The journey into the mountains was unlikely to be peaceful.


    Marion sensed her unease and took her hand in his. "Don''t worry. I''ll bring enough people to ensure everyone''s safety."


    "Alright." Debra nodded.


    Precaution was indeed necessary.


    That night, she knocked on Andrew''s door.


    "Come in," came his calm voice from inside.


    She pushed the door open and saw Andrew ying chess under the dim glow of a singlemp.


    "Andrew," she started.


    "I know." Andrew lifted his gaze and said, "You''re eager to find out who''s behind all this."


    Debra paused. "Is the treasure really hidden in that mountain?"


    "I don''t know."


    "You don''t?"


    "That mountain was leveled by my ancestors decades ago. They spent five years on the project, but after that, thend was left untended and eventually became overgrown. Now, it''s nothing more than an ordinary mountain trail. I''ve sent people to search for it before, but they found nothing."


    "So, you suspected all along that this mountain might be hiding something valuable? You know so many secrets, yet you''ve kept so much hidden. Out of ten things you say, at least seven are half-truths. I never know which parts to believe. And what about this time? Are you endangering all of us? Or have you simply been moving us around like pieces on a chessboard?"


    Andrew paused from moving a chess piece.


    Debra continued, "I respect you, but that doesn''t mean I''m willing to be your pawn. I refuse to be manipted."


    With that, she turned and walked out of the room.


    Andrew looked down at the chess piece in his hand and smiled. Yet deep inside, it felt as though a sharp de had pierced through his chest, robbing him of breath.


    In the end, he ced the piece back onto the board. ''Unwilling to be manipted. That''s a good start.''


    ...


    Debra and the others set off at the crack


    locati dawn. The drive from t location to the outskirts would get


    at least two hours.  fo


    Randy, who was behind the wheel, was exhausted, but everyone else was in high spirits.


    "Why is it me driving again?" he groaned.


    Erica was beside him in the passenger seat. Debra and


    bet


    apin the middle row, w Gand sat in the bion


    that tired, I can take over for you."


    "Because you''re the best driver we''ve got," Erica said with a grin. "But if you''re


    "Forget it. This is a mountain road. We''re safer if I drive," Randy sighed.


    Sensing Debra''s silence, he looked into the rearview mirror. "Debra, we''re almost at the mountain. What''s bothering you?"


    Debra snapped out of her thoughts and saw everyone looking at her.


    "It''s nothing. I just feel a little uneasy," she replied.


    Erica waved a hand dismissively. "Don''t worry. See the two Penske trucks behind us? They''re filled with Marion''s men."


    Gand eximed, "You packed people into Penske trucks? Whose idea was this?"


    Erica grinned, "Well, isn''t it the perfect way to stay under the radar?"