The Red Group, fueled by James's intuition, continued their search for more artifacts in the woods. His insightful deductions led them to quickly uncover another hidden treasure, allowing them to maintain their hard-earned position at the top of the ranks.
Meanwhile, other groups, having caught onto the Red Group's strategy of connecting tribal history with the artifacts, also managed to discover some. However, despite their efforts, only five other groups had successfully located an artifact.
The Red Group, having unearthed two, still held the lead with a solid ten points.
Presently, the Red Group was at a standstill, their eyes scanning their pamphlets for the next clue.
"For many pieces make a stand, fallen apart, they turn to sand," Kelvin read aloud from the cryptic text.
"How does this even make sense?! This is neither Geography nor History! They've given us a riddle!" Kelvin exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"Calm down, Kelvin. No one said this would be a piece of cake, even with five of the best students," Priscilla said, trying to soothe his frustration.
"I think we should go for the artifact that's worth twenty points now," Jeremy interjected, a familiar glint in his eyes.
"Are you crazy?! You've said that ten times now. What makes you think it'll be easy? Discovering the ones worth five points is daunting, and you think we'll just get that one served on a golden platter?" Kelvin, ever the pragmatist, lamented.
"Kelvin has a good point. I think if we gather enough of the five-point artifacts, we won't have to worry as much about the one worth twenty," Priscilla suggested.
"Kelvin, isn't there any artifact that seems related to the riddle on the pamphlet? Perhaps, if we use our knowledge of History, we'll find a connection," James pondered aloud.
"No. I checked the pamphlet, and I don't have any idea. I also checked the map to see if lady luck is on our side like the first time," Kelvin replied, a hint of defeat in his voice.
"Let me have a look," Jeremy offered, reaching for the map.
The others gathered around Jeremy, hoping to discover something.
Jeremy scrutinized the map intently, his brow furrowed in concentration, but no immediate answer came to his mind.
"Ahh, let's just forget about it. Let's check other artifacts," Kelvin said, his frustration bubbling over.
The others began to move away, and Kelvin was about to snatch the map back when Jeremy suddenly stopped them.
"Wait a minute... you all should gather around me again," Jeremy said, a spark of realization in his eyes.
"There's no point; let's move to the next one," Tolly said, her patience wearing thin.
"For many pieces make a stand..." Jeremy mumbled to himself, his gaze fixed on the map.
"Of course!" he exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "Guys, you have to gather around me again. I think I'm onto something."
Intrigued by his sudden burst of insight, the others did as he said, their eyes fixed on him expectantly.
"Now, scramble off," Jeremy said with a sly grin on his face.
"Is this guy nuts?" Tolly muttered under her breath.
"There's no time for jokes, Jeremy!" James shouted, his face a mask of frustration.
"Don't you get it?!" Jeremy retorted. "Is there the Sherpa tribe on the pamphlet?"
"Yes, Sherpa is here, and wait... for many pieces make a stand, fallen apart, they turn to sand. I think I got it! You must have realized it when we huddled together, and our shadows showed on the map. You devil!" Kelvin said and grinned.
"Mountain Everest! But the Sherpa tribe doesn't have much in History other than the mountain itself. You don't think the artifact is a mountain, do you?"
"Seems like you've all figured out," Jeremy smiled. "Now that you've said it, there's an image of an artifact that looks like a mountain on the pamphlet."
Jeremy indeed was a genius. When they all gathered, their shadow was cast on the map, and due to the differences in heights, their shadows together looked like a mountain.
"Okay! We know what the artifact is, but we still don't know where it was hidden," Tolly complained.
"I remember we saw a bunch of rocks in an area we passed earlier. Perhaps it's there?" Priscilla suggested.
"Won't hurt if we try," James smiled at Priscilla, which made her cheeks turn red immediately.
"Lover boy," Jeremy teased before they headed to the rocks area.
After ten minutes of walking, they were finally standing in front of the rocks.
"What do we do now? There are so many rocks," Jeremy asked.
"Let's check the sedimentary rocks first," Tolly said.
"Why did you say that?"
"Fallen apart, they turn to sand... the riddle says it right? I can only think of sedimentary rocks. We were informed the event is based on Geography too, right?"
The others didn't bother replying and used the mallets to break only the sedimentary rocks.
Just as the riddle said, with one swing of the mallet, the rocks quickly turned to sand.
They kept breaking the sedimentary rocks until it remained two.
"I hate to think your theory is wrong, Tolly," Kelvin said as he was panting.
*Bang! Crack*
Jeremy swung his mallet on the last rock, and it quickly turned to sand. When the dust settled, a shiny rock could be seen. No doubt, the rock was carved to look like a mountain.
"Well... her theory is right."
Just as Jeremy bent to pick it, a hand had hastily grabbed the artifact before him.
"Well, looks like five points is going to the Green Group," Dylan said with an evil grin plastered on his face.
"What the? You reaper! Drop the artifact; it belongs to us!" Kelvin yelled in frustration.
"It hasn't been marked and recorded, correct? You can't claim it," Dylan replied still with the evil grin.
"No way! We didn't do all of that work for you. Hand it over now!" Jeremy too shouted.
The other members of the Green Group were shaking and didn't even know what to say.
"Dylan, I think it's best we leave it," Robert said, shaking in his pants.
"Shut up, yellow belly! Take it and record it now!" Dylan shouted.
'I wouldn't bother to do this if not for all of the work we did to get this artifact. I can't let them get away easily,' Jeremy thought to himself.
"Time to break some bones."