Paige Summers was thoroughly impressed they had escaped the valley floor so quickly. The man’s navigational skills were incredible. They had encountered more than one fork in the road and a few traps, but he had dealt with them all, one by one. Compared to him, she was leagues behind.

Marcus Monroe, however, thought nothing of it.

In the years since he had left the Dead City, he had experienced hardships others could scarcely imagine. He had gone from being a lone wanderer to gathering his own faction, facing ordeals along the way that were even more intense than this one. It was only natural that he remained so composed.

"We can’t be too far from the valley," Marcus Monroe said, getting his bearings and deciding on a path.

The area was a series of rolling hills that, at a glance, had clearly been the site of a fierce battle. Though it was now deserted, it was by no means a safe place. They decided to leave as quickly as possible.

Just then, the clamor of approaching footsteps echoed from the direction they were headed.

The nearby hills offered no suitable hiding spots. The two exchanged a look and, with a silent understanding, sprinted toward the two tallest trees nearby and scrambled up.

They had just settled onto branches where the dense leaves could mostly conceal their figures when the group arrived nearby.

Peeking through the branches, Paige Summers saw three men and a woman in combat gear, looking somewhat battered, stop not far below to catch their breath. As her gaze swept over the woman’s face, her eyes narrowed. It was Leanne Walsh! 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Her breathing became even shallower.

’Leanne Walsh is a Fourth-rank superpower user, around the same Level as me. Fortunately, it looks like she’s already expended a great deal of energy. As long as I’m careful, I shouldn’t be discovered.’

The leader of the four was not Leanne Walsh, but a man in his thirties. He was decent-looking, but his messy eyebrows and slanted, upturned eyes were unsettling. His bossy, arrogant attitude was even more brazen.

"You two, search to the east. Leanne and I will go west. That dead bitch said the thing was dropped somewhere around here. If we don’t find it today, none of you are getting off easy!"

The two young men, who seemed afraid of him, acknowledged the order and hurried off. The man who had spoken took a breath and turned to Leanne Walsh. "Let’s go, too. Hey, Leanne, put some effort into it. If you find it, I’ll make it worth your while." As he spoke, he gave her what he seemed to think was an intimate wink, his hand conveniently landing on her full rear and beginning to grope.

Leanne Walsh squirmed, as if resisting, but her movements only seemed to stoke his desire. "You... you shouldn’t do that, Vice-Captain Howell..." she said. "I just met up with you all. I don’t even know what we’re looking for. How am I supposed to find it?"

Vice-Captain Howell gave her a final, forceful squeeze before reluctantly removing his hand. "I told you, it’s a Platinum Ring. It was a memento from my old man. That bitch Yvonne Warren stole it, and then she went and lost it! Hmph. She got off easy, dying like that! Now, stop wasting time and start looking!"

Watching Leanne Walsh being forced to bend over and search the rubble-strewn ground under the man’s command, Paige Summers raised an eyebrow slightly.

’I really don’t get it. A Fourth-rank superpower user is an absolute hot commodity in the Lower District. While a Water Ability isn’t primarily for combat, it’s something everyone needs. Moreover, Natural Abilities are widely recognized for their fast promotion speed... Why would this woman subject herself to such humiliation?’

Was Leanne Walsh frustrated?

Of course she was.

In truth, she wished she could kill this greedy, lecherous man—who wasn’t even as strong as her—on the spot.

But she couldn’t.

Because the lecher’s older brother was the captain of this Hunting Party, a Fifth-rank Fire Ability User. The entire reason he had come to the Dead City, the reason he stayed in the Lower District, was all for this good-for-nothing younger brother. It was clear just how much he valued his only living relative. Therefore, not only could she not lay a hand on him, but she also had to play along.

As Leanne Walsh searched the ground for the ring, her thoughts turned to Paige Summers, the person she hated so much it made her teeth ache.

’I can’t believe that bitch is so lucky. Quentin Carter died, but she didn’t! Not only did she survive, but while I was secretly searching for her all over the Lower District, she managed to latch onto Young Master Monroe from The Citadel!’

’Young Master Monroe... I saw him in my past life...’

’He was a difficult man to get close to, always stern and stone-faced. But he only stayed in the Dead City for a short time before leaving again.’

’Speaking of which, that time should be coming soon.’

’Did Paige Summers get close to him because she wants to leave?’

Leanne Walsh wasn’t so sure anymore.

Her rebirth had changed her own destiny, and her decision to kill Paige Summers preemptively seemed to have changed Paige’s destiny as well. Subsequent events were already deviating from her partial memories of her past life.