Chapter 499
With this, those who coveted the map and the legendary treasure it supposedly led to swarmed in. People from all walks of life arrived, creating a chaotic mix of individuals.
The previously untouched rainforest, which had likely never seen human footprints, suddenly became a hub of unprecedented
activity.
What was even more terrifying was that, before the location was even found, disputes over potential spoils escalated. The clashing ambitions led to irreconcilable conflicts, resulting in fights and bloodshed.
The night was filled with chaos, with endless screams and roars outside the camp. Terrified, Kayla flung herself into Pete’s arms.
Pete stood tall and composed, his gaze fixed on somewhere in the distance. He maintained his usual gentle and refined smile as he reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. It has nothing to do with us.”
It seemed that no matter the situation, his demeanor remained calm and untainted, like an elegant gentleman unbesmirched by worldly problems.
Kayla didn’t know what came over her. Perhaps it was the fear or perhaps her feelings for Pete had reached their peak at that moment. She even forgot about Arnold, the man she had once loved so deeply.
Raising her head, she stood on her toes, attempting to kiss Pete.
However, he avoided her.
“Pete…” Kayla bit her lip, frustrated and disappointed. What stung her the most was that she hadn’t expected him to reject her. He had always been so kind to her, endlessly tolerant. His deep and focused eyes seemed to hold a special affection for her. Didn’t all that mean he liked her? Why did he refuse her advances?
Pete didn’t bother explaining. He merely smiled and said, “It’s late, Kayla Go back to your tent and rest. Tomorrow’s hike will be tough.”
Frustrated, Kayla stomped her foot and ran off.
Back in her tent, the distant sounds of fighting continued faintly, though they had quieted down somewhat.
Kayla consoled herself by thinking that Pete’s rejection was simply because the timing wasn’t right. With this thought, she felt somewhat better.
In the middle of the night, a sudden torrential downpour washed away all traces of the previous chaos.
However, the group, mixed with various factions, was on edge. They were filled with mutual distrust and scheming. Human greed was on full display, intertwined with the inherent dangers of the rainforest.
In the following days, the group encountered venomous snake
snakes, swamps, and ferocious beasts. Each mishap claimed more lives,
Kayla began to regret coming along. It was far too dangerous. The place was teeming with snakes, insects, and rodents. Within just a few days, she had over a dozen bites and welts on her skin.
The Fuller couple fared even worse.
As the supposed “living map“, they were tasked with guiding the way. But in truth, they had only caught a brief glimpse of the map, which was nothing more than a bizarre drawing of celestial constellations.
They couldn’t make any sense of it!
Péte was simply using them to divert attention, ensuring no one realized that the real map was in his possession.
The journey was grueling. By the tenth day, as they neared the canyon, a violent storm with powerful winds scattered all the groups.
The Fuller couple
couple had vanished!
During the chaos, Kayla managed to stay close to Pete and avoided harm. Others, however, suffered greatly, losing men and struggling to survive themselves.
“Pete…” she muttered.
