From time to time, a branch-like lightning flashed in the dark sky, illuminating the thick lead clouds. The rainstorm seemed to open the gate of a reservoir and smashed down to the ground. The thin tree branches danced in the wind, like the whips of slave owners in the Middle Ages.
It is obviously unwise to choose to go into the mountains in such weather. The team that temporarily assembled in the village is a little afraid, but they are all skilled hunters who go into the mountains once a year, every month, or even every day. Logically, they should not be so afraid. The mountains are no different from their own backyard to them.
The faces of the three Hirai brothers were as gloomy as dark clouds. While giving the speech, they would occasionally glance at the mountaintop shrouded in storm, looking as serious as generals facing a powerful enemy.
Everything strange has its source, and the panic of the team entering the mountain is no exception.
“It’s exactly the same as last year…”
The village chief, tossing and turning unable to fall asleep, stood in the yard and looked into the distance, his eyes full of worry and...sadness.
On a rainy night last year, his youngest son slipped and fell off a cliff and died. Even after a year, the village chief has not been able to get over his self-blame and guilt.
If he leads the team...
The ending might be different.
However, today, everything seems to be happening again, landslides, black bears about to enter winter, gaps in hunting grounds...
No matter how heavy the rain is, it cannot wash away the bloodstains on the guillotine. The souls of the dead will wander forever, and only the passing of life can quell their resentment. This is a curse, the shackles of fate that is difficult and cannot be reversed.
"Set off!!!"
With a loud roar, Takao Hirai led three Shiba Inus and a team of more than a dozen people towards the forest. His face was hidden under a raincoat as dark as a cloak, like an inquisitor sent by the archbishop to arrest heretics.
Just as the team was about to disappear into the rain, several pairs of rain boots of different sizes stepped into the puddles and followed quietly behind them.
...........................
The hunting team entered the mountain smoothly along the path in the village. The hems of their raincoats fluttered in the strong wind and the rain was icy cold.
The landslide occurred on the north slope, while Hirai Village was on the south side, which meant that the team had to cross the mountain to reach the site of the accident.
"strangeness...."
Behind the hunter team, Sakaki Makoto hid behind a huge tree, opened his raincoat to block the water droplets, took out the map and looked at it:
"They did not enter the hunting grounds, but chose to walk outside the hunting grounds' barbed wire fences. What were they trying to do?"
"Could it be that they are using the hunting grounds' barbed wire to determine the direction?"
Kidd looked around with a confused look on his face. To be honest, in his opinion, the big trees around him all looked the same. If he didn't leave any marks, he would probably get lost.
But compared to the marks left with great effort, the extremely sturdy barbed wire buried deep underground is obviously more reliable and more directional.
As long as you go around the barbed wire and use a compass, you will definitely not get lost.
"No, that's not right..."
Using a rope to tie the extra raincoat around his waist, Conan, who looked bloated and short, groaned:
"The hunting ground is for people to hunt and have fun. There are usually no large animals in it. The barbed wire is installed to keep large animals out. No matter how you think about it, it is safer inside the hunting ground. If you only use the barbed wire to determine the direction, wouldn't it be the same to walk inside?"
"unless...."
“Unless these gamekeepers know where the danger is and where the safety is.”
A cold female voice came from under the raincoat standing next to Sakaki Makoto. Miss Miyano raised her head, her ice-green eyes were calm:
"Generally, hunters will take off their hunting rifles when they go into the mountains, and tie a wooden stick on their backs to prevent attacks from wild animals."
"Look at them. They all have hunting rifles on their backs. Only the three Hirai brothers symbolically took off their guns and held them in their hands. The team is also crooked and not orderly. Their vigilance is very poor, which means they think there is no danger nearby."
"Of course, nothing is absolute. Maybe they are trying to avoid the traps set in the hunting grounds."
"trap?"
Hattori Heiji asked in confusion:
"Will there be traps in a hunting ground where people hunt for fun?"
“The bigger the hunting ground, the more traps will be set.”
Sakaki Cheng glanced at the team still climbing the mountain ahead. They didn't dare to follow too closely. Fortunately, it rained today and they were standing in the downwind direction. Dogs' noses were not that sensitive, otherwise they would have been discovered long ago:
"There are all kinds of animals in the hunting grounds, including hares, which like to dig holes and threaten the foundation of the wire fence. There are also medium-sized animals such as wild boars that need to be taken care of, so sometimes the game ranger will dig a hell pit near the wire fence to prevent animals from 'escaping'."
"What is the Hades Cellar?"
This is a new term for Conan and his friends, and it involves their blind spots in knowledge.
"An ancient hunting method that you must have heard of."
Sakaki Cheng calmly explained:
"A deep pit is dug in the ground and sharp wood is inserted into it. Once someone falls into it, they will either die or be injured. It is specially used to hunt large animals. It has been banned for a long time, but some hunters in the deep mountains still use it."
"This is too dangerous!"
Conan's eyes widened, and his scalp went numb:
“What if someone accidentally falls down?”
"Oh, most hunters will leave a sign after digging out the Hell's Cellar to remind others and to prevent themselves from forgetting about it and getting caught."
Sakaki Makoto shrugged.
"Animals cannot understand human writing, unless they become spirits. But if animals really become spirits, Yanwangjiao's single hunting method will not be able to catch them."
"and...."
"For an organized hunting ground like this, there are rangers patrolling every day, and there are also people who follow the tourists who come in to hunt, so there won't be any problems."
During the conversation, the team ahead had already walked away. Sakaki Makoto put away the map and asked a few people to follow.
There was an uphill slope ahead, and everyone was walking with great difficulty, taking one deep step and one shallow step, and their feet kept slipping.
Occasionally, flashes of lightning would illuminate the forest. As we went deeper into the woods, the wind became much weaker, but the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves, accompanied by heavy rain, sounded like the weeping of a resentful ghost and was chilling.
After walking for a full hour, the team finally crossed the top of the mountain. The rest of the road was all downhill, but everyone did not show any sign of relief. Instead, they became even more nervous.
It is easy to go up the mountain but difficult to go down. Although it is a bit tiring to go up the mountain, there will be no danger. It is different to go down the mountain. If you don’t step firmly on the steep terrain...
The whole person will roll down like a broken sack, and the ending can be imagined.
"Give me."
Sakaki Makoto extended his hand towards Conan.
"What do you want?"
Tilting his head, Conan had a capital question mark on his forehead.
"Your retractable straps!"
".......oh."
With a pout, Conan obediently took off the sling and handed it to Makoto Sakaki.
If we talk about the person who made the greatest sacrifice along the way, it has to be him.
There are more than a dozen optical trackers installed, and now they want him to take off his clothes...
It is difficult to be a human being, and it is even more difficult to be a primary school student.
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