For the next four days, Aoki did not bother Xu Milu again, allowing her to enjoy an exceptionally pleasant and leisurely ferry trip.
Delicious fish fillets, fresh lobsters as thick as an arm, sweet and juicy coconuts, and tender seashells—every day is a feast for the senses.
Xu Milu had reason to suspect that if she hadn't recently increased her appetite, she would have gained 80 pounds after a trip to the Food World.
On the morning of the seventh day, the coastline appeared on the distant horizon, with red mountain ranges stretching out in the distance, a blend of verdant green and deep red stretching as far as the eye could see.
We've arrived!
"That's Mount Inugami!! It's so beautiful!"
"Ohhhhhh!! We've arrived!"
The guests cheered on the deck, while Xu Milu stood in a deserted corner taking pictures with her phone, feeling that even the sun in the sky was so magnificent.
The azure of the sea, the emerald green of the dense forest, and the deep red of the mountains blend together to create a breathtaking scene.
Footsteps sounded behind her. Xu Milu put away her phone and guessed who it was.
"Ao...sen?"
The young man with long, dark green hair had delicate features and a gentle expression, just like Maggie back then.
"Miss Milu, we meet again."
Aomori smiled slightly: "I'm sorry, Aoki doesn't quite know how to interact with ladies. I apologize if he offended Miss Miru."
Xu Milu stretched lazily and said nonchalantly:
"You want to ask me if my target is the Flame Glazed Leaf? I have no interest in it. You two brothers don't need to take turns testing me."
Aomori shook his head: "I'm sorry to have given you a bad impression, Miss Milu. We did take advantage of you a little at the auction, but please believe me that it was not our intention."
He glanced at Aoki, who was dawdling and refusing to come closer, and raised his eyes slightly in acknowledgment.
Disguised as "Jimmy," Aoki strode forward and tossed what he was holding into Xu Milu's arms:
"Here you go!"
Xu Milu was slightly surprised. It was a map made of animal hide, with detailed markings of some landmarks in the Forest of Dogs.
Seemingly noticing Xu Milu's surprise, Aomori nodded slightly and explained:
"Consider this our apology to Miss Miru for our rudeness. The Forest of the Dog is fraught with danger, and even high-level hunters can encounter danger if they are not careful. So I hope Miss Miru will accept it."
Xu Milu was well aware of the dangers of the Forest of Dogs and the rarity of the map in her hands. The Forest of Dogs was boundless, and every mercenary's map was a precious possession, not to mention the map accumulated by the Green Wood Mercenary Group over the past ten years.
Aoki crossed his arms and snorted softly, "The ping-pong grape vines you're looking for are in the Giant Fruit Forest in the Black Stone Forest to the east. It's located in the eastern part of the Dog Forest, and without a map, very few people can walk out alive."
"Okay, then I'll accept this gift."
Xu Milu rolled up the map and stuffed it into her backpack, not worried that the map the other party had given her was fake, as she could leave at any time if danger arose.
Aomori smiled slightly: "So, are we friends now?"
Xu Milu nodded seriously, revealing a businesslike, fake smile: "Of course, my dear friend."
...
...
The Golden Princess will be docked at Mount Inomoto for three months, which means that those unlucky passengers who cannot return to the cruise ship during this period will have to wait for the next flight—this time next year.
The return boat ticket wasn't free, and every year there were always a group of poor people who ended up with nothing.
This means that during these three months, the mercenaries who hunt for food in the dense forest will not only face the harsh climate and wild beasts everywhere, but also the harm from their own kind.
Xu Milu didn't know why, but she always had a vague sense of anticipation.
Perhaps this means that she is able to unleash the biological instincts of another gene in this desolate, dense forest.
...
...
One month later.
That night, two bright moons hung high in the sky, their milky white light flowing through the dense forest. A babbling brook murmured, and frogs occasionally croaked from the large rocks, creating an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere.
Xu Milu pushed aside the branches in front of her and saw the babbling water; a hint of joy appeared in her eyes.
"There's water!"
Her mercenary uniform was already somewhat tattered, but fortunately, apart from being a little disheveled, she was not injured.
She had been traveling through the dense forest for over a month. According to the map provided by the Aoki and Aomori brothers, she had now ventured deep into the Broadleaf Valley and was about to reach her destination, the Black Stone Forest.
Unlike other mercenaries searching for the Flame Glazed Leaf, Xu Milu had a clear goal and headed straight for the Black Stone Forest, which saved her a lot of danger.
Along the way, she encountered all sorts of strange creatures, including apples with human faces, cows with colorful bodies, black fish with wings, coconut trees that automatically emitted a foul odor, and so on.
Of course, you will also encounter some terrifying giant beasts. Just two days ago, Xu Milu personally witnessed a giant snake as tall as a three-story building passing by, devouring living creatures in the dense forest, leaving nothing but barren land in its wake.
[Bird-faced Anaconda: A highly poisonous food ingredient, a giant reptile with a bird's face. Mature specimens can reach 500 meters in length. Capture level: 80 stars.]
Xu Milu didn't think she was reckless enough to go head-to-head with such a monster, so she chose to return to Earth and stay there obediently for half an hour. When she came back, the bird-faced serpent had already disappeared.
...
...
The stream was crystal clear, and unidentified fish with transparent bellies swam in it. Under the moonlight, their bellies seemed to glow.
No, they are glowing.
Xu Milu filled the water bottle in her hand, bent down and scooped up a handful of water. Just then, a small fish landed in her palm. As if it was too frightened, it spat out a stone.
It was a beautiful gem, like glass.
[Gemfish: Completely non-toxic and edible, it feeds on volcanic minerals. After consuming large amounts of minerals, gem-like stones form inside its body, making it extremely valuable.]
Xu Milu suddenly remembered that she had seen a similar fish-shaped stone at an auction, only that one was much larger.
"Put down the gem fish in your hand. Considering that you led me here, hand over the map and this gem fish, and I might consider sparing your life."
The man who jumped out of the bushes had bronze skin, a broad back, and a burly build. He also had a hat made of animal hide tied around his head, making him look fierce and menacing.
"Quick, throw me the map! I've seen it all!!"
Xu Milu looked at the gleaming curved knife in his hand and slowly pulled out a kitchen knife from behind her.
"What kind of weapon is this?!"
The other party was somewhat wary, but Xu Milu calmly wiped her knife:
"Wang Mazi kitchen knives are a well-known trademark."
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