Hunter's Game 2: Terror Valley - Chapter 5

Everyone sprang to their feet, and we embraced one another in excitement.

Whatever the later games held, for this moment at least, we were winners.

“Hey, buddy, we owe this one to you. You’ve got great eyes! Want to team up for the next game?” The American suddenly slung an arm around my shoulders from behind.

Before I could refuse, he stretched out his other arm and snagged the tattooed Southeast Asian man, who had been about to leave.

“The three of us together can’t lose.”

I glanced at the departing Russian. “Go ask him. I have something else to do.”

“No, no, no! He’s just muscle. You’re different—you’re smart. We need you for this one.”

The American lowered his voice and winked mysteriously. “A five-star game called The Witch’s Liquor starts in a week. Clear it, and you may get to enter the witch’s graveyard and open a mysterious treasure chest. Interested?”

The words *The Witch’s Liquor* made my head buzz, dragging me into a memory.

Li Keji’s note had told me to find the One-Eyed Witch. If I brought her a bottle of strong liquor, she would lead me to a hidden crypt containing a skeleton. I had to cut off the skeleton’s left ring-finger bone.

Once I had it, Li Keji would meet me—and every mystery would finally be answered.

I had never expected this American to be interested in The Witch’s Liquor too.

Before I could respond, he had already persuaded the tattooed man to join him in the next game.

“How about it, buddy? Join us, and I’ll give you a piece of information about The Witch’s Liquor for free.”

He kept pressing.

I paused. “What information?”

“Heh. Clear the game, and in addition to the normal badge and coin rewards, you get three keys. Each opens one randomly chosen tomb in the witch’s graveyard. The game company has hidden carefully prepared treasure chests inside.”

“There are supposedly more than a hundred tombs. Most are empty, and only three contain treasure. But I know one tomb that definitely has a chest.”

I stared at him in surprise. His face shone with smug delight.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I asked, deliberately looking skeptical.

He grinned, entirely unbothered by the challenge.

“Black Goat released some official figures. The witch’s graveyard contains 144 tombstones. When I first arrived in Katre Valley, I visited the Witch’s Tavern. One of its cabinets holds exactly 144 bottles of liquor. You’re a smart guy. I’m sure you see the connection.”

I said nothing, but my thoughts were turning.

“Don’t hesitate. If we clear the game, we split the three keys between us, and I’ll provide the clue to locating the treasure.”

He pressed harder.

At last, I raised my head and nodded firmly. “I’m in.”

His face lit up, and he clapped me on the shoulder. “Name’s Eugene. You?”

“Li Mo.”

“I’m Aku,” the tattooed Southeast Asian man introduced himself.

And just like that, the three of us formed a temporary team. We agreed to enter the five-star game, The Witch’s Liquor, together in one week.

After receiving my three-star badge from the staff, I said goodbye to Eugene and Aku and left the game hall.

As I walked along a picturesque country road, breathing the damp air of Katre Valley, my thoughts returned to one week earlier.