Be wary of Xivier?
This Xivier was that dark-skinned girl.
She hadn't said much on our journey here; most of the time, it was Hathaway who chatted with me.
I had originally thought Xivier was just Hathaway's follower.
Now it seems, the one who stayed silent beside us is the real tough one!
But we are currently maintaining a facade of civility, and the members of the expedition team harbor no ill will towards me. Why would Qu Xiangyun tell me to leave quickly?!
Without revealing my emotions, I crushed the note in my fingertips and buried it with soil.
Then I turned and headed back to the camp.
In truth, if I had heeded Qu Xiangyun's advice, I should have run by now.
But I couldn't!
I couldn't abandon Qu Xiangyun here and leave her in peril.
Even if I had to leave, I would take Qu Xiangyun with me. With proper preparation, I didn't believe this group of elderly and frail individuals from the expedition team could pose any threat to me.
Upon returning, the others merely glanced up at me before continuing their work. Qu Xiangyun, seeing me return, subconsciously bit her lip, her face etched with worry, seemingly surprised that I hadn't left.
This silly girl!
Even if I were to leave, I wouldn't abandon you!
I gave Qu Xiangyun a subtle smile, offering her a reassuring look, and then resumed my work.
As night fell, our makeshift camp was finally set up.
Seeing that they were all injured, I had a sudden idea and volunteered to take the first watch.
My intention was to find an opportunity to leave with Qu Xiangyun.
The bald old man and Hathaway said nothing, but the dark-skinned girl Xivier eyed me with suspicion. Naturally, I couldn't reveal any clues, so we ate a simple meal, and they retired to their tents.
I don't know if Qu Xiangyun saw through my intentions, but she deliberately delayed things. Seeing that they had all gone into their tents, she quickly pulled me into the nearby small woods.
As soon as we entered the woods, I was about to speak, but Qu Xiangyun clamped a hand over my mouth, preventing me from talking.
Then, she took out a pen and a small notebook from her embrace, quickly wrote a few lines on it, and handed it to me.
I took it and looked, my brows furrowing.
The notebook clearly stated, "Don't speak, I have a listening device on me, and every move I make will be recorded."
I never imagined that I would encounter a movie-like scenario one day; such things as listening devices were too far removed from my life.
After a moment's thought, I took the pen and wrote on the paper, "Who exactly are they?"
"You need to leave quickly, they are not from the expedition team at all, but from the Company. Seeing your unusual skills just now, they have already developed the intention to make you an investigator. There were over a dozen investigators who came with us before, and now, without exception, they are all dead. To put it bluntly, they are cannon fodder!"
Investigator? Cannon fodder?
A surge of anger ignited within me. I had saved them out of kindness, and they actually wanted to make me cannon fodder!
"What Company?"
"I don't know the specifics too well, just that they all call themselves people of the Company. This Company is a large multinational organization. Its composition is very complex, possessing terrifying energy that is difficult for outsiders to imagine."
Qu Xiangyun's expression was complicated, and tears still shimmered in her eyes.
"And I was sponsored by the Company since childhood, and then the Company found me..."
The situation suddenly became complicated. I had thought Qu Xiangyun was merely coerced by these people, but I didn't expect the power of this group to be so immense.
"Can't the listening device on you be removed? I'll take you far away!"
Qu Xiangyun didn't speak, but looked at me dejectedly. Then she extended her fair and clean forearm.
I felt her skin and found a bulge below her elbow!
"The people from the Company have implanted a chip under my skin. This thing can also track my movements. No matter how far I run, I will be caught!"
Qu Xiangyun remained silent, but tears uncontrollably streamed from the corners of her eyes. "I can no longer escape the Company's clutches. I only hope that you can run quickly, run as far as possible. Don't end up like me!"
I tenderly stroked Qu Xiangyun's cheek, helping her wipe away her tears, drop by drop.
"Let's find a way to kill these people, and then we'll go back and have Luo Yaqin remove the chip from under your arm!"
At this moment, I knew my relationship with these people from the Company was one of irreconcilable enmity. Only by killing them all here could Qu Xiangyun be rescued.
Qu Xiangyun stopped crying and shook her head at me with red eyes.
"Don't be fooled by how Xivier and Hathaway acted during the day; that was all a pretense. Both of them served in the US Special Forces. They can easily kill an adult male. We are no match for them. Moreover, I have something important that requires your help!"
Qu Xiangyun fumbled with her shirt and then pulled out a small, silver-white square.
"You must take this out. Only this can save my life!"