Landlord World - Start with SSS talent-Chapter 271: How did they find us?!

Noan let out a long sigh and said, "Alright, stop teasing me. Where is she now?"

Malrik nodded and replied, "I'm not entirely sure, but it seems that after Zeka captured Elara, he headed east."

"East? That area is…" Noan frowned, mumbling to himself.

As if to answer him, Drakhan descended from the sky and bowed deeply. "Master," he greeted.

He presented a scroll, which Noan took and unrolled.

Inside was a detailed map of the entire Chaos Region. Alongside the old layout, a newly updated version had been added, showing the most recent changes.

"So vast…" Noan muttered inwardly. But thinking about it—five zones had been merged. If it wasn't vast, that would be strange.

On the map, Noan could also see areas designated for Rank D Lords, along with other Rank E and Rank F Lords scattered across the region.

He furrowed his brows, then tucked the scroll into his Storage Space and asked, "Has anything happened while I was away?"

Drakhan bowed again and answered, "Master, snow has covered this entire region."

"Snow?"

…

Elsewhere in the Chaos Region—

Caleb and Austin were currently surrounded by a hostile force. The Skeletons they had brought with them were all defeated, lying in ruins on the ground.

In front of them, Urlgan and Urlgug were still standing, but their bodies were covered in wounds.

"You put up a decent fight. I'm a little surprised," sneered a young man nearly two meters tall, his body stacked with muscle and arrogance.

Behind him stood three Orc Kings, accompanied by a squad of around twenty Orcs.

That man was Garek.

Caleb clenched his teeth. He and Austin had been hiding out to observe and gather information.

They had wanted to claim a strategic location, useful for blocking enemies from advancing and establishing fortifications.

But they hadn't expected the enemy to act so unpredictably.

Just as they'd settled into what they thought was a solid vantage point, Garek appeared—bringing monstrous warriors with him and launching a brutal assault.

Even though they had the high ground—an area difficult to attack and easy to defend—they still lost.

The three Orc Kings on Garek's side were simply too strong.

Caleb estimated they had reached Rank C | Level 3.

With that kind of strength, Urlgan and Urlgug stood no chance.

And to make matters worse, Garek's forces included twenty Rank D+ Orcs.

Just Garek alone could have annihilated Caleb and Austin.

"What's wrong? Dance for me again," Garek laughed mockingly.

"Weren't you all moving so well a moment ago? Did you really think this trash would stop me?"

Garek extended his leg and stomped down on a Skeleton's skull.

Crack!

The skull shattered into countless fragments under Garek's strength.

Caleb clutched his chest, blood still trailing from the corner of his mouth. Frowning, he said, "Fine! This area is yours. I won't contest it anymore."

"Hahaha…" Garek burst into laughter.

"Are you stupid? This area was mine to begin with. Did you really think you had a chance to claim it?"

"But don't worry. I don't feel like killing you. Letting you live will be far more entertaining."

"You bastard…" Caleb growled, sensing the mockery in Garek's tone—toward both him and Austin.

"You piece of shit!" Austin roared and charged, holding a sharpened wooden staff like a makeshift spear.

He thrust the weapon at Garek, but Garek didn't even flinch. He simply sneered and swung his arm.

Smash!

Garek easily caught the spear, then shoved forward.

Austin, like a ragdoll, was flung to the ground with a thud.

An Orc King stepped forward. Raising its massive foot—

"No!" Caleb shouted.

But the Orc King didn't care. It slammed its foot down.

Crack!

"AAAA!!!" Austin screamed in agony. For the first time in his life, he experienced pain beyond anything he'd ever imagined.

"Hahahaha…" Garek laughed wildly. "Yes, that's it! Scream louder! Louder! I want more!"

Caleb clenched his teeth and looked at Urlgan and Urlgug, giving them a firm nod.

In that moment, Urlgug raised his magic staff—and a thick cloud of smoke burst forth, engulfing the area.

"What the hell?!" Garek cursed, unable to see through the sudden fog.

A minute later, the smoke cleared—but Caleb and Austin were gone.

Garek narrowed his eyes, then grinned.

"No problem. The hunt has only just begun."

He raised his hand—and the Orcs, who had been standing still, suddenly let out guttural howls as if freed from chains.

Foaming at the mouth, they looked rabid—like wild dogs driven mad.

Then they rushed into the forest, eyes glowing blood-red, tearing through the trees in search of prey.

…

"Ha… ha… ha…" Caleb panted, utterly exhausted, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. But he didn't stop. He couldn't.

Ahead of him, Urlgan was carrying Austin on his shoulder, sprinting at full speed. Urlgug ran beside Caleb, ready to support him at any moment should he falter.

Caleb gritted his teeth as he ran, muttering,

"Damn it! I can't die here… I don't want to die here!"

He pushed himself to keep moving, but the deep snow and bitter cold drained his strength faster than he could endure.

Thud!

His body finally gave out, collapsing face-first into the snow.

Luckily, the snow was around twenty centimeters thick, so the fall didn't hurt.

But that very thickness was also severely hindering his movement.

Seeing Caleb fall, Urlgug rushed over and helped him up.

"Are you alright?" he asked urgently.

Caleb gasped for air, too exhausted to speak.

His face flushed red—then began turning purple as his body struggled to absorb enough oxygen.

"I… I…" Caleb stammered, but the words wouldn't come.

Clenching his jaw, Urlgug lifted Caleb onto his back and continued running.

But now the thick snow was slowing him down even more.

After all, he was just a Shaman—he didn't have Urlgan's physical prowess.

Suddenly—

"Kekeke…"

A crazed, manic laughter echoed through the snowy trees—drawing closer by the second.

"Shit!" Urlgug cursed under his breath.

Gripping his staff, he slammed it hard into the ground.

BAM!

A fierce gust of wind erupted, scattering snow into the air and covering the entire area in a blinding white storm.

Snowflakes danced in every direction, creating a curtain of confusion that blocked the Orcs' vision.

"Ke… ke… ke!" The Orcs shrieked in frustration, thrashing their clubs in all directions.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

Crashes echoed as they struck not their targets—but each other.

These Orcs had lost their minds. Driven only by instinct, they had no strategy, no awareness—just blind aggression.

"Enough!"

A powerful voice roared.

Garek emerged into view, his tone like a whip.

Behind him stood three Orc Kings, towering like mountains, radiating aura and killing intent.

Garek scowled at the chaos. "Idiots," he muttered.

One of the Orc Kings stepped forward, approaching two Orcs who were still bashing each other, and swung a massive fist.

BAM!

One Orc's head exploded instantly, blood and white brain matter splattering across the snow.

The crazed mob, moments ago roaring wildly, suddenly fell deathly silent.

The Orcs didn't spare a glance at the corpse of their fallen kin.

Without hesitation, they regrouped in front of Garek, standing at attention like rabid hounds waiting for command.

Garek stared into the distance—into the swirling curtain of snow that still obscured his view.

He licked his lips and grinned wildly. "Now that's more like it. Hahaha… Run. Run as far as you can—so I can feel like the real hunter here."

…

"Ha… ha… ha…" Urlgug and Urlgan finally arrived at a secluded cave, carrying the battered Austin and the exhausted Caleb with them.

Everyone was panting heavily—except Austin.

Despite the freezing temperatures, he was drenched in sweat, gasping for air like he was burning from within.

His condition was critical.

One of his arms was mangled beyond recognition—the bones shattered, piercing through the flesh and jutting out.

Blood streamed freely, soaking the snow beneath him.

His face twisted in unbearable pain, teeth clenched so tightly they might break.

Urlgug knelt beside him and, using the last remnants of his magical energy, cast a pain-suppressing spell to ease his suffering.

But it was just that—pain relief. There was no way Urlgug could heal a wound this severe.

Caleb leaned against the cave wall, letting out a long, weary, and hopeless sigh.

Every Skeleton Noan had lent him was now destroyed.

Urlgan and Urlgug were completely spent.

He had no idea what to do next. The enemy was just too powerful.

As a Rank E+ Lord, even a single Rank C Hero was a nightmare.

But their opponent had three.

How was he supposed to resist that?

Truthfully, the only reason he was still alive… Was because of the borrowed troops Noan had given him.

"Ke… ke… ke…"

Suddenly, that eerie laugh returned—echoing ominously from outside the cave.

Urlgug's eyes widened in horror.

"No! How did they find us?!" He shouted.