"You people of Sandthorn Rose should stop trying to sow discord. Don’t end up with half of the participants killing each other before knowing what the treasure is." A rough male voice said, "Let’s not talk about the past, I just hope there won’t be any mishaps on the journey ahead."

"Hard to say... hard to say~" The female voice dubbed "Sandthorn Rose" laughed as she spoke.

"Who is this Sandthorn Rose?" Sun Hang couldn’t help but ask, listening in on the chat content in the public communication channel. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"It’s an organization entirely composed of female mercenaries, female Hunters, and female psychics. It appeared in the Hexi Corridor Region two years ago, mainly stationed in Yumen, surviving by taking on various commissioned tasks, and active to this day." Before Ya Qiaoxi could answer, the main brain had already spoken in Sun Hang’s ear, "The leader of the organization is named Shalia, codenamed ’Scorpion,’ a Free Hunter. Currently, there are fifty-seven members documented alive in the organization."

"...Right now, this organization has about fifty people." Ya Qiaoxi simultaneously said, the content roughly similar to what the main brain had said, "They also invited me to join, but at that time, I had already retired, so I ignored them."

"Are these people skilled?"

"I don’t know if they’re skillful, but their reputation isn’t great." Ya Qiaoxi’s tone carried a hint of disdain, "They’ve been involved in a lot of ambushes and robberies, killing and pillaging, and they also take on some vengeance and assassination jobs, clashing with quite a few organizations in Yumen and Dragon City..."

"Huh? Such people can mix into the convoy?" Sun Hang was stunned, "Don’t others oppose it?"

"At least on the surface, they follow the rules. They haven’t killed anyone in Yumen or Dragon City, and they’ve completed tasks for their employers quite well... In a place like this, someone’s always got to do the dirty jobs people disdain. Even if they’re eliminated, some ’Sandthorn Peony’ or ’Sandthorn Rose’ organizations would emerge." Ya Qiaoxi sighed, "Besides, for those seeking a livelihood in the Hexi Corridor, few are saints. No one can guarantee they won’t have a time when they need to place an order with them... So when we encounter this group of people, it’s usually with an attitude of keeping a respectful distance... Very few actively cause them trouble."

"Is their leader pretty?" Sun Hang suddenly asked a question that’s easily misunderstood.

Ya Qiaoxi turned back, giving Sun Hang an odd look through the car window glass before saying, "Pretty, very pretty, one of those women with an angel’s face and a devil’s figure. But if you encounter her, I suggest you’d better stay away."

"Why?"

"Do you even need to guess why her codename is ’Scorpion’?" Ya Qiaoxi sneered, "Her codename isn’t based on her abilities, but her character... She’s had many men, and without exception, they either end up dead or missing. The word on the street is that her infection meme might come from a type of mantis-like paranormal entity, and it’s a female mantis."

"Is she in the convoy?" Sun Hang asked again.

"When gathering in Yumen earlier, I didn’t see her." Ya Qiaoxi shook her head, "I’m not sure either, Scorpion’s whereabouts have always been very mysterious, and she’s also skilled in Disguise Skill, perhaps she’s sitting right in the car ahead of us now."

"Three men are in that car." Sun Hang stated.

"Disguise Skill also includes dressing as the opposite sex," Ya Qiaoxi said, "And Scorpion stands at 1.76 meters tall, even if disguised as a male, she’s not easily recognized."

"Even if Scorpion isn’t participating in this action, we absolutely must not let our guard down," Ya Qiaoxi continued, "Sure, everyone’s taking part in the action for that treasure, but besides the treasure, there are bound to be plenty of others in the convoy with different motives—after all, there’s only one treasure, but many may have valuables on them. My suggestion is not to venture deeply into Nanhua Town, just collect intelligence on the outskirts... of course, I know you probably won’t listen to me, but anyway, if you encounter other participants in Nanhua Town, make sure not to treat them as allies."

"And you?" Sun Hang asked with a smile.

"First of all, I reiterate that I’m not interested in that treasure." Ya Qiaoxi said, fuming, "Besides, are you deaf? I’ve said I won’t enter Nanhua Town, only conduct activities around the town’s perimeter. If you meet me in the town, don’t doubt it, it’s definitely someone else disguised—just fire a shot at that person’s head."

"You are so harsh on yourself?" Sun Hang was a bit surprised.

"The group that loves disguising as others the most around here is just that Sandthorn Rose bunch, and they particularly like using such methods to frame others." Ya Qiaoxi said, "If you truly run into them in the town, even if you bear no hostility, they won’t spare you."

"... Why do I suddenly feel this treasure hunt has turned into a big battle royale, by the way, Nagano Souta, aren’t you going to do something about it?"

"I can only ensure such things won’t happen within Spring Breeze." Nagano Souta said, "In the no man’s land, Spring Breeze’s name doesn’t have much binding power over them."

"The name doesn’t bind, but that doesn’t mean the power doesn’t." Sun Hang retorted, "If you put White Tiger there, I doubt many would dare to stir trouble."

"But I can’t supervise every single person all the time." Nagano Souta sighed, "How about this, once arriving at Nanhua Town, just hang around me. I can’t promise there won’t be attacks among others, but I can at least ensure no one will assault you."

"You say you’re protecting us." Sun Hang took a swig from the flask, then mercilessly revealed Nagano Souta’s true intention, "But in fact, you want us to work for you, right? After all, in this convoy, Candle Dragon and I have some of the top fighting prowess."

"Just mutual benefits." Exposed, Nagano Souta showed no embarrassment, "Operating with me can spare you from much unnecessary hassle, and when facing combat, with White Tiger’s firepower support, you’ll ease up a lot. Also, I can assure you that if you find the treasure, I won’t claim it from you—I can even protect you as you carry the treasure back to Dragon City."

"What’s in it for you? Putting your life on the line, is it really just to fulfill an old desire?" Sun Hang squinted at the microphone in front of him, not help but wonder, "Honestly, this explanation feels flimsy."

Sun Hang very much wanted to use Mind Reading Technique on Nagano Souta, but although the latter is a cripple, he’s still an infected who can sense the strangeness when his mind’s being read. Once realizing Nagano Souta has ulterior motives, a direct face-off might occur—Sun Hang isn’t afraid of such a confrontation, but it shouldn’t happen now.

"Whether you believe it or not, that’s your call." Nagano Souta chuckled bitterly, "I’ve said my piece, those are my truest thoughts."

"Boss, we’re about to reach Sunfall Ridge." The accountant’s voice suddenly cut in, easing the previously tense atmosphere of the conversation.

In front of the convoy appeared a series of low rolling hills, on whose surface was uneven distribution of numerous circular glowing items, looking from afar like LED effects added to the lunar craters.

As the convoy approached, the air temperature began to rise rapidly.

"That’s Sunfall Ridge, those glowing items are various large and small lava pools," Ya Qiaoxi said, "Feels like numerous ’suns’ of varying sizes have fallen on the mountain, hence the name Sunfall Ridge."

"Is this place another paranormal entity?"

"Paranormal entity number G-319—Sunfall Ridge." Candle Dragon spoke, "Geological activities under Sunfall Ridge are exceptionally frequent, even on flat lands there’s been magma eruption phenomena. Each time magma erupts, it leaves a semi-permanent lava pool on the ground. To safely pass through Sunfall Ridge, the best way is to tread along the edges of those existing lava pools, as places where magma has already erupted won’t experience secondary eruptions."