Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 38: Chapter 38
You are reading Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire, Chapter 38: Chapter 38. Read more chapters of Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire.
Hallie stole a glance at Nelson's profile as he gazed upriver, her eyes growing thoughtful.
Though his presence might stem from his grandfather's influence, he had truly aided her, and she owed him gratitude.
A sense of responsibility tugged at Hallie, as if she had a debt to repay.
"Kerriston once yielded a batch of valuable saffron," Nelson remarked casually, scanning the surroundings. "Were they harvested here?"
Hallie paused, surprised by the sudden question but willing to elaborate.
"Yes," she nodded, pointing to the distant peaks.
"That was a decade back. The first saffron patch was found in the northern range, with the rest scattered mainly across the southern mountains.
"Back then, plutocrats were offering astronomical prices for it. Berry Bay was in dire need of funds for development, so we dispatched our most veteran herb gatherers. It took them months to locate a mere five patches of that precious saffron."
As she spoke, Hallie's eyes dimmed, her voice nearly a whisper.
"Herb-gathering is no easy feat. Herb gatherers often spend ten days to half a month in the mountains, braving injuries to find herbs. The earthquake was catastrophic. At least the man we found earlier was stable enough for rescue. But what of the others?"
Nelson's eyes flickered with confusion. His gaze fixed on Hallie, tone laced with unconscious derision.
"What's the point of spending half a month to pick such minimal herbs? You could send more people with advanced equipment to harvest valuable herbs once and for all."
Hallie frowned at him. "Mr. Blair, don't apply capitalist logic to everything.
"As you said, advanced equipment might boost efficiency," she continued, "but it would also destroy the environment. Even if the herbs regrow, their efficacy diminishes. If you've read my mother's research reports, you'd know quality and quantity can't coexist."
Nelson snorted, though his expression remained noncommittal.
"Besides, herbs like saffron and panax quinquefolius are now artificially cultivated. Their efficacy may lag behind wild ones, but at least they're affordable. And prices might soon drop further..."
"Smoke over there!" a rescuer suddenly exclaimed before Hallie could finish her words.
Hallie jolted to her feet, raising her telescope toward the direction indicated.
In the continuous expanse of mountain ranges, through the dense ancient trees, a wisp of white smoke rises imperceptibly through the dense foliage of ancient trees, so faint that it seemed to vanish at any moment.
Hallie put the telescope down, fixing her gaze on the smoke, afraid to take her eyes off it for even a second. Navigated by memory and intuition, she led the team over there.
Though she'd explored the ancient forest with her mother in her childhood, they'd never ventured so deep.
The smoke appeared close, yet it took Hallie, Nelson, and the team an hour and a half to reach it.
The journey's hardships melted away at the sight before them: seven or eight herb gatherers huddled around a fire, staring at the rescuers with wide eyes.
"Hey, it's Hallie!" An elderly man in his sixties stood excitedly, waving with astonishment.
"Is it really you? You've grown so much after all these years!" An elderly man, around the same age as the first, also recognized Hallie instantly. He smiled at her, his demeanor brightening.
Another man of similar age followed suit, greeting her with a warm smile.
As a child, Hallie had forged close ties with Kerriston's medical clans and befriended numerous herb gatherers with her mother.
These two old men, both childless, had once taken Hallie into the mountains, teaching her knowledge of traditional medicine while collecting herbs.
In high school, Hallie often visited them alone, but college life gradually consumed her time, leaving fewer opportunities for return.
"Zander, Sergio." Hallie stepped forward to greet them, noticing one man's arm in a sling and the other's ankle swollen to the size of a fist.
Despite their injuries, they still bantered lightheartedly.
"Zander, I bet the rescue team would find us within a week. You didn't believe me!"
"Hmph, what's so impressive? Do you gather more herbs than I do? You only made this bet because you feel inferior!"
Both in their fifties, Zander and Sergio showed remarkable indifference to their plight, but the half-dozen younger people, ranging from their twenties to their forties, could not match their calm, who were all wearing somber expressions.
Over 90% of the group had injuries, some with suppurating wounds that demanded immediate evacuation from the humid environment.
Hallie first asked for everyone's names, cross-referencing them with the list in her mind. In the end, one person remained unaccounted for.
"You mean Dustin? He went to scout the northern mountains and separated from us. After the earthquake, we tried contacting him, but he never responded. We have no idea where he is now," someone explained.
After a moment of thought, Hallie made a decision. She turned to the rescue team and announced, "Please send the injured back first. I'll stay here to find Dustin."
It was already late, and the return journey would take four to five hours.
Heading back into the mountains later would waste too much time, so Hallie had already decided to stay overnight. She'd packed a tent and other supplies, so spending the night wasn't an issue.
The rescue team members exchanged glances, their expressions showing hesitation.
"Dr. Levine, are you sure? The mountain conditions are too complex. How can you manage alone?"
Hallie nodded, her eyes resolute. "Don't worry. I know these mountains better than anyone. Just take the injured back for treatment. I have a satellite phone, so you can contact me anytime."
While the injured urgently needed treatment, the team hesitated to leave a young woman alone in the wilderness, no matter how experienced she claimed she was.
"Dr. Levine, please allow us to leave someone here to assist you."
Haillie subconsciously said, "With only eight team members left, evacuating the injured is already stretching us thin. You can't afford to spare anyone to be with me here."
"I'll stay with her."
Though his presence might stem from his grandfather's influence, he had truly aided her, and she owed him gratitude.
A sense of responsibility tugged at Hallie, as if she had a debt to repay.
"Kerriston once yielded a batch of valuable saffron," Nelson remarked casually, scanning the surroundings. "Were they harvested here?"
Hallie paused, surprised by the sudden question but willing to elaborate.
"Yes," she nodded, pointing to the distant peaks.
"That was a decade back. The first saffron patch was found in the northern range, with the rest scattered mainly across the southern mountains.
"Back then, plutocrats were offering astronomical prices for it. Berry Bay was in dire need of funds for development, so we dispatched our most veteran herb gatherers. It took them months to locate a mere five patches of that precious saffron."
As she spoke, Hallie's eyes dimmed, her voice nearly a whisper.
"Herb-gathering is no easy feat. Herb gatherers often spend ten days to half a month in the mountains, braving injuries to find herbs. The earthquake was catastrophic. At least the man we found earlier was stable enough for rescue. But what of the others?"
Nelson's eyes flickered with confusion. His gaze fixed on Hallie, tone laced with unconscious derision.
"What's the point of spending half a month to pick such minimal herbs? You could send more people with advanced equipment to harvest valuable herbs once and for all."
Hallie frowned at him. "Mr. Blair, don't apply capitalist logic to everything.
"As you said, advanced equipment might boost efficiency," she continued, "but it would also destroy the environment. Even if the herbs regrow, their efficacy diminishes. If you've read my mother's research reports, you'd know quality and quantity can't coexist."
Nelson snorted, though his expression remained noncommittal.
"Besides, herbs like saffron and panax quinquefolius are now artificially cultivated. Their efficacy may lag behind wild ones, but at least they're affordable. And prices might soon drop further..."
"Smoke over there!" a rescuer suddenly exclaimed before Hallie could finish her words.
Hallie jolted to her feet, raising her telescope toward the direction indicated.
In the continuous expanse of mountain ranges, through the dense ancient trees, a wisp of white smoke rises imperceptibly through the dense foliage of ancient trees, so faint that it seemed to vanish at any moment.
Hallie put the telescope down, fixing her gaze on the smoke, afraid to take her eyes off it for even a second. Navigated by memory and intuition, she led the team over there.
Though she'd explored the ancient forest with her mother in her childhood, they'd never ventured so deep.
The smoke appeared close, yet it took Hallie, Nelson, and the team an hour and a half to reach it.
The journey's hardships melted away at the sight before them: seven or eight herb gatherers huddled around a fire, staring at the rescuers with wide eyes.
"Hey, it's Hallie!" An elderly man in his sixties stood excitedly, waving with astonishment.
"Is it really you? You've grown so much after all these years!" An elderly man, around the same age as the first, also recognized Hallie instantly. He smiled at her, his demeanor brightening.
Another man of similar age followed suit, greeting her with a warm smile.
As a child, Hallie had forged close ties with Kerriston's medical clans and befriended numerous herb gatherers with her mother.
These two old men, both childless, had once taken Hallie into the mountains, teaching her knowledge of traditional medicine while collecting herbs.
In high school, Hallie often visited them alone, but college life gradually consumed her time, leaving fewer opportunities for return.
"Zander, Sergio." Hallie stepped forward to greet them, noticing one man's arm in a sling and the other's ankle swollen to the size of a fist.
Despite their injuries, they still bantered lightheartedly.
"Zander, I bet the rescue team would find us within a week. You didn't believe me!"
"Hmph, what's so impressive? Do you gather more herbs than I do? You only made this bet because you feel inferior!"
Both in their fifties, Zander and Sergio showed remarkable indifference to their plight, but the half-dozen younger people, ranging from their twenties to their forties, could not match their calm, who were all wearing somber expressions.
Over 90% of the group had injuries, some with suppurating wounds that demanded immediate evacuation from the humid environment.
Hallie first asked for everyone's names, cross-referencing them with the list in her mind. In the end, one person remained unaccounted for.
"You mean Dustin? He went to scout the northern mountains and separated from us. After the earthquake, we tried contacting him, but he never responded. We have no idea where he is now," someone explained.
After a moment of thought, Hallie made a decision. She turned to the rescue team and announced, "Please send the injured back first. I'll stay here to find Dustin."
It was already late, and the return journey would take four to five hours.
Heading back into the mountains later would waste too much time, so Hallie had already decided to stay overnight. She'd packed a tent and other supplies, so spending the night wasn't an issue.
The rescue team members exchanged glances, their expressions showing hesitation.
"Dr. Levine, are you sure? The mountain conditions are too complex. How can you manage alone?"
Hallie nodded, her eyes resolute. "Don't worry. I know these mountains better than anyone. Just take the injured back for treatment. I have a satellite phone, so you can contact me anytime."
While the injured urgently needed treatment, the team hesitated to leave a young woman alone in the wilderness, no matter how experienced she claimed she was.
"Dr. Levine, please allow us to leave someone here to assist you."
Haillie subconsciously said, "With only eight team members left, evacuating the injured is already stretching us thin. You can't afford to spare anyone to be with me here."
"I'll stay with her."
End of Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 38. Continue reading Chapter 39 or return to Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire book page.