Chapter 373:Found.

Chapter 373: 373:Found.

At approximately three in the morning, Spatial Sense detected vehicles.

Silver immediately became alert. There were multiple behind him, closing in. He could see that it was not ordinary traffic, they were moving too deliberately that it showed they were acquainted or a group.

He checked his mirrors.

Lights appeared in the distance. He noticed three vehicles coming up towards him. His hand moved toward the handgun but he didn’t draw.

The vehicles finally approached. One moved alongside him before a light flashed. He saw the association identification.

Silver didn’t relax. Larry had taught him something valuable, uniforms meant very little until verified.

A loudspeaker activated from the vehicle beside him.

"Driver of the dark vehicle, reduce speed. We are Association investigators responding to Emergency Survival Beacon identification SR-447. Do not stop abruptly. Pull into the marked roadside area approximately four hundred meters ahead."

Silver’s eyes narrowed.

They knew the beacon identifier. That was a good sign but it wasn’t enough for him to place his trust on them.

He reduced speed.

Spatial Sense mapped the vehicles. There were multiple contractors and they were all carrying weapons, but nothing immediately hostile.

He reached the roadside area and stopped. The Association vehicles surrounded him without blocking him completely.

The doors opened and five Contractors emerged. One approached slowly with both hands visible.

"Silver Ruddington?"

Silver lowered the window only slightly.

"That depends on who’s asking."

The man stopped.

"Senior Investigator Silas Venn, Regional Association Investigation Division. Your Emergency Survival Beacon was authenticated yesterday, and we’ve been tracking the signal since it reached the surface. We received confirmation that it was moving away from Death Row Valley several hours ago."

He produced identification.

"You’re welcome to verify it before opening the vehicle."

Silver did.

The identification matched. He checked the Association authentication against the beacon. It also matched.

Still, he asked, "What was the first emergency information transmitted through my beacon?"

The investigator didn’t hesitate.

"You reported that the parasitic burrowing worms had developed a large flying insect form connected to the same colony, warned of external infestation risk and confirmed the Rank Six queen remained active. That report triggered an escalation from subterranean extermination planning to containment assessment."

He finally unlocked the door.

"Good answer."

The investigator stared at him.

"You thought we were fake?"

"The last team I trusted decided I was more useful as bait."

The man’s expression changed.

"Okay, I can’t blame you for that."

He stepped out. His legs nearly failed him but he caught the door. Every investigator noticed that.

One woman moved forward.

"You’re injured."

"I’m aware."

"Why are you driving?"

Silver looked at the car.

"Because walking would have taken longer."

She stared at him.

"That’s not what I meant."

He smiled tiredly.

"I know."

The senior investigator looked him over. His expression became increasingly incredulous.

"You’re actually him."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Was there another person carrying my beacon?"

"No. We knew who the beacon belonged to. I mean you’re actually driving yourself out."

He looked toward another investigator.

"Confirm rank."

A scanner appeared.

He sighed heavily.

"Rank Two."

The investigator checked, then stared at him completely shocked.

"Rank Two."

Silver nodded.

"I’ve been told."

The woman looked at his injuries.

"You were underground since the original collapse?"

"Yes."

"With the Rank Six queen?"

"Unfortunately."

"And you escaped the colony alone?"

"Eventually."

The investigators exchanged looks. Silver leaned against the car.

"If you’re waiting for the part where I explain how, you’re going to have to wait until I’ve slept."

The senior investigator studied him, then his expression softened slightly.

"I think that can be arranged."

The woman stepped toward the driver’s side.

"I’m taking the wheel."

He looked at her.

"My car."

"Yes."

"I can drive."

"You almost collapsed getting out."

"I’ve been driving for hours."

"That isn’t the argument you think it is."

He opened his mouth but she continued before he can.

"You’ve been missing for nearly six days, you’re visibly injured, you’ve probably slept very little and your eyes keep closing while we’re talking to you. If you continue driving, there’s a reasonable chance we’ll end up investigating your second disappearance after you leave the road and crash into a ravine."

He blankly stared at her unable to formulate a reasonable argument against that.

She held out her hand.

"Keys."

He looked at the senior investigator.

The man shrugged.

"She’s our field medic as well. I recommend not arguing."

Silver sighed. Before handing them over, he looked directly at the senior investigator.

"One last question. Which observation post are you taking me to?"

"Death Row Valley Regional Observation Post Seven eastern approach. Your original expedition passed through its jurisdiction before entering the deeper valley."

Silver handed over the keys.

"Fine."

The woman smiled.

"Excellent. Sit in the passenger seat before you fall over."

He climbed inside.

The investigator took the driver’s seat. Association vehicles formed around them.

He looked at the senior investigator through the open window.

"If I wake up somewhere that isn’t an Association post, I don’t even know what I’m going to do."

The man laughed.

"After reading the preliminary report attached to your beacon, I suspect being confused is the least dangerous thing you could do."

Silver leaned back.

"That’s reassuring."

The convoy moved.

He kept Spatial Sense active, for perhaps two minutes. After confirming the route was correct and they were real, his shoulders finally relaxed.

The woman driving glanced over.

"You can sleep."

He looked at her.

"I wasn’t sleeping."

"You closed your eyes three times."

"I was thinking."

"You were snoring during one of those thoughts."

Silver rolled his eyes.

She smiled.

"I’m joking. But you’re about thirty seconds away from actually doing it."

He wanted to answer but didn’t manage.

His eyes closed.

The last thing he remembered was the hum of the engine and the strange sensation of realizing someone else was responsible for keeping him alive for the next few hours.

After days of never allowing himself to truly sleep because something might find him, Silver finally stopped fighting his exhaustion.

He was asleep before the convoy had travelled another kilometer.