Brady shifted his gaze from the money to Eugene’s face and tentatively asked, “Eugene, how about we take them inside?”
Eugene slapped Brady on the head and scolded, “Are you really that desperate for money?!”
It seemed the money wasn’t enough. Leo continued, “How about this, when we come out of the Primeval Forest, I’ll give you another eighty thousand dollars.”
“Two thousand plus eighty thousand, that’s a hundred thousand!” Brady was excited, rubbing his hands as he persuaded Eugene, “Eugene, a hundred thousand dollars is enough to get married. The Primeval Forest isn’t that scary. Let’s take them inside!”
Eugene was tempted, but he was also cautious despite his greed. After thinking for a moment, he said, “If you insist on going in, it’s possible. But if we encounter danger, we must escape immediately.”
“Of course,” Leo nodded.
“And one more thing…” Eugene’s eyes fell on Monica’s fair neck. “I want the necklace she’s wearing!”
This insatiable guy dared to target Monica. Leo wanted to slap him to death.
Eugene’s words made Monica frown. The necklace on her neck was a birthday gift, worth tens of thousands of dollars!
Leo waved impatiently, “We don’t need your help anymore. You can leave now and don’t let me see you again!”
“Fine, we’ll leave. Without us guiding you, you’ll never make it out of the Death Forest!” Eugene retorted and turned to leave.
Monica took off her necklace and called out, “Wait, guide us, and the necklace is yours!”
Eugene quickly took the necklace and examined it closely. The diamonds embedded in it made his eyes glaze over.
Eugene had dealt with jewelry before and immediately recognized the necklace’s value, which is why he greedily targeted it.
Brady eagerly reached out to touch the sparkling diamonds on the necklace but was slapped away by Eugene. “Don’t touch it!”
Eugene quickly pocketed the necklace and then said to Leo, “Give the two thousand dollars you’re holding to Brady.”
Greed truly knows no bounds. Even after getting the necklace, Eugene didn’t forget about Leo’s two thousand dollars.
It seemed Eugene planned to use the two thousand dollars to placate Brady while keeping the necklace for himself.
Leo smirked inwardly and decided to settle accounts later. He handed the two thousand dollars to Brady.
With a windfall in hand, Brady grinned widely and quickly offered, “Boss, your backpack must be heavy. Let me carry it for you.”
“No need. You can carry Monica’s,” Leo replied.
Leo and Monica’s backpacks were filled with food, outdoor equipment, and positioning devices, making them quite heavy.
Monica handed her backpack to Brady.
Driven by greed, Eugene and Brady led Leo and Monica towards the Death Forest.
As they entered the forest, the light dimmed, and the atmosphere grew eerie.
The four of them walked on fallen leaves and branches, producing a crisp rustling sound.
Brady, carrying the backpack behind Eugene, curiously asked, “Eugene, what terrifying thing did you see when you entered this forest years ago?”
Brady’s question made Eugene’s face change. He glanced at Leo and Monica before saying in a low voice, “I didn’t see anything terrifying; I heard a frightening sound.”
“A frightening sound? What kind of sound?” Brady asked curiously.
Eugene shook his head. “I don’t know. It was eerie, not human or animal.”
“Could it be… a ghost…” Brady’s voice trembled.
Eugene’s face showed a lingering fear as he continued, “The sound was far away at first but suddenly seemed right next to my ear. I ran for my life out of the forest, and the sound seemed to chase me all the way…”
Eugene’s vivid description didn’t seem like a made-up story. Monica, who was easily scared, clung tightly to Leo’s arm.
Brady couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked in a trembling voice, “Eugene, what happened next?”
“Maybe I was lucky. I managed to run out of the Death Forest. As soon as I got out, the eerie sound disappeared.”
At this point, Eugene stopped and turned to Leo and Monica. “I’ll say it again: it’s dangerous here. Are you sure you want to go deeper?”
Leo smirked. “If we turn back now, will you return the necklace and money?”
“Forget I said anything!” Eugene turned and continued walking.
Brady hurried to Eugene’s side and whispered, “Eugene, was that eerie sound real or fake?”
Eugene whispered something in Brady’s ear. After hearing it, Brady’s face changed, and he subconsciously swallowed before nodding.
Feeling the oppressive atmosphere around them, Monica’s heart pounded as she whispered, “Dr. Bloomer, do you think there are any terrifying creatures in this forest?”
Leo smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, nothing can harm you.”
Monica nodded heavily.
After walking for over half an hour, Monica’s fear subsided as she became fascinated by some creatures she had never seen before in the forest.
Monica began her work, capturing any suspicious creatures she could find in specially designed metal boxes.
While Leo and Monica collected samples, Eugene and Brady nervously watched their surroundings.
People who spent years in the mountains developed an instinct for sensing hidden dangers.
The four of them continued walking intermittently until they reached the depths of the Death Forest.
Fortunately, they encountered no trouble along the way.
Following Eugene’s suggestion, they found a slightly open area to rest for a while.
Brady gulped down some water and soon clutched his stomach in pain. “Oh no, my stomach hurts. Wait here; I need to find a place to relieve myself.”
With that, Brady clutched his stomach and disappeared into the nearby bushes.
Eugene quickly stood up and said to Leo and Monica, “I’ll keep an eye on Brady in case he gets lost or encounters danger. You two stay here and don’t wander off.”