After things settled down, the hunters distributed the giant bear items evenly. The rule they had was 'first come first serve' so the hunters who first went to the bear was very satisfied.
Some wanted to get more than they were supposed to, but Captain Austin made sure none of that would be happening on his watch. Carl had also taken something, a fang and a claw. It was the most common he could get, but he really did not care. These were already good for him since he took the most valuable one already.
The fang and claw were too big, so he decided to crack them open to reduce their size.
These items can be crafted into powerful weapons and gear so Carl could not be gladder he had made the choice of being in this monster raid.
'I have to find a blacksmith once we return to the city then I can sell the others.' Carl concluded.
The others had also taken their share of the hunt. Some of them, especially the veterans, had infinity storage items, so it did not matter how big or large they got. The Captain even took the whole giant bear carcase with him.
Carl would be lying if he said he did not feel jealous.
There was no telling how much money he could get by selling these items he obtained, but there should at least be enough for him to buy an infinity storage item. Even the cheapest one, he would be glad!
Carl was spacing out, when he heard a veteran hunter calling out to him.
"Carl, what do think injured that bear?"
The veteran was called Max, the other archer in the group.
Max was in his late thirties and was a father of three children. He was one of the hunters that usually walk on his side when they're in a formation. He usually just does his job and didn't talk too much, especially to the weaker hunters but after the battle, he apparently changed his mind, going as far as remembering his name.
Hearing his question though, Carl only put on a fake faint smile.
"I don't know, but we at least know whatever that was is not here right now." Carl said.
He was not an expert in monster behavior nor was he a detective. Who knows who injured that bear? And he does not care.
His entire cultivation journey since he opened his eyes to existence had been simple. So were his hunts. Just check out a place, and kill the monsters he had to. If he noticed that he absolutely cannot defeat them, he would retreat and plan his next move. His speed was always one of his strongest assets, so he was very confident of running away.
If he was forced to fight, then he would lay it all out and see who wins. Luckily, he always survived.
Max stared at the fat boy for a while. After what he'd saw what Carl was capable of, he cannot bring himself to believe that he was fully telling the truth.
"Still, we're lucky to have two talented youngsters with us." Max then changed the subject. "I was honestly doubtful of proceeding further at the climb, but not only we have a future mage with us, we have you."
Carl smirked.
At that time however, the scout, Jill, and some of the veterans has returned.
Giant bears were honestly very common in these parts, and leader class monsters emerged from time to time. They were stronger than a regular monster, but leader-class monsters especially the species of the giant bear was not strong due to their physical power. But their leadership.
There should have been some followers that the giant bear was able to capture, but while they were in battle, nothing really stood out.
It was a little worrying too that the giant bear was injured already when they came in. It was also too aggressive and hostile as soon as it's senses caught them. This was very unusual behavior for them, and the most likely scenario was that it was just recently attacked.
The minds in the group thought carefully, and greatly focused on why a whole population of direwolves ran away from their lair in the first place.
If they had problems with the giant bear, surely their numbers could do something, They also did not need to rush that hurriedly.
So the group was able to think of the most likely scenario.
The veteran hunters in particular had practically lived in hunting grounds, day and night, and they had seen these occurrences many times.
"The giant bear must have tried extending its territory, but was met with another force, probably something with equal or greater power. That would explain the injuries on the giant bear too."
"I agree, but that would mean whatever evolved was not a direwolf."
The hunters broke into a commotion. There could only be one conclusion.
"To think this really happened in a low-tier hunting ground like the Seventh Mountains, this is rare." Jill said.
The guide then chimed in.
"Maybe it being low-tier is exactly the reason it happened, the Seventh Mountains isn't exactly inhabited by just weak monsters. That might be the case down there, but here at the top, some monsters here are a lot stronger for newbies. So it is not impossible for something to dominate and evolve unnoticed. Some monsters here had been gaining strength for a while after all. It's really rare we found this."
The guide spoke, and even glanced at Carl one time.
"True," a veteran then said, "but what should we do? Should we proceed to the green chasm after all? There should be another leader-class monster there. Maybe it's even the one that injured this one."
"If that's the monsters and tried extending its territory as far as to here that seems worrying. It has been a week since it's been spotted, maybe it had made a breakthrough…"
"Phew."
A hunter spat air, knowing that was completely possible.
"We should not go after all."
"I'm not as strong as you guys, and I'm satisfied."
The group had been very noisy.
Alex then stood from where he was seated and approached the group.
"We go down."
Seeing Alex got their attention, he continued:
"Going to the green chasm, we have to trek these forest for at least one more day. And we don't know what the hell injured that giant bear or what more is lurking around us. The best thing we had to do is go down, take those corpses with us, and report this to the managing club."
This was the first time Alex had spoken so much and he was actually reasonable. With how those GKS cultivators went down, surely they could not have died simply by a battle with the giant bear. They could not be that weak. There should be more to the story.
"Surely, you don't think the one who's stationed here could be so weak too." Alex said the same thing in Carl's mind.
And Alex was right.
It was indeed best to report this to the managing club immediately, although Carl have a little curiosity of the Green Chasm monster.
Alex looked at the captain while talking. Austin Marshalls was the authority here, and he already made it quite clear to Alex that he somehow desperately wanted to go to green chasm.
Mason however was the one who replied.
"If you want to leave, why don't you leave? No one is forcing you here. The sun is so bright. Surely, you're not scared of the dark no more." Mason laughed.
Alex glared at Mason, but he did not reply and already made an effort to ignore Mason.
Jill, the scout, was only happy he did not need to break up a fight just as he got back again.
Jill knew that Alex wasn't particularly fond of their group, and could understand where Alex was coming from. And honestly, he felt like he was right.
"Why don't we go back now as the boy says? Everyone should be satisfied with their loot already. We can come back for another time." Jill suddenly said.
The captain had already spoken to Jill. And he had not disagreed with him until now. But with his duty as the scout, Jill knew the situation more than anyone.
If he's saying that they should stop for now, maybe they should stop. That's what he told him too.
The conversation went on for a while. The front group also spoken to each other in secret, and when they returned, the Captain agreed to abandon the mission, and the group finally started to go back down.
Carl was a little disappointed. He really wanted to see this monster from the Green Chasm and a group for his protection. Maybe he could deal a finishing blow too. That would help his cultivation greatly.
Carl was only borderline satisfied with his loots.
'I guess I just had to talk to the captain after this, or find another group.'