Wilbur let out a long sigh and said, "Alright, now you''re home too. All eight of you are back in your homes, so I can rx. Get some rest. I''ll head back now. Let''s keep in touch."


    As he turned to leave, he heard Mitch call out, "Wait a minute!"


    Wilbur stopped and turned to see Mitch wobbling as he got up from the sofa. Suddenly, with a loud thud, Mitch dropped to his knees in front of Wilbur.


    "Mitch, you''re drunk."


    Wilbur reached out to help him, but Mitch grabbed his hands firmly, speaking earnestly, "Wait, Wilbur. I''m not drunk. I really have something I need to ask you."


    "Ask me? What do you need? You''re drunk now. Maybe we should talk when you sober up?"


    "No, I can''t wait."


    Mitch shook his head vigorously, his tone sincere and desperate, "I really need money right now, Wilbur. You know we''ve been on twenty-three expeditions without any sess. If this keeps up, I''m afraid I''ll ruin my friends'' lives. I''d rather be a failure myself than drag them down with me. I''m not someone who''s willing to lead them into the abyss. If they had ignored me back then and pursued their own lives, they wouldn''t be like this now. Now... I''m the one who ruined them."


    Mitch''s tears flowed freely as he spoke, his years of hardship pouring out, "You know, since I''m the leader, I can''t show weakness in front of them. I have to bear it alone. But how long can I hold on? Wilbur, I''m begging you. I know you''re also interested in the treasure, right? Join us, and we''ll search for it together. Once we find it, you''ll get a share too. I can even give you my share. I really can''t... I can''t let my teammates suffer any longer."


    Mitch was on the verge of tears as he continued to beg, "Please, lend me a million. With that, we can upgrade our equipment, and I''m sure we can find the treasure hidden deep in Vicente Primeval Forest! We''ll split the treasure, all nine of us! I''ll give you my share. I just need you to lend me a million now. It''s all so close! I really need your help!"


    Faced with Mitch''s tearful and passionate plea, Wilbur was moved. Mitch and his team had indeed sacrificed a lot for this treasure, but Wilbur knew very well that with the formation in the forest, no ordinary person would make it through. Not with a million, not even with ten million. It was simply impossible.