Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

The situation is urgent, and the cruelty of the methods is no longer a concern. If it weren't for the urgent need to extract crucial information from this slave trader, given the Ministry of Public Security's past practices, even if they locked him in that gloomy little dark room and ignored him for three or four days, under endless fear and psychological pressure, he would probably confess everything.

The interrogation room was dimly lit, the atmosphere oppressive and suffocating. A patrolman, his gaze piercing, stared intently at the one-eyed man and spoke first: "You're the leader of this group of slave traders, aren't you?"

One-Eyed nodded slightly, his expression indifferent. There was nothing wrong with admitting it; in his view, it was simply the truth.

The patrolman sighed softly, a hint of helplessness on his face, and said, "I don't know how to persuade you to tell us the information we want. After all, ordinary persuasion is probably useless for someone as stubborn as you."

The one-eyed man's lips curled up, his eyes filled with smugness, as if he were showing off to the patrol officer: You think you can make me speak?

The patrol officer remained calm, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. He slowly said, "I'll give you four choices! Once you make one, we won't force you anymore."

"Choices? What choices?" One-Eyed was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt in his mind. There were actually four choices? Could it be a bribe? That was interesting, but he figured it would cost at least a dozen gold coins; otherwise, it was out of the question!

The patrolman held up one finger and said seriously, "The first option, of course, is for you to tell us everything you know, and we'll give you a chance for labor reform." Thinking of the labor reform described in the documents, it involved going to coal mines or iron mines, digging day and night in harsh conditions, with terms calculated in five, ten, twenty years... This was practically pushing people to the brink of despair.

Upon hearing this, One-Eyed immediately rejected the idea without hesitation: "No way! This kind of awful place, once you go there you won't be able to get out. I'm not falling for it!"

The patrolman nodded slightly, seemingly expecting him to say that, but his smile grew even colder as he said calmly, "The second option is to take a bamboo skewer and stick it into your fingernail, oh, and your toenail as well." As he spoke, he even made a skewering motion.

"Huh?" One-Eyed's eyes widened suddenly, staring intently at the other person. This choice sent a chill down his spine. He remembered when he was a child, doing farm work, accidentally getting a splinter stuck under his fingernail. The excruciating pain was still unforgettable, let alone having a bamboo skewer stuck in it.

The patrolman ignored his reaction and continued, "The third option is to use a wooden stick to shove it into your buttocks from behind until it comes out of your mouth." His tone was flat, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

"Of course, we will have a special way to prevent you from dying from this choice. However, the process will be even more painful than death itself."

Cold sweat broke out on his face instantly, and his breathing became rapid. This choice was clearly a choice that would make him wish he were dead. He cursed inwardly: These guys are devils!

The patrolman's tone grew increasingly somber, and he said ominously, "The fourth option requires a lot of skill. For this final option, we'll find a hunter to choose any part of your body—your hand, for example."

As he spoke, the patrolman leaned forward, his eyes widening, revealing a ferocious expression, and said, word by word, "Use a knife to cut off your flesh piece by piece, each slice as thin as a hair, and spend a whole day cutting your hand down to bone."

"No, no, I won't choose any of them!" One-Eyed struggled violently, his whole body arching backward as if to escape the terrifying threat. He was terrified. What kind of choices were these? Each one was more terrifying than the last, especially the last one. Was he supposed to watch helplessly as his arm was slowly sliced ​​into bone?

The patrolman's eyes sharpened, and he said coldly, "Impossible. You choose one right now, or the other three will come up one by one right now."

"Go and have someone prepare a massage for him, a 'massage' from the Ministry of Public Security!"

"No, no... I choose, I choose the first one, the first one! I'll tell you everything!" One-Eye completely broke down. He could no longer bear the immense psychological pressure and shouted frantically.

“No, you don’t have to tell me. I want to see what those criminal laws are like,” the patrolman said with great interest, as if he were looking forward to a wonderful performance.

"I'll talk, I'll tell you everything!" The one-eyed man stared at the patrolman who was about to take action, his eyes filled with fear and despair, and shouted frantically, "There are no more accomplices in Winterhold, I'll tell you everything!"

After being scared like that, One-Eyed started talking non-stop, answering whatever the patrolman asked, even revealing embarrassing stories like how he wet the bed a few times as a child.

The morning light streamed through the castle's towering arrow slits, gently bathing the carpet in Link's room and adding a touch of warmth to the tranquil space.

After enjoying a pleasant and hearty breakfast, Link patted his slightly bulging belly contentedly, already having made up his mind. Although the winter in Winterfell was long and cold, the vegetables growing in the greenhouses outside the city were thriving. He planned to inspect them, carefully observe their growth, and then estimate the harvest time based on the actual situation. After all, many merchants had gathered in Winterfell, and in this season of relative scarcity, fresh vegetables were a rare commodity; they would likely be willing to pay a high price for a delicious vegetable feast.

Link rested his chin on his hands, looked around, and asked the people in the room, "Who wants to go to the greenhouse outside the city with me?"

Luo Suli paused slightly, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "I... I have to handle official business, and then I have to go watch the boxing match!" As she spoke, a hint of anticipation appeared in her eyes. After all, she had placed a bet on the boxing match and was hoping to witness her chosen fighter win.

Dilva sighed helplessly and said, "I have to go to the Ministry of Public Security to help out. So many people were arrested last night, and we need to handle the follow-up matters quickly. Actually, I also wanted to watch the boxing match, but unfortunately I didn't have time." Her eyes were full of regret, clearly showing that she also longed for that exciting boxing match.

Asagi shrugged and explained, "I'm going to help Inessa at the steamed bun shop today. Lushe is off today, and she definitely won't be able to handle everything by herself. Otherwise, I would be happy to go with Link to check out the greenhouses outside the city."

As for Sakura Miyajima, she went to school early. The snow had stopped falling much these past two days, the roads were gradually becoming easier to travel on, and the students had all started attending classes normally.

After hearing this, Link smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay." Then, he turned his gaze to Luo Suli and said with concern, "Take guards with you when you go out, so nothing unexpected happens."

"Okay!" Luo Suli nodded vigorously. She planned in her mind that after finishing her official duties, she could go out to watch the boxing match and probably catch the last match of the morning. After watching the match, she would go to a steamed bun shop for lunch. She had planned everything perfectly.

Link glanced around at everyone again and reminded them once more, "Remember to keep warm when you go out, and bring guards with you all." Last night, Fiora had given him a detailed account of the one-eyed slave traders, and their arrogance and ruthlessness had left him with lingering fears. This also reminded him to be careful about the safety of his wives.

"it is good!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded one after another.

Link donned a thick military overcoat, its collar and cuffs trimmed with soft fur, looking both warm and imposing. He rose and walked out, his steps steady and powerful. Fiora, seeing this, immediately followed, her eyes resolute, as if to say, "I'm absolutely going, no matter where we go, I'll be by Link's side."

"Ta Tata..."

The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed as the carriage slowly emerged from the castle. Three guards, Hill, Rael, and Quill, mounted on horseback, stood guard closely around the carriage, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily, not missing a single suspicious corner. The carriage sped along the wide road towards the outskirts of the city.

Inside the carriage, a small charcoal stove burned brightly, radiating warmth. Smoke escaped through a small iron pipe, preventing the carriage from getting too cold. Fiora nestled lazily in Link's arms, softly saying, "Lord Link, the Public Security Bureau sent over the interrogation results early this morning. Would you like to see them?"

While gently kneading Fiora's breasts, Link casually asked, "Tell me what happened."

Fiora blushed slightly and said briefly and clearly, "Lord Link, these slave traders are from an organization called Blackthorn. They are just peripheral members. They've targeted Lushe this time because they want to capture her and enslave her, then put her up for auction."

Link raised an eyebrow and asked with interest, "The Blackthorn Organization? What's their background? Do you know this organization?"

Fiora's face immediately turned serious, and she said in a deep voice, "I've only heard about this organization by chance. It's a mysterious organization active in the kingdom, and I've heard they have a presence in other places as well. The Blackthorn Organization is very mysterious; they specialize in the slave trade. Beautiful women, strong men, elegant elves, and brave orcs are all their targets. They don't even look at ordinary slaves, and they wouldn't do that."

"Oh? It's a transnational human trafficking organization." Link was a little surprised. He sighed inwardly, realizing that no matter where you are, there are such highly profitable organizations. They will stop at nothing for profit.

“Lord Link, I’m worried about Dilva and the others…” Fiora’s blue eyes flashed with worry. She gripped Link’s sleeve tightly, her voice trembling slightly, and said, “I’m afraid this organization has its eyes on Dilva and the others. They’re so outstanding, what if…”

Link gently stroked Fiora's head, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes. He said firmly, "Don't worry, I'm here. No matter how mysterious or powerful the Blackthorn organization is, I won't let them harm you in the slightest."

"Mmm!" Fiora felt much more at ease after hearing Link's words. She snuggled closer to Link, squinting her eyes and savoring the tranquility and warmth of the moment. The carriage continued its journey, taking them towards the unknown greenhouses outside the city, and towards a future that might hold dangers, but as long as Link was by her side, Fiora felt incredibly safe.

The carriage slowly drove out of the city gate, its speed gradually decreasing. The roads outside the city were all dirt roads. Although they had been carefully widened and made smooth, the soft soil could not hide the difficulty of traveling. The wheels rolled over, occasionally raising clouds of dust that spread in the slightly chilly winter air.

Link slightly lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze drifting out the window. Along both sides of the road, civilians and orcs were diligently digging irrigation ditches, wielding hoes. These ditches had been planned in advance, to play a vital role in drainage when the rainy season arrived. Despite the biting winter wind, which felt like knives cutting into their faces, people were still willing to work. Of course, the higher pay compared to usual was one reason, but more importantly, they could enjoy a bowl of hot porridge during their work. In the cold winter, a bowl of hot porridge was enough to warm their bodies and minds, filling them with energy.

177. Thief

About half an hour later, the carriage finally arrived at the greenhouse. Special personnel were assigned to look after it; their main daily task was to clear the thick layer of snow accumulated on the greenhouse to prevent it from collapsing under the weight of the snow. They also had to add coal as needed to ensure the greenhouse maintained a suitable temperature, creating a favorable environment for the vegetables to grow.

"Lord City Lord, we've arrived!" Hill's booming voice came from outside the carriage.

With a soft click, the carriage door was slowly pushed open. Link, wearing a thick military overcoat, stepped out. Before him was a vast expanse of white, a cold wind howling past. He couldn't help but exhale a breath of warm air, the white mist instantly dissipating into the air. Then, he strode steadily toward one of the large sheds.

Looking at Fiora, she wasn't wearing a military overcoat, but rather a down jacket that Link had specially given her. She originally had a military overcoat, but she always kept her duty to protect Link firmly in mind. She felt the overcoat was too heavy and would somewhat limit her reaction speed; she even wanted to wear leather armor. Link couldn't persuade her otherwise, and in the end, he could only give her a lightweight yet warm down jacket. Sometimes, Fiora could indeed be quite stubborn, and Link had tried to persuade her not to risk so much to protect herself, but to little avail. However, Link also understood that this stubbornness was precisely one of Fiora's strengths; it represented loyalty and responsibility.

Arriving at the greenhouse, Link gently lifted the straw curtain on the door. Instantly, the biting cold was shut out, and a warm breeze rushed in. He breathed a sigh of relief, stretched, and then began to carefully examine the vegetables inside.

The greenhouses outside the city are grown in a completely different way than those inside the castle. Each greenhouse focuses on cultivating a few types of vegetables on a large scale. Stepping into the greenhouses, the first thing that catches the eye is vast fields of spice crops—garlic, chili peppers, scallions, and more—neatly arranged and thriving. There are also cabbages with thick, vibrant green leaves; cucumbers dominate several greenhouses, their vines climbing the supports and laden with tender green fruit. In addition, many flowers and plants are grown in the greenhouses, though most are still seedlings and will likely need another month or two to fully mature and bloom. Then, the raw materials for making perfume will be secured.

"They're growing well!" Link nodded in satisfaction, took a step forward, and carefully observed the vegetables while saying softly, "It seems some of them are ready to be harvested!" The seedlings he was referring to were some special vegetable seeds he had won in a lottery. Some of them had extremely short growth cycles, like bok choy, which could be harvested in about a month.

Fiora blinked her bright eyes and quietly followed behind Link. She had already visited the greenhouses in the castle and tasted the freshly picked cucumbers there, so seeing these vegetables now didn't surprise her much. However, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. She had previously doubted that vegetables could possibly be grown in winter, but now, these greenhouses were lush and green, and the vegetables were growing well—it was simply a miracle.

“Perfect timing to pick some!” Link said, turning his head to look around, but not seeing the person in charge of the greenhouse, he frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, “Where is the person in charge here?”

"Rayle, go and find him for me." Link's expression turned serious. The vegetables in the greenhouse were carefully cultivated, and they could all be ruined if he wasn't careful. He had to take it seriously.

"Yes!" Rael replied and immediately stepped out of the greenhouse.

Not long after, the steward was summoned. With a mournful face, he ran up to Link and, before he could even stand properly, knelt down with a thud, crying out, "Lord City Lord, the vegetables have been stolen!"

"The vegetables were stolen? What happened?" Link frowned, his face instantly turning grim. He hadn't expected to hear such unpleasant news as soon as he arrived.

"Lord City Lord, it's like this..." The steward began to recount his story tremblingly, his voice filled with tension and fear. How could he not be nervous? These greenhouses were growing vegetables that only came in winter; in his eyes, this was nothing short of a miracle. But now the vegetables had been stolen, and he really didn't know how to explain it to the City Lord.

It turned out that just last night, the night, like a huge black curtain, heavily shrouded this land. As usual, the foreman went to the greenhouse where cucumbers were grown to add coal to ensure that the temperature inside was suitable for the cucumbers' growth. When he entered the greenhouse, the scene before him, illuminated by the dim light, shocked him: many cucumber vines had been broken off, and the vines that had once neatly climbed the wooden frame were now scattered haphazardly on the ground; many of the cucumbers that hadn't grown very large had also been picked, leaving only a few crooked and incomplete ones hanging on the vines.

"Oh?" Link raised an eyebrow upon hearing the manager's report, which surprised him greatly.

It's worth noting that a team of more than ten soldiers is stationed at the greenhouse, patrolling day and night in shifts, maintaining a high level of vigilance. That vegetables could still be stolen under such tight security suggests the thief was quite skilled and certainly no ordinary person.

"Come on, take me to see this." Link ordered decisively with a serious expression.

"Yes!" Upon hearing the order, the steward immediately got up, not bothering to brush the dust off his clothes, and hurriedly led the way.

The greenhouses were arranged in a nine-square grid pattern, with a staggered and orderly layout. The cucumber greenhouse that was stolen happened to be located in the outermost corner, in a relatively remote location, which may have provided the thieves with an opportunity.

The group hurried into the cucumber greenhouse, only to be met with a scene of utter devastation. Wooden frames had been hacked down with sharp tools, lying scattered haphazardly on the ground; cucumber vines were strewn everywhere. The once vibrant greenhouse was now a scene of utter ruin. This caused Link to frown deeply, his eyes revealing a hint of displeasure and confusion.

“Lord Link, this thief is very skilled.” Fiora squatted on the ground, intently observing the marks on the ground. She looked at the faint footprints; they were steady and evenly spaced, indicating that the thief knew what he was doing and wasn't afraid of being discovered. Moreover, judging from the cut marks on the wooden frame, it was severed by a longsword, the strike swift and decisive. She looked up and truthfully stated her findings and judgment.

"How do you think their strength compares to yours?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow. He had great faith in Fiora's analytical abilities.

"It's hard to say!" Fiora shook her head slightly. Based on the traces she had seen so far, she could only roughly estimate the opponent's skill level. But if they actually fought, the situation would be much more complicated. Factors such as the quality of weapons and whether the opponent was tired would greatly affect the comparison of strength, so it was difficult to give a definite answer.

"Interesting, they've actually come to steal my vegetables." Link sneered, a cold glint in his eyes. He went to the cucumber vines and examined them carefully, finding that most of the main vine was still intact. He then turned to the steward and instructed, "These half-trunked cucumber vines will branch out and grow new vines in a while. Quickly arrange for someone to rebuild this wooden frame; don't delay the cucumbers' growth."

"Yes!" The steward replied immediately upon hearing Link's order, his heart finally settling down. He had been worried about being severely punished for the theft of the greenhouse, but now it seemed that the city lord was quite understanding.

Link then inspected the greenhouses again, not overlooking any details and promptly correcting any mistakes. Afterward, he led everyone to the military camp in the east of the city.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..." The carriage wheels rolled rhythmically. Link leaned against the carriage wall, his eyes slightly closed, pondering. Had this cucumber thief stumbled in by chance, or had someone inside leaked the information? The consequences of these two scenarios would be drastically different.

If it's the former, Link will only temporarily lose some cucumbers; as long as he catches the thieves, the problem will be solved. But if it's the latter, that would be troublesome. An internal leak means that outsiders know the situation in the greenhouse, which could cause a series of problems and even affect the security of the entire territory.

"Lord Link, are you going to send people over to guard him?" Fiora came up behind Link, her slender fingers gently pressing on Link's forehead, trying to help him relieve the fatigue from thinking.

“Hmm! Based on your analysis, the thief should come back.” Link opened his eyes, his gaze resolute. He felt the former was more likely; after all, the civilians Hannah had assigned to watch over the greenhouses must have been carefully investigated, and their loyalty and reliability were guaranteed. Moreover, the civilians at this stage were still relatively simple and honest, unlikely to do something like leaking secrets.

Link secretly resolved to confront this vegetable thief. He'd actually dared to steal from his land, and not only had he eaten the vegetables, but he'd also torn the vines apart! Wasn't this a classic case of eating the food and then smashing the pot? He wouldn't swallow this insult.

A dozen kilometers away from Link's territory, there is a small hilly area. These hills, each a dozen meters high, are the kind with many rocks, their surfaces rugged and uneven, covered with jagged stones.

In the middle of a hill, several huge rocks were stacked together, forming a narrow crevice. This crevice served as a natural refuge, where an orc named Avery was hiding. She was small and thin, with disheveled fur, and her eyes revealed a hint of weariness and hunger.

"Crunch, crunch..." Ivy Lee pinched a frozen cucumber, grinding her teeth against it with difficulty. The freezing weather was like a giant icebox; in no time, many things would freeze solid, especially things with high water content.

178. Arrest

"Phew..." Ivy sighed, took a big bite of cucumber, and the cold cucumber made her gums hurt a little.

"Forget it, I'm not eating it. This cucumber is frozen solid; it's like chewing on a rock. I'll just pick some more tonight." Avery looked disgusted and tossed the cucumber aside. It arced through the air before crashing heavily to the ground. She smacked her lips, somewhat missing the crisp, refreshing "crunch" of the cucumber she'd just picked last night, the juice bursting in her mouth.

Avery went out to find food yesterday. In the desolate winter wilderness, braving the biting wind, she searched everywhere for anything edible. As she walked, she discovered strange houses, their shape and materials unlike anything she had ever seen before. She cautiously hid inside for a while, straining her ears to hear the people inside speaking strange words like "greenhouse" and "patrol," which she couldn't understand at all. Finally, she seized an opportunity and picked some cucumbers.

"Cucumber? That name is quite fitting. It's amazing that vegetables can grow in that strange house." Avery muttered to herself, tugging at her tattered and patched animal skin coat. The coat offered little warmth in the cold wind, making her shiver.

She was waiting for nightfall; she planned to go again that evening. The cucumbers were to her liking—sweet and juicy, much better than those bitter weeds. However, she would be careful this time; the other party would definitely be on guard. After all, a house where vegetables could be grown had been visited by this uninvited guest—it would be difficult not to be more cautious.

"By the way, it seems like we're not far from Winterfell. Should we go in?" Avery pondered, her fingers unconsciously tapping her chin. Winterfell—that's human territory, a legendary place that's both prosperous and dangerous. Going in might lead to more food, but it could also mean encountering danger; not going in, however, is just too unbearable to endure in the wilderness.

As dusk began to fall, Avery emerged from the crevice in the rocks. The biting wind lashed her face like a knife; she pulled her animal-skin coat tighter around her and trudged towards the strange house. If she could, she decided to spend the night in that warm dwelling. Last night, she had spent the night outside without a fire and had nearly frozen to death. That night, she had huddled beside the cold rocks, her teeth chattering, every second an unbearable ordeal.

"I really want to eat meat!" Ivy rubbed her empty stomach and made a rumbling sound. Last night, she had eaten about twenty cucumbers to barely regain some strength. But cucumbers are nothing compared to meat. The tender, juicy meat, with its mouth-watering aroma after just one bite, made her mouth water just thinking about it.

"I'll leave tomorrow!" Avery made up her mind. She planned to spend the night in that warm house to regain some strength, then go hunting and roasting meat before leaving this awful place immediately.

Half an hour later, Ivy approached the spot where she had picked cucumbers the day before. She crouched low, hiding behind a large rock, and after observing for a while, she discovered that, just as she had imagined, there were indeed more than a dozen extra patrols tonight, all of them knights in armor. The knights stood tall and straight, holding long lances, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

To Avili, growing vegetables while it snows in winter is a miracle, no matter where it is. In her orc kingdom, winter brings a blanket of ice and snow, with everything withered and devoid of green. If such a miracle had existed in the orc kingdom back then, no one would have had to leave their homes and wander aimlessly.

"Hoo..." Avery let out a long breath, her eyes narrowed, turning into dead fish eyes. Her whole body was relaxed but she remained highly alert to maintain her agile reactions. She was about to begin her stealthy infiltration, like a cunning fox, silently approaching her target.

It took her more than ten minutes to skillfully evade the patrolling knights, using her years of honed infiltration techniques. Sometimes hiding in the shadows, sometimes using the surrounding debris as cover, she inadvertently approached the inner perimeter. Once inside, she wondered if it was just her imagination, but the patrolling knights seemed rather lazy. Some walked slowly, others whispered among themselves; there was no sense of tension whatsoever.

“True, who wants to patrol in the dead of winter?” Ivy shook her head, secretly pleased. She hid in the shadows, like a nimble cheetah, and crept towards another house, where there were cucumbers to eat.

Avery cautiously lifted the straw curtain slightly and peeked inside out of the corner of her eye. No one was there. Good. Overjoyed, she quickly slipped inside.

"So warm!" Avery shivered as soon as she entered, her whole body feeling warm, as if she were in hot water, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The warmth of the house contrasted sharply with the icy snow outside, and she felt as if she had come from hell to heaven.

Soon, Evelyn snapped out of her daze, her orange eyes scanning her surroundings like searchlights. The house was similar to the one she had visited yesterday, with wooden shelves inside covered in cucumber vines.

"I need to fill my stomach first!" Avery licked her lips, but her stomach growled again. She looked towards the back of the house, where a corner, hidden by some clutter, would be her place to spend the night. She planned to force her way out the next morning, no matter what dangers lay ahead, she had to leave this hellhole and find some meat.

"Crunch!" Ivy broke off a cucumber and popped it into her mouth, chewing it heartily. "Delicious, crisp, and refreshing." She squinted her eyes in satisfaction. She had never seen or even heard of this type of cucumber before.

In fact, she didn't recognize any of the vegetables in these houses. If they were wild animals, she might recognize them all. Having grown up in the wild, she knew the habits and appearances of various wild animals intimately. But these vegetables were like mysterious enigmas, leaving her completely baffled.

Avery frowned; she suddenly sensed something was wrong, a strange feeling of crisis welling up inside her. She tossed her orange hair, her sharp orange eyes scanning the surroundings, not missing a single corner.

"Nobody's here? Or is it just my imagination?" Evely muttered, a sense of unease creeping into her heart. She felt as if a pair of eyes were watching her, their gazes scrutinizing and wary, making her extremely uncomfortable.

"Something's not right!" Alarm bells rang in Avery's mind, and a strong sense of unease surged into her heart.

With a crisp clang of metal being drawn from its sheath, Avery abruptly drew her greatsword. The blade gleamed coldly, tracing a sharp arc in the dimly lit shed. Her orange eyes instantly sharpened, burning like flames, radiating an unwavering determination. Years of adventure had instilled in her the conviction that her intuition was never wrong; there were definitely others lurking in this seemingly empty house.

"Bang bang bang..." The next second, it was as if the earth was roaring in anger, and a pile of dirt was suddenly thrown up from the ground without warning. Immediately afterwards, seven or eight people suddenly emerged like ghosts. Hill, who was in the lead, reacted extremely quickly. In a flash, the long spear in his hand was aimed at the thieves in front of him like a viper's tongue. The tip of the spear flashed with a cold light and exuded a chilling aura.

Rael was not to be outdone. His sword flashed from its sheath like lightning, the blade aimed directly at the thief. His eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation. After waiting so long, the thief who had caused them so much trouble had finally appeared.

They were all amazed by Link's accurate calculations. They had originally thought the thief would go to the original cucumber greenhouse, but they never expected that she would actually come to this greenhouse.

Avery was completely stunned, her mind blank. How did these people suddenly appear? Had they been lying in ambush in this dark corner, like a group of hunters patiently waiting for their prey to take the bait?

"Surrender now, don't even think about escaping!" Hill said coldly, his voice like an icy blade in winter, cold and resolute.

"Then we'll see what you're capable of!" Ivy narrowed her eyes, her orange pupils sharp as blades about to be drawn. At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind: she had to fight her way out, even if the hope was slim, she couldn't just sit and wait to die.

"Whoosh!" Just as Avery was about to act, a steel crossbow bolt shot out like a black lightning bolt, flying past Avery's ear. The sharp sound of it cutting through the air made her eyes widen in shock. How could this be? With her reaction speed, how could she have been completely unaware of this sudden attack?

"Don't move if you don't want to die," Rael said sternly, his voice echoing like thunder throughout the greenhouse. "If you move, you'll be turned into a hedgehog!"

Avery looked around in a panic with her orange eyes and found that there were five or six other people around her. They were like assassins hidden in the darkness, each holding a crossbow. The crossbow bolts gleamed coldly in the dim light, as if announcing the threat of death to her.