Treasure-hunting: Into the Unknown

"Could it be...?" Zachary's face darkened with realization and he quickly turned around.

"What is it? Zachary, what's wrong?" Elva's tone was one of concern when she saw such a swift change in Zachary's expression.

"I just...I think I have a stomach ache. I have to go. I'll be right back. Elva, go ahead without me!" And without another word, Zachary simply fled, disappearing from Elva's sight.

"Again? He's always like this!" Elva grumbled, glaring coldly at Zachary before she walked off on her own.

Away at the other end of the area, Zachary was striding with a purpose, using his Shadow Pace. There was a cold, dark expression on his face as his eyes scanned for suspicious tracks. He was certain that it was the black figure that had stolen his Treasure-hunting Compass.

"That thief seems to have a strange scent. Some kind of fragrance..." Cocking an eyebrow, Zachary released the power of his treasure hunting expertise: the Dog Soul Ring. With it, his sense of smell heightened substantially, at least several times higher in mere seconds. Through this ability, he could track a scent within a hundred meters around him.

"Who the fuck is that?! Who's shitting around here?" As soon as his smelling ability rose, however, Zachary whiffed up a truly disgusting scent, putrid enough to nearly make him puke up his breakfast.

Acting swiftly, Zachary blocked the other, horrific smell and instead focused his skill on seeking out the strange fragrant smell. As he strode through the forest, he spotted a small collection of small buildings before him. The thinnest thread of the fragrance was wafting out from between two of those buildings. This was definitely the right track.

"You'd better be ready to get beaten to a pulp, you fucking thief! Once I catch you, I'll strip you naked and pummel the living daylights out of you!" Zachary snarled loudly as he rushed straight into the alley where that scent was coming.

At the other end of the alley, a slim, petite figure stood, turning the strange thing over in her hands.

"What the hell is this thing? I figured it might be some kind of treasure, but it's so strange that I've no idea what this is..." The black shadow seemed confused as she turned the thing over and over again. Her skimming fingers touched it in curiosity. Then she was just about to press that strange, raised button on the thing...

And right in the next instant, there was a rapid movement.

An angry figure materialized before that shadowy figure and snatched her wrist.

Realizing Zachary was on her, she flipped through the air and then swooped down at him

was almost as though he found it unimportant. In short, he wasn't taking this pill seriously at all.

"Alright, you had your look. Give my thing back." Zachary crossed his arms over his chest expectantly.

After that, Rita Ji tossed the Treasure-hunting Compass back at Zachary.

"It looks like you're for real after all. So what's this test you've got for me?" Rita Ji asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Come with me, and I'll show you." Zachary turned heel and walked off.

Rita Ji followed after him, curious.

Together, they walked to the road that led into the Freshmen Zone, where there were already quite a few new disciples milling around, both male and female.

"Okay, this is your test: I want you to steal ten brassieres for me," Zachary smirked.

"Oh my god, you're a degenerate! A psychopath!" Rita Ji gasped, completely appalled.

"Hey, you are the one who wants to join my team. If you want to be part of the squad, you've got to be a little bit of a freak." Zachary laughed out loud at the scandalized expression on Rita Ji's face. He set out the condition on purpose, with every intention to dissuade her from joining his team.

"I'm not saying it's too difficult, you complete moron. But it's morally reprehensible and I'm not indulging your sick needs!" Rita Ji snapped angrily at him, unable to believe what Zachary was saying.

"Well then you can't be part of our team! I bet you can't even do it!" Zachary shot back deliberately.

"Oh yeah?! Oh yeah, you freak, watch this!" With a snarl, Rita Ji sped right up. In the twinkling of an eye, she was gone.

"Oh. Well...her movement skill is a little impressive." Zachary blinked and nodded.

And in under half an hour, Rita Ji was back in front of him.