The Dragon Pigs ran incredibly fast. Soon, they left the stone path and entered the densely vegetated Degenas Mountains. Inside the mountains, their pace slowed. No stone paths existed here.

Snort!

The two Dragon Pigs halted. The path ahead was blocked. The pigs could squeeze through, but the carriage couldn’t. The seven travelers would have to walk from here.

Knight Verris handed the driver ten gold coins. He drove back to Kadun Fortress. Only the boldest drivers dared to leave Kadun, so their fees were steep.

“Verris, where exactly is the Bipedal Wyvern’s nest?” Barbarian Lamuza rumbled, gripping his mountain-splitting axe. “The Degenas Mountains are massive. We can’t just wander blindly.”

“I have a map marking the nest’s location.” Verris pulled a parchment from her waist and slowly unfolded it. Alan, Crimson Cherry, Garisding, the middle-aged man, and the other two gathered around.

“See this red dot? That’s the nest. And here—we are now.” She pointed to both spots.

“Whoa, Verris, are you joking?” Lamuza protested. “That’s deep in the Degenas Mountains! Not the center, but Beastmonsters here outnumber the outskirts by over twice. Their power is terrifying. For 3,500 gold coins? Our effort won’t match the reward.”

Lamuza shook his head firmly. He was a barbarian, not a fool. He refused unbalanced pay.

“30,000 gold coins,” Verris countered instantly. “And if the nest holds other treasures, each of you may claim one item.”

“This pay and condition work. I agree.” Lamuza grinned.

“So our reward is also 30,000 gold coins?” the middle-aged man asked gravely.

“Same for all. If unsatisfied, we can negotiate.” Verris scanned their faces. She’d raise the price for any objection. She knew the mission’s danger—that’s why she’d hired three S Rank Mages.

“No issue from me,” the middle-aged man said.

“We have no problem either.” Alan smiled, speaking for Crimson Cherry and Garisding. 30,000 gold coins was already generous.

“Good. I want no rifts between us. Only together can we succeed.” Verris made it clear.

“You’re our employer. We’ll voice concerns directly. Rest assured.”

“Perfect. Let’s move toward the nest before dark. Night belongs to Beastmonsters—we can’t act then.”

They nodded. Led by Verris, the seven headed deeper. They were at the mountains’ edge, far from the nest.

Ten minutes later, Faro—the middle-aged man in front—stopped abruptly and raised his right hand. The others froze.

“We’re being followed. Stay quiet. Look at the sixth redwood behind me.” Faro smiled, but his words tensed them.

“I see only birds and monkeys, brother. Too jumpy?” Lamuza stepped forward, patting Faro’s shoulder lightly.

Faro shook his head. His right hand flashed a quick gesture in the air. Alan understood instantly: monkey.

Faro meant the monkey on the redwood, not a person.

“What now?” Alan waved his staff, asking if they should knock the monkey out. He trusted Faro would grasp it—just as he’d decoded Faro’s earlier banana gesture. Monkeys loved bananas.

Faro shook his head. “Keep moving. Wait for the real pursuer to show.”

The others didn’t understand the exchange, but Faro and Alan’s expressions confirmed they were targeted.

Terrifying. They’d barely entered the Degenas Mountains and were already watched. Truly a lawless zone.

Faro resumed leading. The redwood monkey followed at a leisurely pace, leaping effortlessly.

......

Deep in the Degenas Mountains, a dozen burly men lounged around a giant rock. On it sat a bald man, cross-legged.

“Baldy’s found prey. Greenhorns on trial or mercenaries?” one muttered.

“Heh, hope it’s greenhorns. Last batch was exquisite—I still drool. Pity they fought too hard and died.”

“One-Arm, you lost your right arm. Still lecherous? Forgotten how it happened?”

The bald man’s eyes snapped open. “Exposed. They spotted me. That group has a veteran. He saw the monkey I possessed.”

“Whoa, Baldy! Assess their strength? Stronger than us?” The one-armed man stood, spitting out a twig.

“Seven people. One old-bird swordsman, one barbarian, five young ones—two gorgeous girls. Except the veteran and barbarian, your left hand could crush the rest. Take the job? Your call.”

The bald man leaped down, gazing north—toward Alan’s group. If they struck, now was the time.