Chapter 289: Don’t Mind What I’m After, I Definitely Have My Reasons

Chapter 289: Don’t Ask What I’m After—I’m Definitely After Something

Under the icy flow, an eerie sound pulsed through the water again.

Wu Yue abruptly turned and pushed Shen Que away, "It's back."

They’d finally found a quiet spot to be alone—only for it to be ruined.

Shen Que grumbled, "Damn thing won’t quit. I’ll take care of it."

Wu Yue asked Shen Que, "Did you tell Mo Ke and the Aurora crew to leave first?"

Shen Que nodded, "I went back to shore and told them to leave, then came straight to find you."

Wu Yue, "How's your relationship with Mo Ke?"

Shen Que, "Mo Ke is very reliable. We've completed several Arctic expeditions and hunts together. He's a trustworthy partner."

Wu Yue, "Let's head back. This thing’s weird—it seems smarter than the beasts outside.

I wonder if Mo Ke knows about the situation here. It'd be best if he could provide some new clues."

Shen Que nodded, "Alright."

Climbing onto the jet ski they arrived on, Wu Yue was about to sit at the back when Shen Que scooped her up with one arm and plopped her in front of him.

Wu Yue, "—Can you *not*?"

Shen Que fastened her helmet, "Restrain? Nah."

If it weren't for fear of the Court’s lackeys targeting Wu Yue, he'd want the whole world to know.

Wu Yue, "Sitting in front will block your view."

Shen Que, "It's fine. I’ve got great reflexes—you’re not in the way."

Wu Yue, "..." Is there no one who can rein in this show-off?

Shen Que draped his arms around Wu Yue to grip the handlebars and started the engine.

He tightened his embrace, holding her firmly against him, resting his head by her shoulder.

One thing he didn’t say:

Besides, Wu Yue was so petite, she wouldn’t obstruct his view at all.

The engine roared to life as they sped across the water, chasing after Aurora’s retreating team.

Spotting Aurora’s members in the distance, Wu Yue tapped Shen Que's arm. He slowed down, "What's wrong?"

Wu Yue, "Let me off. Mo Ke can’t know about us."

She’d lied to Mo Ke and didn’t want to strain Shen Que’s relationship with him as well.

Shen Que parked the jet ski. As Wu Yue moved to leave, he pulled her back and bumped his helmet lightly against hers.

Once they left the previous area, their comms came back online. Wu Yue grabbed her own jet ski, and the two rode into Mo Ke’s line of sight one after the other.

Seeing them pull up, Mo Ke, who’d been sitting by the campfire, quickly stood up.

"How did it go? Did you get the Ice Dew?"

Shen Que, "We got it, but there was something strange in the water.

Mo Ke, have you been to that area recently?"

Mo Ke shook his head, "I haven’t been there in a while since the magnetic storm hit. The polar region is about to enter perpetual night, so we’ve been stockpiling supplies for it."

Shen Que, "There might be a highly intelligent creature near the crystal cave’s ice flow. We should take it out before the perpetual night begins."

Mo Ke frowned, "A highly intelligent creature? Now that you mention it, I do recall something.

Right after the magnetic storm, while exploring the polar region, I got hit by some kind of psychic attack.

And it happened near the Ice Dew crystal cave."

Shen Que, "Let’s go take a look."

Mo Ke glanced at Wu Yue standing alone in the distance, "Sorry, Miss Wu Yue, the three-day polar trip I promised you might not happen.

Klaus will escort you out. As compensation, we’ll refund 30% of your payment."

Wu Yue took off her helmet and walked up to Mo Ke, extending her hand,

"Hello, Captain Mo Ke, let me reintroduce myself.

I am Wu Yue, Head of the Blaze Team."

Mo Ke froze for a moment, then frowned instantly, "You deceived me. What’s your goal? Aurora doesn’t work with alliance teams."

Wu Yue pulled out the two keys she had obtained, "These keys—one unlocks the trapped white serpent in Frozen Rift Canyon, the other is for the Tianshan snow toad in the rainforest map.

They used to be World Bosses but have now become part of the dungeon keys. Gather all four keys to unlock the treasure dungeon in Frozen Rift Canyon.

Beating the treasure dungeon will allow these World Bosses to return to their original habitats.

My goal is simple: gather the keys and open the dungeon."

Mo Ke was furious, "You’re exploiting Aurora!!"

Klaus whispered a reminder, "Captain, it’s not exactly exploitation. She paid us well."

Mo Ke, "But she stole our routes!"

Wu Yue nodded, "That’s right. I did use you, and I’m truly sorry."

Mo Ke’s expression turned cold, "Blaze Commander, get out of Aurora’s territory now!!"

Wu Yue, "Captain Mo Ke..." She’d actually hoped to cooperate—if possible, she’d rather avoid conflict.

Mo Ke’s tone darkened, "Don’t make me do this the hard way."

Wu Yue, "..." Alright.

Before Wu Yue could respond, the two keys in her hand suddenly started shaking violently.

As everyone watched in shock, the phantom of a massive white serpent and a giant Tianshan snow toad appeared before them.

Both of them leaned in close to Mo Ke’s face. The sheer pressure from these World Bosses—each requiring an entire team’s firepower to defeat—instantly froze Mo Ke’s expression.

Wu Yue, "Relax. They're trapped within these keys and can't launch any substantial attacks."

Mo Ke's face clouded over. "Are you threatening me?"

He raised his voice angrily, "The Polar Region has never been under the Alliance's jurisdiction, Commander. You're way out of line!"

Seeing Mo Ke being such a hardass, Wu Yue sighed. "Can you at least let me finish?"

Mo Ke, "I won't listen!"

Watching Mo Ke's complete refusal to communicate, Wu Yue smirked.

Hah.

So he wants to play crazy?

Like she can't?

Wu Yue, "Captain Mo Ke, while the Polar Region isn’t under the Alliance’s control, does that make it yours? Does it belong to Aurora?

Sure, you and the guild frequent this place, but the Polar Region itself is shared by humans and wildlife.

I’m only here to find the Bosses that can turn into keys. Opening the dungeon gate will send them back to their original habitats."

Mo Ke sneered, "Save the act. Nobody does anything for free. What’s your real goal?"

Wu Yue was dumbfounded. What could she even say?

Should she mention that with just a wave of her hand, half the Alliance would be under her control?

That she wasn’t living it up in luxury, indulging in hedonism, but instead training relentlessly and traveling nonstop—all held together by the last shred of her conscience?

While others splurged on fleeting pleasures, she was stuck here playing real estate agent for monsters.

Wu Yue gave up. "Fine, yes, I have ulterior motives. Of course I do. Don’t ask what they are—just assume I want something.

What could I want? Oh, right, the treasure inside the dungeon, I guess. Though I don’t even know what’s actually in there.

Not that I need it. I’m stupid rich.

I own an island with a castle full of medieval royal antiques.

The castle’s basement? More antiques—from dynasties predating medieval royalty.

I also own an oil field. It’s endless. We could drill for a hundred years and never tap it out.

Lately, random assets keep appearing under my name—today a shopping street, tomorrow a sky garden, and right before this trip, a diamond mine.

What kind of broken system is the Alliance running? What kind of loophole lets property transfers happen without my consent?"

Under the increasingly baffled stares of Aurora’s members, Wu Yue delivered her mic drop moment:

"Yes, I’m here for something," she added sarcastically.

"As for what exactly? Connect the dots and figure it out yourselves—it's not rocket science."