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"SOME of the wild beasts here are a great source of food .   There were even a lot of edible fruits and vegetables scattered around .   So even without enough money, we haven't been starving," Clay said when Aurum asked where they get their food .   "But some of us still go down the mountain once a month to buy supplies we couldn't find in the forest . "

They were still a quarter away from their destination .   Clay wanted to continue talking .   Because that way, he wouldn't have the time to think about the soft hand he was holding .   If he let himself drown in that feeling, he probably wouldn't want to ever let go .   Which was really bad in itself .   Because that's a thought he shouldn't ever entertained .   

"But wasn't hunting those wild beasts dangerous?" Aurum said after she heard Clay's answer to her question .

"We only pick those wild beasts that we're sure we could handle .   And we set traps around, so sometimes we don't necessarily fight them face to face . "

"Hmm .   Then where do you get your money?  Do some of you also work?"

Clay gazed down at Aurum and grinned .   "Whenever we raze a village orphanage under the Temple, we also steal from them .   You can't imagine the amount of gold coins we got from that . "

But that amount was still not enough .   Especially since the number of people joining them were continuously growing .   There were even children among those .   So they needed more to support and help those people properly integrate back to society .   That's why Clay didn't hesitate to agree with Argent when he said that he's willing to sponsor their cause .   After all, if there's someone in this world who didn't lack money, then it's Argent Blackbourne .

His only requirement was for Clay to let him see the pendant that his father left him .   That was not really such a hard thing to do .   That could not even be considered as a sacrifice .   In comparison to the benefits he and the others would gain, letting Argent borrow his pendant was almost nothing .

As they walked closer to their destination, the mist was also slowly receding .   Aurum could now see her surroundings much clearly .   

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"The mist is disappearing," she commented .

"It's because we're nearing the peak of this mountain," Clay said .   "The mist thinned more and more as you walk closer to the top . "

"Oh I could see a number of wooden houses in the distance," Black said .

"We built those as a temporary housing for us . "

Clay and the others who were thrown out of the village with him worked for a bit in a carpentry job .   That's why they were at least able to build these rudimentary houses .   It's not the best looking of houses but it was certainly enough for them .   

"Wouldn't the mist lose its purpose if it disappeared by the time you get to the top?" Aurum asked, if she's not mistaken, this mist served as a camouflage for Clay and his friends so that they wouldn't be immediately found by people .

"It's fine .   Normally, people wouldn't even go here .   Aside from the abundance of wild beasts, there's also a lore going around this area that prevents people from climbing these mountains .   It was said that these mountains were cursed by the G.o.ddess .   That's why it was surrounded by mist all-year round .   As time went by, the lore just became more and more out hand .   They say that stepping here, people would immediately be swallowed by the mist .   That there's no possibility of them going back .   Instead of the mist, that lore is more useful as a camouflage than anything," Clay explained .

Well, the people in the five continents were all suspicious by nature .   So it's not really a surprise that people believed something like that .   If she didn't grow up with her brother, she would also probably be the same .   "And yet, you guys still chose this place as your base . "

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Clay shrugged .   "Who has time to believe some lore when you have to look for a place you could settle into?"

Their group consisted of 11 young adults and four children .   It's their main priority to find a place to temporary settle .   At least for the children .   It wouldn't be good to constantly change places, especially with four kids in tow .   Good thing they found this place .   It didn't only provide them with land but it also gave them an abundant source of food .

"We're here!" Black announced .

Aurum looked around, the mist already completely disappeared .   She could now clearly see the surroundings .   The peak was not steep, like most mountains .   The ground was a bit flattened .   That's probably why Clay and his friends were able to build these simple wooden cabins .   But the first thing she noticed was the huge and tall tree standing at the very middle .   It's like some sort of umbrella encompa.s.sing the whole area .

"Do the wild beasts here not attack this area? Aurum asked .   

She noticed that there wasn't any sign of the place being ravaged by beasts, something that's quite ironic considering how this mountain was supposed to be teeming with them .   

"No .   Weirdly enough, they don't go to places that's not surrounded by the mist," Clay said .

On their first night here, everyone was on guard .   But as days pa.s.sed by, they slowly noticed this strange phenomenon .   Which probably only added to the advantages of this place .     

Her brother would surely want to study this mist if she was here and heard that .   That's what Aurum first thought .   Argent was simply the type to study anything that awaken even the slightest of her curiosity .

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"Isn't that Boss?" called by a voice from their left .   

"What, the Boss is back?" followed by another .

Then four young men who were near the place they're at, came running towards them .   All of their attention was on Clay .

"Boss, was your mission successful?" one asked .

"Did you manage to save the elf?" added another .

"Everyone, calm down .   I'll tell you all about it later," Clay said, trying to get the people surrounding them to back away a little .

And then finally, one of the four noticed Aurum and Black's existence .   Well, not really Black, just Aurum .   

"This is…?" he said while staring at Aurum in awe .

Then the other three also turned to Aurum .   The girl had long flowing golden hair tied in a high ponytail .   Her big amber eyes were surrounded by long golden eyelashes .   Her lips were pinkish red .   And her delicate skin was as white as expensive porcelain .   

All of them couldn't help but just stare .   This was the first time they had seen such a beautiful girl .   No, it's more accurate to say that she was the most beautiful girl they had ever seen .

Aurum smiled at the four .   "h.e.l.lo . "

And the four just felt that their hearts had just been hit by an arrow .

Looking at the four's bewitched expression, Clay furrowed his brows .   There was a p.r.i.c.kling sensation inside his chest .   He suddenly thought that these four looked a bit annoying .   

"Boss, who is she?"

"What's her name?"

"Boss, you didn't kidnap her did you?"

Clay felt like a few muscles on his face were starting to tick .   "Go back to whatever you're doing earlier," he almost growled .

Then he pulled Aurum towards the cabin that he shared with his sister, almost stomping on his way .

Aurum stared at Clay's back and she couldn't help the tender smile that crossed her lips .   

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