Chapter 34.

　　In the canopy of the old tree, when she heard Emily's words, Ellen knew she had guessed right. The one who poisoned Lucy was the seemingly innocent and kind girl in front of her, and among the things that Alan hated, betrayal was being included in the list. Although the teenagers who participated in the death ring, each of them was their own life and death enemy. But at least until the relationship of the alliance was dissolved, everyone was an ally.

　　As allies, they are supposed to help each other. However, Emily did not intend to do so, and from the very beginning, she wanted to put Lucy to death. Ellen wasn't too surprised, though; in a life-and-death situation like this, humanity or trust wasn't the first thing to be weighed. But Ellen's intention to kill the girl had been strengthened, but of course, that was only if Emily was able to leave alive at the hands of the two teenagers at the moment.

　　"You said Lucy was poisoned?" Rafi looked like he had heard something funny as he shook his head and laughed, "Emily, if you're going to make up a lie, at least make up one that's more believable. Before the game started, where did you get the chance to poison Lucy; and after the game started, the distance between you and her was so far apart that you haven't converged until now, much less had the chance to poison her. So you see, you're really wrong about this lie."

　　Emily said in disbelief, "You're wrong about one thing, Lucy was poisoned just before the game started."

　　"No way!" Rafi said flatly, "Even if you and Lucy were on good terms, there's no chance of that!"

　　"Of course, Lucy's no fool, so naturally she wouldn't give me a chance to poison her. But what if it's someone she trusts that's gone wrong? For example, her mentor Elsa?" Emily said softly.

　　"That's even more ridiculous." Kanon, who was on one side, pointed to his head and said, "Emily, are you belittling our intelligence? If Elsa poisons Lucy and the committee finds out, she's not going to end up well. I wonder, what kind of favor can you come up with that would make Aisha do such a thing?"

　　"I'm not finished yet, the poison was given to Lucy by Elsa, but what if Elsa didn't know it was poison? In fact, in the end, Elsa was just a medium, a tool." Emily said in a flat tone, "My tutor, Mr. Hanni, is Elsa's lover, and I asked him, while visiting Elsa, to secretly replace the strengthening potion that was supposed to be used for Lucy with another one."

　　"Oh, so Mr. Haney still takes you at your word?" Rafi said with slight mockery.

　　"It's not that simple, of course, it's just that Mr. Haney enjoys hearing the moving sounds of me twirling under him. I make him so happy, plus a few other benefits, that he doesn't mind doing me such a small favor."

　　Rafi and Kanon looked at each other in disbelief, neither of them, like Alan in the canopy, had ever thought that it could be so complicated, and from that, they could tell that Emisha was a girl with a deep heart.

　　"Okay, Emily, we believe you." Rafi twirled her javelin, "But don't you think it would be a good idea to take you and Lucy down together."

　　"No, that would be less fun for you guys." Emily held out her left hand and spread her palm open with a rectangular metal locket inside, "This is the antidote to Lucy's threat. If she wants to live, she will grant you anything you ask. ANY!"

　　Emily emphasized and added, "It, is yours if you let me go."

　　The knots in both Rafi's and Kanon's throats couldn't help but roll up and down for a moment, apparently it was much more fun to make Lucy fulfill any of their demands than it was to kill her. Both teens' breathing became heavy, especially at the thought of Lucy's tight, slender leg line.

　　"Deal, put that thing down and get as far away as you can. You keep your fingers crossed, Emily, and pray we don't run into it again." Rafi and Kanon exchanged a look before seeing what each other was thinking. So Rafi stepped forward and added, "And leave Lucy's coordinates."

　　"I'm not sure of the exact coordinates, but just follow this direction and you're sure to find her." Emily pointed in the direction of the west before dropping the box with the antidote onto the ground. She retreated step by step, and when she exited a dozen steps, she immediately turned around and ran.

　　The figure was moving, when suddenly the sound of air breaking from behind screamed. Emily screamed, and the dagger that had been hidden in her hand swept behind her.

　　There was a clink as the dagger swept into something. She fixed her eyes on Rafi's javelin. But though she bounced off the shot thrown at her back, she gave the javelin a little weight and fell to the ground. Emily's heart was good, but her fitness and strength were poor. Just as she fell, blood suddenly burst from her calf, and the rough sound of gunfire rang out almost simultaneously.

　　The shot came from a rugged revolver in Cannon's hand, the muzzle caliber of which was far larger than that of an ordinary revolver, and the bullet fired made a bloody hole directly in Emily's calf, breaking one of her legs!

　　"You don't keep your promises!" Emily's face was snow white and she was breathing heavily.

　　Rafi walked over and slowly and methodically picked one of the javelins rooted to the ground. Coming over to Emily again, he picked her chin up with the tip of the gun and said, "What's the promise? Can you eat it?"

　　Emily laughed as well, "I knew you bastards wouldn't keep your word, and I'm not afraid to tell you that the antidote is a fake too!"

　　Rafi blushed and slapped Emily on the spot, "Bitch, hand over the antidote."

　　"Do you think I'm stupid? Hand it over and then let you guys kill it?" Emily smiled smugly.

　　The smile was barely visible before it abruptly turned to pain. Rafi stabbed a shot into the palm of her right hand, pinning her to the ground. Following up by reaching over her body, Rafi said, "Don't get cocky, won't I do the searching myself?"

　　"You think I'd hide it on my person? Idiot!" Emily spat blood at him.

　　Sure enough, Rafi went up and down, touching the girl all over, even some private places. But couldn't find anything suspicious, looking at Emily with a smug look on her face, the Kanon next to her raised his gun and aimed it at her forehead. Rafi, however, reached out and pressed the muzzle of the gun, coldly saying, "Emily, you shouldn't have messed with us. You want to die, that's too easy. But I'm going to make your life worse than death."

　　When he finished speaking he used the tip of his gun to pick off the tendons in the girl's arms and legs, Emily's eyes widened, "What are you doing?"

　　"Leave you here, Emily." Rafi patted her face and said, "You'll have to thank us for our mercy, I'm not going to kill you. But you're not going anywhere, you're just going to watch yourself die a slow death on your own, or maybe get swallowed bite by bite by whichever dangerous species is out there."

　　"No, you can't do this!" Emily screamed, death was a boon compared to this torture.

　　But neither Rafi nor Kanon paid her any attention, and after the two teens gathered their things, they walked towards the west side of the forest Emily pointed out. Only when they were far away did Ellen get down from the tree and walk over to Emily's side.

　　Emily was taken aback at the sight of Ellen, followed by an expression that was incredibly calm, "You heard it all?"

　　Alan didn't say anything, just nodded.

　　"Help me and I will give you the real antidote. I've hidden it in a tree hole not far from here, take me there and I'll give you the antidote." Emily pleaded like a drowning man catching the best straw.

　　Alan squatted down and said, "Tell me where it is and I'll get it myself."

　　He stared intently into the girl's eyes as Emily's expression changed and she finally smiled bitterly and said, "Okay, I lied to you."

　　Alan nodded and stood up and turned to leave. Emily yelled after him, "Wait, don't you want to kill me!"

　　"I wanted to, but I think those two had a better idea." Alan said truthfully.

　　"No, no, no, I don't want to die like this. Alan, you want to save Lucy don't you. I'll give you the real antidote, please kill me." Emily screamed in desperation, knowing full well that Alan would not let herself go. In that case, death would be the ultimate relief.

　　"You think I'd fall for that?" Alan frowned.

　　"This time it's real. The antidote is in my dagger and the grip is movable!" Emily shouted.

　　Alan's eyes swept around and his eyes landed on the dagger next to the girl. He walked over and picked up the dagger to examine it. Sure enough, the dagger's grip was movable and there was a vacuum inside. From the grip slipped a glass tube filled with a blue liquid, the smooth surface of which reflected the girl's face. Emily said, "See, I wasn't lying. So, give me a break, please."

　　Putting away the antidote, Alan crouched down and reached out to gently hold the girl's neck. He shook his head, "You shouldn't have done that."

　　Emily smiled slightly, "You wouldn't understand, Alan. Hopefully you'll live to see the end, but you'll realize that maybe dying in the first place is kind of a good ending."

　　The voice came to an abrupt end, and as she spat out the last word, Ellen crushed her neck. A smile settled on the girl's face, perhaps she was right. In this brutal battlefield, living might not always be seen as happier than dying.

　　But alive, there is hope.

　　Allen would not give up hope that he would not only live, but be the victor. As for how to untie the dead knot between him and Lucy, he doesn't want to think about it for now. Lucy was the first friend he was willing to make, and it was this young girl who showed him a ray of sunshine. If he could, he would like that ray of sunshine to shine forever. But for now, he would not forget those blood-colored memories either.

　　White Fang's eyes, his mother's ring were constant reminders of what to do. If he was forced to make a choice, Alan knew what he would choose.

　　Luckily, now was not the time to choose. Alan was suddenly a little grateful to Rafi and Kanon, because of them, Alan didn't have to think about this headache for a while. The two teenagers were naturally on his purge list, and that list was still long. At least, there was plenty for Alan to do until the name Lucy was left.

　　But even he couldn't deny that he couldn't think of a way to get Lucy off this list.

　　It's like a Gordian knot that can't be untied.