"Ordinary Great Antler Deer are relatively docile dangerous beasts with weak territorial instincts. As long as they're not provoked, they won’t act aggressively," Leon explained as he led the team down the slope. "If these ‘Blazing Flame Antler Deer’ are simply enhanced with fire attributes without a change in temperament, then we shouldn't need to resort to violence."

Rebecca quickened her pace to catch up to him, looking up at her captain.
"Captain, how do you plan to investigate this herd of ‘Blazing Flame Deer’?"

Leon paused, considering his words carefully.
"If Shadow implanted Black Dragon Scales in this many deer, it’s unlikely they were able to catch and move them all. They must have set up some kind of lab or experimental facility here in Flaming Valley. If we follow these deer, we might find where Shadow conducted their experiments."

The mention of a potential lead caused a ripple of tension among the group. Leon’s team had been pursuing Shadow’s trail for years, only to have their leads vanish at critical moments. Shadow’s operations were always meticulous and left little trace behind.

Despite orchestrating a century-long war between humans and dragons, Shadow had vanished after the conflict, leaving behind only fragments of a larger scheme. Leon and the Lionheart Guild had pieced together these fragments like a massive jigsaw puzzle. Though incomplete, the bigger picture was beginning to emerge.

This was why the possibility of a Shadow hideout in Flaming Valley ignited a spark of determination within Leon.

The group reached the outskirts of the Blazing Flame Deer’s territory and crouched in the tall grass.