Leo had just finished speaking when someone loudly said in English, “Hey, friends from Atraria, don’t be nervous. We are not enemies.”
Following the voice, eight Westerners emerged one after another from behind a nearby rock.
Leo could sense from their aura that all eight were Espers and quite powerful.
Turning to the man at the front, Leo asked coldly in English, “Who are you?”
The leading man replied, “My name is James. We are from the Shield Agency of the United States. We happened to pass by and encounter you. We mean no harm.”
Shield Agency, the most powerful Esper organization in the United States, is far stronger than Orientia’s The Sakura Order.
Leo smiled slightly, “In that case, let’s each go our own way.”
After speaking, Leo turned to leave with Marshall Malone and the other two.
“Wait a minute,” James suddenly called out.
“What is it?” Leo turned back.
James smiled warmly, “I have a good suggestion. Perhaps we can talk.”
“What suggestion? Let’s hear it.” Leo stroked his chin, pretending to be interested.
James eagerly said, “I believe we have the same goal here. So why can’t we cooperate?”
“If WONDER and our Shield Agency join forces, we won’t fear any competitors. The treasure will be ours sooner or later.”
“Really?” Leo seemed intrigued. “How do we split the treasure once we get it?”
“Of course, we split it fifty-fifty,” James said cheerfully. “What do you think, friend?”
Leo suddenly laughed loudly, “Do you really think we’re fools? Everyone knows the nature of people from the United States. Cooperating with you is like asking a tiger for its skin.”
“I think we should each search on our own and see who has better luck.”
James’s smile froze on his face. He shrugged helplessly, “Atrarian friend, you’re too suspicious. Think it over again?”
“No need to consider,” Leo turned sharply. “Each searches for their treasure. I advise you not to provoke us, or you’ll bear the consequences!”
With that, Leo waved his hand, “Let’s go.”
Marshall Malone and the other two glared fiercely at the Shield Agency members before following Leo away.
Watching their departing figures, a Shield Agency member snorted coldly, “Damn WONDER, we’ll make you pay sooner or later!”
James’s face also darkened, “That guy is too smart. It’s like he saw through all my thoughts. My intuition tells me that in the search for the treasure, he will be our most formidable opponent.”
“In that case, why don’t we find a chance to eliminate them?” another Shield Agency member suggested, a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
“Don’t act rashly,” James shook his head gravely. “My intuition tells me that the leader of those Atrarians is very powerful. Our mission is to find the treasure, not to provoke strong enemies and fight to the death. Understand?”
“So what do we do next? Keep wandering around like headless chickens?” a third Shield Agency member asked.
James shook his head and smiled sinisterly, “My intuition tells me that these Atrarians seem to know something. Following them might lead us to the treasure.”
“Let’s rest here for a while. Once those Atrarians are far enough away, we’ll quietly follow them.”
The Shield Agency members agreed and began resting on the spot.
Time quickly passed to evening.
Leo and his group found another sheltered valley to set up camp. They busied themselves with setting up tents, lighting a fire, fetching water, and cooking dinner in an orderly manner.
Dinner was still noodles, but this time it was egg noodles.
In this desolate wilderness with harsh conditions, they could only vary their noodle dishes.
After dinner and cleaning up, they gathered more dry branches to keep the campfire burning brightly before retreating into their tents to rest.
Before long, Marshall Malone’s snores reached Leo’s ears.
Leo smiled and took out his phone, wanting to chat with Sophia but quickly remembered he was in a foreign country.
Putting away his phone and preparing to meditate, Leo suddenly sensed something.
With his current level of cultivation, Leo’s sensitivity to danger and intuition was quite sharp.
After thinking for a moment, Leo quietly slipped out of his tent and disappeared into the thick night and howling mountain wind.
To the east, ten miles away in a valley, a small camp was hidden among some large rocks.
In the center of the camp, a roaring campfire crackled joyfully.
If not paying special attention, it would be hard to notice this concealed camp.
Leo stood silently on a high rock, observing the camp from afar by the firelight.
The camp had eight single tents, likely belonging to those Shield Agency members.
Leo’s face turned cold. It seemed these guys had caught a scent and were planning an ambush.
An idea struck Leo immediately.
If these Shield Agency members woke up tomorrow morning to find their target had vanished without a trace, he wondered what their expressions would be like.
Leo quietly disappeared again; only faint snores broke the silence.
Returning to his camp, Leo woke Marshall Malone and the other two.
“What’s up?” Marshall Malone asked groggily.
Leo said directly, “Those Shield Agency people we met during the day are following us nearby.”
“What!?” Marshall Malone and the other two were instantly both shocked and angry.
Ripley gritted his teeth, “I knew those United States people had bad intentions!”
Leo said coldly, “They probably want to play an ambush game with us.”
A fierce look flashed in Marshall Malone’s eyes, “Why don’t we launch a night attack and kill them all? Anyway, WONDER and Shield Agency have never gotten along!”
“I agree!” Ripley was also eager for a fight.
Leo calmly shook his head, “Our mission is to find the treasure. It’s not wise to create more conflicts. Let’s break camp overnight and shake them off as a warning.”
Bonnie Hale also said at this time, “I agree with Leo. Finding the treasure is more important.”
“Alright then,” Marshall Malone and Ripley reluctantly nodded despite their anger.
“Let’s go then,” Leo smiled sinisterly. “I bet those Shield Agency guys will have quite an expression tomorrow morning.”
Everyone laughed heartily, feeling somewhat avenged.
They quickly broke camp and extinguished the fire before quietly leaving overnight.
When James realized they had lost track of their target, his expression was as if he had swallowed a fly-utterly unpleasant.
Undoubtedly, they had been discovered and thoroughly tricked.
After that, everything went smoothly. Leo and his group followed their planned route carefully searching as they swiftly moved northward.