That night, even the top predators of the wasteland did not dare to move.

At dawn, a new day arrived with the first light of the rising sun. Marshall climbed out of the off-road vehicle, his face drained with exhaustion, and looked toward the horizon.

Beyond the plain ahead stood a massive city. The city's governor had been allied with the Ludendorff family for generations.

Marshall secretly looked forward to resting for two full days after entering the city. At the very least, he needed a proper shower to wash away the dust and fatigue from the road.

He loved cleanliness, but everything had fallen apart while hunting that damned Holtrien man. Now that the guy had vanished without a trace and was hiding like a coward, he had no choice but to return to his family estate and figure out his next move.

"Sir, there's a situation behind us!" his attendant suddenly called out.

Marshall turned and looked back. On a mountain about a mile and a quarter away, a figure stood there, just stan