The Ranch

Treasure Trial (2)

Before reaching their destination, they decided to let the three fastest people go alone, while the other six would pair up. Whoever reached the right apartment would send the next clue to their group chat.

Tih was unanimously acknowledged as one of the top three, but this came with a slight issue. They needed to make sure he understood what do to and would do it. It's well-known by now that Tih gets distracted at the simplest things. A pastry, a person with an eyepatch or tattoos, sometimes he'll even take his time to stare at the ground or sky in a daze.

"Tih, I need you to do exactly as I say..." Kai looks into Tih's stagnant blue eyes. He proceeds to give very detailed instructions and Tih listens wholeheartedly.

Just in case, they give him the most unlikely room, Y173, at the far-end of the district. They make sure to repeat themselves several times on the way, but it's ultimately a waste of words. They'd have no worries if they knew how susceptible Tih is to commands, especially when it comes out of the mouths of certain people.

With district B in sight, the team splits up into six groups. Tih picks up his speed to his normal traveling speed, no longer adjusting to match the group. He far surpasses the time it takes for anyone else to reach their destination, even though his is the farthest.

Tih stops in front of the dot on the map Kai gave him beforehand. He looks up from his screen to see a metal plack, [Y173].

As instructed, Tih takes out his ID and places it on the scanner. This is what the group decided on beforehand. The idea is that anyone who was listed in the team application will be able to open the right door.

"Err Err." A red light shines. The door didn't open, so, as told, he waits for a message.

"Tih, what are you doing around here? You don't live in this district, right?" A smooth baritone resounds in the ears of anyone listening.

Tih twists his head to spot Phillip. He's wearing the standard black military suit instead of his usual getup bought from the market. The well-fitted clothes hug his body, showing off his body line.

Phillip shows Tih a dazzling playboy-like smile with hidden warmth in his eye as he pats the brown curls on top of Tih's head.

"Oh?" He seems to notice something," You're not wearing your cap anymore? Though..." he takes a step back and scans the child," you definitely look cuter without it. Your brown hair contrasts your light blue eyes and pale skin." Phillip nods, showing appreciation.

Tih's wrist beeps, interrupting their get-together. Phillip takes a quick glance," So you're also taking your trial today. Then you'd better hurry along. Good luck little buddy." He gives Tih's hair one more good ruffle before jogging away,

Tih looks down at his watch. Theodore and Kai landed the right room, I173, and sent a picture of the next clue. It's a picture of a bush on the side of a cliffface. The only thing that can be made out is some small details in the background, like a rabbit and a flower on top of the cliff.

The following message can be seen;

Theodore: Are we supposed to find the bush?

Kai: I think so...

Victor: then should we head to the mountains?

Basile: k

Abel: k

Lucien: k

Sherlock: ...

It's looked like Sherlock was typing something, but the dots quickly disappeared.

Pierre: then let's go

The team head to the mountains, grouping up along the way. The plan was to cover the entire mountain in the shortest time possible. Kai and Sherlock drew a map of the pathways used during their parkour classes, which accounted for about a fourth of the area. Victor's group added another half.

They can only hope that the bush is not in the last fourth. They split up and each head to a different section, scouring the area with keen eyes. The mountain region is full of foliage and cliffs, making it almost impossible to get a wide view of anything.

Tih finishes his area the fastest, or should I say immediately. Over the course of his stay on the island, Tih has already explored ninety-nine percent of it, that last percent would be the secret bases and underwater caverns that need breathing gear.

Actually, Tih has already discovered the entrances for more than a few hideouts, but he hasn't explored inside, as that is called trespassing.

But while exploring the island, he took his time inspecting and memorizing the positions of anything new he's found, which includes species of plants.

The reason Tih doesn't know the location of that bush is because it was purposefully planted today to make it impossible to find it from memory.

It takes no less than half a day to find the location of the bush. They would have run out of time if not for how short a time they spent on the other two clues.

When Abel finally finds it in his section, he sends a picture and posts the location on the group chat. He then looks for the next clue but even after searching for five minutes, nothing comes up.

Abel: no clue here

Kai: you sure? Hold up, I'm almost there.

Theodore: same, let's meet up then figure it out

It takes about ten minutes to round everyone up. Everyone except Sherlock.

Kai: where u at?

Sherlock: sorry, I just want to check something. You should continue without me.

About ten minutes later Sherlock sends a picture of a camera. The camera has taken a picture of he words [Return to the scientific origin and type in the following code. 9LP82]

Kai: is that the next clue? Where did you find it?

Victor: why didn't you inform us beforehand?

Sherlock: I wasn't sure if I was correct or overthinking things again. The clue was a picture, so instead of looking for the item in the picture I thought maybe we were supposed to go to the location the picture was taken at.

Theodore: Good thinking. We still have six hours left. Plenty of time. The next clue talks about scientific origin?

Theodore mediates the situation and successfully changes the topic.

Victor: scientific origin should refer to what we evolved from.

Theodore: weren't we originally tiny organisms living in the water or something? Then we grew limbs and stuff. I remember learning about that in class.

Kai: close enough. Then would it be on the beach.

Abel: she says the area should be more specific

Victor: then the most likely place is Lake Phil.

Sherlock: Then let's check it out.