The night of the seventh day leaving Waterfall.

The expedition stopped at a snowy and wasteland junction, which was convenient for camping and fetching water, making it an ideal resting place during the trip.

And it was here, when everyone was preparing for today's dinner.

Giovanni alone approached Javik, the hunter guide who was tending to the bighorn deer:

"Javik, this should be the end of our agreement, right?"

"I've also inquired about the situation in the neighborhood before, and this is almost the limit of ordinary people's activities."

"That's right." Javik, who was taking care of the bighorn deer, nodded first, he gently rubbed the face of one of the bighorn deer with his palm, and then turned around and looked up to Giovanni, "There is also a rumor among the people in our line that if you go through this area, even the best hunters will find prey in that kind of place." ”

Hearing Javik's answer, Giovanni nodded.

Then take a small cloth bag from your jacket pocket naturally:

"Well, then according to our deliberations......"

"The previous deposit has already been paid in Waterfall, so the rest of the commission ......"

Giovanni didn't finish his sentence.

Javik suddenly interrupted his preparations to pay the rest of the commission.

"Mr. Giovanni, I actually think that the payment of the remaining commission can be postponed for a few more days."

Giovanni didn't react for the first time.

But his face quickly became sober, and he realized the meaning of the hunter's guide's words:

"Postponement...... Wait a minute! Javik, you mean the next ......? ”

At this time, Javik turned around and touched the head of the bighorn deer behind him:

"If you continue to go further into the north, even if these guys are healthy enough, they still need to be cared for by professionals."

"I feel like I should be able to continue to play a role."

"Of course, of course you have ......" Giovanni was about to follow Javik's answer, but he quickly shook his head, "No, I didn't mean that. I mean...... The rest of the journey can be very dangerous. Our team can't guarantee that it will be as safe as the previous trip. ”

"Javik, do you really want to move on together?"

Seeing Giovanni's cautious appearance, the hunter guide immediately laughed:

"Hahaha-"

"The life of a hunter is inherently fraught with danger, and I am not familiar with the work of winter lake hunting. I'd love to get an extra job that pays well during my annual break. ”

Faced with the attitude of this hunter guide, Giovanni's expression was a little excited:

"I, thank you very much!"

“……”

Giovanni and Javik's discussion wasn't too loud.

It's just that Ronald has a keen hearing, and he still perceives the conversation between the two from afar.

Except for the substance of the conversation itself.

Ronald thought briefly for a few seconds, and then suddenly became interested in Kostadt.

After two or three strokes to deal with the work at hand, he turned his head and came to the maid:

"Kostadt, did you hear the conversation between Giovanni and Javik?"

The maid immediately nodded slightly:

"Yes, sir."

"Then I have a question." Confirming this, Ronald immediately spoke, "What do you think is the real reason why Javik is willing to continue their contract with Giovanni?" ”

“……”

Costadt blinked dumbfounded.

Because it was Ronald's inquiry, Kostadt thought carefully for four or five seconds before finally replying in a more conservative tone:

"I think there could be two reasons for this—"

"First, as Javik said, hunters are really scarce in the winter, and he'd be happy to get an extra income."

"The second point...... I'm not sure about that. ”

"But is it possible that Giovanni's generous statement last night gave birth to a certain passion for adventure in Javik?"

Ronald almost applauded the girl in front of him!

"Great, Kostadt!"

"If you can think of this, it means that you have been improving!"

"Actually, from my point of view, the idea of income should have very little place in Javik's mind. After all, a hunter like him is not completely distracted by income issues. ”

"So...... Was he more moved by Giovanni's statement last night? ”

Kostadt thought briefly for two seconds, then nodded as if he was sure of something:

"Sir, I seem to have some understanding."

“……”

Under the cover of night.

The seven members of the expedition team discussed their concerns with each other.

Last night it looked like a distant mountain.

Today, they are also closer to each other, and the stars in the sky are guarding them to sleep peacefully.

This is the end of the first week of the journey.

And for now, it seems that everything is still uneventful.

……

But the second week of the trip.

The time has just come to the afternoon of this day.

For this team, the real test came – mountain climbing.

The towering mountains, which had only been visible for a few days, finally came to the front of the expedition at this time.

They don't need to go straight over it.

But it's not a simple thing to pass through from the outside.

Except for the two humanoid monsters, Ronald and Kostadt, who certainly don't care about this level of action.

For the rest of the team.

The physical exertion of climbing a hillside, the air that gradually became cold enough to open your mouth to catch your breath, and the mental stress of the harsh environment......

These three points are combined.

Immediately it can become a huge weight that directly overwhelms a person.

If it weren't for the strict selection of the members of this expedition team, Ronald estimated that in the first hour after going up the mountain, some people would have been unable to resist and choose to quit.

"Mr. Ronald, how do you feel?"

In this difficult environment, Giovanni, as the leader of the expedition, took the initiative to care about the two newcomers.

The man was unaware of the identities of Ronald and Kostadt's casters.

Therefore, without knowing the physical condition of the two, Giovanni also paid the most attention to the situation of the two of them in the team.

So, Ronald smiled and waved at Giovanni.

In the other party's surprised gaze, he lifted the scarf to reveal his complexion that had not changed at all due to the cold:

"Kostat and I can handle this kind of weather, just take care of your own safety."

"I really envy your body ......"

Giovanni seems to think that this is some kind of unique physical fitness.

Shaking his head with emotion, he continued to concentrate on his work as he climbed the hillside. After all, although he has the spare energy to pay attention to his companions, climbing the hillside itself is a difficult task.

- Not to mention that this is still the Northland.

- The climate is extremely harsh.

Then, at about four to five o'clock in the afternoon.

The hunter guide, who was still at the head of the group, suddenly stopped.

"Something is wrong!" Javik, a hunter, was extremely observant, and even in this environment, he noticed a slight difference in the distance, "I saw that there was a figure moving!" ”