My Last Hunt

Treasures and Snatchers: Level Three (part 11) 

Two or three chasers were running madly and one of them happened to recognize Qiao. He was the team leader from the previous team of Qiao in the last Guild and had good acquaintance with Qiao. Currently he was running away from a strong team. 

They were hunting when a strong team appeared and attacked them. the monster they were hunting turned out to be a rare one. The team had waited and attacked at them when they were collecting spoils, they barely ran and one of them was severely injured by the opponent team.

They don't want the opponent team to snatch away the treasure which they got after life and death struggle. So the whole team was trying hard to cover the team leader from heavy attacks because the treasure was with him. 

They have to bear it or else hand over to the enemy team which was unfortunately from his Guild. This was usually restricted by Guild but for treasure the teams break such rules.

Wealth has much power over everything and every rule and the present situation was clear evidence.

When he saw Qiao, a hope flickered in him and he voiced him from afar. The trio looked toward the source of voice and recognized him as well. Before they could shorten the distance, the opponent team reached to them and started attacking brutally, they sure wanted to kill the already broken team and get the treasure. 

They were not worried that the Guild would know about it and take action because the treasure was worth taking any risk for. The winter was approaching and most of the teams in all the Guilds wanted to accumulate lot of wealth. Usually winters were not considered suitable for hunting especially for low level teams, chasers and Guilds. 

It was game of wealth and strength, powerful will remain to the end and the weaker would be killed halfway. They were already injured and cannot face a powerful team. "Hurry," Qiao voiced and both of his teammates followed him toward the fight. 

The weaker team was no more in a condition to sustain the fight any longer, it would directly affect their levels if the opponent team kept attacking. The opponent team was no more but a team of bullies, they were taking advantage of situation. 

When they saw another team coming, they were not sure whether they were also after the treasure or friends with the other team. The opponent team leader happened to recognize Qiao and got worried. His previous deeds were still rumouring in their Guild and he knew how fiercely this young man battled against others. He snatched the treasure from the injured chaser and ran away. 

Qiao clearly saw what was happening, so he gestured his friends to surround the other team, while he reached at the spot and glared at the bully. For stronger enemies he could wait for revenge but the seasonal bullies can immediately take their share of humiliation and reckoning from him. 

"Qiao, he is running after taking our treasure." the injured team leader pointed and he nodded. The opponent team leader in turn gestured his team to handle these three as he himself fled toward Middletown. He had a complete team of six men and could easily stop Qiao from chasing. 

Qiao was unable to follow from behind as such and had to fight with those men. After getting rid of them he supported the team leader and asked, "Do you want to get back your treasure or let it go?" He was not reckless to decide this on his own as this mater belong to a Guild which has already kicked him out and if he created another ruckus, he might be banned from his own Guild. 

The reason was the rules of his present Guild, they strongly advise to not interfere in the matters of other Guilds. And if someone complained about any team involving in bothering the teams of other Guilds then they would not give another chance especially when someone from the other Guild complained. 

"How can I abandon something I got risking my life?" he coughed up some blood and spoke. "Then wait and heal your injuries, we will chase him to the hell." Qiao patted his shoulders and encouraged. "Also send someone to see where he is heading, it will be easy to find his whereabouts." 

The team leader nodded, he was glad that Qiao remained the same, helpful and trustable. It was another thing that he was fearless against enemies. After waiting an hour or two, they were ready to follow behind. "What do you think, where did he go?" Qiao asked from the team leader. He was experienced and can calculate where a chaser can go after stealing. 

"He would not have chosen to go to the Guild because Guild usually don't pay the right amount in exchange, he might have gone to the Middletown and look for a better Silent Auction to sell off the treasure." the team leader deliberated over for some time and concluded in the end. 

"This means we can find him in the Middletown." Qiao remembered what happened yesterday. Still he chose to go with this old buddy. The distance from forest to the Middletown was one hour or so but they chose to run rather than walk. It would save time. 

The Silent Auction rendered services for those stealers who wanted to sale illegally but were eager to get the right amount of wealth in exchange. They kept some charges for the services but still it was more beneficial for treasure Snatchers. 

They could get rid of the treasure and obtain money too. What could be better than that. They did not have to worry about pursuit after they handed the stolen goods to these auctions places.

But the appearance of another team was unexpected and probably they were also after the treasure in their eyes so it was going to be more than two teams's matter.