New Captives

"Boss, how much longer are we going to stay here?"

"We've been stuck here all day long, from yesterday until now, we're practically stuffed with the northwest wind!"

On a cliff deep in the mountains, someone complained impatiently.

This is a platform extending from a cliff, where three men crouched and looked down at the scenery below.

The canyon inhabited by the Insectoid Tribe appears to be shrouded in mist.

Just like when Linsey looked over here, an ordinary person's vision could not penetrate the water mist to see the condition of the ground.

"Isn't this place just a bunch of insects infected with disease, and even the soil and plants are severely deteriorated?"

Hearing his companion's complaints.

The leader's gaze remained fixed on the area below, though his tone was somewhat low:

No, it's not quite the same.

"I can sense traces of human awakened beings activity below, and they've been staying in the canyon ever since we set up here yesterday. They haven't encountered any battles or been attacked by those insects; it seems like they've been accepted."

Upon hearing this answer, the person who asked the next question rolled their eyes.

He was quite dissatisfied with this situation of staking out one place:

"What does this have to do with us?"

"If someone wants to get stuck with those bugs, let them burrow in. We can't just get infected with that disease and cut our lifespan in half."

The leader frowned and said:

"Since you don't want to die young, the other person certainly doesn't want to either."

"Since the people below are willing to stay here, it is very likely that they have found a way to overcome the epidemic, which is also why they are spared from insect attacks!"

Upon hearing this reason, the man behind him also changed his expression:

"If we can overcome this epidemic... then these insects will have some value!"

"Since we happened to run into this, then this solution should be ours..."

The conversation between the two should have continued.

But at that moment, the man gazing down into the misty valley suddenly changed his expression.

"Huh? We've been discovered!"

"This... that's fast! Oh no, we have to get out of here!"

The man sensed something from the fog.

Without hesitation, he turned and left, and they slipped into a hidden path beside the cliff, disappearing into the depths of the mountains in the blink of an eye.

Boom--!

Half an hour later, blazing flames rose from the mountains.

The three who had been plotting against the Insectoid Tribe not long ago were now surrounded by flames. The cold sweat on their faces was heated by the flames, and their expressions became even more tense.

And under the watchful eyes of the three.

Linsey stepped slowly out of the flames and spoke to them in a calm tone:

"The three of you, it's such a rare occasion for us to meet in this vast world."

"Now that this is a rare opportunity, why don't you come with me and visit my home?"

"..."

None of the three answered; instead, they decided to fight to the death.

Their leader was a Fourth Stage perceiver, while the other two were Third Stage awakeners.

A team of this strength.

If you're careful and cautious, it can walk sideways on Wasteland.

Unfortunately, they ran into Linsey today.

As a result, the battle lasted less than half a minute.

Half an hour later, Linsey, as if carrying a few rags, led the three back to the canyon where the Insectoid Tribe lived.

Vivian and Tie Yu were waiting there.

When they saw Linsey appear, they immediately went to greet her, their questioning gazes also sweeping over the three unconscious people:

"Lord Linsey, who are these guys...?"

Linsey casually tossed them to the ground:

"These guys were spying on us from the cliff. We can't let outsiders know about this, so let's invite them back to the camp."

Tie Yu looked puzzled:

"Spying? Why would they spy on the Insectoid Tribe's canyon?"

"That place is completely invaded by disease and inhabited by dangerous insects. There is no reason for ordinary people to approach such a place!"

Linsey explained:

"Their goal is to covet the Insectoid Tribe's technology for maintaining the environment. No, to be more precise, they are curious about how we can remove the Corruption Poison from the Insectoid Tribe."

With Tie Yu's question answered, Vivian, standing nearby, became curious about another aspect:

"Lord Linsey, are all three of them Awakened?"

Linsey pointed to the three people on the ground:

"That's right, they are all Awakened Ones."

"The leader is a Fourth Stage Perceptor, this guy is a Third Stage Warrior, and the last one... I knocked him out as soon as we met, and I don't know his specific skill category."

Vivian looked somewhat nervous.

"There are very few teams with this kind of strength in this Wasteland!"

Linsey responded calmly:

"They are indeed very powerful, and they are unwilling to disclose any information."

"But this isn't too difficult. Once we get back, we'll have plenty of ways to get them to talk."

The turning-back team now had three extra burdens.

However, Linsey took on the task of leading the team, so the team's schedule was not delayed for too long.

Three days later, the group returned to the embrace of the Banyan Forest on time.

Linsey settled Vivian and Tie Yu down, then locked the three prisoners in jail, before heading straight toward the university.

Hilude's lessons for today have ended.

At this moment, there are still 3 to 5 people gathered in the university discussing what they learned today.

As the teacher, Hilude sat alone on the edge of the square at the edge of the podium.

She leaned back in her wheelchair, staring blankly at the sky, as if trying to find something among the shadows of the branches and leaves.

"..."

"Huh? Linsey?"

Hilude stood up instantly.

Linsey had barely stepped into university when Hilude snapped out of her reverie and looked with delight in the direction Linsey had come from:

"You're finally back!"

"You've been away from home for over a week, and you know how much I've suffered..."

Hilude wanted to express her enthusiasm, but Linsey didn't give her the chance.

The young writer had barely opened her mouth when she saw Linsey walk around behind her, grab the armrests of her wheelchair, and push her out of the university.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Where are you taking me? What are you going to do with me?"

Linsey replied as she hurried on her way:

"Let's go to prison together, can you do me a favor?"

Hilude's expression changed.

She activated her skills and saw that the line of fate ahead seemed to have a large shadow, making it difficult to see clearly.

So she closed her left eye again.

As the threads of fate began to unravel, she saw that it was a sign of crisis and hope appearing simultaneously:

"Linsey, what weirdo have you caught this time?"

"Three sneaky awakeners," Linsey stated his purpose. "Aren't artists supposed to be able to sense emotions? I need to ask these three people some questions. Can you help me check the situation?"