Chapter 128 Cheers to a New Adventure
Because their competitor turned out to be Gilbert and the first squad of the Green Horn Knights, Kayn automatically won the map of the Mountain Monkey's Lair for a price of 1,300 coins.
Although their bidding war was very fierce, thus driving the cost of the map quite high in only a matter of a few minutes, it was at the very least still below what Kayn had initially expected.
Kayn let out a sigh. "So your intention of buying the map was because you guys knew that if ever I was still alive I would definitely go to the Mountain Monkey's Lair?"
Gilbert nodded his head. "After we left the cave and returned to the Green Horn Village to inform Old Chief George that you are currently trapped in the Hanging Vines Cave, he immediately sent two squads of Green Horn Knights, our squad and Natasha's squad, to find you,"
"Regardless of how hard we look though, we didn't find any traces of you. But just as when we thought that you were dead, we soon found some of your footsteps that lead to a tunnel that goes to Hills Valley,"
"I instantly remembered the time you told me about your plan of visiting the Canyonside Town, Mountain Monkey's Lair, and two other locations before going to your final destination,"
"You visited Canyonside Town?"
"We actually stayed for three days in Canyonside Town. But because we didn't find you, we started journeying to the Mountain Monkey's Lair,"
That's to be expected since he stayed for a week in the Springwater Canyon with Jude's party.
"Along the way, we heard the news that there's a map of the Mountain Monkey's Lair going to be auctioned in the Sea Spring Village, that's why we came here to buy it,"
Kayn smiled. "Good thing you guys did,"
"Yeah," Friedrich nodded. "It seems like you've grown slightly stronger in the past few days we've left you,"
"I stayed with these guys," Kayn pointed at Jude and Charles by slightly moving his head. "There were initially six of us, but our party got ambushed when we made our way back to Canyonside town leading to two of our comrades getting killed and the other one revealing himself to be a traitor,"
"We escaped narrowly and soon found our way close to Sea Spring Village,"
"It seems like our effort wasn't in vain," Friedrich briefly chuckled.
Cedrick looks at Kayn with a relieved look on his face. "We're very glad to find out your still alive, Kayn,"
"Likewise,"
"Since we've already found you, it's time for you to go back to Green Horn Village. Old Chief George has been worried a lot when he learns that you are trapped in the Hanging Vines Cave," Roshan muttered.
"I am afraid I can't do that,"
Gilbert and the others narrowed their eyes in confusion.
"Is it because you want to go to the Mountain Monkey's Lair?"
"That's just one of the reasons," Kayn turns to look at Jude. "Can I tell them about it?"
"Since they're members of the Green Horn Knights, then I don't see any reason why we shouldn't inform them," Jude agreed. "They could definitely help us in achieving our goal,"
Moreover, the Green Horn Knights are famously known to be a group of people that aims to find a method to escape 'The Bridge'. So, allowing them to learn about the existence of the 'Keys' would definitely help a lot in completing their quest.
"If this was before, I would have definitely followed you back to Green Horn Village without any question. However, there's a bigger reason why I can't do that anymore," Kayn coughed before continuing. "At the present moment, me, Jude, and Charles have discovered the way to leave 'The Bridge',"
"Seriously?!" Gilbert exclaimed loudly.
"I can't explain it here for various different reasons, but if you are willing to follow me, I'll explain it once we arrive at our camp,"
"Alright," Friedrich nodded his head.
After paying for the cost of the map of the Mountain Monkey's Lair, Kayn and the others immediately left the Sea Spring Village and went to the nearby shore where they have set up a temporary camp.
Along the way, Friedrich meets up with Natasha's group who were acting as their eyes to give them early warnings in case something bad happened, albeit it was only Natasha and Jackson that revealed themselves while the other three choose to remain hidden in the dark.
Natasha and Jackson briefly made some conversation with Kayn before they continued on their way. Behind them were three other individuals that silently protects them in the dark.
…..
"Keys…" Friedrich now slightly understood why until now they still haven't been able to find a way out of 'The Bridge'. It turns out that they were only missing the 'Keys'. And right this instant, one of those keys is standing in front of him.
Friedrich and the others belonging to the Green Horn Knights turn their focus on Jude.
"You're the key to get us out of here," Gilbert stared solemnly at Jude.
"Roshan, from now on, you will focus on protecting Jude," Cedrick pats Roshan's back.
"I am already on it," Roshan moves closer to Jude.
He knows it feels weird, but Jude strangely feels secure and safe being by Roshan's side. It should be because the latter is huge and would definitely be dependable during danger.
"Wait," Kimberly immediately constructed a barrier to act as their protection.
Meanwhile, Natasha and Jackson swiftly meet up with the rest of their squadmates to inform them of the gravity of what Kayn had just told them about.
Soon, a series of rustling sounds was heard behind them. Evidently, Natasha and her squadmates have now positioned themselves to effectively give protection to Jude.
Kayn can't help hitting his face with his palm as he watches everything play out. "You guys are overreacting,"
"We're just making sure that nothing bad happens to Jude," Friedrich explains.
"Even if all of you combine together, you would still not be able to get through Jude's security measure,"
Hearing that, Friedrich and the others look at Charles and started observing the latter from head to toe.
Gilbert pointed at Charles and said, "I think I can defeat five of him,"
"Wow…" Charles slightly felt pain at Gilbert's blatant assessment of his strength.
"No offense, you just don't look strong enough to defeat one of the members of the Green Horn Knights," Gilbert waves his hand.
"I am not talking about Charles," Kayn shook his head. "I am talking about…"
Before Kayn could finish his line, an enormous shadow suddenly covered their surrounding.
As Friedrich and the others looked up, they were soon rendered shocked at seeing a huge turtle head looking at them.
"That's what I meant,"
"Monster…"
"That's right!"
"How?"
"A privilege of being one of the keys," That's the only explanation Kayn could think of to explain why a Guardian Turtle is protecting Jude other than the reason that Raphael is the latter's friend.
"You should have told us about it earlier,"
"I was about it, but you interrupted me,"
"My bad," Friedrich realized his mistake.
Knowing that a Guardian Turtle is protecting Jude, Friedrich immediately sent a signal to everyone to lower their guard. Not entirely, just minimize it to some degree.
"Back to the main topic," Friedrich turned serious while still occasionally glimpsing at the Guardian Turtle behind Jude. "Are you perhaps telling us that you want to look for the other keys so that we can finally leave 'The Bridge'?"
"That's half of the reason,"
"The other half should because you want to find the item you came to find in 'The Bridge'," Gilbert remembers what Kayn told him in the past.
"Yes," Kayn confirms.
"If it's okay to ask, what exactly is that item that you want that you rate as equally important as getting out of 'The Bridge'?" Gilbert felt very curious. In the past, he was only intrigued by Kayn's plan. But now he is dying to know about it.
"You'll find out about it in the future,"
"Damn you!" Gilbert walks away. He plans to calm himself because his curiosity is getting to his head.
Kayn didn't pay any more attention to Gilbert as he turns his focus to Friedrich again. "I have a proposition,"
Along the way, he has been thinking about something important after he unexpectedly got reunited with Gilbert and the others.
And just now, he finally came to a conclusion.
"What is it?"
"Are you and the other members of the Green Horn Knights interested in joining and coming with us to complete this quest?" Kayn asked.
A complete silence.
That was the response that Kayn received from Friedrich after he asked the question.
Needless to say, it wasn't that Friedrich isn't interested. It's just that the latter is now considering his proposition.
After a few minutes passed, Gilbert returned with a calm look on his face.
"What's with all of you being silent?"
"Be silent," Kayn made a signal with his hand.
"Is it important?" Gilbert silently whispers.
"Yes. I just asked Friedrich if he wants to come with us and complete this quest,"
"Huh?! Of course, we should!" Gilbert exclaimed in delight.
Friedrich stared furiously at Gilbert.
"What's with the hold-up? This is something we've been very much looking for all this time!"
Friedrich grimace. "I know. I was just building up some suspense,"
"You ruined it, idiot!" Cedric smacked Gilbert's head.
"At least pretend like you're not interested so that Kayn would get nervous," Roshan sighs.
"....." Kimberly stares at Friedrich, Cedric, and Roshan strangely like Gilbert. She seriously thought that they were considering deeply about it.
With a smile hanging on his face, Kayn raised his hand and muttered, "Cheers to a new adventure!"
"Cheers to a new adventure!" Everyone immediately followed suit.