A moment later, the girl's uncertain voice breaks the silence.

  "The backpack contained blazing stones and poison. When the bullet hit the blazing stone, it ignited, causing the poison to vaporize and kill Sam."

  "He used disappearing footprints to circle behind Sam."

  "He left taunts to provoke Sam."

  "He built a snowman to give Sam something to vent his anger on."

  "While Sam was distracted, he attacked from behind."

  "No, even the location of the snowman and the taunts was strategic."

  "That spot was flat, with the only suitable hiding place right below the backpack."

  "The backpack's placement was something he planned in advance."

  As she finishes, she looks at the screen showing Aaron unconscious on the ground, feeling a chill run through her.

  She had witnessed Aaron standing in the snow, surveying the scene for five or six minutes before devising this entire plan.

  Throughout it all, Aaron's expression remained steady, showing little emotion.

  His heart is like stone, and his intellect is almost supernatural, she thinks, summing it up with these words.

  "Could it really be this terrifying? Are we sure it wasn't just a coincidence?" a hunter group leader asks stiffly.

  "No, it was definitely not a coincidence. It was all calculated. If he had been off by a step, it would have been him lying dead," the girl replies, shaking her head, recalling each of Aaron's deliberate actions.

  It's terrifying.

  Seeing her defend Aaron, Alex, feeling a bit resentful, says, "In the end, it's the poison that was powerful."

  The girl doesn't even glance at Alex. To her, he looks like someone with a short future.

  No one else responds to his comment either.

  While the poison was indeed potent, Aaron's cunning was far more impressive.

  Everyone knows that Alex has a fondness for this well-connected girl.

  It's only natural for a young man to feel a bit jealous when the girl he likes praises another.

  None of them consider that the potion could have been Aaron's creation.

  In their eyes, Master Scott coming to Aaron's aid suggests a connection. With such a connection, having a few potions would be expected.

  ……

  Aaron struggles to open his heavy eyelids.

  The first thing he sees are two light strips mounted on a pink car roof, emitting a soft beige glow.

  The milky scent of the blankets tells him he's been rescued and is now in a woman's room.

  Cautiously, Aaron surveys his surroundings.

  Judging by the interior, he seems to be in a moving RV, the engine's hum faintly audible.

  Whether it's due to the vehicle's excellent suspension or the driver's skill, Aaron feels little of the usual jostling one would expect on a wilderness road.

  It's a far cry from his own driving, which often felt more like being on a boat.

  Nearby, a girl rests her chin on her hand, leaning over a table. A tiny droplet of drool hangs precariously from the corner of her mouth.

  Aaron struggles to sit up, the pain in his body causing his mouth to twitch involuntarily.

  He lifts the blanket to inspect his injuries. His clothes have been changed, leaving him in just his undershorts to preserve his modesty.

  His shoulder is swollen, and his left leg bears large patches of frostbite.

  His calf has been treated with herbs and bandaged, the slight sting of the herbs felt even through the wrapping.

  The swelling in his shoulder also seems to have been tended to, and the soreness is much less than it was in the snowy forest.

  As Aaron stirs, making a sound, the girl groggily opens her eyes and instinctively wipes away the drool.

  Seeing Aaron looking at her calmly, a blush quickly spreads across her fair cheeks, a hint of embarrassment in her demeanor.

  "You're awake?" she says, trying to change the subject as if nothing happened.

  "Yes, thank you for rescuing me. Where are you headed?" Aaron replies.

  "It wasn't me who saved you. It was on Master Scott's orders. We're on our way to Bert City and should arrive in three days."

  "Master Scott? Who is Master Scott?"

  "You don't know Master Scott?" the girl asks, surprised.

  "No, I don't," Aaron shakes his head. He only knows Master Rhine, who is no longer alive, having buried him himself.

  "That's odd. It was Master Scott had us change our route to your camp, and it was on his orders that we searched the snowy forest where you were unconscious. I thought you knew him."

  "Is Master Scott a pharmacist?"

  "Yes! A very skilled pharmacist! The Silver Fox Hunter Group outside took on a mission from the Hunter Union to protect Master Scott."

  Hearing the girl's words, Aaron falls into deep thought.

  A highly skilled pharmacist—what could he possibly have that warrants the rescue by such a master of potions?

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  And how did they know he was in the forest?

  The only ones aware of his whereabouts were Twist and Ethan's group.

  First, he rules out Twist.

  In Twist's social circle, the most impressive person he knows is likely Aaron himself.

  That leaves Ethan and his group.

  Although Ethan is nominally part of the consortium, his presence in the wilderness suggests other motives.

  Aaron recalls how Sam kept probing him, trying to uncover his background with ill intent—likely aiming to kill him.

  By the way, during their confrontation, Aaron remembers hearing noises from Sam's convoy, like someone banging against a carriage.

  It's highly probable they had kidnapped someone, a person of significant status within the consortium, which is why they wanted to eliminate any witnesses.

  When Ethan noticed Sam's prolonged absence, he likely informed their trading partner about the situation. Master Scott must be connected to that “trading partner”, wanted to investigate why Sam hadn't returned.

  Following this line of reasoning explains why Master Scott would redirect his search to find Aaron.

  But if that's the case, wouldn't Master Scott want to eliminate Aaron to cover their tracks?

  Why rescue him instead?

  The Silver Fox Hunter Group's mission is to protect Master Scott, and if he wished to kill a lone boy in the wilderness, they likely wouldn't object.

  After all, the wilderness operates outside the realm of law.

  Aaron feels he's onto something but can't quite make the logic fit.

  Seeing Aaron deep in thought, the girl looks at him with curiosity.

  Unbeknownst to Aaron, his actions in killing Sam had been witnessed by the girl.

  In fact, nearly the entire Silver Fox Hunter Group, along with Master Scott and others, had watched as Aaron chose his position, built a snowman, scribbled insults to provoke Sam, tossed his backpack aside, and then hid in the snow.

  Finally, the boy had used a blazing stone to ignite poison powder, killing a Vitality State Force Adept, leaving the onlookers astonished.

  A rumble from Aaron's stomach breaks the silence.

  The girl giggles, dimples appearing on her cheeks. She glances at her wristwatch, her eyes narrowing into crescents as she says, "You must be starving after being unconscious for a day and a night! It's almost seven, and the convoy will soon stop to set up camp. There are some clothes over there; you can change and come down to eat something."

  "Oh, by the way, my name is Ava. What's yours?"

  "Twist," Aaron replies.

  ……

  Night falls as the convoy slowly comes to a stop, setting up camp in a flat, open area.

  The Silver Fox Hunter Group numbers around sixty, with their most powerful member, Landon, being an Awakening State Force Adept, and over twenty others at the Vitality State.

  They are renowned across the thousands of kilometers of wilderness near Bert City and rank highly within the city's Hunter Union.

  This seasoned group operates with clear divisions of labor: some set up camp, others cook, while others stand guard and patrol. And, of course, some simply wait for dinner.

  Of course, Aaron is currently among those waiting for a meal.

  Ideally, he should thank Master Scott and perhaps seize the opportunity to gain his favor.

  However, Aaron is unsure of Master Scott's true intentions. He believes that such good fortune, like a pie falling from the sky, would never land on him.

  He's skeptical of anyone being so altruistic.

  Aaron wants to escape, but the Silver Fox Hunter Group's vigilant security quashes any such thoughts before they can take root.

  Besides, with so many force adepts, capturing him would be as easy as catching an ant.

  "Aren't you going to thank Master Scott for saving your life?" Ava asks, turning the spit as the roasting meat sizzles, dripping onto the fire below. The campfire's light dances across her flawless face.

  "I'll go after dinner," Aaron replies casually. "In my current state, I might end up being impolite."

  In truth, Aaron hasn't figured out what to say yet.

  From his observations, the entire camp revolves around Master Scott.

  A dozen force adepts, each as formidable as Sam, guard Master Scott closely, with heavy weaponry strategically placed around him.

  If Aaron missteps, his life could end in an instant.

  Besides Master Scott, Ava also seems to have an impressive background.

  The convoy boasts only two RVs—one belonging to Master Scott and the other to Ava. Her background is a mystery to Aaron.

  During his unconscious state, he had rested in her RV simply because there were only two available, which must have been a discomfort for her.

  "The meat's ready. Give it a try," Ava says, placing the roasted meat on a nearby table and gesturing for Aaron to eat.

  He glances at the slightly charred snow rabbit meat and replies, "No, thanks. I appreciate it, but I'm not really hungry."

  Despite his words, his stomach growls audibly.

  With amusement in her eyes, Ava insists, "Go on, eat. Don't be stubborn; it won't kill you."

  Aaron looks around and notices the other hunters have already finished their meals, leaving him no choice but to accept.

  Resigned, he picks up the meat and takes a bite, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

  "How is it?" Ava asks expectantly.

  "Not bad. It may look bad, but it tastes pretty good," Aaron admits.

  "Then have some more," Ava encourages.

  Then Aaron falls silent, while Ava lets out a few cold laughs.

  Ungrateful fool, she thinks, how dare you think the food I bake tastes bad.

  Neither of them speaks further.

  Aaron, cautious in this unfamiliar environment, chooses to say little to avoid revealing too much about himself.

  Meanwhile, Ava, though curious about Aaron, remains silent out of a mix of youthful pride and irritation.

  Half an hour later, Aaron makes his way through layers of guards and appears inside Master Scott's tent.

  Unlike the simple tents, Master Scott's dwelling is more accurately described as a yurt. It's oval-shaped, supported by a framework, with a rainproof outer layer and an insulated interior.

  The space inside is quite large, with a stove featuring a chimney standing in the middle.

  Master Scott sits at a table, reading, with no one else present.

  "Master Scott, Twist is here to express his gratitude," Ava announces as she brings Aaron in.

  "Hmm?" Master Scott places his book face down on the table, casting a curious glance at Aaron.

  As soon as Aaron enters the yurt, his face is filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Master Scott, for rescuing me from the clutches of the bandits."

  Master Scott is momentarily taken aback but remains composed. "Bandits?"

  "Yes! Yesterday, I was in the snowy forest hunting a snow wolf for a meal when I was ambushed by a bandit. I had no choice but to flee for my life, eventually collapsing in the snow. Fortunately, you give me a help, or I wouldn't have escaped the bandit's grasp," Aaron explains.

  His face covers a canvas of emotions—from indignation and innocence when mentioning the bandit, to fear when recalling his collapse, and finally, deep gratitude for Master Scott's intervention.

  Both Master Scott and Ava watch Aaron's emotive performance with perplexed expressions.

  On the screen, he...

  This isn't the same kid!

  Where did the calculating, ruthless young man go?

  "Are you sure he was a bandit?" Master Scott inquires.

  "Definitely a bandit. I had never met him before, and we were strangers. We crossed paths in the snowy forest, and he attacked me with lethal intent. He must have been after my belongings," Aaron asserts.

  "He's dead," Master Scott states.

  "What? Really?" Aaron feigns surprise, then breaks into a smile of vengeance fulfilled. "Haha, he must have met his end at the hands of a fierce beast in the snowy forest after all his evil deeds."

  "You truly don't know him?" Master Scott presses.

  "I, Twist, swear to the god, I didn't know him. If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning! Also, he emerged from the depths of the forest, likely chasing someone. It seemed he had already succeeded in his pursuit, and attacking me was just an afterthought," Aaron adds, as if recalling something.

  Ava squints her eyes playfully. "So you're really innocent! By the way, the bandit was poisoned."

  "Poisoned? I had no idea about that. I was just being chased until I collapsed. As for being poisoned, he must have been poisoned while chasing others, and it just happened to take effect while he was after me."

  Ava's amusement grows. "Oh, so you didn't poison him?"

  "How could I use such vile means? Even though I, Twist, am just a nobody in the wilderness, I walk the path of righteousness.”

  ”If you think saving my life gives you the right to insult me, you're mistaken. I won't let anyone tarnish my honor. I'll leave on my own," Aaron declares, his expression shifting to one of indignation.

  He turns to leave, his steps uneven from frostbite but his posture remarkably upright.

  "Though our paths differ, I will surely prepare a gift and personally thank Master Scott at the Hunter Union for saving my life once I return to my family. For now, I shall take my leave."

  With these words, Aaron embodies the spirit of a noble and upright young man of the empire, despite the humiliation of being falsely accused.

  Just as he's about to exit, Master Scott suddenly utters, "Aaron."

  Hearing this, Aaron pauses, then turns with a puzzled expression.

  "Was that bandit named Aaron? I'll remember that and make sure to inform my elders to punish the remaining bandits properly," he replies, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes.