As night fell, on the Iberian border, the blue moon hung high in the sky, and its cold, clear light illuminated the desolate Gobi grassland, making it exceptionally bright.
A yellowish-brown lizard, grown in a dry environment, had just preyed on a black beetle and, before it could swallow it, was crushed in two by a speeding black tire.
Buzz, rumble, rumble—
Accompanied by the low roar of engines, more than a dozen vehicles of various designs sped across the dry gravel ground, guided by the lead car.
The previous patrol of the Guardians on the Iberian border had ended, and seizing the window of opportunity, the snakehead Alfonso led his vehicles, guiding his clients to cross the border.
As long as they left Iberian territory, the Pope's law could no longer restrain anyone, and everyone would enter the sandy lands where only guns and swords were truth.
"So many cars... but they're all so slow."
Sitting in the back of the cockpit, Skadi leaned by the car window, her greatsword folder between her thighs, intently watching the cars raising dust around them.
Some vehicles were dilapidated but heavily modified, covered in barbed wire and equipped with spiked ramming horns, like the custom cars from Mad Max, perfectly fitting the temperament of these mercenaries.
Some vehicles exuded luxury, running almost silently, stable even on gravel roads; these belonged to the wealthy fleeing Iberia with their assets.
And the rest were the vehicles of the Columbia mercenaries, holding Angela captive; they stayed away from the main group, maintaining a high level of vigilance. The "unexpectedly unconscious" soldier from before had clearly made them more cautious.
"Not everyone can match your Second Captain's speed. Perhaps we can get a car like that someday."
Taking out a whetstone, Goki, sitting in the passenger seat, sharpened the serrated blade of his hunter's staff, his body muscles tensed, ready to react at any moment.
In games, repairing equipment just takes a click, but a true workshop Hunter always does these things himself.
"Ms. Kal'tsit, does this car have any special modifications, like nitrous boost, flight mode, engine overload, or loaded with several firearms?"
Looking at the mercenaries hidden in the old vehicles, and the glances that vaguely swept towards him, like looking at prey, Goki knew they were definitely being targeted.
"Look, they think they've got us, and they think they're hiding it well—ha, not even a Seaborn would dare look at me like that."
Raising an eyebrow, Goki had been a bit annoyed since returning from the camp.
Not just because he found half an Abyssal Hunter captured, but also because it was a kidnapped little loli, Angela.
A Hunter would never willingly become prey, and these people clearly saw Goki, Skadi, and Kal'tsit as fat sheep.
This was an offense to an Old Hunter. Even when Gladiia treated him like a land monkey, Goki wasn't angry, but being seen as prey made him particularly furious.
Based on the enemies' actions and methods, Goki was prepared to teach them lessons of varying Ranks—from a beating to being chopped into mincemeat, depending on their choice.
"Don't overthink it. This isn't a sci-fi movie. This car is just a second-hand truck from the used car market. As for these people, you don't have to get involved. I can handle it myself."
In the driver's seat, Kal'tsit's gaze was calm, seemingly not feeling that she was in any dangerous predicament.
"In the land of Sargon, fighting and betrayal happen every moment. Only by getting used to it and becoming numb can people adapt here. If you want to find civilized society, it's best not to stay in Sargon."
The truck's speed remained constant, and even on bumpy roads, Ms. Kal'tsit, an experienced driver, could drive both fast and steadily.
Of course, this was not surprising; the invention of Originium cars might not even be as old as this ordinary Feline woman, whose only notable feature was her beauty.
"Don't say that, Ms. Kal'tsit. You've helped us so much, and we're not ungrateful people. We don't know when we'll see each other again after this separation, so we should help if we can—don't you agree, Skadi?"
Although Kal'tsit always maintained a poker face, that was merely a perfect disguise developed over years of interacting with people.
She also had emotions, and after spending so much time together, Goki felt he could somewhat grasp the temperament of this large lynx.
"I don't care. Whoever dares to attack us, we'll hit them back directly. Whoever wants to hunt us, we'll hunt them. As for Kal'tsit, I think Goki, you don't need to worry. Her strength is much greater than we imagine."
Skadi, however, wasn't worried about these things. Compared to the true Seaborn in the ocean, the enemies on land posed as much threat to her as ordinary Terrorfish.
Moreover, Skadi was quite happy to leave Kal'tsit.
The sense of threat this woman brought her had never disappeared; her danger level even exceeded that of Second Captain Gladiia. Skadi wholeheartedly approved of keeping Goki away from this dangerous woman.
Of course, if there were other reasons... every time she saw Goki and Kal'tsit chatting happily, even if Goki was just asking Kal'tsit various questions about Terra, Skadi felt a strange feeling in her heart—she wasn't happy!
In short, Skadi was very happy to leave Kal'tsit.
"Oh, you two... let's talk about it when we get there. The best scenario is to avoid conflict and reduce trouble. After all, another group is already preparing to fight."
Goki looked at the two who had been at odds the entire way, barely exchanging ten words, and sighed softly.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is stiff—my wife and my daughter-in-law!
"Yes, those Columbia mercenaries—human experimentation on children, imitation Abyssal Hunters, the Loken Tank, they are still crazy... Heh, maybe I should retract the invitation. Columbia is not a good place."
Kal'tsit had just heard about their discovery from Goki and didn't say much.
"These matters are not our concern. If the Sargon mercenaries and Columbia mercenaries clash, we might be able to use the opportunity to escape the encirclement. I will not choose to intervene."
Although she appeared indifferent to the matter, Goki keenly noticed that Kal'tsit's green-furred ears twitched a little more frequently.
This traveler was not numb; she had simply grown accustomed to hiding her anger.
At midnight, the vehicle Goki was in crossed an inconspicuous border line where the barbed wire had been torn open in several large gaps.
At the very front of the convoy, in Alfonso's old truck, several mercenary leaders who had gathered were already huddled together.
"We'll be there soon, Ms. Kal'tsit!"
Looking at Kal'tsit, who was driving, through the small window at the back of the old truck, Alfonso's face was full of smiles.
But as he closed the window, his expression turned fierce again, and his hands even trembled with nervousness.
Even though he was only dealing with three people, one of whom was a scholar with no combat ability, his eyelid kept twitching.
"Alright, everyone, in ten minutes, we'll be at our camp. The trap has already been set—Bloodblade, Owl Plume, Bone Hammer, have your people ready. If you die, tough luck, just follow the rules."
"You pay, we work, it's that simple—those two bounty hunters are well-trained, we'll deal with them."
Standing in a corner of the carriage, the tall Sarkaz man wearing a black mask nodded in a low voice, gripping the greatsword on his back. These Sarkaz wielding greatswords made everyone especially wary, but they had to admit, they were also exceptionally strong.
"My lads have set up the heavy crossbows, but I think, apart from that Feline, the other two Aegir can also be kept alive—the man is tall and strong, and the young girl has delicate skin, so they'll definitely fetch a good price, what do you say?"
Sitting in the carriage, a tall, thin Liberi man adjusted his feather-plumed cowboy hat and gripped the hand crossbows hanging at his waist on both sides of his leather jacket.
"And, I like their hats, you two, don't you dare damage them. I love collecting these."
This was a mercenary group composed of Liberi, skilled in using crossbows, considered veteran mercenaries in this border region.
"Fuck you, you idiot! I'll kill whoever I want! I left the jungle to be a mercenary just to chop more people! That cat, I only care if it's alive, not if it's missing an arm or a leg! The other two, I'll chop them both up!"
And finally, an Adaklis man holding a bone-studded mace. He was an ancient with a crocodile head, his hard, sand-like yellowish-brown hide covered in old and new knife wounds, and the teeth in his crocodile mouth were incredibly sharp.
His bloodshot, cloudy eyes indicated that this fellow was once a Tiakau champion, a candidate for a tribal Chieftain, though he likely didn't win.
"The other two are my prey. This is my battle, no one tries to steal it from me!"
People from Acahuala were naturally martial, and this guy was even more warlike and bloodthirsty. A satisfying battle was more fulfilling to him than payment.
To ensure the success of this operation, Alfonso had specifically invited these people.
"Alright, quiet. As long as that Feline woman is alive and the instrument data is intact, we'll get our reward. There will be plenty of money for all of you!"
Of course, there were more powerful and professional mercenaries, but the Red Label mercenaries had a good reputation and strong capabilities, with most members being retired veterans.
Unfortunately, if they hired them, there wouldn't be enough money to go around.
"Boss, what about those Columbia guys? Those people have firearms, and they don't look easy to mess with—and there's a small group of mercenaries who don't seem to be hired by us either, won't they mess things up?"
In the driver's seat, the subordinate driving looked at the outer perimeter of the convoy, at the mercenaries who clearly looked stronger than this ragtag bunch, and couldn't help but swallow.
"Ignore them, don't shoot at them. Everyone values their Life Qi, so they won't meddle—let them go their own way."
Alfonso clenched his fists. This was the night that would change his destiny.
"Alright, Boss, if that delicate, fair-skinned, white-haired little girl is alive, then the brothers should get a chance to have some fun with her. As for the man, forget it—of course, if anyone wants to try, they can!"
"Hahahahaha!!"
The crude jokes, instead, livened up the somewhat tense and stiff atmosphere. Except for the silent Sarkaz greatswordsman whose expression couldn't be seen, everyone burst into laughter.
For a moment, the carriage was filled with a lively atmosphere.
— — — — — —
"Sister Gavial, we're here. The ambush is up ahead. Once the fighting starts, we'll definitely be the first to take fire. You have to protect us—what are you looking at?"
In a somewhat dilapidated jeep, another Adaklis man with a crocodile head finished stringing his old crossbow, then turned to look at the green-haired woman sitting in the back of the car, staring distractedly out the window.
"Protect your head! I'm a doctor. By rights, you should be protecting me."
Gavial rolled her eyes at her kinsman, then gave him the middle finger, continuing to look at the truck under the blue moon, dozens of meters away.
"Once the fight starts, be careful not to accidentally injure the people in that car over there."
"Alright, we're only dealing with our own mission targets anyway—but Sister, why did you specifically mention that?"
Never having heard such a request from the most capable fighter in the mercenary group, the mercenary was a bit surprised and curious.
"Well... I just met two interesting people. This damn place is bad enough, it's best if fewer good people die."
Gavial smiled slightly, her golden eyes particularly dazzling under the blue moon.
Thus, several factions with different objectives coincidentally converged.
Under the clear blue moon, the snakehead's camp in Sargon appeared in front of the convoy.
Who was the Hunter and who was the prey remained to be seen.
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