Evan naturally stood among the large group of Chrysalis?tier evolvers.

  Wendy Lewis glanced over and saw him squeezed between a bunch of burly, rough?looking hunters — like a puppy dropped into a pack of wolves.

  After thinking for a moment, she called him over.

  “Just stay by my side.”

  “Sure,” Evan replied cheerfully.

  Looks like spending the whole night bonding really paid off.

  Wendy waited a bit longer.

  Seeing no one else arriving, she paid everyone their first day’s commission and prepared to depart.

  “Hold on!”

  A man suddenly stood up from the corner.

  He hadn’t been part of the group earlier — he’d been sitting alone, smoking.

  “What is it?” Yvonne Hart asked coldly.

  “Where’s Gao Long?” the man demanded.

  “Am I his mother?” Yvonne shot back.

  The man choked, then explained,

  “Sorry. Gao Long and I agreed to take this mission together. We were supposed to meet this morning, but I couldn’t reach him at all. And he’s not here.”

  “Time’s up. We’re not waiting for anyone,” Yvonne said flatly, signaling the group to move.

  The man clenched his jaw.

  “Gao Long and I have been partners for years. Our strength is about the same. If I take the job, how much do I get per day?”

  “Fifty thousand. If you want in, follow us.”

  Yvonne didn’t even look back as she spoke.

  The man hesitated for a moment, then joined the group.

  Evan overheard whispers among the hunters.

  “Same Chrysalis?tier, why does he get fifty thousand a day?”

  “Because that’s Li Carter. Gao Long’s partner. His strength isn’t much lower than Gao Long’s. He’s worth that price.”

  “Yeah, Li Carter’s strong. He and Gao Long once teamed up to hunt a Tier?2 High?grade Dire Wolf.”

  “Never heard of him.”

  “He’s not like Gao Long — doesn’t show off, doesn’t cause trouble. That’s why he’s not as famous.”

  Evan kept a neutral expression, hands in his pockets, quietly playing with the Tracewalker artifact.

  But inwardly, he became more cautious of Li Carter.

  After all, Gao Long had died by his hand.

  Into the Wilderness

  The group took six taxis to the outer edge of the Blackrock Mountains.

  “We’re starting from here?” someone questioned.

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  The Blackrock Mountains stretched for over a thousand kilometers.

  There were no official paths, but hunters had carved out a few commonly used routes over the years — safer, familiar, and relatively predictable.

  But the place where the taxis stopped was unfamiliar to all of them.

  Which meant they would be cutting a brand?new path through the wilderness — brambles, cliffs, unknown terrain, and unknown dangers.

  This would make the mission significantly harder.

  “I know this increases the difficulty,” Yvonne said loudly, turning back to the group.

  “But we’re paying above market rate. If anyone wants to quit, now is the time.”

  No one left.

  In fact, several Breaker?tier evolvers stepped forward to lead the way.

  The group began their march into the mountains.

  The evolvers formed a protective ring around Wendy Lewis — some clearing brush, some watching for ambushes.

  Only Evan walked beside Wendy, chatting casually while eating the snacks she handed him.

  He looked less like someone on a dangerous escort mission and more like someone on a pleasant weekend hike.

  A few hunters whispered:

  “That kid with the employer too?”

  “Hell no. He’s one of us. I saw her transfer him money — only ten thousand a day!”

  “Ten thousand? That low? Must be weak as hell. Just here to fill the numbers?”

  “Hah! Maybe he’s here to keep the employer entertained. You know how rich ladies like their pretty boys.”

  “Damn it, I hate pretty boys. Makes me jealous every time. Why don’t I ever get that kind of luck?”

  These hunters were all seasoned veterans — none of them were fresh Chrysalis?tier newbies.

  And since the employer was paying generously, most of them were earning twenty thousand or more per day.

  Evan heard some of the comments but didn’t care.

  This was still the outer region of the Blackrock Mountains — relatively safe.

  They had the luxury to chat.

  Once they climbed deeper, Tier?2 beasts would appear, and then no one would be in the mood for jokes.

  Outer Region Beasts

  The outer region was mostly Tier?1 beasts — especially Burrow Moles and Spray Frogs.

  Because they were taking an unused route, the number of Spray Frogs and Burrow Moles was unusually high.

  Their extracts were worthless in Blackrock City now, so the hunters didn’t bother unless one literally jumped into their faces.

  “Damn it! Sprayed me right in the face!”

  An old hunter cursed loudly as he pinned a basketball?sized Spray Frog to the ground.

  Blood dripped from his lips — the frog’s high?pressure water jet had split them open.

  He pulled out a portable extractor — a fist?sized device with a sharp metal tube and a glass vial attached.

  He stabbed the metal tube into the frog’s body and activated the device.

  The frog shriveled rapidly, and the glass vial filled with a transparent liquid faintly glowing red.

  A Spray Frog Extract — complete.

  He capped the vial and stored it carefully.

  According to the agreement, any beast killed during the mission belonged to the one who killed it.

  If multiple people contributed, they would split the profit based on contribution.

  This meant that whenever a high?grade Tier?1 beast appeared, all the Chrysalis?tier hunters swarmed it — if not for the kill, then at least for a share.

  But high?grade Tier?1 beasts were rare in the outer region.

  Evan noticed that Li Carter had been quiet the entire time.

  He hadn’t joined any fights.

  Aside from stepping away once to relieve himself, he stayed with the group, looking distracted.

  Evan didn’t relax.

  He kept an eye on him.

  The Inner Region

  After half a day of trekking, the group finally reached the inner region of the Blackrock Mountains.

  A towering mountain loomed before them.

  “From here on, we climb,” Wendy said.

  “We may encounter Tier?2 beasts. Stay close to me and Yvonne. Don’t fall behind.”

  Evan nodded repeatedly.

  He didn’t need Wendy to remind him — sticking close to a Breaker?tier powerhouse like Yvonne was the safest place to be.

  “Oh, right — Yvonne, I need a favor,” Evan added.

  “I checked some records. Apparently, Undying Salamanders have been spotted in the Blackrock Mountains before. If we run into one, could you help me take it down? I’ll pay.”

  The mountains have teeth — and Evan is walking straight into their jaws.

  But he’s not alone.

  A scientist with secrets, a bodyguard with terrifying strength, and a team full of strangers… including one man who might already suspect the truth about Gao Long.

  If you were Li Carter, what would you do?