Beside her, the others were a mix of men and women. Most were in their twenties, appearing to be part of an entourage.

  One middle-aged man, carrying a massive two-handed greatsword on his back, stood out as a high-level Class Awakened. Although Lucian couldn't see his exact level, he could sense the man's aura. He was easily above Level 20.

  This lineup clearly wasn't a group of material hunters. It looked like a young lady from a wealthy and influential family who had just undergone her Class Awakening. Her family had likely dispatched elite guards to protect her while she leveled up in The Stony Barrens to prepare for The Awakening Trials.

  Lucian considered the situation. To be safe, he recalled Nyx into his pet space.

  It wasn't that Lucian wanted to keep a low profile, but he knew nothing about these people's identities, levels, or true strength. It wouldn't be wise to expose the fact that he owned a dragon so early.

  Originally, Lucian intended to wait for them to leave before digging up the treasure map. In the wilderness, it was always better to avoid contact with others if possible.

  However, the group showed no signs of moving. They stayed put, apparently resting and discussing something.

  Lucian's patience eventually wore thin. He decided to just head down the ridge, dig up his treasure, and leave.

  Down below the ridge.

  Chloe gripped her staff, her beautiful face a mask of frustration and anxiety.

  "Gareth, are we really going to let such a perfect opportunity slip away?"

  The man she addressed was Gareth, the same middle-aged warrior Lucian had noticed earlier. He was the highest-leveled and strongest member of the group, serving as their backbone.

  Facing his young lady's questioning, Gareth gave a wry smile and rubbed his coarse stubble. "There’s nothing we can do, Miss."

  "This Hidden Realm requires a minimum of eight people. We only have seven. We simply can't enter."

  Chloe frowned, thinking hard. "What if we send Celia back to Riverport City? She has the highest Agility. She could bring back more experts..."

  A woman in leather armor with a plain appearance shook her head, instantly dousing Chloe’s hopes. "That won't work."

  "We're too far from Riverport City. Even for me, a round trip would take more than a day."

  "Hidden Realms spawn randomly throughout the wilderness. If no one enters, they vanish and reappear elsewhere."

  "The energy of this Hidden Realm is already unstable; it’s clearly been here for a while. It’ll probably vanish within the next half-day."

  "In other words, there's no time to go back to Riverport City for reinforcements and make it back before the Secret Realm disappears."

  "I..." Chloe was speechless.

  After a long silence, she let out a heavy sigh.

  Secret Realms were similar to Dungeons.

  But unlike Dungeons, which were farmed countless times from the moment they appeared—making it rare to find anything good even with decent drop rates—Secret Realms were different. Although they functioned like Dungeons, the drop rates in Secret Realms were significantly higher. Finding top-tier equipment or skill books was entirely possible, enough to make a Class Awakened’s power skyrocket instantly.

  Stumbling upon a Secret Realm, especially a randomly spawned Hidden Realm, was like finding a pile of cash on the side of the road.

  Who could stand seeing money on the ground but being unable to pick it up just because they lacked enough people?

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  Seeing Chloe’s profound disappointment, Gareth took a more philosophical approach. "Don't take it so hard, Miss," he comforted her. "With your strength, you're practically guaranteed to be the City Champion of Riverport City. Even in The Southern Province, you’ll easily rank in the top twenty."

  "With your Hidden Class, you'll have your pick of The Top Ten Academies. Once you're in, they’ll provide plenty of other Secret Realms for you to clear."

  "I know all that, Gareth..." Chloe shook her head with a bitter smile. "You're right. If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be. If we can't enter this Hidden Realm, then so be it."

  Gareth saw that his lady had finally come to terms with it. He was about to offer a few more words of comfort when his warrior instincts suddenly flared. His expression tightened, and he instantly gripped the hilt of the greatsword on his back. He snapped his gaze in one direction and barked, "Who’s there?!"

  Everyone jumped into action, drawing their weapons and instinctively moving to shield Chloe in the center of their formation.

  Lucian hadn't expected such a sharp reaction. Unfazed, he continued to walk forward slowly, calling out, "Relax. I’m just passing through."

  Passing through?!

  Gareth and the others were stunned. They watched as this strange individual walked onto the open ground just twenty meters away. He paused for a brief second, then, without even sparing them a glance, continued on his way as if he truly were just a passerby leaving the area.

  Lucian looked quite a mess.

  Even though Nyx, that game-breaking existence, had been "carrying" him lately, his solo trek to the Divine Treasure Map's coordinates had already left him looking ragged. For the past few days, he’d been squaring off against fierce beasts to hone his combat skills. Now, his clothes were little more than tattered rags stained with grime and dried blood. He looked more like a beggar than a warrior.

  "Probably a material hunter," Gareth muttered, his eyes locked on Lucian as he knit his brows. "But we’re deep in the heart of The Stony Barrens. He’s all alone? No party?"

  Lucian certainly looked the part, so the suspicion was only natural. Material hunters didn't have the best reputation. In their line of work, it was all about the credits, and plenty of them weren't above murder and robbery in the wilderness. It was a trade that had long since rotted through. As a retainer for a Great House, Gareth had always looked down his nose at people like that.

  Chloe’s eyes lit up. She gave Gareth’s sleeve a sharp tug. "Gareth, do you think we could bring him in? Just to make up the numbers."

  "Then we’d finally be able to enter the Hidden Realm..."

  "Invite a material hunter into our ranks?" Gareth’s frown deepened. He clearly didn't want anything to do with a bottom-feeder like that.

  Seeing Gareth’s hesitation and Lucian starting to walk away, Chloe pressed on. "It’s just one guy. Even if he has ideas, he can’t really hurt us. But how often do we stumble upon a Hidden Realm? We might even pull a Gold Tier drop from the Secret Realm! It would be a waste to just walk away..."

  Gareth paused. She had a point. Lucian looked young, which meant his level probably wasn't anything special. Even if he wasn't a saint, he wouldn't be hard to manage. At worst, Gareth would just have to keep a close eye on him during the run. He'd be a warm body to trigger the entrance requirement and nothing more. Besides, with House Sterling’s standing in Riverport City, what material hunter would be suicidal enough to cross them?

  "You have a point, My Lady," Gareth conceded. "Celia, go talk to him. Offer him a hundred thousand to join us and fill the slot for the Secret Realm. See if he bites."

  "On it," Celia replied. She activated the Assassin's Awakening skill, Sprint. Her Agility stat surged, and she blurred into motion, a gust of wind trailing her as she intercepted Lucian.

  With his high attributes, Lucian sensed the approach instantly. He stopped in his tracks and whirled around, eyes sharp with suspicion. "What do you want?"

  Celia came to a halt about ten meters away. She raised her hands to show she wasn't reaching for a weapon. "Easy there. I’m just here to talk business on behalf of my lady."

  "What kind of business?" Lucian asked.

  "We’ll pay you a hundred thousand credits to join our party and help us access a certain location," Celia explained. "You won't have to lift a finger. Just follow behind us. Once we’re done, the money is yours. Sound fair?"

  She let out a small smile. "A hundred thousand just for walking with us? That’s a pretty sweet deal for a material hunter, wouldn't you say?"

  "A hundred thousand just to fill a slot?" Lucian instantly connected the dots. A smirk played on his lips. "You found a Secret Realm with a player count requirement, didn't you?"

  Celia didn't answer, which was an answer in itself. There was no point in being coy; it was the only logical conclusion.

  Lucian didn't care much about the money, but the potential rewards from clearing a Secret Realm were another story. He hadn't expected to stumble onto a party looking for an extra head while he was out treasure hunting.

  "Who’s calling the shots in your group?" Lucian asked. "Take me to them."

  Celia bristled slightly. She felt like he was slighting her by demanding to speak with Gareth directly. Still, she didn't have much of a choice. Gritting her teeth, she jerked her head back toward the group. "Fine. Follow me."

  Lucian followed her back to the group. Celia leaned in and whispered to Gareth and Chloe, likely warning them that this material hunter was greedy and had his eyes on the Secret Realm itself.

  Gareth nodded, keeping his expression neutral. He stepped forward and extended a hand. "Greetings. I am Gareth, the Head Butler of House Sterling in Riverport City."

  "House Sterling?" Lucian studied him for a moment before shaking his hand. "As in Silas Sterling, the Lord Mayor of Riverport City?"

  Gareth’s chest puffed out slightly, a flash of pride crossing his face. "Exactly. That House Sterling."