Chapter 962 by Marina Vittori
An Understated Dominance
At 7:00 pm, Dustin, Abigail, and Azalea arrived as planned at the resortâs restaurant. The restaurant was spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
Dustin noticed that there were already groups of people sitting together, chatting lively. While there were a few tourists, most of the guests were martial artists who came for the treasure.
âOver here!â Vanessa called out as she waved at them energetically. Dustin nodded in acknowledgment and led the others to her table.
âIâm glad you could make it. Please take a seat,â Emily greeted warmly. Nathan, who had appeared aloof earlier, perked up upon seeing Abigail and Azalea. He straightened up and tried to strike a handsome pose.
âAllow me to introduce my friends, Abigail Robinson and Azalea Larson.
âI hope you also donât mind having them, Ms. Hoyles.â Dustin made a brief introduction.
âOf course not. The more, the merrier. Please, have a seat.â Emily smiled and gestured for them to
sit.
âThank you.â Dustin nodded before settling into his seat.
He noticed several unfamiliar faces besides Emily and her friends. Judging from their clothes, they were also most likely from Azure Mist.
Even the weakest fighter among them was a lowâlevel martial artist. They were stronger than ordinary martial artists.
But they were still no match for major guilds who would also be competing for the treasure.
âMr. Rhys, have you prepared to enter the Black Forest?â Emily started the conversation.
âWhat preparations?â Dustin asked curiously.
âThe forest is full of poisonous creatures and ferocious beasts, so itâs dangerous. You should carry antidotes, antivenoms, and other medicines before entering â Emily explained.
âThings like insect repellents, compasses, and specially designed tents are also needed. They could be lifeâsaving during emergencies.â
Abigail was bewildered. âDo we need all of that? We didnât bring any.â
They had rushed over, so they only had a few personal belongings.
âItâs more like youâre here for a vacation, not a treasure hunt.â Emily teased.
Then she added, âBut donât worry. Iâve prepared all that for you. We wonât run out of supplies.â
âReally? Thatâs great! Thank you so much!â Abigail lit up, touched by the considerate gesture.
âHowever, these supplies are just a small part of the trip since the Black Forest wonât be our main
concern.
nale, we need to be cautious of our compenois. Cy stone grew serious.
She glanced at a group nearby. âSee those people on the left? Theyâre from Ironfists and are known for their defense.
âAll of them are powerful and claim to be immune to external injuries. Weâll be in trouble if we have to fight them.â
âIronfists?â Dustin, Abigail, and Azalea turned to look at the muscular men enjoying their meal. The light reflected off their metalâlike skin.
âNow, look to your left. Thatâs Skycrane, a major guild from Yuston.
âThey often win battles with their clever tactics. So theyâre also formidable opponents,â Emily explained.
âBehind me, you should see a bald man with tattoos on his head.
âHeâs a ruthless killer known as the Skullsplitter. Few dare to provoke him.
âAnd do you see the blind elderly man in front of us? Donât underestimate him just because heâs blind
âHeâs far stronger than he seems. All of them are our competitors, so we must avoid fighting them until we locate the treasure.â
Emily provided detailed insight into the major guilds and powerful fighters. This helped Dustin and his friends avoid potential danger.
Dustin couldnât help feeling impressed by her extensive knowledge.