Hilda stood frozen, her breath caught somewhere between her chest and throat, eyes wide and unfocused as if the darkness itself had crawled inside her.

“What… what just happened?”

Her voice trembled, thin and fragile, barely surviving the weight of the forest.

The monk folded his hands slowly, head slightly lowered, his calm almost unsettling against the chaos that had just unfolded.

“May their souls rest in peace.”

The words landed like a spark on dry leaves.

Artem turned sharply, rage flashing across his face. He stepped forward in two long strides and grabbed the monk by the collar, yanking him close.

“What rest in peace, huh? What are you talking about?”

The monk did not resist. His eyes remained steady, unreadable, his breathing unchanged.

Basil raised his voice, sharp and commanding.

“Artem. Calm down.”

Artem snapped his head toward him.

“Calm down? What do you know about calm, old man? I lost my men. We lost Sheikh.”

His grip tightened for a moment before he shoved the monk back. The monk adjusted his robe, as if nothing had happened.

Miles finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension like cold steel.

“We signed up for this together. I do not believe you are behaving like a scaredy cat now.”

Artem turned toward him instantly.

“You…”

His words died before they could take shape.

Elias stepped between them, raising his hands.

“Stop. All of you stop.”

He took a slow breath, forcing his voice to steady.

“We lost at least twelve men. That is done. Screaming at each other will not bring them back. We stick together now. That is the only way we survive.”

Around them, the remaining men of Sheikh stood trembling, eyes darting back toward the river. Some clutched their weapons too tightly. Others looked as if they might collapse at any second.

Basil turned his gaze forward, into the forest where the darkness waited patiently.

“Do not stop.”

His voice was firm, leaving no room for debate.

“We walk ahead until sunrise. Then we rest for a while and analyze our surroundings. Then we move again.”

He paused, letting the words sink in.

“Darkness is our enemy. From now on, we camp at night. We light fire. Petrol if needed. We walk in the day.”

The forest responded with distant sounds. Leaves shifting. Branches creaking. Something alive moving where no light reached.

“If we keep a good pace, we reach the ruins in two days.”

Basil turned back slightly, his eyes sweeping across every face.

“Be alert. Keep your eyes and ears open.”

No one argued.

One by one, they began to move.

Boots pressed into damp soil. Weapons held closer. Breathing controlled, forced into rhythm.

Artem walked among them, his jaw clenched, eyes burning with frustration. This was not what he had imagined. Not the fear. Not the helplessness. Not the blood vanishing into the river without a trace.

They moved slowly, carefully, leaving behind the river where the water still whispered of what it had taken.

The forest closed around them.

On the right side of the river, high above, eyes opened among the branches. Shapes clung to bark and shadow, bodies still, breaths silent.

They watched the group disappear deeper into the forest.

And they smiled.

…..

Morning light washed over Star Harbor, soft and deceptive, as if the city itself was unaware that its heartbeat was currently tied to events unfolding far beyond the sea and forest.

The car rolled into the Sterling Security base and came to a smooth halt in the parking bay. Monica stepped out first, her heels touching the concrete with purpose, June following closely behind her. The air smelled of metal and discipline. On the training ground nearby, agents were already in motion, bodies moving in synchronized drills, weapons flashing under the rising sun.

The agents noticed Monica instantly.

They straightened, saluted in silence, their respect unmistakable.

Monica acknowledged them with a brief nod and walked forward without breaking her stride.

June whispered softly, almost to herself, “This place feels different when the boss isn’t here.”

Before Monica could reply, the main doors opened and Charles stepped out. His expression was serious, the kind that meant something had already gone wrong or was about to.

“Miss Monica. Good morning,” he said. “I know you reached Star Harbor only a few hours ago, but there is something we need to look at immediately.”

Monica’s eyes sharpened. “Miles is not here. That means nothing gets overlooked in his absence.”

Charles nodded. “Exactly. That’s why I didn’t wait.”

They moved inside together.

The war room came alive the moment the doors slid shut behind them. Screens lined the walls, dark for now, humming quietly. The Sterling Security emblem glowed faintly at the center display like a watchful eye.

Charles gestured toward the main console. “We received a signal early this morning. Morse code. Short burst. Clean transmission.”

Monica crossed her arms. “From the forest?”

“Yes,” Charles replied. “High plains. They are resting. Right where we predicted they would be.”

Monica allowed herself a small breath of relief. “Good. That means the route is intact. He’s exactly where he planned to be.”

June leaned closer to the screen. “So far, so good.”

Charles did not smile. “There’s more.”

Monica turned to him slowly. “Play it.”

An agent seated at the console nodded and began typing. The screens flickered, then stabilized into surveillance footage.

An alley appeared on screen, narrow and dim, unmistakably close to the Atelier. The timestamp showed late night hours. Four men moved cautiously through the shadows, scanning their surroundings, hands never far from concealed weapons.

June frowned. “Who are they?”

Charles answered calmly. “They were the men sent by Elias Flinch.”

Monica’s gaze hardened. “Were?”

“Yes,” Charles said. “They are no longer a threat.”

June tilted her head. “Eliminated?”

Charles hesitated for a fraction of a second. “Yes. But not by us.”

The footage advanced.

From the edge of the frame, a figure appeared. Hooded. Masked. Movements fluid, almost unreal. The woman moved like a whisper through the alley.

One man turned too late.

A blade flashed.

He fell without a sound.

Before the others could react, she was already among them. Every motion was precise, economical. No wasted effort. No hesitation. One breath. Four bodies collapsed to the ground.

Blood spread across the pavement in silence.

Then she was gone.

The alley was empty again, as if nothing had ever happened.

The video ended.

The room felt colder.

June’s hand rose instinctively to her mouth. “That was… fast.”

Monica stared at the frozen final frame, her eyes narrowing. “Who is she?”

Charles shook his head. “We don’t know. We tracked every exit point, every camera in the district. She vanished. No trace. No digital footprint. No witnesses.”

June swallowed. “Enemy or ally?”

“That’s the problem,” Charles replied. “We don’t know which side she’s on.”

Monica exhaled slowly. “What about the family?”

“We’ve increased security,” Charles said immediately. “Agents are embedded at the school as teachers and cleaning staff. Routes are rotated hourly. I’m personally monitoring the children’s movements.”

Monica nodded once. “Good.”

She turned back to the screens, eyes sharp, mind racing. “Increase digital surveillance. Cross reference every known operative with her movement pattern. I want to know who she is. Whether she’s protecting us… or hunting us.”

June glanced at the paused frame again. “Whoever she is… she looks dangerous.”

Monica’s voice was calm, but firm. “Yes. And that means she matters.”

The Sterling Security logo glowed brighter on the screen, watching silently, as somewhere deep in the Sylven forest, the real storm continued to gather.

…..

Back at the Sylven Forest…

The camp was wrapped in a fragile calm, the kind that only exists when exhaustion dulls fear but never truly erases it. Smoke from the fire drifted low across the high plains, clinging to boots and fabric, curling around the tents like restless spirits. The Sylven Forest watched silently from all sides, tall trees standing like ancient judges, their shadows stretching long even under the rising sun.

Some of the treasure hunters sat near the fire, chewing through tasteless rations, their eyes hollow from a night without sleep. Others leaned against crates or tree trunks, fingers twitching near weapons that now felt heavier than before. No one spoke loudly. Even laughter from the Sheikh’s camp the night before felt like something from another lifetime.

Miles sat a little away from the main group, cross legged on a flat rock. Maddock passed him a packet of snacks, the paper crinkling softly.

“These are good,” Maddock said, genuine surprise in his voice.

Miles nodded, taking a slow bite. “I know. Nothing my mom cooks ever tastes bad.”

Maddock glanced at the packet again. “These are homemade?”

Miles allowed a faint smile, one that lasted only a moment before his eyes returned to the forest ahead.

Nearby, Elias stood with Basil, watching one of their men climb a massive tree with practiced urgency. The antenna gleamed faintly in the morning light as it was secured high above the ground.

“It’s connected sir,” the man called down.

Elias pulled out his radio, turned the dial carefully, then spoke. “Hello. Hello.”

At first there was only static, sharp and grating. Then the sound cleared.

“Hello boss. Hello.”

Elias’s lips curved upward as he looked at Basil. “We are in.”

“Boss, finally we got a connection,” the voice continued.

“What is the situation outside?” Elias asked.

“The security came back last night. The Sylven Forest borders are now on watch again.”

As Elias acknowledged the update, Miles rose and walked closer, his footsteps quiet against the damp earth.

“Alright. Keep us updated,” Elias said.

“Copy that boss.”

Elias lowered the radio and turned to Miles, eyes glinting with something close to amusement. “The borders are sealed again. You better have a way out of here.”

Miles tilted his head slightly. “What? You all came here without any extraction plan.”

Elias laughed softly. “We have an extraction plan. I am talking about your extraction.”

Miles exhaled, slow and deliberate. “Well. I am disappointed. You are leaving me here.”

“Do not pretend brat,” Elias replied.

Miles laughed, low and calm, completely out of place in the tension thickening the air. “Well. I will get out of here. If we survive.”

Elias smirked. “We will walk in the day. We have guns. Humanity’s most lethal weapons. You think we cannot win a war in daylight?”

Miles looked toward the forest, eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you know what this place was called before Sylven Forest?”

Basil frowned. “What?”

“Forest of the death,” Miles said.

Elias shrugged. “Let us see who survives till the end then.”

The wind shifted.

A sharp sound cut through the camp. Not a gunshot. Not a scream. Something worse.

From the edge of the tents, a man stumbled backward, face drained of color, voice breaking as he shouted.

“They are dead.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep