Sam and Rodney's shout drew Steven and Belle's attention. "She's the boss?" Steven asked, surprised. Belle remembered the tracker. "Right, this is a tracker I placed on Yelena. It holds evidence proving she's the Hannibal leader. Take care of it and give it to Robert."Steven accepted the tracker and exclaimed, "I never expected our enemy's leader to be a woman!"Sam and Rodney were both equally surprised. "Yeah! And she's so young, too!""Even more shocking is that she's a Quelorian like us!"Rodney couldn't help but cuss. "So she's been hurting her own people? That's messed up!"They've always hated the boss for harming Quelorians, only to learn that the boss was a Quelorian herself. It was despicable.As the group continued to curse out at the revelation of the boss' identity, Grayson said, "We'll be bringing her to Robert right away. I need you guys to deal with the rest while we're gone."Steven, regaining his composure, nodded. "Of course, sir. I'll take care of it righ
Meanwhile, Belle ran all the way to Robert. Despite his extensive injuries, Robert sat upright in his wheelchair with surprising strength.Belle's brow furrowed with worry. "Robert, why are you in a wheelchair? You're badly hurt. You should be resting in bed, not out here on the shore."She couldn't fathom why he insisted on being present amidst the turmoil, risking further harm.Robert's gaze swept over Belle, searching for any sign of injury. Relief flooded his features as he confirmed her safety. He was genuinely worried about her safety. Robert composed himself and replied, "I'm fine."Belle, however, wasn't convinced. She checked his vitals and sighed. "You're certainly in better shape than last time I saw you, but your injuries are still severe. Please, don't underestimate their seriousness."Beside him, a soldier chimed in, echoing Belle's concern. "I've been telling him the same thing, but the Commander refuses to heed our advice. "Mr. Carver has been breathing dow
Sam was shocked. "Why did you do that, Mr. Page?"Without a word, Grayson scooped Belle into his arms and made his way to the tent, with Sam trailing behind.Though Robert frowned, he made no move to intervene. He understood Grayson's intentions.Once inside the tent, Grayson carefully settled Belle into a sleeping bag before stepping back out. He quickly procured a tool bag from one of Robert's soldiers and headed toward the direction of the tomb.It dawned on Sam what Grayson intended to do. "Mr. Page, are you going after Hunter?""Yeah, wait for me here."Though apprehensive, Sam offered his assistance. "Let me come with you."Grayson turned back and said, "There are ghosts down there.""Huh? You're… Just joking, right?"Grayson knew how scared Sam was of the supernatural. "Keep an eye on Belle while I'm gone. Don't let anyone near her."With that, Grayson cast a meaningful glance at Robert before setting off toward the tomb.Understanding Grayson's motive for incapacitat
Grayson reached a swampy area within the tomb. The weapon from Robert proved versatile—it doubled as a flashlight and a defense tool. He pointed it upward and saw that water droplets were mysteriously forming on the ceiling and dripping down. Grayson pressed forward, only to stop abruptly with a frown. A blur launched itself at him. He reacted instinctively, snatching the projectile mid-flight. A venomous snake writhed in his grasp, fangs bared. With a flick of his wrist, he slammed it against the wall, killing it instantly. A slithering sound filled the air as more snakes retreated into the walls, spooked by Grayson's swift action. These creatures, like many others, seemed to react similarly to the supernatural—intimidated by those they perceived as stronger.Undeterred, Grayson continued his descent into the depths, flashlight guiding his path.Belle's words echoed in his mind—an underground river with a hidden switch, activating wooden steps leading to the tomb's true entr
The woman tilted her head and asked, "Are you interested in Belle? Or are you interested in me? Or do you think we're two sides of the same coin?"Grayson's gaze hardened as he responded firmly, "You and Belle are obviously two different people."Despite their identical appearances, Grayson recognized the distinct aura surrounding each of them. Belle radiated warmth and happiness—a sweetness that permeated the air. This woman, however, exuded unease, a chilling fear that sent shivers down Grayson's spine.He'd mistaken her for Belle during their first encounter at Mount Moriah. It was only after Hunter's mural recreation that he realized they were two different entities. They might have had the same face, but Belle would always be Belle. They were two separate individuals, even if they were inexplicably connected. The robed man's warning about Mount Moriah's danger toward Belle echoed in his mind. Now, Grayson understood."I pose no threat," the woman said, her voice eerily cal
Grayson flinched at her cackle, a chilling sound that sent shivers down his spine. "What are you?" he demanded."I'm her, and she's me! Hahahaha…" The woman's voice echoed before she faded away, repeating the same phrase until her laughter dissolved into silence.Grayson lunged forward, a primal urge to chase after her. But his legs felt paralyzed, rooted to the spot."Mr. Grayson! Wake up, Mr. Grayson!" A familiar voice cut through the haze, and Grayson forced his eyes open. His mind was still whirling from the encounter.Hunter's face swam into view, relief etched on his features. "Are you okay?"Grayson paused briefly before asking, "What happened to me?"Hunter's relief flickered momentarily. "I found you unconscious on the ground as I was leaving. I've been calling your name."Grayson's gaze darted around, taking in the intricate carvings adorning the stone walls. "Are we inside the tomb?""Yes, we're at the outer layer. Were you attacked? What caused you to faint?"Gra
Hunter turned around and smiled. "Did you see anything passing by just now?""No, but I felt a gust of cold breeze, accompanied by the sound of footsteps."Hunter explained, "I saw what it really was. It was a young child passing by."Grayson's frown deepened as he maintained silence. "This isn't a royal tomb or anything. It's just the tomb of a wealthy family from long ago. The child that passed us by earlier is apparently the young heir of this particular family."Had Sam offered this explanation, Grayson would have dismissed it outright as rubbish. However, coming from Hunter himself, under these circumstances, Grayson accepted it without reservation.He began to entertain the notion that life held unpredictable possibilities. "How did you discern the child's identity?""There's an inscription about the child ahead of us."Grayson was left speechless. Hunter elaborated, "I've possessed an ability to perceive certain things since childhood, beyond the ken of most.""Does
Turning to leave, the pace of Hunter's stride surpassed even their initial entrance. Grayson followed without protest. Outside the tomb, Hunter released a heavy sigh, wiping sweat from his brow. "The family patriarch has quite the temper.""Did you feel that pressure as well?" asked Grayson."Yeah, it seems that they were upset that we've been looking at the mural for too long."Paying his respects at the tomb's entrance, Hunter then sought the switch to extend the wooden steps for crossing the underground river.Grayson's gaze landed on the steps, a prickle of unease crawling up his spine. He was certain that this was his first time seeing the wooden step in action. Yet, he was already inside the tomb when Hunter found him. It didn't make any sense at all."Mr. Grayson, let's go," urged Hunter.As they stepped onto the wooden planks, the murky river below hinted at secrets unseen. But neither could see anything. The aged steps groaned under their weight, yet Hunter remained
Belle playfully reached for Sixteen again. "Come here!"Sixteen barked back, seemingly firm in his stance. "I'll cry if you don't come here, okay?" Belle then held her face in her hands and pretended to cry.Sixteen immediately calmed down as it nudged Belle's hands with its paws, trying to comfort her. Belle broke character, revealing a grin. "Are you still mad at me?"Sixteen, appeased, finally got into her arms and launched into enthusiastic licks.Grayson watched the exchange with a hint of envy. "Hey, Sixteen!"Sixteen whimpered and offered Grayson a sheepish look.Belle scolded, "Why are you scolding Sixteen? You're a bad guy!"She then petted Sixteen on its head and stood up. "Let's go! We'll get something tasty to eat! Just ignore him, okay?"Grayson was left speechless. He felt defeated by the pet dog as he watched Belle and Sixteen skip and hop into the house.Meredith had already finished preparing dinner when they arrived. She put on a gentle smile as she watched Belle
After returning to the house, Ava asked, "Why did Xenia go crazy? Wasn't she fine not long ago?"Lena wiped her hands and handed the towel back to Ava. "Someone drugged her and induced hallucinations of her worst fears. She's been on the edge ever since. After all, she did commit all sorts of misdeeds." "Someone?""Belle Walters."Ava was shocked. "Why would Belle drug Xenia?"Ava and Lena had been moving from place to place, seeking a safe hideout ever since they picked up Xenia. They had only found a relatively safe place today, so Ava finally had the chance to inquire about the details.Lena shot her a look of disgust and proceeded to ignore her question.Ava dared not press further and changed the topic. "Now that Xenia's lost her mind, can we still get her to talk?"Lena continued to ignore her and went to scribble down a prescription. She had spent the entire day with Xenia in the basement but hadn't managed to extract any useful information from her. Ava sheepishly c
Meanwhile, Ginger, too, was grappling with confusion. She'd also offered Hunter money, only to be stunned into silence by the astronomical sum in his bank statement. Compared to him, she was practically penniless. The largest amount she'd ever held was a few million Gabriel had won in the lottery—a drop in the bucket compared to Hunter's wealth."Why do you think Mr. Sanders was so wealthy?" Ginger queried, seeking Gabriel's insight.Gabriel was similarly grappling with confusion and remained quiet. However, he was preoccupied with a different mystery. His mind was consumed by the deaths of Penny and Terry. He had taken time to visit the corpses and noted the peculiarity surrounding their deaths. Their autopsies revealed unusual injuries that baffled forensics.Both victims, young adults in their prime, looked as if they'd been scared to death.Aware of Hunter's ties to the Nightwalkers, Gabriel wasn't surprised by the inheritance. Compared to the wealth amassed during the Sanders f
Belle pondered aloud, "While Hunter isn't as averse to exploring tombs as Benjamin, they share a similar disposition. Otherwise, with his expertise, he could easily be making a fortune.""The Sanders ancestors might not have been saints," Grayson conceded, "but perhaps Hunter's grandfather started a positive trend. Like Benjamin, he likely tried to shield Hunter from their legacy. A truly evil man couldn't have raised such a kind son."As Benjamin grew, he remained kind-hearted despite his timidity. And now, Hunter has grown into an upright, kind, and courageous young man. His talent for exploration makes him the pride of his lineage."Belle nodded and sighed. "Money is crucial for a comfortable life today. With what Hunter has, financial worries shouldn't trouble him. He'll be well provided for."Grayson pulled her into his arms and responded, "Don't fret. While Hunter may still be in school, he's mature for his age. He can take care of himself just fine."Belle leaned onto his s
Hunter crouched by the bed, methodically clearing away the books until a single floor tile lay exposed. Prying it open revealed a dark hole just big enough for one person. Grabbing a flashlight, he squeezed through the narrow opening and emerged into a moderately sized room of perhaps about 130 square feet. Wooden boxes, weathered with age and adorned with simple designs, filled the space.Hunter made a beeline for a particular box, brushing off the dust before prying it open. The wooden box was filled to the brim with notebooks. Hunter sat down on the floor, picked up one of the books, and started reading it.This hidden chamber and its contents were discovered by a young Hunter, seemingly guided by destiny. Hunter's father, Benjamin, had buried them, driven by a desire to safeguard their knowledge from Hunter's curious gaze. Fear had gripped Benjamin after learning about the Sanders family's history, the expertise that had seemingly drawn them toward a dangerous path. He
Nora let out a long sigh. "It's fine. Just keep it with you! I don't really need the money right away or anything. Besides, an old woman like me won't be spending much in town even if I tried."Hunter stopped Nora as she was about to leave and took a wad of money from his bag. "I have 20,000 dollars right here. It's far from the actual price, but you can keep it for now. I'll pay you the rest when I can."Nora was stunned. "Where did you get so much money?""It's the money I gathered from donations for the funeral, mostly from Ms. Belle and Mr. Grayson.""Oh, that makes sense. Here I was, wondering how you managed to get such a huge amount from donations. I can tell your friends are really kind-hearted people. You should treat them just as well as they treat you, okay? Study hard and make a name for yourself, and then you'll be able to properly repay their kindness.""Yeah, I know. Anyway, the gold nugget weighs slightly over 17 ounces. So, its worth is about 37,500 dollars. I'll pay y
As the final step of the funeral, the townsfolk gathered for a meal after Benjamin's burial. After Benjamin was buried, Belle and Ginger approached Hunter, inquiring about his plans for the future. Belle expressed her desire for Hunter to stay with her and Grayson, mentioning that their house had plenty of spare rooms. The only drawback would be that it was quite the distance from his school, but they could always arrange a driver for him.Ginger also invited Hunter to stay with her and Gabriel as their house had just finished with renovations. They also had a spare room for Hunter if he were to join their house.Hunter was genuinely touched by their offers, but he still declined them both. "I'd like to stay in my school's hostel for now. I'll think about what to do next when I graduate."Belle and Ginger recognized that they couldn't sway Hunter's decision, so they ceased their attempts to pressure him into making a choice."If you run out of space for your belongings, you ca
Hunter detailed, "I recall every person who came to offer prayers for my father... However, it was during my trip to the restroom that the dogs began barking. Upon my return, I spotted some unfamiliar footprints. Without seeing anyone there, I dismissed it. But upon hearing about Penny and Terry's deaths this morning, I began to connect the dots..."Both Gabriel and Grayson were left speechless.Gabriel exchanged a glance with Grayson before turning back to Hunter. "So, you're suggesting that the stranger who came to town also visited your house to pray for your father before departing to exact revenge on Penny and Terry for Mr. Sanders' death?""Yes.""Why didn't he meet you then?""I don't know.""Any other suspects you have in mind?"Hunter shook his head. "My father and I don't have friends other than you guys. It's just the two of us for as long as I can remember.""Could it be someone else from the Sanders family?" asked Gabriel."I don't think so. I'm an only child, and
Belle, Ginger, and the rest of the group arrived at 8:00 am. They noticed the crowd alongside police cars at the entrance to the town. The two of them then squeezed through the crowd to make it to the house as soon as they could. "What happened, Hunter?"The policemen were stunned by their sudden arrival. "Who are you?""We're Hunter's friends. You can tell us about what happened."Hunter's eyes gleamed with hope as he greeted them. "Ms. Belle and Ms. Ginger!"Grayson's car stopped in front of the town alongside a truck filled with equipment for the funeral.Without Belle and Grayson's friendship, Hunter would have had to manage all the funeral arrangements alone, and he wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Ginger.Sam remained outside to stand guard while Grayson and Gabriel entered the Sanders family's old home.The townsfolk and the police were shocked when they saw them.They didn't recognize Grayson or Gabriel, but they could tell at a glance that they were really special peo