Mulder’s body trembled, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His energy drained, and his entire being seemed to collapse.
Dustin’s finger flick had not only shattered his sword but also injured his internal organs. With the effects of the enhanced serum wearing off, Mulder was now back to his original state and completely spent.
His once-powerful frame now shrank like a punctured balloon. He looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
Mulder could no longer fight. Even standing up was a challenge.
“He’s finished,” Dustin said coolly, then looked at Warrick. “Now it’s your turn.”
“Hmm?” Warrick frowned, and his expression turned serious.
Dustin’s display of strength earlier had made him feel a sense of crisis. If they fought head-on, there was no telling who would come out on top.
But Warrick was just one step away from escaping West Lucozia, bound for Artea and a life of freedom and luxury. He had no intention of risking his life in battle unless he absolutely had to.
Desperation could drive a man to fight with everything he had, but the moment survival seemed possible, hesitation crept in.
“Young man, there’s no grudge between us. We don’t have to fight since neither of us stands to gain. I say we talk this through -it’ll be better for both of us.” Warrick narrowed his eyes.
“Oh?” Dustin smirked. “And what exactly do you want to talk about?”
“Let’s be honest-you’re just doing this for money. And I happen to have more money than I know what to do with.” Warrick’s tone turned persuasive.
He continued, “If you walk away now, I’ll tell you where my treasure is hidden. There’s enough gold and jewels in there to last you a lifetime.”
“Sounds tempting, but how do I know you’re not lying?” Dustin raised an eyebrow.
“I’m a man of my word. My reputation in West Lucozia speaks for itself. Why would I need to lie?” Warrick said earnestly.
He went on, “Besides, I’m leaving West Lucozia for good and never coming back. I’ve got no use for all that gold and silver might as well give it to you as a favor. What do you think?”
“Let me think about it…” Dustin stroked his chin, feigning deep thought.
Seeing this, Warrick felt a spark of hope and continued to persuade, “Chances like this don’t come often. This is your shot at instant wealth. With that treasure, you could live a life of luxury anywhere. You don’t need to risk your life working for others anymore.”
“You make a good point.” Dustin nodded. ” So, where’s the treasure?”
“We have a deal?” Warrick’s eyes lit up.
“Of course. Only a fool would say no to that, “Dustin replied without hesitation.
“Good! You really are a smart one!”
Warrick finally smiled, then pulled a parchment from his coat and tossed it toward Dustin. “This is a treasure map I drew myself. With it, you’ll have no trouble finding the treasure.”
Dustin unfolded the parchment. Sure enough, it was a treasure map. The location was marked in detail-hidden within Vastreach Peak in West Lucozia.
“Wise choice in hiding the treasure in the mountains.” Dustin tucked the parchment away.
Those treasures had been stolen from the people. Now, they were all his to take back.
“No choice. Just playing it safe.” Warrick chuckled..
Someone in his position knew better than to put everything in one place. While he had valuables hidden at home, most of his wealth was buried in Vastreach Peak.
This was his reserve and his means of making a comeback. Once things settled down, he planned to retrieve it bit by bit.
But now, for his safety, he had no choice but to give it up. Compared to his life, money was just money. If he stayed alive, he could always make more.
“Okay. Since you’ve been so generous, I’ll give you a chance… to surrender,” Dustin said with a smile.
“Huh?” Warrick frowned. “Young man, didn’t you agree earlier? I give you the map, and you let us leave. Are you going back on your word?”
“Agree? When did I say that? Why don’t I remember it?” Dustin spread his hands innocently.
“Punk! Don’t push me!” Warrick’s face hardened. “I gave you the treasure map not out of fear but because I don’t want unnecessary trouble. If you keep pushing, don’t expect me to hold back.”
He had already shown enough sincerity, but he didn’t expect Dustin to be so ungrateful. If pushed too far, he wouldn’t mind going down with Dustin.
