Chapter 313: Escape from the Desert 17

Around noon, when the sun was at its hottest, Perry Yates used Space Grass to temporarily leave her room and went to a deserted spot on the outskirts of the Oasis.

She wrapped the already-marinated ingredients in leaves and mud, then buried the bundle in the scorching sand.

After making a mark on the spot, Perry Yates left.

When evening came and the sun had set, she returned to the marked location and dug up the mud clods she had buried in the sand.

By now, the moisture on the surface of the mud clods had completely evaporated.

She gently brushed away the surface soil, poked through the covering of leaves, and a fragrant aroma wafted out.

Perry Yates neatly packed it away along with the remaining mud clods, then turned and headed back to the guesthouse.

「The sixteenth day of the game.」

Before people could even figure out why the Oasis Guards were searching door-to-door, another piece of terrible news arrived.

The water source they all depended on for survival was about to dry up.

It started when one of the Oasis locals tried to sneak to the lake to catch fish.

Because of yesterday’s events, most of the Oasis Guards had been reassigned to search the Oasis, which meant the number of guards watching the lake was reduced.

The man seized this opportunity, slipped past the remaining Oasis Guards, and made his way to the lakeside.

However, just as he was about to catch some fish, he discovered that the once-full water source had somehow dwindled to nothing more than a shallow little puddle.

What’s more, even the water in the puddle was still rapidly evaporating.

Upon making this discovery, the man immediately panicked, running and shouting at the top of his lungs.

In an instant, everyone in the Oasis knew the news.

At first, Perry Yates was a little skeptical.

After all, even though she had noticed the water level dropping a few days ago, based on its previous depth, it should have lasted for several more days even with the decline. It shouldn’t have dried up so quickly.

She wasn’t the only one; most people were incredulous when they heard the news.

After all, their Oasis was one of the largest in the desert. While water wasn’t something to be used carelessly, they had never once lacked it. The idea of the source drying up was simply impossible.

The water for this Oasis didn’t come from rainfall, but from a subterranean river.

Beneath the lake was a spring that constantly gushed water, endlessly replenishing the lake.

But even if they didn’t believe it, they still went to check on the situation. Water was simply too important to them.

「By the lakeside.」

Countless people gathered around, and what they saw was a horrifying scene.

The once-full lake had now become a massive pit. At the very bottom, the last bit of remaining water was about to evaporate completely.

This time, the people completely lost their minds.

Many rushed down directly, trying to snatch what little water was left.

But there were too many people. In the ensuing struggle and trampling, the remaining water was turned into a muddy puddle.

Even so, people didn’t give up. They frantically collected the still-wet mud, trying to filter it through their clothes in an attempt to get clean water.

Others started digging into the ground with their bare hands, trying to find the water source.

However, after digging for a long time, they found nothing. On the contrary, as they dug, the once-damp earth quickly dried out upon contact with the arid air.

The water had vanished too suddenly, and a sense of panic began to spread through the crowd.

In contrast, the players were quite calm. They had known all along they wouldn’t be staying here for long, so they had started hoarding supplies early on.

Meanwhile, Perry Yates’s Clone found the wealthiest merchant in the Oasis.

The man bought a Pass Token from her for two-thirds of his entire fortune.

The original price was actually half his fortune, but with the water source suddenly gone, the price was bound to go up.

Subsequently, the other three Pass Tokens were also sold for similar prices.

These people were relieved to learn that Perry Yates only wanted money, not supplies. They knew that after the water disappeared, supplies—especially water—would become something money couldn’t buy.

Perry Yates returned to her lodging and led her camel out from the guesthouse’s backyard.

Taking advantage of the current chaos, she led the camel outside the Oasis, instructing it to find a place to hide and not let anyone find it.

The camel seemed to understand her words. It let out a snort and then headed off into the distance.

When Perry Yates returned to the guesthouse, she met the proprietor’s eyes.

"I was just in the backyard. Your camel seems to be gone."

Hearing this, Perry Yates’s eyes widened in shock. "What? Are you sure it was my camel?"

The proprietor nodded. "My camels are all marked. I can confirm it’s only your camel that’s missing. I thought you had taken it."

"I haven’t even found a way to leave yet, why would I take the camel?" Saying this, Perry Yates rushed towards the backyard in a panic.

Perry Yates had used the Any Door when she took the camel, so she wasn’t afraid of her lie being exposed.

Upon reaching the backyard, Perry Yates stared at the empty spot where her camel should have been, her face a mask of devastation. Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked as if her world had come crashing down.

Seeing her reaction, the proprietor patted her shoulder and said, "Someone probably took your camel on their way out. In a situation like this, the chances of getting it back are slim."

At these words, Perry Yates’s expression grew even more desperate.

"You should have just sold the camel to me earlier," the proprietor remarked casually.

’Indeed. Ever since Perry Yates had moved in, the proprietor, despite his amiable facade, had offered to buy her camel on more than one occasion. This was precisely why she had set it free.’

’After all, being coveted is worse than being robbed.’

’In fact, even if the water source hadn’t disappeared, she had been planning to release the camel in the next day or two anyway.’

"The person who stole the camel can’t have gone far. I’m going out to look for it."

With that, Perry Yates darted out.

’After leaving the guesthouse, Perry Yates couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. The proprietor’s scrutinizing gaze just now had been truly unnerving, making him seem like a completely different person from before.’

’This was probably his true self; the rest had just been a disguise.’

’After all, how could someone who thrived in this Oasis possibly be a simple, good-natured person?’

’Perry Yates was glad she had never trusted the proprietor from the start, treating him only as a source of information.’