Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Gunther and Gabriel stayed still for a while before they realized what Oliver meant. They could not help but be ecstatic.
If the Tristar Treasure map were complete, they would have a higher chance of success rate.
Gunther suddenly felt that Oliver was his lucky charm. Oliver was the one who took out the first two maps and tokens of Tristar Treasure and recognized them.
Then he found the third map token. Maybe this was his luck.
By four o’clock in the afternoon, the leader of Gunther’s bodyguard, Louis Hayes, had arranged for five Ford F-150s. These SUVs had excellent off-road performance and strong maneuverability. Each vehicle had two cabs, five seats, and a spacious compartment for carrying supplies.
There were 14 people in total, including Gunther, Hailey, Gabriel, six bodyguards, Oliver, Wayne, Simon, Sienna, and the tour guide, Isaac.
Initially, Gunther had intended for Hailey to stay behind. However, upon further consideration, he realized that Hailey possessed a fierce and stubborn nature. Besides, he wanted her to accompany him on the journey, regardless of whether it would be his last or not.
The most significant factor that influenced Gunther’s decision was the presence of Oliver with the complete set of Tristak Treasure Map tokens. This gave Gunther a sense of assurance that the journey would be relatively safe and less perilous. As a result, he ultimately made the choice to bring Hailey along on the expedition.
Oliver and three other people embarked on the journey in a car. Wayne took the driver’s seat while Simon occupied the front passenger seat. Oliver and Sienna settled in the back row.
Gunther and his daughter occupied one car, with Louis taking the wheel. Gabriel sat in the front passenger seat while the other six individuals spread across four separate vehicles.
Isaac, accompanied by a bodyguard, took the lead as they ventured through Mount Rockenan. While one-third of the mountain had been transformed into a scenic area, the majority remained undeveloped due to its challenging terrain.
In particular, Enchanting Hollow, an area within Mount Rockenan, was deemed unsuitable for any development and was strictly off-limits to tourists.
The cars did not take the road in the scenic area. Instead, they took a country road winding along the mountain path.
After driving for more than two hours, it was already dark. The cement road in the countryside ended, and then there was a bumpy paved road.
After approximately another three hours of driving, the paved road ended, and they were faced with a sprawling expanse of mountains and dense jungles stretching out before them.
Isaac said that they would camp here and set off at dawn.
The six bodyguards of Gunther, together with Wayne and Simon, worked together to prepare for the night. The six of them set up the tents, while the remaining two were responsible for cooking meals.
After the meal, it was already past eleven o’clock in the evening. Two people were left on duty to watch during the night while the rest rested.
There were six tents, one for Hailey and Sienna, one for Gunther and Gabriel, and one for Oliver, Wayne, and Simon. The remaining seven people lived in three tents.
Oliver could not fall asleep at night because he was thinking about Sienna.
He took out his phone and realized there was no signal in the area. The only mobile phone with a satellite signal was in Gunther’s possession.
However, everyone was equipped with a walkie-talkie. The effective range of these devices was 300 yards, which could be reduced to 100 yards if there were obstacles in the way.
Wayne and Simon checked their equipment first. They did not have a gun, but they configured other safety devices themselves, such as daggers, pocket knives, flashlights, hand-cranked generators, and other such materials.
LASTERAZ KLANT instructed the leader of his bodyguards, Louis, to the main pieces of equipment, but they had not
been distributed to the team.
After dawn, Oliver was awakened by the sound of birds. Opening his
eyes,
yet
realized he was alone in the tent, and daylight
was streaming in. He got up and stepped outside to take a look. The sun was rising; it was the break of dawn.
They were on a flat hill that was less than one acre and full of green grass.
Two bodyguards were busy preparing oatmeal for breakfast over a fire a few yards away. Gunther, Gabriel, and Isaac stood at the front edge, gazing into the distance.
Not far away was a creek where Sienna and Hailey were washing their faces and brushing their teeth. The water in the creek
was remarkably clear, resembling mineral water in glass bottles.
The scenery around them was breathtakingly beautiful. Apart from the vast expanse of cloudy mountains and a foggy sea in the distance, the rest of the area was a sight to behold.
When Oliver saw Isaac pointing to the foggy area and explaining something to Gunther and Gabriel, he also walked over.
Isaac explained, “To access Enchanting Hollow, we need to cross the gorge in front of us. As you can see, the entire area. beyond the gorge is perpetually shrouded in thick fog. This characteristic fog is what defines Enchanting Hollow. It remains constant throughout the year. Once people venture into that area, they experience hallucinations, geomagnetic compasses become unreliable, and communication devices fail.”
When Isaac introduced the area, his face was full of fear.
Oliver asked subconsciously, “Is the fog poisonous? Or is it miasmatic?”
Isaac shook his head and added, “Research institutions have conducted studies on the fog in this area. They found that the mist itself is not toxic and does not contain any poisonous substances. However, it is peculiar that once a person enters Enchanting Hollow, a toxic reaction occurs despite the absence of toxicity in the fog samples collected during the study.”
Isaac paused for a while and then said, “Besides, Enchanting Hollow is a deserted area. Primeval forests cover the surrounding areas, so there are many fierce beasts in that area, which makes it more difficult for us to enter. The map Mr. Fox gave me leads to the deepest part of Enchanting Hollow!”
“Isaac, we have high-tech gas masks and are equipped with shotguns, AK-47s, handguns, micro-explosives, stun guns, and other security pieces of equipment. No matter how fierce the beasts are, I’m sure they are no match for human weapons. You can rest assured.”
It was Louis, the leader of the bodyguard, who had just walked over, speaking. He was a man full of strength and energy. He looked extremely proud when he said that.
Isaac nodded. It was not surprising that a rich man like Gunther had a way to get some weapons.
However, he was still confused about the itinerary of Enchanting Hollow. He was not afraid of death, as he was willing to lose his life for his son and family.
Nonetheless, he was afraid of the strange thing in Enchanting Hollow.
Meanwhile, at the creek, Sienna washed her face and twisted the little towel in her hand while looking at the sun in the east.
Hailey glanced at Sienna, who was basking in the sunlight with a few drops of water glistening on Sienna’s face. Hailey could not help but feel a tinge of jealousy as she looked at Sienna’s glowing figure.
“Sienna, you are so beautiful. No wonder Oliver likes you!” Hailey sighed.
“Am I beautiful?” Sienna burst into laughter. “My colleagues all know that I’m a tough girl, so they don’t treat me as a woman. And Oliver…”
Sienna almost blurted it out again. She swallowed her words back with a red face.
Her relationship with Oliver did not start with love at first sight. Instead, it was a drunken encounter that turned into a foolish bond.
However, as time passed, Sienna realized she had no regrets about their encounter. She discovered numerous admirable qualities in him and genuinely developed strong feelings for him upon getting to know Oliver better.
However, she could not tell anyone that it all started on that foolish night at the hotel.
Observing Hailey’s envious and downcast expression, Sienna could tell that Hailey had also developed feelings for Oliver. “Do you… like Oliver, too?” Sienna could not help but ask a stupid question.