large Scavenger Gang. For ordinary hunters, Third Tier Extraordinary are the top-tier powerhouses they can come into contact with.

This is a very important person.

Upon seeing the approaching person, Bart's peripheral vision unconsciously fell on Rein in the distance.

He felt a little uneasy. Although he knew that this "Dr. Nicholas" was definitely not simple, he was not necessarily a match for this top expert among the lone hunters.

Besides, the other side has so many people!

"Everyone, put your guns away."

Upon recognizing the newcomer, a strange look flashed across Bart's face, but quickly disappeared. He then signaled to his team members to put away their muskets.

This weapon is useless against High-tier Extraordinary and will only provoke them.

If they really give others an excuse to attack, they will definitely be the ones who suffer.

The "Mountain Antelope Squad" lowered their guns, and the "Iron Feather Gang" members also lowered them. However, a hint of ill intent could be seen in their eyes, as if a carnivorous lion were eyeing a herbivorous antelope.

Beji surveyed the stone chamber, her gaze lingering for a moment on several jewel-encrusted golden coffins before shifting elsewhere.

To his surprise, there was neither the Kobold Monster's corpse nor any human corpse in the stone chamber.

Upon closer inspection, Beji was even more shocked by the stitched wounds on the necks of the wounded members of the "Mountain Antelope Squad."

Such a horrific wound was clearly caused by the dog-headed monster's bite.

How could someone survive being bitten by that kind of monster?

One could be considered a coincidence, but there were actually three people with bite wounds on their necks?

Several Second Tier vice-captains in their own group were instantly bitten to death. How did these guys survive?

In that instant, countless questions flooded Beji's mind. He looked at Bart, not in a hurry to ask about other things, but directly asked, "Bart, did you also encounter those Kobold Monsters?"

Bart wasn't keen on talking to these people, but he had to reply, "We encountered them. Our team lost several brothers because of this."

Only a few?

Hundreds of people in my gang have died because of that monster!

Beji's expression darkened, and she tentatively asked, "Looking at the wounds on your brothers, were they inflicted by that Kobold Monster?"

Upon hearing this, Bart guessed what the other person was curious about and inwardly knew he was in trouble.

But such a large wound couldn't be hidden, and people might believe a lie. But he certainly wouldn't expose Dr. Nicholas's superb medical skills.

Unexpectedly, Sister Pasha spoke up at this moment, saying, "Yes. They are lucky; they were bitten but did not die."

"Oh?"

Beji scrutinized Pasha's attire, half-believing, and asked, "Are you a high-ranking doctor?"

Hundreds of his men had died, so how could they not know that this monster not only bites but also instantly releases poison and sucks blood, leaving no chance of survival?

This was the conclusion reached by the only Senior Doctor in their team.

Now, we've actually found survivors in a small group?

Pasha didn't intend to explain further, neither admitting nor denying, only saying, "I am a Holy Priest Transcendent."

"."

Beji's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty upon hearing this.

Having witnessed hundreds of people being bitten to death, he naturally wouldn't believe that a low-level Transcendent could heal such injuries, yet the facts were undeniable. Perhaps, by chance, some holy beings could heal such wounds?

If there really is such a medical Transcendent, then we must keep him under our control!

The other party was clearly trying to find out their secrets with one question after another, Bart also saw through the little scheme of the "Iron Feather Gang".

He didn't intend to get entangled with these people any longer, and said to the members of the 'Iron Feather Gang' beside him, "Brothers, make way for the 'Iron Feather Gang' brothers."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the stone chamber immediately moved against the wall, clearing a path for others to pass through.

This is a euphemistic way of saying "get rid of them."

The stone chamber, only a few dozen square meters in size, couldn't possibly accommodate so many people. Only when they made way could those uninvited guests pass through.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the stone chamber immediately moved against the wall, clearing a path for others to pass through.

If you were hunting in other places, you would just say hello and leave.

But Beji wasn't stupid. Looking at the dried bloodstains and charred torches on the ground, he guessed that Bart and the others had been in this stone chamber for quite some time.

He was also more curious about why, when his team had narrowly escaped death, the "Mountain Antelope Squad" had suffered almost no losses.

He wasn't in a hurry to leave. His eyes darted around, and he asked again, "Commander Bart, you've probably noticed that we're trapped in a maze. My unit is short of personnel and doctors, so why don't you come with us? We can look out for each other."

Normally, if Third Tier Extraordinary could speak in such a polite tone, a small group like Bart would naturally not dare to disobey. But in the current situation, Bart knew what the other party was after.

The claim of a manpower shortage is probably more about a lack of cannon fodder for scouting.

They said they were short of doctors, probably because they were looking at the mountain's ability to heal the Kobold Monster's bite. But that wasn't Sister Pasha's ability at all, and they had no right to decide anything for that gentleman.

No matter how you look at it, teaming up with these guys is not a good choice.

Bart glanced at the silent Rein out of the corner of his eye and refused directly, "Beji for your kindness, Captain Bekki. But it's not necessary. We have wounded soldiers on our side, and we plan to rest for a while longer."

"???"

Beji thought she had misheard after being rejected so directly.

His expression darkened, and he said, "Oh? Is that so?"

How dare these guys refuse me?

Even if he were incredibly stupid, he could guess that these people might possess some kind of "secret".

All responses consistently avoided addressing him.

Given the current situation, the "Iron Feather Gang" has an overwhelming advantage. It would be unwise for them to still care about saving face.

Since we've encountered this situation, we must take the doctor with us and get the secret out of him.

Since the other party is being ungrateful, then let's just tear off the mask of politeness!

But even if you take action, you need to find a reason.

Beji turned her gaze back to the three golden coffins in the stone chamber and said directly, "Hey, Commander Bart, it seems you've had a pretty good haul this time?"

Despite having Rein's Storage Ring, the excess treasure still filled the "Mountain Antelope Squad's" bags, making them bulge and indicating that their haul was substantial.

Upon hearing this, Bart opened a bag, revealing gleaming gold coins, and said, "I found some gold artifacts that aren't very valuable."

Hearing this, Beji felt like he was punching cotton; Bart wasn't giving him a chance to retaliate.

Just then, Beji's gaze fell on the coffins in the stone chamber, and she questioned, "What treasures are in those coffins? These pure gold coffins inlaid with jewels are priceless, and you didn't take any of them?"

These coffins were, in his opinion, the biggest "suspicious point" in the entire house!

Thank you to 'Zouzou Zaihe' for the 5000 coin reward, and thank you to 'LEB' and 'Huanjixin' for the generous reward.