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Javier and the others stood at the edge of the deep pit, gazing at the team of Relic Hunters, their faces etched with resentment.
The white-haired man and his group donned their professional attire, carrying specialized equipment, and entered the deep pit.
"I found them. They are a renowned archaeological team from the Pegrosia United Kingdom."
Behind Javier, a long-haired beauty with cherry-blossom purple hair held a laptop, her fingers dancing across the keyboard.
"That short white-haired man is named Ishmael, a one-star Relic Hunter."
"And the short black-haired woman behind him is a Rare Book Hunter named Inez."
"She is also internationally renowned, proficient in multiple languages, including ancient scripts, and has published numerous papers."
The others gathered around her, looking at the information about the two on her computer. She was the team's Pharmacist, Aiona Isadora.
"I'm also proficient in multiple languages and ancient scripts!"
Fannie hooked her arm through Aiona's, biting her lip and saying indignantly.
At this moment, the white-haired man Ishmael and Inez, along with their group of eleven, descended into the deep pit, their faces alight with joy as they looked at the stone archway ahead.
"It's a civilization site we've never encountered before."
They touched the cold walls, observing the murals painted on them.
The stone archway and tunnel were now illuminated by numerous installed light bulbs, making them very bright.
They proceeded, marveling at the greatness and prosperity of this civilization every step of the way.
Soon, they reached the final section of the tunnel, entering a spacious and brightly lit cavernous hall.
The large number of skeletons on the ground had already been gathered into a pile by the Cultural Relics Bureau officials, awaiting equipment to transport them upwards.
"These skeletons are not human skeletons."
Among the eleven, a bald man knelt before the pile of skeletons, observing them closely.
He discovered that the bones of these skeletons were larger and longer than those of normal humans, and their finger joints appeared to have an extra segment.
"It should be said, these are skeletons of a species never seen before."
"They do not belong to any human race that has ever appeared on any continent. They are a newly discovered species."
The group of eleven immediately grew solemn. The bald man was their Anthropologist, and his professional expertise was highly trusted by everyone.
"In other words, an alien race?"
A sharp glint flashed in Ishmael's eyes. He looked up at the altar in the center of the cavernous hall, his breathing gradually growing heavy.
What he pursued was renown, and now, the opportunity to directly become a world-class Hunter had arrived.
This opportunity lay right before him.
"Do the things depicted in these murals truly exist?"
The eleven individuals split up. Some studied the skeletons, others the totems on the stone pillars, and some the murals.
"These writingsā¦ they look familiar."
Inez approached the altar steps, crouched down, and her palm grazed the ancient script carved into the steps, cold and hard.
"These areā¦ the Spiteru Script!"
A sudden realization dawned on Inez, and cold sweat trickled down her face.
She had once seen writings and information related to humanoid races from the Dark Continent in the V5 Organization's Ancient Text Archive.
"Inez, what's wrong?"
Ishmael noticed the change in her expression and asked with concern.
"Should I tell Ishmael?"
"If I tell him, he'll certainly announce this discovery to the world."
"But anything related to the Dark Continent is explicitly forbidden from being disseminated by the V5 Organization."
Inez's mind raced. Back then, she had only gone to the V5 Organization as a linguist to study its ancient texts.
She never expected to see this script here.
"Inez, don't you have anything to say?"
Ishmael looked at her with a gentle smile.
Inez's thoughts were interrupted by him. She looked up at Ishmael.
"No, I'm just surprised. This is an undiscovered writing system."
Inez ultimately decided to conceal it. She had signed a confidentiality agreement with the V5 Organization.
If she revealed any content related to the Dark Continent, she would become a wanted criminal, stripped of her right to walk in the light.
"Is that so? Then I'll leave it to you."
Ishmael narrowed his eyes. He lifted his leg, stepping higher.
Inez, as a Hunter herself, was different from the other team members. She didn't have to obey him; their ranks were the same.
"A stone coffin?"
Ishmael reached the top of the altar. Gazing at the stone coffin, which was taller than himself, a slight ripple stirred in his heart.
"Hm?"
He circled the stone coffin once, finding the overturned coffin lid on the ground. He then leaped onto the stone coffin.
"The contents inside have all been taken."
Ishmael surveyed the interior of the massive stone coffin. He could easily discern subtle differences in the varying depths of dust within the coffin.
Tap.
He landed inside the stone coffin, crouched down, and with both hands, he traced a line at the center of the coffin's bottom and along its edge.
"Something was originally placed here, but it's gone now."
Ishmael frowned, looking at the varying thickness of dust on his two index fingers.
"Could it be that amateur team from before?"
He recalled the team led by the man named Javier whom they had encountered upon their arrival.
"Inez, who was the Hunter you mentioned earlier who discovered this ancient site?"
Ishmael leaped back onto the stone coffin, asking Inez, who was still studying the ancient script on the steps.
"Gin Bradley. Although he only became a Hunter a year ago."
"But his talent and strength have already been recognized by many Star Hunters, who believe it's only a matter of time before he becomes world-renowned."
Inez stood up and approached the top of the altar, looking at Ishmael standing on the edge of the stone coffin.
"What's wrong with him?"
"I suspect he took the contents from this stone coffin."
Ishmael's expression darkened. The contents of the stone coffin must be crucially important; this would affect his reputation and income.
"It seems we'll have to meet this legendary rookie."
Ishmael leaped down from the stone coffin, a sinister smile on his face as he headed towards the tunnel.
"I advise you not to be careless. The other party is no simple character."
Inez stood on the altar, kindly offering a word of caution, but he seemed to pay no mind at all.
"Always so careless, he'll suffer a great loss sooner or later."
Inez shook her head gently, no longer bothering with him, and refocused on deciphering the Spiteru Script.
"Should I inform that person about this?"
A figure flashed through Inez's mind. A face clad in a long robe, grotesque, yet often bearing a smile.
Meanwhile, Ishmael walked back along the tunnel and ascended to the surface via the temporary elevator built by the Cultural Relics Bureau.
"Hey, I'm asking you."
The Cultural Relics Bureau's site manager had just passed by when Ishmael pressed a hand on his shoulder and asked in a deep voice.
"Where is that Hunter named Gin Bradley now?"