Chapter 116: The Real Conspiracy
Although Charles and Little Green were slightly worried, they ultimately spent a peaceful night near the hunting camp.
Early the next morning, the leader of the Hunting Team emerged directly from his tent at the center of the camp.
"Everyone, the hunt we need to complete today is of utmost importance. Therefore, we must set out promptly, and no one can afford to lag behind."
The moment I see anyone lagging behind, I will kill them on the spot. This is a direct order from General Zarathustra, and no one is to defy it."
The words of the Hunting Team leader left everyone with expressions of shock.
Even the two assistants standing behind the Hunting Team leader had not anticipated that their leader would receive direct orders from General Zarathustra.
"Master, what should we do? It seems that this hunt carries significant risks."
"The greater the risk, the better. Without any risk, we wouldn't be able to obtain useful information this time." Charles said to Little Green with a smile.
After saying this, Charles and Little Green followed the large group led by the Hunting Team leader into the desert surrounding the trading town.
Soon, the group encountered a multitude of desert monsters.
The strength of these desert monsters varied, but their only common trait was that upon sighting the members of the Hunting Team, they immediately launched attacks.
During the battle, Charles gradually sensed that these desert monsters seemed to be under someone's control.
"Did you notice? These monsters are able to coordinate with each other during the battle. This is completely different from the desert monsters we've encountered before."
Little Green nodded in agreement.
She could clearly see that the monsters they were currently fighting were far more intelligent than those they had faced previously.
"I've noticed it too, Master. What do you think is causing this?"
"I suspect there might be a grand conspiracy behind this hunt. Not only are we likely to be the sacrificial lambs, but even the leader of the Hunting Team might be a pawn in this scheme." Charles remarked.
Charles's words made Little Green feel a bit more anxious.
However, Little Green believed that as long as she could perfectly coordinate with her master, any danger they faced could be overcome.
"Master, I believe that the strength of the two of us is sufficient to handle any danger. Therefore, you don't need to worry at all. Instead, you should focus on figuring out what the possible conspiracy might be."
Prompted by Little Green's reminder, Charles began to think seriously.
However, with the limited information currently available, Charles certainly couldn't deduce what the underlying conspiracy behind these events might be.
Thus, the next course of action for Charles and Little Green was simply to cooperate with the Hunting Team leader and continue hunting those monsters.
After a period of intense battle, many of the surrounding monsters had been eliminated.
Yet, the Hunting Team leader had no intention of halting the hunt.
He turned around to face the survivors and loudly declared, "We must press on! General Zarathustra wants us to eliminate a monster deep within the desert.
As long as we can kill that monster, General Zarathustra will reward us beyond imagination. You might even earn a luxurious villa in the trading town."
The Hunting Team leader's words certainly motivated some individuals.
However, even those who were not inspired by his speech had no choice but to proceed with the Hunting Team leader, as navigating the desert alone would be extremely perilous.
Before long, under the guidance of the Hunting Team leader, the group arrived at the base of a massive cliff.
"The monster lies atop this cliff. Every one of you must climb to the top as quickly as possible." the Hunting Team leader's statement left everyone exchanging bewildered glances.
"This cliff is far too high, we can't possibly climb it. Is there no way to take an alternative route? Perhaps we could find an easier path to the top elsewhere."
Suggested one of the mid-tier, third-rank members.
He believed that his strength placed him among the elite of the Hunting Team, and his words should carry enough weight to make the leader reconsider.
The Hunting Team leader silently glanced at the dissenting individual, then swiftly shot an arrow that killed him instantly.
The leader's drastic action plunged everyone present into a state of extreme panic.
Some individuals even attempted to flee in the direction of the trading town.
Those who tried to escape didn't get far, they were promptly shot dead by the Hunting Team leader.
"I have told you before, during the hunt, you must obey my commands. Anyone who disobeys my orders meets only one fate: death."
After making this statement, the Hunting Team leader turned his gaze to the person nearest to him.
"You, start climbing the cliff!"
Upon hearing these words, the individual's legs trembled so violently that he could barely stand.
The Hunting Team leader pressed his bow against the trembling man's neck: "If you don't start climbing, you'll meet the same fate as those who just died."
The leader issued this threat with a smile on his face.
Hearing these words, the man's legs shook even more uncontrollably.
"It seems you are of no use to me at all! Then you might as well die right now!" The Hunting Team leader immediately shot the nearest person dead.
After putting away his bow, the Hunting Team leader directed his gaze towards Charles.
"Start climbing the cliff now!"
Upon hearing these words, Charles merely smiled.
Although Charles believed he was stronger than the leader, he chose not to reveal his true strength at this moment.
So, without a word, Charles approached the edge of the cliff.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Charles swiftly began ascending towards the cliff's summit.
Little Green followed closely behind Charles, also making his way up the cliff.
Seeing this, the Hunting Team leader's face finally broke into a slight smile.
"All of you, do as they did! As long as you reach the top of the cliff, this hunt will be nearly over." he declared to the group.
After forcing everyone to climb towards the cliff's summit, the Hunting Team leader, along with his two assistants, began their own ascent.
Charles was the first among the group to reach the top of the cliff.
Upon arriving, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him. A gravely injured giant serpent lay before Charles, with a crown encrusted with gemstones atop its head.
The moment he saw the giant serpent, the name of the Serpent King Yggdrasil flashed through Charles's mind.
While Charles stood there, momentarily frozen, Little Green finally made it to the top of the cliff as well.
The instant Little Green saw the giant serpent, he too thought of the Serpent King Yggdrasil.
"Master, what on earth is going on here? Why is there a giant serpent? And why is it wearing a crown?"
Little Green fired off a series of three questions in rapid succession, but how could Charles possibly know the answers?
"You must hurry back to the trading town and inform Medusa of the situation here. Tell her to come at once." Charles commanded.
Upon seeing the Serpent King Yggdrasil, Charles realized that the conspiracy he had stumbled upon was far more intricate than he had imagined. He needed to marshal all his resources immediately.
Just as Little Green was about to leap off the cliff, Charles's voice called out to her once more.
"Not only must you inform Medusa of this situation, but you also have to alert Catherine and Eve who are guarding our territory. They are capable of making swift decisions."
Nodding in acknowledgment, Little Green promptly jumped off the cliff.
After Little Green departed, the giant serpent before Charles slowly opened its eyes.
"You must be the Charles who captured my sister? How dare you ally with the traitors! I'll eliminate you first!"
The Serpent King Yggdrasil did not revert to human form, she attacked Charles directly in her giant serpent shape.
In the face of the Serpent King's assault, Charles could barely defend himself. He believed there had to be some misunderstanding.
"Calm down for a moment! I didn't capture your sister. She chose to follow me willingly. And I haven't allied with any so-called traitors. I don't even know who these traitors are that you're referring to."
Naturally, Charles's words did little to convince the Serpent King.
The Serpent King continued her relentless attacks on Charles.
As the battle between the Serpent King and Charles raged on, others from the group also managed to scale the cliff.
The leader of the hunting team, upon witnessing Charles's battle with the Serpent King, had a dramatic change of expression. He finally realized that he had been deceived by General Zarathustra.
Although the leader of the hunting team did not recognize the Serpent King Yggdrasil, he could clearly see that the giant serpent before him was immensely powerful.
"We've been deceived! We need to leave immediately, we are no match for that giant serpent!"
The leader of the hunting team shouted to his two assistants.
One of the assistants sprang into action right away, but the other simply stood there with a smile on his face, watching the leader.
"What on earth are you doing? Did you not hear my order just now?!"
The assistant nodded slightly. "Of course, I heard your order. But what authority do you have to command me?"
The assistant began to advance slowly towards the leader of the hunting team.
As he moved closer, the assistant's face gradually transformed into that of General Zarathustra.
The leader of the hunting team was shocked to realize that one of his assistants was actually General Zarathustra in disguise.