Chapter 593 The Mysterious Disappearance
Ethan was taken aback by the taxi driver's reaction. "What's up?" he asked, staring at him.
"Are you heading to Vast Mountain?" The driver's face turned serious.
"Yeah, what's the deal with Vast Mountain? Why can't I go there?" Ethan asked, even more confused.
"You should find another ride. I can't take you there. That place is dangerous, might even get you killed. Who are you, anyway?"
"Alright, no more questions. Just point me in the right direction and tell me how far it is. I'll head out on my own, and you can keep the fare I paid this morning," Ethan said after thinking for a moment.
"You really don't want a refund?" The driver eyed Ethan suspiciously, like he couldn't believe his luck.
"As long as you give me the info I need." Ethan nodded seriously.
"Vast Mountain is about thirty miles northwest of Stardale. If you're dead set on going, don't go alone. It's been pretty sketchy there lately; lots of folks have gone missing," the driver said, reluctantly giving Ethan the directions and a warning.
"Missing? Now you've got my attention. If you're not in a rush, can you tell me more?" Ethan's curiosity was piqued, and he smiled.
"For the money, sure." The driver didn't hesitate. He pulled over and started sharing the eerie stories about Vast Mountain.
After listening for a bit, Ethan got the gist. Vast Mountain used to be a popular tourist spot, drawing in loads of visitors. But not all areas were developed; there were still plenty of remote, untouched places.
About two weeks ago, tourists started vanishing in Vast Mountain. Those who went missing were never seen again. At first, no one made a big deal out of it, but after a week, the number of missing people hit dozens, causing a major stir.
The scenic area was shut down, and authorities launched thorough investigations, but they came up empty. It was like the missing folks had just disappeared into thin air. Eventually, everyone stopped talking about Vast Mountain, and even the locals steered clear of it.
"That's really something," Ethan said, clearly intrigued by the driver's story.
"So, you're still planning to go to Vast Mountain?" The driver was shocked that Ethan seemed not only unafraid but eager to go.
"Since I'm here, I have to check it out. But don't worry, I won't drag you into this," Ethan said with a smile as he got out of the car.
"Then be careful," the driver said, looking at Ethan helplessly. He wanted to stop him, but since Ethan had made up his mind, he could only hope nothing bad would happen.
"Thanks!" Ethan watched the taxi drive off and then turned to look northwest.
At Ethan's pace, thirty miles wouldn't take long. But this time, he didn't rush. He took his time, walking steadily along the road to Vast Mountain. Even so, his speed was way faster than an average person's.
Luckily, the highway, once bustling, had way less traffic now because of the weird stuff happening at Vast Mountain. Hardly any cars were around, and no one noticed Ethan moving along the roadside like some kind of ghost.
By nightfall, Ethan could finally see Vast Mountain on the horizon and smiled.
'According to Brian, the ML Guild's headquarters is near Vast Mountain. Could these disappearances be linked to the ML Guild?' As Ethan pondered, a white SUV approached from the direction he came from.
Ethan stopped. He was close to Vast Mountain now, with no villages or houses nearby. Because of the spooky events, there were no cars at night.
Soon, Ethan's expression turned curious. Using his senses, he discovered the driver was a pretty woman, and not just any woman—she had at least Half-Step Grandmaster strength.
"This is getting more and more interesting." Ethan chuckled. The car sped past Ethan but then suddenly slowed down and reversed back to him.
"Who are you?" When the car stopped in front of Ethan, Bonnie Peterson's pretty face poked out from the window, full of suspicion.
"A tourist," Ethan lied casually.
"Who are you kidding? No one dares to come to Vast Mountain now, let alone walk here like you," Bonnie snorted at Ethan.
"Aren't you human?" Ethan blinked and asked seriously.
"You can't compare to me. I'm here on official business, and it's really dangerous. You better turn back now." Bonnie was annoyed but didn't use her Half-Step Grandmaster skills on Ethan. Instead, she angrily scolded him and ordered him to leave.
"But I have to go to Vast Mountain. I heard the scenery is nice, and I'm not leaving until I see it." Ethan stubbornly shook his head.
"Are you out of your mind? I'm trying to save you! Vast Mountain is really dangerous now. Don't go any further!" Bonnie was exasperated, not expecting to meet someone so fearless.
"Why should I listen to you?" Ethan asked seriously.
"Suit yourself. If you want to die, no one will stop you," Bonnie snapped, snorted angrily, and sped off.
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