Aqina’s words caused the cave to fall silent.
Tatiana, Iul, and Vera all looked at her in unison, the firelight illuminating their faces and reflecting various expressions.
Surprise, anticipation, and even a hint of confusion and bewilderment.
“What kind of method?” Tatiana was the first to speak.
After all, she had met Aqina first, yet she had never heard her mention it.
She couldn’t have imagined that this big cockroach had such abilities.
Aqina didn’t answer immediately; instead, she summoned the system interface in her mind.
A pale blue interface unfolded in the darkness, visible only to her.
< Current Host Popularity: 98/100 > She was only two points away from having enough for a card draw, and Aqina’s heart was practically bleeding.
You have to know that the Cockroach Card was something she had drawn—a one-shot golden legend—and this time, she was just 2 points short!
But Aqina didn’t intend to wait.
Delays lead to complications; she needed to know the opponent’s movements as soon as possible.
Once she grasped the opponent’s movements…
…they would be able to seize the initiative first.
After all, they already held more control regarding information.
She focused her attention on the new function the system had just unlocked.
< Environmental Scan (Basic): Consumes 10 Popularity points.
Performs a one-time scan of the environment within a five-kilometer radius, marking life forms, element reactions, and non-natural structures.
Cooldown: 12 hours.
This is an advanced version of Elemental Sight!
This is magical power, go!
Pikachu, use this blessing.
— — That’s what some guy who provided the ability said.
> “I need to concentrate,” Aqina said to the three of them, closing her eyes.
“Give me a few minutes, and don’t disturb me.” The three exchanged a look.
Tatiana nodded, stood up, and walked to the cave entrance to keep watch.
Iul and Vera also quieted down, though their eyes remained fixed on Aqina.
Aqina silently recited in her heart: “System, use Environmental Scan, centered on our current location.” < Ten Popularity points consumed.
> < Skill activated.
> < Scanning started…
> A strange fluctuation, perceptible only to Aqina, began to Swirl outward from her as the center.
Like the wind, it silently penetrated the rock walls, swept across the snow, and seeped into ice crevices.
Her ‘vision’ expanded instantly.
It wasn’t looking with eyes, but a more profound perception, as if a massive map were appearing in her mind.
Countless light points lit up on the map.
There was also a screen playing the view in real-time, similar to a camera from a surveillance satellite.
Green light points represented non-hostile ordinary life forms, such as rabbits, foxes, or even fish; these small animals were scattered sporadically within the scanning range.
There were over a dozen yellow light points, likely other recruits whose hostility couldn’t be determined; they were gathered in twos and threes.
The closest ones were over a kilometer away.
And there were quite a few pink light points.
Aqina asked, somewhat puzzled: “System, what do these pink light points represent?” The system chimed and popped up.
< Host, pink light points represent hostile non-human life forms, usually monsters, such as the Hilichurls and Whopperflowers the host encountered earlier.
Some predatory beasts that attack humans are also counted within the pink light points.
> Aqina gave an “Mm” in her heart to indicate she understood, then continued observing.
And in the direction of the southeast, near Unfrozen Creek.
Aqina’s breath hitched slightly…
There were six whole red light points there!
Scarlet red, like congealed blood, carrying an ominous aura, and it looked a bit unlucky just to see.
Aqina couldn’t help but complain internally: “System, why did you make this hostility indicator so ominous?
It’s like a horror movie omen.” The system didn’t dare to make a sound after being called out.
Aqina muttered a couple more things to herself but didn’t dwell on it, choosing to continue observing.
The six red dots were distributed in a semicircle, occupying a leeward slope upstream of the creek.
More importantly, in that area, the system also marked three “non-natural structures.” — — Neat triangular outlines.
They absolutely could not have formed naturally.
Those were simple shelters.
She was one hundred percent certain that those triangles were tents!
Furthermore, at the most dense cluster of red dots, there was a purple marker that kept flashing.
< Detected element reaction: Weak Cryo element fluctuation, continuous and stable.
Suspected: heating device?
> The system’s prompt made it clear to Aqina; these red light points were, as expected, exactly what she thought—that group of invading small-fry.
The Scavengers had indeed established a stronghold near Unfrozen Creek.
There were three tents, and they were double occupancy.
This bunch of small-fry even knew how to enjoy themselves; they had a heating device, which wasn’t something ordinary recruits could get their hands on.
There were plenty of noble descendants in the new recruit corps, but they still had to obediently follow regulations.
How could they be so extravagant as to set up heating?
Now she could be one hundred percent certain that they were indeed small-fry, and they definitely had a channel for external supplies.
The scan lasted about five minutes, after which the light screen dimmed.
A scaled-down map formed in Aqina’s mind.
It precisely marked the locations of the red dots, the distance between them, the orientation of the three tents, and the distance separating them from Aqina’s squad.
Aqina opened her eyes and let out a long sigh of relief.
“Found them.” The three gathered around immediately.
Aqina picked up the branch again and quickly drew the rough map from her mind onto the ground, then marked some important points.
“To the southeast, upstream of Unfrozen Creek, about two kilometers from us.
There are six people, likely the Scavengers.
They are occupying a leeward slope where there are three non-natural shelters; those should be the tents that bunch of small-fry set up.” She tapped the core area where the six were gathered with the branch.
“There is also a continuous and stable Cryo element fluctuation here.
I suspect it’s some kind of heating device, probably a heater.” In Snezhnaya, some alchemists love researching daily necessities.
After all, Snezhnaya is a major country with advanced industry.
So it’s not strange at all; although these alchemical products aren’t very efficient, they are sufficient for keeping warm in the wild.
Tatiana stared at the map, her eyes sharp.
“Six people, fewer than expected.
The veteran Vera saw last time killed three, numbered seven, eight, and nine.
Then these six small-fry should be numbered one through six, or ten and beyond.” “They might have split into two teams,” Iul interjected, pointing to another spot on the map.
“Here, to the northeast, about three hundred meters from the stronghold.
Aqina, does this mark of yours mean there’s something here?
Is it a lone recruit, or a sentry for the Scavengers?” Aqina shook her head, refuting, “Those two marks aren’t necessarily people; there’s a high probability they could be monsters or beasts.
As long as we are careful not to get entangled with monsters.
But regardless of what they are, those things aren’t important.
These six fish are the main point.” Vera nervously gripped the corner of her clothes.
“Are we really going to fight?
The opponents are six fully armed desperadoes…” “If we don’t fight, do we wait for them to come knocking?” “By then, we’ll be like turtles trapped in a jar, and they’ll come to catch us.
At that point, our squad will truly have died on the same year, month, and day.” Tatiana sneered, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.
“Right now, that bunch of small-fry is exactly at their most annoyed and vigilant state.
They just lost three men and know the strength of that veteran, so they will definitely be keeping their tails tucked for now.
But once they recover and start searching the valley in an organized and systematic way, it won’t matter where we hide.” Aqina nodded.
“Tatiana is right.” A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
“I have a plan.” “What plan?” the three asked in unison.
Aqina used the branch to draw a wavy line on the map, and at the end of the line, she drew a curved fishhook.
After finishing, Aqina let the three of them look.
The three exchanged glances, all understanding what she meant.
Aqina smiled and stated the answer.
“I’ll be the bait.”