For a moment, Vespera felt a genuine rush of excitement, but it disappeared almost immediately. The Jitanese ghost popped into her mind again. Vespera thought that she didn''t want the prize because if she ended up owning the ind, she might have to take that ghost home with her.


    She held Dominic''s hand and said sincerely, "I don''t love the ind, but if you''re giving it to me, I''ll make sure to sell it for a great price."


    Dominic fell silent. Standing to the side, Evelyn teased, "Dominic, don''t be too confident. What if Vance and I find it first?"


    Dominic nced at her and replied, "What if? Evelyn, don''t sell yourself short either."


    Evelyn couldn''t say a thing. Then, Calvert and Gerard jumped in, iming that they would win. Just like that, the tension broke, and the mood lifted. It was as if everyone was focused on the treasure hunt.


    Shortly after, Belinda handed each guest a map and a clue. She announced, "The program starts in 20 minutes. Best of luck. I''ll be waiting in the first room on the third floor. When you win, help me put this ne back on."


    Then, she left, leaving the guests in the hall. The guests began studying their clues. Some insisted that the ne had to be somewhere in the castle, some were convinced it was in the forest, some suspected the basement, and some believed it was in the attic.


    Gradually, the excitement started to sour into irritation. The voices grew louder. People started to argue because of different opinions. In addition to what was in the air, the men grew restless and short-tempered. The women, who were dizzy, slow, and barely holding it together, easily exploded too.


    The countdown hadn''t even finished yet, but the air was thick with tension as if a spark would set the whole hall aze.


    Dominic and the others removed themselves from the chaos calmly. He hadn''t said a word about their clue or shared a n. He just watched the crowd silently.


    Although Vespera and the others were confused, no one questioned Dominic. They believed that he had a reason if he was keeping quiet.


    Once the countdown finished, Dominic leaned in and murmured something to Calvert. Then, he and the others left the hall and walked down the stairs.


    At the stairs, Vance caught up to Dominic and asked, "Dom, where are we going? Are we actually going to hunt for that ne?"


    Vance didn''t care about winning at all. In response, Dominic said, "No, we''re just getting some fresh air."


    "Fresh air?" Vance asked.


    Dominic replied, "Don''t you think the air inside is getting thicker by the second? People are losing it. It''s like watching zombies in the early stages of an outbreak."


    Vance''s expression changed. Behind them, Vespera, Evelyn, and Gerard felt uneasy upon hearing the conversation. They had all noticed it, but they just hadn''t wanted to admit it.


    Dominic continued indifferently, "The treasure hunt isn''t about the ne. It''s a test. They''re observing every new member''s behavior, capability, weakness, strength, and others. I have to say that it is an efficient method."


    "How evil!"


    "This is literally a cult, so it''s natural that the method they use is evil."<fnb60c> Readplete version only at </fnb60c>


    "We should leave."


    "Good luck with that."


    They talked in a low voice as they moved through the castle''s first floor. They then exited the castle.


    Outside, the moon drifted in and out of the clouds. There was no rain, but the moisture hung heavy in the air. When the wind blew, it helped them think a little more clearly.


    Vance removed his jacket and draped it over Evelyn''s shoulders. Meanwhile, Vespera nced to the right uneasily.


    Suddenly, Gerard shouted, "The bridge is gone."


    Everyone looked over. The bridge they walked on when they went to the castle was no longer there. Well, it was there, but the middle had snapped. For a moment, it looked like the middle part had vanished.