Chapter 94 Name Your Price
In the wild forest, ancient trees soared high, their gnarled, intertwining branches blocking out the sky. The damp, fresh air was mixed with the fragrance of unknown wild flowers. Deep in the dense woods, Kendall and Henry slowly walked back along the path they had taken.
After finding the water source, Henry's mood for the return journey was noticeably lighter. Even better, under Kendall's guidance, he had gathered and collected a pocketful of wild fruits.
Kendall walked in front, suddenly pointing to her left and saying, "There are a few silverberry trees over there. Want to check them out?"
"Silverberries?" Henry looked up, clearly unfamiliar with the name of the fruit, and looked confused. "Are they tasty?"
Kendall thought for a moment. "They're okay. They're sweet when they're ripe."
Henry looked in the direction Kendall was pointing and vaguely saw red fruits hanging on a few small trees. "Are those the ones with the red fruits?"
Kendall nodded. "Mhmm, they all look ripe."
Henry was interested. "Let's go take a look then. We're not in a hurry anyway."
The two rerouted. These wild silverberry trees weren't very tall, and their slender branches were covered with thumbnail-sized red fruits, each one sparkling and plump.
Silverberries turn red when ripe, and Kendall and Henry had arrived at just the right time.
Kendall picked one, put it in her mouth, and tasted it.
It was sweet with a hint of sourness. 'Not bad! '
Seeing Kendall eat it, Henry also picked one and put it in his mouth. Since it was his first time eating one, his eyes lit up. "This is delicious! Let's pick some to take back!"
Kendall also thought it was a good idea to pick some to eat. Since they were wild, if they didn't pick them, they would just fall to the ground and slowly rot.
After picking the silverberries, the two continued their walk out.
Halfway through the journey, Kendall stopped in front of a large tree.
She put down the backpack she was carrying and, before Henry and the netizens in the live stream could react, Kendall started climbing the tree barehanded.
Her posture was agile, using both hands and feet.
She climbed the tall tree like spider-man and, to everyone's shocked and confused gazes, successfully retrieved the supply bag the program team had tied to the trunk and landed safely.
user @TopCommentor: "Kendall's new skill discovered, barehanded tree climbing."
user @BigBanana: "She can do this too? What else do we not know about you!"
user @ExerciseFreak: "Climbing a tree that tall barehanded! Her grip and stamina are incredible!"
user @EagleEyes: "The trunk has such a long, smooth section, and she climbed it without even catching her breath? Kendall, do you have magnets attached to your body?!!"
user @ColsAsIce: "Ah ah ah ah, what did I miss! I just stepped out to pour a glass of water. Where did Kendall get that package in her hand?!"
user @CutieMiMi: "She got it by climbing a tree! [comical face.jpg]"
Henry was also shocked. He stared at the tightly packaged parcel in Kendall's hand, taking several seconds to react. "Is this the supply bag the program team mentioned?"
"Mhmm, open it and see." Kendall handed the supply bag to Henry, while she herself circled the vicinity, seemingly observing something intently.
user @FatHamster: "What is Kendall looking for?"
user @CuriousCat: "Is she looking for another supply bag?"
user @DetectiveSoo: "It shouldn't be, right? The map indicated there's only one supply bag here."
user @WorkHard: "Then what is she looking for?"
The audience couldn't guess Kendall's actions or thoughts, and Kendall was unaware that countless viewers were curious about her behaviour. Kendall was actually looking for hidden cameras or other filming equipment in the surroundings.
The program team just leaving like this and not showing up for a whole day felt somewhat illogical to Kendall.
Before entering the forest, Kendall had speculated whether the program team might be hiding somewhere, deliberately observing the reactions of her and the other guests.
But through Kendall's investigation, she hadn't found any filming equipment, either at the tent site or along the forest path they had traveled.
Circling the area, Kendall instead spotted two hens and several grey-furred rabbits hopping around in the grass.
.. clearly put in the forest by the program team beforehand.
Who knows how much money the program team spent, along the way into the forest, Kendall had seen no less than twenty chickens, ducks, and rabbits.
This was just the number that had appeared in front of her, the uncounted number was likely much higher.
Kendall glanced at them and then retracted her gaze.
Henry opened the supply bag. It was actually just a small sealed cardboard box. Once opened, it contained a bag of beef jerky, ten compressed biscuits, two bottles of water, and a few packets of nut snacks.
Seeing Kendall approach, Henry handed everything to her. Since the supply bag was retrieved by Kendall, everything inside was naturally hers. Kendall shared some with Henry, then packed the rest into her backpack.
The two followed the mountain path they had taken earlier, slowly exiting the forest and returning to where they had set up the tents. Just before leaving the forest, Kendall casually caught two rabbits and held them in her hand, preparing them for tonight's dinner.
user @CutieMiMi: "Kendall is truly amazing! Barehanded chicken catching! Barehanded tree climbing! Barehanded rabbit catching!"
user @LittleBunny: "Bunnies are so cute, sobbing, sobbing, sobbing. They must also be very delicious!"
user @GossipGirl: "How did Kendall learn so many skills? Are there any private investigators around? Have you dug up Kendall's information yet?"
user @BrattyBabe: "They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, but these two rabbits seem to be as dumb as rocks, waiting on the spot for Kendall to catch them."
user @RainDrop: "What the heck? Are you serious? The reaction of those two rabbits was very quick, wasn't it! It's Kendall's movements that were too fast!"
user @LovesickGirl: "Hahahaha, seeing it but not believing it. I suddenly realize that no matter what Kendall does, there will always be haters showing up. I'm used to it, I'm used to it."
user @CalmMind: "Look at Henry smiling foolishly. Go ahead and smile. You won't be smiling soon after you return to your tent."
user @ChasingWinds: "Seriously miserable. He's been robbed."
Before Henry and Kendall even left the forest, Henry noticed something else beside their tent, as well as the figures of several other people. Henry's immediate reaction was joy.
"Did the program team arrive?" He said, quickening his steps. Henry had been walking half a step behind and to the left of Kendall, but he quickly overtook her.
Kendall's steps were unhurried, maintaining her previous speed.
Kendall had good eyesight and had already recognized the figures walking in front of the tents as Jasper's group. At the same time, Kendall also noticed the several other tents of different colours that had mysteriously appeared beside her own.
If the program team had arrived, even if they were waiting outside for her and Henry to come out, they wouldn't have erected several new tents. She guessed those tents must belong to Jasper's group.
And the program team... hadn't come.
Kendall's guess was correct. It wasn't until Henry got out of the forest that he realized the figures he saw were Jasper and Daniel's group. Not seeing the director or any other staff members from the program team, Henry felt somewhat disappointed.
In contrast, Daniel and Ezra's expressions were eager upon seeing Henry.
"Why were you in the forest for so long?" Ezra stared at Henry and asked, "Did you find anything to eat?"
"We went to look for water," Henry answered subconsciously. Because he hadn't interacted much with Ezra's group, Henry felt a little restrained.
As soon as Ezra's group heard the word 'water', their eyes immediately lit up. "Did you find water?"
———
They had spent most of the morning trying to collect the scattered supplies that had been washed away by the sea last night.
However, everyone's food had been taken out and eaten yesterday afternoon.
This morning, they only ate the small amount of crab meat and conch they had begged from Henry and Kendall, and their stomachs were already growling loudly.
The seaside wasn't safe, and they didn't dare risk being nearly swept away by the high tide again, so they discussed moving the few remaining tents to Kendall and Henry's area. After everyone finished moving, they were all ravenously hungry.
Mia, who hadn't eaten anything all morning, couldn't help but look pale and begged Liam and Jasper for help, saying she was starving.
Liam and Jasper also hadn't eaten anything all morning.
The little they ate yesterday afternoon had been digested last night, and the two men, who grew up in luxury, were also extremely hungry.
Sophia and Daniel originally suggested that everyone go to the beach to collect some seafood to cook. This was because Daniel had a pot. But Liam was too hungry to wait. Catching seafood at the beach would take time, and cooking it would take even more time.
Liam's eyes darted around, and he zeroed in on Kendall's tent. Kendall and Henry had eaten so well this morning, there must be food in their tents.
Liam didn't hesitate, unzipping Kendall's tent and crawling inside.
Although Liam usually didn't treat Kendall as his sister, he shared the same blood with Kendall, and their sibling relationship was something that couldn't be severed.
What was wrong with a brother taking a little food from his sister? Liam felt completely justified!
However, Liam didn't expect that while Kendall's tent contained many things, there was absolutely no food. Even a mouse would leave crying. Liam emerged from Kendall's tent looking dejected. Then, his eyes fell upon Henry's tent next door.
Thinking that since he had already entered one tent, entering two was no different, he turned and dove into Henry's tent... and that's how he discovered the large bag of flatbread.
When Liam emerged carrying the bag of flatbread, everyone's eyes widened. They were initially too embarrassed to eat, but seeing Liam, Mia, and Jasper all digging in, the others couldn't resist and joined in.
The flatbread was dry and rough. Eating it dry filled their stomachs, but it made them terribly thirsty. Almost all the water they brought had been drunk yesterday, and whatever wasn't drunk was washed away by the sea. It was understandable how thirsty the guests were.
———
Now, hearing Henry say he had found a water source, the seven people immediately stared intently at him.
Especially the men, Liam, Jasper, and Daniel, who walked directly up to Henry, looking at him aggressively, their tone urgent. "Did you bring any water back?"
"I did... but not much," Henry couldn't help but take a step back. "We carried it back after walking a very long distance."
Jasper said generously, "I'll buy two bottles from you! Name your price!"
Liam was equally generous. "I'll buy two bottles from you too. Is a thousand dollars per bottle enough? I'll transfer it to you when we get back."
Daniel frowned, following up, "I'll buy some too."
"And us too!" Ezra pulled Elijah over, quickly adding, "We want to buy some too!"
user @SleepingAuntie: "A thousand dollars for a bottle of water... they really are young masters from wealthy families."
user @LazyPanda: "I'm laughing. They don't even consider the environment."
user @PeaceMaker: "It's still a profit, isn't it? Henry and Kendall were only in there for a few hours. If they sell few bottles, that's three or four thousand dollars."
(End of Chapter)