NOVPUBAfter wrapping everything up, Daniel returns to his room. Gwen, who has woken up, greets him with a worried expression.
As soon as Daniel steps inside, she rushes towards him.
"Dan, are you alright?" "Who have you crossed?" "Why was there an assassin?"
The three rapid-fire questions under her agitated state have Daniel looking at Gwen with a peculiar gaze.
"Baby, you wouldn’t have fallen for me, would you?"
Gwen’s cheeks flush and she immediately steps back.
She huffs with an attempt at calm, "I was just unconsciously concerned for you. The man who could make me fall in love hasn’t been born yet."
"I hope so," Daniel responds with a chuckle. What was supposed to be a one-night stand could become complicated if she truly falls for him, especially considering he’d have to explain it to Sophia.
With Rachel’s matter still unresolved, another entanglement would indeed be troublesome.
After their teasing exchange, Gwen nonchalantly asks, "Do you need my help to deal with this?"
Daniel looks surprised, "Deal with what? The assassin?"
Gwen nods, "You’ve just arrived in Mauritania, and haven’t had any conflicts with anyone. At most, someone might try to rob you because they’re envious of your earnings from yesterday."
"But since the enemy is an assassin, it indicates a longstanding grudge. So, I guess it must be someone you offended in Libertopia. I have some connections there. Not very powerful, but anyone I want to protect usually gets respected."
Daniel waves her off after a moment’s contemplation, "I have a rough idea who it is, so there’s no need to bother you, Miss Gwen."
However, he is left with a sense of confusion.
From what Gwen has just said, it seems like she might have significant backing in Libertopia.
Unless she’s exaggerating, but Daniel doesn’t think that’s Gwen’s style.
Seeing Daniel’s insistence, Gwen doesn’t push any further.
They return to bed, but even for these two, sleep is hard to come by after such an event.
The next morning, Daniel and Gwen return to the show’s filming location.
Everyone else is already there, and they notice Daniel and Gwen’s arrival.
Hols gives them a slow smile, "I trust you both had a fantastic night?"
Catching Hols’ insinuation, Daniel casually smiles back, "Just a minor nuisance.
Couldn’t dampen our spirits."
Hols shrugs, "Really? I actually had a business proposition for you. But judging from what you said, it seems like you won’t be needing it."
"Indeed," Daniel replies.
With that, Daniel strides into the crowd with Gwen, leaving Hols staring blankly.
Hols hadn’t expected Daniel to reject him so straightforwardly.
He had intended to use the safety of Daniel as leverage in exchange for the treasures Daniel had discovered yesterday, but that plan was now foiled.
In the crowd, Gwen looks curiously at Daniel, "Aren’t you interested in what Hols wanted to discuss with you?"
Without turning his head, Daniel replies, "Probably some sort of protection in exchange for my finds. Nothing to discuss."
Gwen pauses before laughing, "I’m growing more and more fond of you. What should I do if I really fall for you?"
Startled, Daniel quickly retorts, "Please don’t! I’m like a bonfire, getting too close will only burn you."
Pouting, Gwen teases, "Just a joke, look how scared you got."
Awkwardly chuckling, Daniel replies, "Just a precaution in case you meant it."
Gwen, wrapping her arm around Daniel’s, places her soft lips close to his cheek and whispers, "Don’t worry, my man, our relationship only exists in Mauritania. Once we leave here, any feelings will be put away."
She spots the director in the crowd, "I see the director. I’ll go over, looking forward to your performance today."
With a light kiss on his cheek, she releases him and walks away with a bounce in her step.
Touching his face, Daniel can’t help but smile.
Intensely intimate during their affair and coolly detached afterwards.
This woman indeed has some charm.
Suddenly, a face leans in close, "Oh my, seems like someone’s catching feelings."
Daniel is startled and turns to see Taylor and Hols approaching. Hols jests, "Taylor, aren’t you blunt?"
"Mr. Daniel and Miss Gwen are a match made in heaven. They’re perfectly suited for each other. It wouldn’t be unthinkable if they got together."
Taylor sighs deeply, "The problem is, unrequited love can be painful."
He turns to Daniel, grinning, "Dan, don’t get serious about her, just enjoy the ride."
Frowning, Daniel asks, "Why? Does it seem like our being together makes you unhappy?"
Taylor scoffs, "No shit. Gwen is a universally acknowledged beauty, rich and classy. Who wouldn’t want to be paired with her? But sadly, she wouldn’t bat an eye at us. Unlike you, Mr. Lucky, who caught her attention right upon arrival."
Finding this odd, Daniel inquires, "Isn’t Gwen from Libertopia? And you, a Britannia guy, know her?"
Looking disgusted, Taylor is about to respond when Hols cuts in, "The world of the elite is small, we often mingle. Just a few days ago, I had dinner with the daughters of some tycoons from your country, Serenalia. They’re all quite delightful."
Looking at Hols’s smug face, one could guess what he was implying.
Yet, Daniel isn’t surprised or impressed.
The world is such that the 1% control 90% of the wealth.
They gather, scheming to seize control of the remaining 10%.
What surprises him is that Gwen has such a background, and according to Taylor, her family seems to be even more powerful.
Could it be that Gwen is the daughter of one of the world’s top billionaires?
Shaking his head, Daniel reminds himself that it doesn’t matter.
Their fling will end once they leave Mauritania.
Just then, Gwen’s voice rings out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!"
Everyone turns to look at Gwen standing before the crowd.
All the lights and cameras are focused on her, as if she’s the star of the show.
"Today is the second day of ’Wild Treasure Hunt’. After negotiating with the Mauritanian government, we are opening a broader treasure hunt area for everyone," Gwen announced.
At this point, a flurry of ring tones echoed throughout the crowd.
Daniel’s phone buzzed with a new message notification.
As he opened the text, he found a map sent by the show’s production team.
He glanced over at Taylor and Hols, confirming they had received the same map.
"At the front of the crowd, Gwen continued, "In the message you have just received, there’s a map showing the new treasure hunt area for today. The whole of Mauritania, including deep into the Sahara Desert, is open for you!"
This announcement stirred the crowd into a frenzy of excitement.
Yesterday, they had only been allowed to treasure hunt within two square miles and had already unearthed treasures worth more than three billion dollars.
The thought of what they might find across the whole country was exhilarating.
The road to sudden riches might just start today!
But Gwen interrupted the excitement, saying, "However! The Mauritanian government has kindly advised that if you want to avoid danger, please stay close to the edge of the Sahara Desert!"
Confusion spread among the crowd. "Danger? What kind of danger?"
"It can’t be more than getting lost or running out of water, right? There are no large wild animals in the desert. What danger could there be?" Everyone laughed off the warning, unconcerned.
Daniel, however, fell silent.
He thought of the mummy at home, and the numerous pyramids in the Sahara Desert.
Some experts believed that there were still unexplored areas in the desert, potentially full of pyramids.
He had a sudden, unnerving thought that the danger mentioned by the Mauritanian authorities could be related to these.
He vowed to himself, ’I mustn’t venture into the central part of the desert!’
As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, Gwen made no further comment but simply announced, "The treasure hunt officially begins today! Please, those of you venturing into the desert, make sure you’re fully prepared before heading out. We’ll be waiting here for your return."
With that, the crowd dispersed.
Everyone knew that the treasures were buried somewhere, waiting to be unearthed.
It was first come, first serve, and no one wanted to waste time.
As Gwen walked towards Daniel, he asked, "Is the production team not going to follow us?"
Gwen shook her head and laughed, "The area is too large for us to follow everyone around. But we will provide action cameras for each contestant, and there will be drones capturing footage as well. Where do you plan to go?"
Before Daniel could answer, Hols interjected, "Dan, would you like to team up with us?" Daniel turned around and saw Hols and Taylor, both with backpacks, ready to start the hunt. Gwen added, "You could watch each other’s backs if you team up."
At first, Daniel was about to refuse.
But then, he thought about it.
Both Hols and Taylor had received advanced news from the production team.
Perhaps teaming up with them wouldn’t be a bad idea after all.
