My Last Hunt

Treasures and Snatchers: Level Three (part 10)

No one could tell that they were worried even a bit and had just gone through a wrecking event. Qiao was talking the same way as before as if nothing out of usual had happened. Linwin and Quipu were amazed at this, but they then focused on going through the book they had just gained. After reading from the booklet they were agape with surprise, still Qiao remained calm. He already had some previous idea that the pearl was really precious. 

"Brother, we will help you get back the pearl." Linwin patted his chest. He felt that after getting to know its value it was necessary to get it back.

"No need, I have my own means to get back whatever belongs to me. Currently we should only focus on the increasing our demand of better hunting. Do you have any plans for the winter season?" he asked. Worrying for such matters of revenge can wait. If a turtle wanted to exact revenge from a crocodile, it should wait for the right time and accumulate better strength. 

Only then the revenge would be considered rational else one would end up being wronged again. 

"I wanted to visit my house for two months in the winter, I promised my mother that I will come once in a year and I can't break my promise." Linwin spoke in low spirits.

The hunters visit their houses in the winter because most of the monsters chose to hibernate or remain hidden underground during this period.

The winter would begin in one month and they have limited time to save some spoils till then. Usually all those hunters or chasers who left their families behind visit them in the winter so that they could give them some savings for the whole next year. This way their families remain safe from starvation and they don't have to worry for them.

"My family will also be waiting for me, my old parents cannot work and my children are small, my wife would be facing tough times." Quipu also spoke his worry. "Then you both should work hard in hunting and at least Quipu should reach level four peak and Linwin you have to reach level three peak before the winter begins." Qiao spoke with the same lively spirits. 

He had nowhere to go and constantly felt that there was limited time for levelling up. The harsh winter would remain for two months. He was not going to wait for winter to end to resume his hunting. In these two months he will be traveling to the Hightown after reaching level five peak. 

If he could cross all the hurdles within the month and reach the Hightown then he will feel at ease. His journey with his two trustable friends would end after this month. He cannot stay and wait for them to carry the team along. 

For now, he was able to understand that there were many treasures which he could exchange for any kind of weapon from the book. "With the present pace we are sure to reach your estimated level." Quipu saw him silent so he added. From his observation he could tell that Qiao had bigger ambitions ahead. 

"Go and rest, from tomorrow we are going to hunt whatever and everything we can find." Taking mission from Guild can turn problematic too, they learned from today's hunt. 

The day ended with their resolve of hunting increasing and becoming more enthusiastic. 

...

In the evening, a strong wind blew and a shadow landed in front of the traders' shop. The old trader was waiting and had prepared the pouch in advance. He bowed and handed the pouch to the mysterious shadow and he disappeared again. 

But he would return when he would happen to see and examine the pearl. The actual pearl had broken into three pieces when the dragon was hunted down and the single pearl was incomplete without other two parts. 

The clouds of dangers would soon descend down as soon as the senior hunter find out it. 

Till then the things apparently can remain superficially peaceful, but it would not be when Linwin and Quipu were stopped by this human monster senior. 

…..

The senior teams in the Guild soon heard the rumors about the recently top ranked team suffering a loss. It was actually the member who joined Qiao's who on purpose spread the news about how that grade one team was robbed off in the Middletown and how the sharp Qiao was unable to do anything against that.

Those who were waiting for such incident to occur were happy now. It slightly gave them a notion of some revenge which they were planning. 

The Guild has nothing to do with such rumours. If the team leader wanted to report then they might look into it but Qiao had no reason to drag the matter when he has already planning to exact revenge sometime later. 

Early morning, they woke up to follow their resolve. If Linwin and Quipu could not collect enough spoils their families would starve as before and every spoil meant a lot especially when they wanted to save them for their families.

Qiao has listened to their concerns so he no more would ask them to waste the spoils on buying anything, even the new weapon. He could understand what it means to starve. 

From this he remembered his younger brother, in what kind of situation he was and how he was going to feed himself. He has few savings kept in the wooden box but how on Earth would the small boy save himself and live alone. 

It burdened his heart and his eyes got wet. Every moment felt a decade passed when we part away from the dear ones. The team left for the hunt; they were going to choose a different part of the forest where they could hunt level three monster. 

In the middle of the way, they stopped because someone seemed to have called after Qiao.