Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Lin Gui and Elvia remained silent throughout the journey.

They only exchange a brief message when a route correction is needed.

Shia, sitting atop the wooden crate, sensed something was off.

I couldn't help but ask.

"It's just a demon that escaped its territory, why are you two acting like the sky is falling?"

Elvia rolled her eyes at her, annoyed, and corrected her.

"They drove nearly a thousand kilometers to get here!"

"Do you think it's just bored and has nothing better to do, half-demon?"

"Use your brain! What could possibly drive a demon of this caliber to run this far against its nature?"

Shea tilted her head and thought for a moment, then guessed with a smile.

"For the ancient ruins and treasures hidden in the withered rift valley?"

"It's the Kuroshio Current!!!"

Elvia growled almost hysterically.

"Snapped!"

Lin Gui swung a punch at her head, neither too hard nor too soft.

"Ouch! Why did you hit me?!"

Elvia held her head and glared at Lin Gui with displeasure.

Lin Gui pointed irritably at the flying demons below that were startled by her roar and were flapping around, and lowered her voice.

"Keep your voice down! My magic power can't keep [Levitation] and [Night Veil] active all the time!"

Recast [Night Veil]

He quickly focused his mind and maneuvered the raft to narrowly avoid the demon's attack.

We passed through the gaps between the demons who had lost their way and were beginning to wander aimlessly.

"Kuroshio?"

Shea's emerald green eyes widened, and her small mouth opened slightly.

"The next Kuroshio Current will emerge from the borderlands? Isn't that just a long-standing rumor?"

"It might not be a rumor anymore."

Elvia rubbed her head, her tone heavy.

"Although I can't be 100% sure, before each Black Tide occurs, the demons within the radiation range will exhibit this abnormal migration and rioting."

"The scope is extremely large, capable of affecting one percent of the entire continent."

"Just like the mass exodus from the borderlands ten years ago... the demonic activity here was also extremely abnormal back then."

In other words, the abnormal activity of demons does not necessarily mean that the Black Tide was born from them.

It could also be somewhere a thousand kilometers away.

This sign still hung over Elvia's mind like a shadow.

Because the borderlands are indeed one of the very few regions on the mainland that have never been completely swept away by the mainstream of the Black Tide.

With this heavy worry in mind, the raft continued to drift deeper into the Whispering Forest.

Along the way, they discovered more horrific traces left behind by the Kalan nobles during their retreat.

The elite guards' tattered armor and broken weapons were scattered everywhere.

Occasionally, you can see pieces of gorgeous clothing torn to shreds.

Also scattered around were many glittering coins and jewels!

This time it's different from the previous obvious trap.

It looks more like something hastily dropped during an escape or left behind by the deceased.

Shia's eyes lit up instantly, and she leaned forward, almost jumping off the raft to retrieve it.

Even Elvia was tempted.

The cost of living in the capital is extremely high.

She wanted to stay in a luxury hotel with velvet floors, drink wines worth a fortune, and book the entire opera house to enjoy a performance…

I don't want to follow that guy Lin Gui, who doesn't know how to enjoy life, to stay in a run-down hotel that only poor people go to!

Both women simultaneously turned their longing gazes toward Lin Gui.

Lin Gui frowned.

His magic power was greatly depleted, leaving him with only about a quarter of it.

The most urgent task is to find a safe place to recover, not to risk going down to pick up money.

There were quite a few demons in sight below.

A few heroes and demons are still lingering.

He wanted to refuse and was about to urge the raft to leave.

Shea and Elvia both came over at the same time.

Two distinct, faint body scents wafted into my nasal cavity.

Shia and Elvia peeked out from either side of his shoulders.

His face wore a rare, almost fawning smile.

Shea spoke first.

"Lin Gui! I just counted! There are definitely more than 50,000 gold coins near those dilapidated noble houses down there!"

Elvia coughed lightly, adopting a more rational stance.

"Once we arrive in the capital, there will be many places where money will be needed to bribe officials."

"For example, bribing the city defense officer to let our 'special goods' pass, making connections to obtain intelligence, and even hiring temporary staff... all of these require a lot of gold coins to pave the way."

She added to herself: Of course, enjoying life is even more important!

"Staying here is risky; I only have a quarter of my magic left."

Lin Gui tried to emphasize the current situation.

"Risk is reward! Take a gamble, and your wheelbarrow might turn into a horse-drawn carriage!"

Shea and Elvia exclaimed in unison.

After saying that, the two of them paused for a moment, glanced at each other, and then snorted unhappily and turned their heads away.

Lin Gui remained silent.

"Someone was urging me to leave just now, saying that the pile of gold coins was a trap and there was a risk..."

However, he only said it verbally and did not actually refuse.

He maneuvered the raft to slowly descend, urging, "Hurry up!"

The raft touched down silently.

Shea neatly tied her long silver hair into a ponytail and said to Elvia.

"I'll lure those demons away, you go and pick up the valuables."

"As a princess, you must have a sharp eye; you always pick the most valuable things!"

"Hmph~ That's natural!"

Elvia proudly raised her chin.

"Don't worry, I'll find everything that can fetch an astronomical price!"

"I wouldn't even bother bending down for junk worth less than a thousand gold coins!"

Xia smiled faintly: "I get six, you get four."

She had expected the haughty princess to immediately object and try to bargain.

Unexpectedly, Elvia only opened her mouth, then her eyes darted around, and she nodded with a smile.

"Can!"

Being able to team up with a transcendent ranger who is a whole rank higher than me is a huge win, 64.

Shea clicked her tongue, immediately realizing that her offer was too low.

But having already spoken, I was too lazy to argue anymore and put those thoughts aside.

With a "whoosh" sound!

Shea lightly touched the wooden box with her toes.

The figure darted out of the [Night Veil]'s coverage area like an arrow released from a bow!

Her speed exploded to its maximum in an instant.

Like a silver lightning bolt flashing through the forest, it instantly attracted the attention of all the surrounding demons!

Immediately afterwards, she drew the arrow, nocked it, and drew the bow! Her movements were as fluid as flowing water!

call out!call out!call out!

The three arrows were fired almost simultaneously.

It accurately hit the vital points of three demons from different directions, not fatally, but enough to enrage them!

Roars erupted, startling the nearby demons, even the few hero-level demons.

Its crimson eyes instantly locked onto the rapidly moving silver figure, and it pounced on it madly!

Shea, like an elegant yet deadly dancer, leaped and darted among the thick branches.

Every dodge was perfectly timed.

Each time he turned around to shoot an arrow, it inevitably provoked a group of demons to roar in anger.

That immense strength, astonishing speed, precise archery, and the ultimate beauty displayed amidst that danger.

Even Elvia on the raft was stunned for a moment.

A sense of admiration involuntarily arose in my heart.

Taking advantage of the moment when the demons were all distracted by Shia, Elvia dashed off the raft like a nimble cheetah.

But she did not rush towards the scattered, glittering coins.

Instead, his sharp gaze swept over the remains and artifacts.

gold?

Compared to those possible antiques, gems, magic scrolls, and precious treasures that can enhance one's strength, they are utterly insignificant!

She first rushed toward a corpse that was still tightly clutching a metal box inlaid with gemstones...