A few minutes later, Aaron stands in front of the words Twist left, looking utterly speechless.

  Once again, Twist has managed to create a moment that feeling moved by himself. Over the years, Twist has had a knack for pulling this stunt at critical times.

  Does he really think the other side won't split up to pursue them?

  Childish!

  With a mix of disdain for Twist's antics, Aaron heads in the direction Twist fled. He writes a similar message in the snow: "Come after me, idiot."

  Afterward, he unzips his pants and leaves a mark in the snow by urine. It's a bit heated, turning the snow a bright yellow!

  Satisfied with his handiwork, Aaron nods approvingly before disappearing back into the dense forest.

  ……

  At dawn, a crowd gathers near Aaron's tent. Sam emerges from that tent, looking extremely displeased.

  Earlier the morning, he noticed Aaron's tent zipper was open and immediately sensed something was wrong. Upon entering, his suspicions were confirmed—Aaron was gone.

  "Have you figured out what happened?" Sam asks Ethan, unable to suppress a few coughs due to the strange, irritating smell lingering in Aaron's tent.

  "Yes. It was all lies. That kid didn't say a single truthful word. The so-called military-controlled items were just a cover for Mystery Tungsten Ore. These people are slaves who escaped from the Mystery Tungsten Mine," Ethan replies, visibly annoyed.

  "Damn it, the hunter has become the hunted. I need to kill those two brats!" Sam's expression darkens.

  Not only had he been intimidated for two days by a mere novice, but he also fears Aaron might reveal their secrets.

  "What about these people?" Ethan asks, glancing at the five disarmed individuals, including Lazio, kneeling in the snow.

  "Kill them," Sam orders coldly.

  Ethan nods in agreement. "Alright."

  "I'll take care of those two bastards. You lead the team and continue with the original route to the trade," Sam instructs.

  "Got it."

  Gunshots ring out in the camp, and the five unfortunate mining slaves are brutally gunned down.

  Sam, accompanied by two others, follows the footprints leading to the snow-covered forest.

  The vehicle halts at the forest's edge, and Sam leads his men into the sea of barren trees.

  Soon, they discover the tracks split, heading in two different directions through the dense forest.

  "They split up? Clever little brats, but it won't help them," Sam mutters.

  "Captain Sam, there are words on the ground," one of the team members calls out.

  "There are words here too!" another shouts.

  Sam glares at the words written in the snow, his anger flaring instantly.

  "When I catch you, I'll make sure to pull out each and every one of your teeth. Then we'll see if you still have anything smart to say!"

  His gaze lands on a yellow stain nearby, and he grimaces.

  "You two, follow that trail," he instructs his men.

  The two team members nod, carefully avoiding the stain as they head in the direction Twist fled, while Sam sets off after Aaron.

  As Sam ventures deeper into the forest, his fury intensifies with each taunting message Aaron leaves behind:

  "Hey, you really dared to come after me!"

  "Stop chasing, or you'll randomly lose a parent."

  "Good, go find another parent!"

  "Stop chasing, or I'll confiscate your family tree!"

  "Leave a legacy for your family!"

  Each provocative line fuels Sam's desire to crush every bone in Aaron's body.

  He follows the footprints, so he unable to ignore the bold, mocking words that continually test his patience and resolve.

  For the first time, Sam experiences the power of words to provoke and infuriate.

  ……

  In the afternoon, Aaron leans against a tree trunk, gasping for breath. His legs feel as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

  From the early hours of the morning until now, he has been trekking through the snow for over ten hours, leaving him utterly exhausted.

  His backpack is nearly empty, with only some blazing stones, jerky, and poison powder remaining.

  Despite this, his will to survive is still pushing him forward.

  "I hope the poison has some effect," Aaron mutters to himself.

  He knows that Sam will likely check the tent personally, which was his only chance to poison him. At other times, the enemy's guard is too strong for an opportunity to arise.

  Given Sam's hatred for him, Aaron is almost certain Sam himself is leading the pursuit. He just doesn't know if the pursuit is him or Twist.

  The taunting messages Aaron left in the snow were meant to provoke the pursuer, accelerating the poison's effect.

  If it's just regular guards chasing him, Aaron feels confident. Regardless of whether they're poisoned, his head start and speed should keep him safe, even if he rests for an hour or two.

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  However, if Sam is on his trail, he's likely already catching up. Sam's physical prowess surpasses Aaron's by far. A Vitality State Force Adept is in a different league compared to ordinary people.

  The poison Aaron concocted could easily kill someone like Archie, but it may not have an immediate effect on Sam.

  Dragging his weary body, Aaron reaches a hillside with a vantage point to observe the area behind him.

  He plops down in the snow, pulls out some jerky, tears off a small piece, and chews. The jerky maker wasn't skilled, and the taste is bland and waxy.

  After replenishing his energy, Aaron grabs a handful of snow and stuffs it into his mouth for hydration. He then massages his legs to ease the muscle soreness.

  After resting for about twenty minutes, Aaron spots a small black dot moving quickly across the snow in the distance. His face falls as he realizes, based on the speed, that Sam is indeed the one pursuing him.

  The gap between them is about thirty minutes.

  A fierce determination crosses Aaron's face.

  ……

  At the campsite where Aaron stayed last night, several tents still stand amidst the snow, untouched by the fierce winds.

  The bodies of Lazio and the other four lie on the ground, their blood staining the snow crimson.

  A large convoy slowly comes to a halt next to the camp. The silver fox head emblem is emblazoned on the vehicle doors.

  At the front of the convoy are three heavily armed vehicles, filled with hunters wearing helmets and bulletproof vests.

  Above, seven or eight drones, equipped with bombs, circle the sky.

  In the center are two RVs and several cargo trucks.

  At the rear are modified pickup trucks, outfitted with cannons, where hunters wrapped in gloves and hats sit at the control stations.

  The snow crunches under the work boots of a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and a cigarette dangling from his lips as he steps out of a vehicle.

  He surveys the area and waves his hand, signaling eight fully armed hunters to jump down from several vehicles. They pair up, each duo carrying a Maxim machine gun, and sprint towards the surrounding high points.

  The drones in the sky also disperse, with operators directing them in different directions to scout and maintain vigilance.

  Once everything is in place, the man with slicked-back hair approaches an RV with reverence and taps on the window.

  The passenger side window rolls down, and a young man pokes his head out.

  "Bruce, let Master Scott know we've found the location he mentioned," the man says enthusiastically.

  "Alright, Landon," Bruce replies politely.

  Moments later, the RV door opens, and an elderly man steps out.

  He appears to be around sixty years old, of average height, with dark skin and deeply sunken eyes. His hooked nose and sparse eyebrows, along with heavy eye bags, lend him a distant and solemn demeanor.

  Overall, he exudes an aura of fierceness, isolation, and unapproachability.

  The elder scans the area before his gaze settles on the tents nearby.

  Two young men attempt to follow him, but he halts them with a stern look. Alone, he makes his way to the tents, inspecting the surroundings, and eventually arrives at the tent where Aaron stayed.

  Suddenly, his eyes focus on some powder in the zipper seam. He leans in to sniff it, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

  After glancing around to ensure no one is nearby, he takes out a satellite phone and dials a number.

  " I'm at the location now. What's going on?"

  "Master, as agreed, we picked up the people. According to the ones who delivered them, two mine slaves escaped during transport. Their team went after them but hasn't returned," the person on the other end responds, sounding distressed.

  What should have been a minor issue—easily resolved by sending a few people to search—unexpectedly escalated when the location was shared in a group chat, accidentally alerting their master.

  "How old are the slaves?" the elder asks.

  "Sixteen, one named Aaron," the voice replies, pausing before adding, "Master, there's more information.”

  ”According to the slaves, one of the escapees isn't ordinary—he's a pharmacist.”

  ”Though the slaves' knowledge might be limited and exaggerated, one thing is certain: the poison he concocted is colorless and odorless, and it killed dozens of mine guards, enabling their escape."

  The person on the other end knows their master is renowned for his expertise in poisons and eagerly shares this information.

  "Interesting," Master Scott says, a smile appearing on his otherwise rigid face. Paired with his features, the smile is somewhat unsettling.

  "Alright, I'll handle the situation with the slaves. As for the person we captured, plant a poison seed in him and then release him. Deal with the rest," he instructs.

  "Understood! Also, Master... about my antidote for this month..." the voice on the other end hesitates.

  "It will be delivered to you," Master Scott assures.

  "Thank you, Master. I'm willing to do everything for you, to the last breath..." But before the pledge of loyalty can be completed, Master Scott hangs up.

  Turning, he approaches Landon, the man with the slicked-back hair. "Landon, I need you to track a young man for me, following the tracks in the snow."

  "Of course, leave it to me!" Landon replies enthusiastically, quickly moving to organize the search.

  Soon, several drones trace the clear footprints through the snow, heading towards the forest.

  Behind Master Scott, his two disciples exchange glances, both seeing the surprise mirrored in each other's eyes.

  As one of the vice leaders of the Hunter Union's Potion Hall, Master Scott holds a prestigious position in Bert City. However, his personality is often criticized—known for being reclusive, cold, and unsociable.

  For these disciples, being under his tutelage is a mixed blessing.

  On the one hand, his reputation has granted them access to the elite circles of Bert City.

  On the other hand, after a brief assessment, Master Scott seemed somewhat disappointed in them, often retreating to study potions and rarely offering guidance. Their relationship is more titular than practical.

  This journey into the wilderness was prompted by Master Scott's need for a rare herb crucial to his research.

  Due to its rarity, he must personally visit various remote towns to identify and purchase it. This necessity provided his disciples the chance to accompany him.

  Yet, they never expected Master Scott to suddenly take an interest in a young man.

  Half an hour later, a hunter approaches to report, "Master Scott, we've found him."

  Landon quickly picks up the conversation, "Connect the feed to the main screen. Peyton, take a team and bring the young man here."

  Inside one of the modified trucks, equipped with radar and various precision instruments, lies the Silver Fox Hunter Group's fire control center.

  Seated before the central screen is a girl of sixteen or seventeen, with a graceful figure and delicate features.

  She wears a single-breasted beige coat that covers her entirely, save for the black boots on her feet. Her black beret sits atop her head, with her hair elegantly pinned up, revealing a long, slender, and fair neck.

  She watches the screen with keen interest, equally intrigued by the person Master Scott is searching for.

  As Landon gives the command, the operator switches the drone feed to the screen. Master Scott and the girl sit in front of it, while Landon and others stand nearby, craning their necks for a better view. They're all curious to see who the lucky individual is that has caught the master's attention.

  On the screen, deep within the snowy forest, a small black dot appears.

  As the image zooms in, it reveals a young boy with a rather delicate appearance. He sits on a hillside, chewing on some food, his gaze fixed on the distance, gradually turning fierce. It's Aaron.

  "The picture quality is impressive," comments Bruce, one of the disciple behind Master Scott.

  "Ah, don't even mention it. This scaled-down fire control system cost me over three hundred thousand gold coins. A good screen is the least they could include," Landon replies, a mix of pride and pain in his voice.

  Soon, the screen splits.

  One side shows Aaron, and the other displays Sam.

  At this moment, Sam is leaning against a tree, gasping for breath.

  "Hey, isn't that Sam?" Landon exclaims in surprise.

  "Sam? Do you know him, Landon? If you do, maybe you could use the drone to ask him to spare the young man's life," Bruce suggests.

  It's clear to anyone that Sam is chasing Aaron. With the young man Master Scott is interested in being in danger, Bruce feels compelled to help alleviate his master's concerns.

  "I've had a few dealings with the Rhine Consortium and met him a couple of times, but we're not close. I can try speaking to him, but I can't be sure he'll listen. Even though he's only at the Vitality State, he's still affiliated with the Rhine Consortium," Landon replies awkwardly.

  As an Awakening State Force Adept, he could easily handle an ordinary Vitality State opponent.

  However, with Sam being part of the Rhine Consortium, Landon knows he must tread carefully to avoid offending them. This caution is especially necessary with others present.

  Master Scott waves his hand dismissively, "No need to rush. Let's wait and see."

  "Wait a minute, something's off with Sam. His energy is scattered, and he's lacking vitality," Landon suddenly observes.