After Dustin returned to the castle, he avoided alerting anyone and wrote two letters instead. He left one letter in Rufus' study and the other in Austin's bedroom.

Dustin considered it his unspoken farewell. He wasn't great at expressing sentimentalities, and at times, leaving in silence was the better choice.

As dusk settled, Dustin headed straight for the southwestern desert, riding in Grace's car. The largest desert was known as the Deadlands.

It had earned its name due to its harsh and dangerous environment. Survival seemed nearly impossible for those who mistakenly ventured within.

In spite of its dangers, the Deadlands were home to a wealth of hidden treasures, including gold mines. Hence, there were frequent expeditions from teams that risked their lives to tempt fate.

If lucky, one might stumble upon valuable treasures and become wealthy overnight. However, if luck was not on their side, the consequences could be fatal.

It wasn't a stretch to claim that more than a h