Chapter 171: Hunting for the Forest Spirit Seed Part 10
It was around midnight that Friedrich and the others finally returned back to camp. Looking at their state, it's quite obvious just how serious they were with their job of looking for the Forest Spirit Seed.
"Gnarlak already prepared a bath for everyone inside those huts," Kayn kindly informs everyone.
In an instant, Chastine, Natasha, and Kimberly quickly rushed inside the huts. They didn't even bother picking the hut that they like as they simply got inside the closest to them.
Well, women will always do what women need to do.
"We'll have a meeting later to discuss today's progress of each team after we finish taking a bath as well," Friedrich bid farewell along with the men of the two groups.
"I guess we better prepare the place where we will hold the meeting. As if that would even be necessary considering that only our team's report is going to be necessary," Kayn felt helpless.
Gnarlak suddenly interrupted. "We've already built a room to hold meetings,"
"You just make my day better and better, you know that," Kayn really likes the way Gnarlak has been acting today.
"It's the least we can do,"
"Lead the way. And tell your men to fetch the others once they are done,"
"Alright,"
….
"So, you've found the likely location of the Forest Spirit Seed, the only problem is it's located inside an underwater cave system?" Friedrich wanted to clarify first.
"That's right," Jude confirmed.
"I didn't expect that we'd be able to make this much progress in just a single day," Friedrich truly didn't anticipate such an outcome from less than a day of searching. Even their group who nearly completed the search at the east side of the Slumbering Forest didn't make such progress. Not to mention Chastine's group that possessed two of the finest assassins in 'The Bridge'.
"Everything was all thanks to the Thieves Guild Alliance," Gilbert chuckled. "We got the clue from them after searching all their valuables,"
"No wonder," Natasha interrupted. One of the best organizations for information gathering could indeed provide such helpful clues. "But did you just say searching for their valuables? Does that mean that you stole from them?"
"We stole, they stole, why does that matter? It's not really a big deal if one steals from a group of thieves, right?"
"Gilbert, you're wrong," Jackson shook his head. "It is not a problem to steal from thieves. But your victims aren't just ordinary thieves,"
"If the Thieves Guild Alliance were able to find traces of the Forest Spirit Seed which helped you find its likely location, then they will definitely be able to track us as well," Natasha expressed.
Jackson added. "You might have gotten us some useful information, but you've also brought us a troublesome foe along with it,"
"I already expected that," Kayn interjected. "We have no choice. It's the cost if we want to quickly find the Forest Spirit Seed. And as if it would even be possible to negotiate with them, right?"
If they really did that, they would also only end up with the same outcome. After all, buying information related to the Forest Spirit Seed only implies that they are looking for it. In that case, what is stopping the Thieves Guild Alliance from following them in order to try to steal from them once they find the said item?
"Indeed," Friedrich shares the same thought as Kayn. "Let's set that aside for now. So, what's your plan?"
"Tomorrow, all of us will go to that place and build a camp. The camp is just a cover for the real operation that we will be doing underground," Kayn explains his plan.
"So, we will pretend that we are camping in that place in order to not raise any suspicion and to also prevent attracting other people who are also looking for the Forest Spirit Seed?" Friedrich stroke his chin in deep thought. "Since we are putting ourselves out in the open, then how do you plan to solve the problem with the Thieves Guild Alliance?"
"That's the time we negotiate," Kayn smiles.
"I see," Friedrich immediately understood.
…..
"So, this is the place?" Friedrich looks around their surroundings. "I was thinking of an area where there would be somewhere that we can use as cover nearby. Didn't think that it would entirely be open,"
"Indeed, this would be difficult to defend when something bad happens," Chastine agrees.
"We can still construct some structures around this area for defense," Jude suggested. "It might not be practical, but it will make do for the situation at hand,"
"I guess it can't be helped," Chastine turned around and approached Kimberly and Cyril to discuss the construction of their defense.
Jude also follows along to help.
"Is it there?" Friedrich pointed while looking at Kayn.
"Yes," Kayn nodded. "We just have to dig the ground a bit and we will see the underwater cave. We've already constructed a net made out of vines behind the ground in hopes of making it easier to build the entrance,"
"Okay! Let's finish the construction of the camp first before we begin with the operation," Friedrich decided.
"I thought the same,"
However, before Kayn and Friedrich could leave to help the others in the construction of their camp, a ground of people suddenly arrived.
Without needing to ask, Kayn already knew who they were. Thought it was also because he saw once again the man that they have stripped naked and thrown into a cell.
"I didn't expect to meet you again this soon," Kayn looks at the man.
"How dare you show your face here again!" The man exclaimed full of hate at Kayn.
"I guess I wasn't informed that the Slumbering Forest is the property of the Thieves Guild Alliance now," Gilbert stepped forward.
"No wonder you are familiar. You are that traitor who left the organization," The man pointed at Gilbert.
"Jadiel, you can stop talking now,"
A scholarly-looking map motioned his hand, which instantly shut the man whose name is Jadiel.