Axel said, "Legend says that the Demon Queen of the Fallen Crimson Dynasty once built a mountain palace here. There are also rumors that a massive treasure from the Fallen Crimson Dynasty is hidden in our area. But honestly, it's all completely made up—just stories passed down and exaggerated over time." Tiana could not help but interrupt. "How do you know it's made up? I think you're not being honest and don't want to tell the truth." Axel looked like an honest, straightforward man, and Tiana's sharp words clearly flustered him. His face grew awkward as he replied, "Beautiful lady, I haven't lied to you. You can go outside and see for yourself—if we really had treasure here, would our ancient village still be this poor and backward? "You must have seen on your way here that our Gallow's End village is hundreds of miles from the nearest county seat. The entire route is nothing but cliffs and steep terrain. The only concrete mountain road was just completed this year. "Five yea
Another half day passed, and Andrew and his team finally arrived at their destination—Gallow's End, the location marked on the treasure map. Based on its illustrations, the treasure entrance was supposed to be carved into the base of a steep mountain, so steep it looked practically impossible to climb. The treasure was said to be buried deep within the mountain itself, through a tunnel someone had once hollowed out. However, as dusk fell and Andrew's convoy rolled up to the mountain's base, everyone was stunned. The spot marked Gallow's End, supposedly the hidden treasure entrance, had turned into a heritage hamlet. The street was paved with weathered cobblestones, and both sides were lined with quaint shops glowing softly with warm lights. The entire area radiated commercial charm. While it was not overly crowded, a handful of middle-aged backpackers strolled and laughed under the evening sky, even at 9 p.m. Tiana frowned. "Andy, are we in the wrong place?" Andrew did n
"Alright then, I should be back in a couple of days," Andrew said before ending the call. He returned to the table and began eating. Tiana carried more authority than most in the Rhodes family, including even Jameson, the head of the house. So, when Jerry and the other Rhodes family fighters sat at the table with her, they were painfully cautious, practically eating in fear. Even Natasha was not spared. Her hand trembled as she reached for food. Seeing this, Andrew chuckled helplessly and picked up several large servings, placing them onto Natasha's plate. She glanced up at him with a grateful and pitiful look, then bowed her head and ate in silence. Tiana barely touched her food before putting down her utensils, clearly uninterested. Andrew said, "Mrs. Rhodes, you really should eat more. Finding decent food won't be easy once we get deep into the mountains." Tiana replied flatly, "I can't stomach these bland local dishes." Andrew did not press further. Even at Tiana'
At a small roadside town along the way, Logan approached Andrew and suggested, "We're still half a day away from the destination. Why don't we take a break? Everyone's looking pretty worn out." Andrew, whose car was at the front, stepped out and nodded. "Sure, let's rest for two hours. Everyone, find a place to eat and relax." Chantelle got out with Ralph and Magnus in tow. Magnus, the so-called specialist, started complaining right away. "Ugh, I'm exhausted. Ms. Garcia, how about we just spend the day here resting? You can get a massage and catch up on a good night's sleep. Treasure hunting is a long-term endeavor. There's no need to rush." Chantelle glanced toward Andrew and shook her head. "It's not up to me. Mr. Lloyd makes that call." Magnus scoffed. "In our line of work, the government officials are the real bosses. That guy is just a businessman. Ms. Garcia, you don't need to defer to him." Ralph chimed in, "Exactly—Mr. Veyne's right. You saw how he disrespected your
"If you bring him along and something goes wrong, don't blame me for it." Andrew's tone was firm. Chantelle immediately grew angry. "Mr. Lloyd, you're being way too arrogant! Mr. Veyne is respected even by Governor McCormick and is a genuine professional in geomancy. Besides, I'll be looking after him, so I don't see how anything could go wrong." Andrew sneered coldly. "Fine, I won't interfere with that con artist. But what about this muscle head next to you? What's the point of bringing him along? We're not going to war—we're going to find a treasure site. More people won't help us succeed, and it might actually backfire, so send him back right now." Chantelle hesitated at his words and turned to glance at Ralph, the wilderness survival expert. Ralph snorted coldly and strode toward Andrew with clenched teeth. "You got a problem with me? Do you know how easy it would be for me to take down a little punk like you with these muscles? "Ms. Garcia is under my protection. As long
Andrew stayed calm as ever and said, "Mrs. Rhodes, take it easy. Since I dared to call Chantelle over, I obviously already considered whatever it is you're worried about." Tiana chuckled. "You little brat, you're way too steady for someone your age. Honestly, I'm starting to really like you." Andrew quickly raised a hand to stop her. "We're in public, Mrs. Rhodes. Please don't show your craziness." Tiana snorted. "Get lost, you're the crazy one. If it were someone else, I wouldn't even give them the time of day." Logan arrived with two skilled fighters from the Keller family, but no one else came along. "As soon as the treasure site is uncovered, our full force will arrive right away," he privately passed along this information to Andrew. Andrew nodded subtly. Logan traveling light was definitely the right approach. Chantelle wore a casual athletic outfit with a sun hat. She looked like a college student heading out on a trip, nothing like an official spokesperson. "I t