The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　While humans cannot obtain the balanced nutrition their bodies truly need from "food cards," if it's merely for quenching hunger and thirst, then it's utterly detrimental.

　Thinking of this, Malt felt a little more at ease. With this team, at least there was no need to worry about food, which was already a rare blessing.

　She continued, “When trekking long distances in the desert, transportation is essential, and I can operate a sand cart.”

　Dak nodded slightly; this was a plus.

　A sand cart is a vehicle that resembles a sled in appearance. Its core is a special power unit that can absorb sand and gravel from the ground and then flow it out through pipes, making the sand cart chassis blend into the ground as if it were moving on water.

　However, to operate a sand truck, one must have the ability to "control the sand and dust." In other words, the driver is the true power source.

　Not all members of the Sand Clan can drive sand carts.

　However, this ability is of little use to them who possess the "Lunar Chariot".

　"Is there anything else?" Dark asked.

　Maiya frowned slightly; the other party's nonchalant attitude made her somewhat displeased.

　In the Death Desert, having sufficient desert knowledge and experience, and being able to lead a team to find food and water, already makes one a qualified guide. If they can also drive a sand cart, then they are considered excellent.

　But her prized abilities seemed to mean nothing to the other party.

　After a brief silence, Malt, as if challenging something, pointed to her head and said, "I can sense danger in advance, not just sandstorms. Since I became a guide, the number of times my team has been wiped out is zero."

　"Danger Premonition" Dark politely showed a surprised expression. This was an extremely rare ability. Perhaps this wheat-skinned girl had the potential to become a fortune teller.

　However, this is not what they need.

　Dark and Emma exchanged a glance, then asked, "Since you can foresee danger, you should also be able to locate it, right?"

　Malt: "

　Dark smiled and said, "You just need to answer yes or no."

　Malt said, forcing herself to speak, "Although I haven't tried it, it should work."

　"Very good," Dark said with satisfaction. "You're hired! *ding*"

　Malt: "

　Dark said slowly, "If this trip goes well, I can pay you another fee, or grant you a small wish."

　"How much?" Malt's eyes lit up, and he completely ignored the second option.

　Dark pointed to the counter and said, "That's all."

　Malt stuck out its tongue and licked the corner of its mouth; its inherent adventurous spirit finally overcame its instinct to "avoid harm."

　The Sand People have been rooted here for generations, and there is a certain degree of instability in their bloodline.

　Of the wages that Dak had paid to the tavern, Malt received less than 20%.

　However, she can collect the full amount for these kinds of private "consumptions." This is an unspoken rule within the clan.

　In other words, this one job will bring in at least a year's worth of profit. "If things don't look good, we can always run back."

　Malt's mind raced, already considering all the possibilities. To traverse the desert of death was to be accompanied by death itself.

　But she was quite confident in her ability to escape in the desert. This time, she might very well break her hard-earned record of "zero team wipes".

　Her eyes flickered slightly, and she looked up and said, "I accepted!" Dark couldn't help but laugh and said, "Congratulations on joining the team."

　The two reached out their hands and clasped them together across the table, signifying Malt's official joining.

　After shaking hands, Maiya immediately put herself into her role.

　She asked directly, "Now can you reveal the true purpose of our trip?"

　Dark shook his head slightly and said, "After we set off."

　Malt curled her lip and then said, "So, how do you plan to deal with those hyena-men outside?"

　"Hmm," Dark said, slightly surprised. "Them..." He hadn't really thought about that question.

　Malt frowned slightly, two thoughts racing through his mind.

　One reason is that Dak and his group are ultimately young and lack experience in dealing with external enemies. Another reason is that Dak and his group simply don't take those hyena-men outside seriously.

　As a guide who had just joined the team, she naturally hoped for the latter. "This is an opportunity, an opportunity to see their true strength," Maiya thought to herself.

　Previously, it was Dark and the others who tested her; now it's her turn to test Dark and the others.

　If Dark and the others can't even handle the hyenas outside, then she'll have to jump out of the car without hesitation!

　But as Malt pondered this, Dak suddenly asked, "By the way, do you have any tomb raiders here?"

　"Tomb raider" is another name for tomb raiders in this world. When Dark asked this question, Malt finally had a preliminary idea of ​​the purpose of their trip.

　She felt relieved instead.

　Many people come to the Death Desert to pan for gold and dig graves.

　The ancient books preserved by their people clearly record the past of the Death Desert, where a glorious civilization once existed.

　Therefore, countless ruins and tombs do exist in this desert.

　As the terrain changes, tombs and similar structures are occasionally pushed out from the depths of the earth, attracting countless greedy people.

　This is a treasure bestowed upon the desert of death by history, and it is also the core reason why people still live in this dead land.

　It is precisely because of the existence of "treasures" that people are constantly attracted to the area, which then develops into settlements, towns, and cities.

　And speaking of Tufu...

　Malt said confidently, "I can do everything Tu Fu can." Dak laughed again, "Then it seems I've indeed found the right person." Malt asked, "When do we set off?"

　"That's a secret, of course," Dark said. "But if it's convenient for you, you can come with us tonight."

　Malt narrowed his eyes and said, "Then I'll need about two hours to prepare."

　Dak nodded and said, "Okay."

　Maiya then stood up and said, "See you in two hours." After saying that, she turned and walked towards the counter, whispered a few words to the man behind the counter, then turned and went into the back, quickly disappearing from sight.

　The three of them, including Dak, continued with their dinner.

　Just two minutes later, someone came over, sat down directly opposite Dark, and asked, "Do you need any help?"

　Dark refused outright: "No need."

　That person was decisive; after being rejected, they left immediately. But soon after, a new person came to make contact.

　Clearly, a team with deep pockets and corresponding strength is indeed very attractive.

　Those who came to make contact included adventurers, tomb raiders, and even members of the Sand Clan.

　It was only after that Sand Clan member arrived that Dark learned that some Sand Clan members also worked independently.

　In their pursuit of greater wealth, they abandoned the protection of their tribe. Yet, the Sandworm Tavern did not drive them away, allowing them to roam freely within its premises and even compete with their own tribe for business.

　Of course, not many people would forgo hiring a tavern and instead seek out a solo employer. Dark refused outright as well.

　After rejecting several groups of people in this way, no one came up anymore.

　Dark's gaze swept across the crowd, and he noticed that they had changed their target to persuade someone else.

　All sorts of people gather in the Sand Tavern.

　Some of them exuded an extremely dangerous aura. Dak paid special attention to them and memorized their faces.

　“Those people over there are probably tomb raiders too,” Emma suddenly leaned closer and whispered.

　Dark turned his gaze away and said, "It's not just one batch. After Malt returns, we'll inquire whether any ruins or tombs have been unearthed recently; that might provide clues."

　From the moment he received that wine glass, Darke became aware that change had begun.

　Two hours later, Malt returned.

　Meanwhile, Dak was exchanging ramblings with the man behind the counter. Both were trying to glean additional information from the other. But both, big and small, were incredibly shrewd, and not a drop of water was enough for them.

　As soon as Malt arrived, the man got up to say goodbye and returned to the counter. Dak looked up and saw that Malt had changed into long sleeves and trousers, trying to cover her skin as much as possible under her clothes.

　She carried quite a few things with her, but they were all packed into a leather suitcase. "I have a sand cart, it's in the back," Maiya pointed to the back of the tavern and asked, "Do we go in through the front or the back door?"

　Dark said, "No rush, let's find out some things first."

　Professional tasks should indeed be handled by professionals.

　Dak quickly gained a very clear understanding of the changes that had taken place in the Death Desert during this period.

　In short, news suddenly spread from the Karah region that a tomb had been unearthed in the Death Desert, and that it was an imperial tomb with at least a thousand years of history.

　Such messages, though they circulate every now and then, are mostly fabricated.

　These rumors and legends are bait to attract outsiders, and are mostly spread deliberately by the hyenas of the Karaha Territory.

　However, during this period, many teams returned from the Death Desert, bringing news of unusual changes occurring in the desert.

　The rumors that were always circulating in the Karah territory suddenly seemed to have more truth to them.

　When Maiya heard Dak mention "Tufu", she initially thought that's where they came from.

　But since Dak didn't ask, she would naturally choose not to explain. She couldn't very well tell her employer that most of the rumors about the tomb excavation were false, could she?

　In that case, if Dark and the others suddenly change their minds and quit, where will she get her payment?

　On the contrary, as long as Dak and the others continue to believe the rumors, it is none of her business if they venture deep into the desert and return empty-handed.

　But now that Dark had asked, she had no choice but to explain. However, after explaining, she discovered that Dark and the others hadn't come because of the rumor after all!

　Her innate keen intuition made her realize a possibility in an instant, and her breathing became rapid.

　Malt kept her lips tightly closed, saying no more, and only answered the questions that Dak needed her to answer.

　Half an hour later, the two parties reached a final agreement and prepared to leave the Sandworm Tavern.

　As they stood up one by one, all eyes quietly turned to them. Dark walked in front as usual, reaching out to open the tavern's main door.

　The hyena-men who had been waiting outside for two and a half hours suddenly became agitated. "They're here."

　Bai Yin's spirits lifted, and he pulled out a dagger.

　But just as Dak stepped out the door, the mysteriously vanished black carriage suddenly reappeared.

　This was not unexpected by the hyenas.

　They had long considered that carriage, which could perfectly conceal its tracks, as their own.

　They knew perfectly well that when Dak and the others came out of the Sandworm Tavern, the vanished carriage would surely reappear.

　The time between when Dak and the others left the tavern and when they boarded the carriage was their only chance!

　Otherwise, once Dak and the others board the carriage, they could disappear again along with it.

　Hyenas usually wait until outsiders have left the tavern a certain distance before making their move.

　But today is clearly different.

　Risking a complete falling out with the Sandworm Tavern, Silver gave the order to attack the Jedi Hyenas!

　At the same time, the hyenas of the Cerberus Gang also made their move without hesitation! The Cerberus Gang is a gang whose totem is the "three-headed dog of hell". Their leader at this time was a fat woman whose height and waist size were similar.

　The fat woman was nicknamed "Fat Madam," and she possessed a ruthlessness that belied her appearance.

　With a stomp of her foot, the fat lady drew out a long black whip soaked in venom, and charged out at the same time as the hyenas.

　In the blink of an eye, the two gangs formed a pincer movement.

　At that moment, the last malt to emerge had just crossed the threshold.

　The battle was about to break out in that instant.

　Dak raised his head, frowned, and took a step forward.

　A moment later, thick purple smoke suddenly rose from beneath his feet, spreading rapidly in all directions like clouds of smoke.

　Where the smoke enveloped, space seemed to freeze instantly.

　Dozens of hyena-men who had suddenly attacked were frozen in mid-air. Their thoughts did not slow down, but their movement speed was almost zero. Their once-proud agility had become a burden, making it difficult for them to move an inch in the "Nightmare Space".

　As their thoughts raced, the hyenas subconsciously scanned their surroundings and spotted their companions, who were also frozen in this space.

　However, the presence of companions did not bring them peace of mind. On the contrary, boundless fear instantly filled their hearts!

　[First day of March, no day off! The monthly ticket rankings are full of giveaways, so I'm doing the same as the pros and opening a giveaway with a guaranteed 648 tickets. Every monthly ticket I cast in March is a prize ticket. Since the draw is done randomly in the backend, I suggest casting your tickets one at a time to increase your chances of winning. I'll do a separate chapter later.]