The next morning, the air around the central launchpads was filled with the low, thrumming hum of arcane engines.
Instead of steam trains, ten massive Guild airships hovered above the plaza. It was 7:30 AM, and exactly 2,300 adventurers—a mix of D-Rank and eager C-Rank parties—gathered for the launch. C-Rank squads were especially drawn to this annual event due to the high profitability of rare culinary ingredients and monster yields requested by high-end establishments across Terra Nova.
At the boarding ramp, Alister introduced their temporary third member to Trevor.
“Trevor, this is Vernon,” Alister said cheerfully. “He's an experienced D-Rank Hunter who's gonna help us out today!”
Trevor gave Vernon a quick, sweeping glance, taking note of the man's nervous demeanor and weathered leather armor. “Good to meet you.”
“Likewise, friend,” Vernon replied, smiling warmly and extending a handshake. “I'll do my best not to drag Apex Squad down.”
By 8:00 AM, the airships lifted off into the clouds, setting a course for a massive, uncharted rainforest sector.
Upon landing at the perimeter, an Elven Guild Inspector stepped up to an amplified podium. “Welcome, adventurers, to the Special Expedition of the Great Forest Land! This territory is vast—larger than an entire surface kingdom—and bordered by the grand river system that has preserved its isolated ecosystem for millennia. Our central Stronghold Outpost lies in the middle of this sector. Do not cross the grand river under any circumstances. At nightfall, we will ignite high-power magic spotlights into the sky so you can easily navigate back to the base.”
The inspector pointed to a giant slate listing the expedition targets:
[EXPEDITION HUNT & HARVEST LIST]
Monster Yields: Warthogs (4–6 ft, larger equals higher payout), Giant Mud Crabs, Beetle Prawns, White Salamander Eggs, Mouse Deers.
Culinary Ingredients: Sweet Tree Sap, Green Ginger, Jazbay Tropical Grapes, Crowned Mushrooms.
“Every registered party will receive a Guild Spatial Storage Bag,” the inspector continued, handing small leather pouches to each squad leader. “These bags maintain internal temporal stasis to preserve meat freshness and ingredient quality. However, take heed of this warning:”
A senior Elven Inspector stepped forward, his tone turning deadly sharp. “If you encounter any of the following threats, do not engage. They are B-Rank hazards that have strayed past the grand river boundary:
Saufischer: Intelligent, amphibious piranha-humanoids that wield tridents and spears, actively preying on humans, elves, and dwarves.
Yukma: Fiendish forest imps capable of launching high-tier elemental magic attacks.
“If you spot these threats, retreat to the Stronghold immediately and log a report. This expedition will run for 24 full hours. Gates open at 10:00 AM today and close at 10:00 AMtomorrow. No guild observers will roam the interior. Good luck.”
As the heavy iron gates swung open at 10:00 AM, the 2,300 adventurers fanned out in different directions.
Before heading out, Alister noticed Osgard and his surviving C-Rank cronies standing near a supply wagon. Osgard—his hand heavily bandaged and ribs tightly braced—shot a venomous glare at Alister and Trevor before casually turning his back.
An hour into the trek, the thick canopy blocked out most of the sunlight. The forest was vast, and finding specific target species proved far harder than the open fields.
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“Man... this is gonna be tough,” Alister sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
“Relax, kid,” Trevor said calmly, holding his briefcase in one hand. “We have a full twenty-four hours for this operation.”
Vernon stepped up to the front, adjusting his belt daggers. “I've actually participated in this yearly event twelve times now. I know a few secluded spots where these creatures and ingredients cluster.”
Alister's face lit up. “Really?! Lead the way, Vernon!”
Vernon’s route proved remarkably efficient:
Salamander Nest: Vernon flicked two daggers with uncanny precision, pinning a pair of territorial White Salamanders to a tree before harvesting 4 pristine White Salamander Eggs.
Mud Crab Bank: At a muddy riverbed, giant armored Mud Crabs surged out. Alister used a quick water spell to drench their shells, followed by a shock bolt that fried them inside their hard armor.
Harvesting: Vernon guided them to a cluster of 8 full combs of Jazbay Grapes and helped extract 12 bottles of Sweet Tree Sap while Trevor drove off a swarm of giant forest ants.
The Giant Warthog: Deep in a clearing, a massive six-foot Warthog charged them. Trevor stood his ground, blocking the beast's headlong tackle with his briefcase while Alister cast Quagmire beneath its hooves, allowing Vernon to leap in and bury a blade deep into its neck.
By 2:00 PM, Apex Squad sat on a fallen log near a quiet clearing to set up a campfire for lunch.
Alister unslung the spatial pouch, reviewing their massive haul:
Meat & Monsters: 3 Warthogs, 9 Beetle Prawns, 6 Mud Crabs, 4 Salamander Eggs, 5 Mouse Deers.
Ingredients: 8 Jazbay Grape combs, 12 Tree Sap bottles, 13 Green Gingers, 28 Crowned Mushrooms.
“Thanks for all your help, Vernon!” Alister cheered, handing him a canteen of water. “We couldn't have pulled off a haul like this without your experience!”
“Yeah,” Trevor added neutrally. “We've already secured a high-tier yield.”
Vernon took a sip, smiling humbly. “Ah, don't mention it. Just leveraging my years in the field...”
CRUNCH.
The sound of dry twigs snapping echoed through the surrounding bushes. Four figures stepped into the clearing, blocking the path back toward the stronghold.
It was Osgard and his three C-Rank party members, their weapons drawn.
“Well, well...” Osgard sneered, a cruel grin spreading across his bruised face. “Look at the nice feast you fresh-meat bastards gathered for us... Hey, Brawler. You're going to die in these woods today.”
Alister stood up abruptly, clutching his wand. “Osgard?! You can't murder other adventurers! That's a major guild crime!”
Trevor casually picked up his heavy black briefcase, preparing to step forward.
THWACK!
Without warning, a cold streak of steel flashed from behind. Vernon hurled a heavy hunting dagger directly into the back of Trevor’s hip, burying the blade several inches deep into his coat and lower body.
Trevor stumbled forward, dropping to one knee. However, to everyone's surprise, he didn't scream, bleed heavily, or show any expression of physical pain.
Alister froze, his face draining of all color. “T-TREVOR!”
Trevor slowly turned his head back, his eyes narrowing into cold slits as he glared at Vernon. “Fuck you, Vernon... What is the meaning of this?”
Vernon let out a raspy, sickening laugh, drawing two more jagged daggers from his belt. “You're both going to die out here. Once you're dead, we'll just report back to expedition command that Apex Squad was wiped out by wild B-Rank monsters.”
“And we're taking every single coin, magic item, and piece of loot off your corpses,” Osgard added, stepping closer while resting a heavy broadsword over his shoulder.
“You... you're murderers and plunderers!” Alister yelled, his voice shaking with anger and betrayal. “Vernon... I trusted you!”
“Trust?” Vernon snorted, his warm, humble persona vanishing entirely. “Kid, they don't call me Vernon the Newbie Killer for nothing. Me and Osgard arranged this target from the moment you approached me at the board.”
Osgard chuckled maliciously. “Vernon’s been luring naive little recruits into secluded monster zones and gutting them for fun for twelve fucking years!”
Trevor slowly raised himself back onto his feet, the dagger still lodged deep in his hip chassis as internal nanites sealed the entry seam without leaking a drop of red blood.
“Are you absolute certain about this choice, Vernon?” Trevor asked, his voice deathly quiet.
“Killing arrogant little adventurers is my absolute addiction,” Vernon hissed, flicking his wrist.
Osgard grinned, signaling his men to form a tight circle around the duo. “There are five of us C-Ranks, Brawler... and you're stabbed, surrounded, and stuck with a useless teenage mage. What the hell are you gonna do about it?”
Surrounded on all sides by five armed killers in the middle of a lawless jungle, Trevor reached for the side handle of his briefcase... end of chapter