Chapter 192

Chapter 192

"Are you the new recruit Ah Mao told me about? Hmm, Ah Hai?"

"..." Ji Xinghai suspected that 'Ah X' was a standardized way of addressing people in this group.

It was the fifth day of the game, five in the morning. The sky was still dimly lit, dewdrops still clung to the grass, and the air was damp with various 'human scents.'

He had arrived half an hour early, but the site was already crowded with people.

This was a park, nestled against a mountain and facing a lake, with beautiful scenery perfect for early morning strolls. However, it was currently cordoned off, with curious onlookers peering from outside the park.

"Is the Special Operations Group executing a mission?"

"I heard there's a rift with monster nests inside."

"That's right; there are many monsters, which is why so many people are here."

The crowd had only partial knowledge, yet each person spoke with the certainty of having witnessed it firsthand.

Ji Xinghai swallowed the last bite of his bread, folded the garbage bag, and put it back into his pocket before heading toward the entrance.

Soldiers armed to the teeth surrounded the area. They raised their guns when they saw the approaching stranger, Ji Xinghai. Fortunately, the team's deputy leader intervened in time, allowing him to enter.

Then the initial conversation took place.

The entrance to the secret realm was in the middle of the lake, a flat, rainbow-colored vortex. Currently, the vortex was small, about the size of a bathtub, easily overlooked from the shore.

But in reality, it was already three meters wide and five meters long, and growing rapidly.

"This secret realm has the potential to become a permanent one," said the deputy leader who brought him here. "After cleaning it up, the park will be renovated, possibly boosting local tourism."

Ah Mao's former partner was not the same type of person as Ah Mao.

Ah Mao, with his shaved head and muscles, looked like he had just been released even without wearing stripes. He appeared rather intimidating. This person, however, seemed refined and approachable, instilling trust and a desire to confide. Even though age had added a few wrinkles, it was clear he must have been very popular in his youth.

"Hello, you can call me Xinghai," Ji Xinghai stood straight. While he could be more casual with Ah Mao, he couldn't be with this person, an outsider.

"My name is Guang Yu. You can call me Uncle Yu or Brother Yu. Can you introduce your skills?" Guang Yu had given up a spot based on Ah Mao's recommendation, trusting both Ah Mao's character and the skill described.

Ah Mao never exaggerated. If he said this person could hold a monster for ten minutes, he certainly could. This secret realm might contain more than one high-level monster, making such a skill invaluable in critical moments.

Of course, he still needed final confirmation.

Ji Xinghai recounted the details of his 'Mad Gambler' skill to Guang Yu and mentioned his previous two successful experiences.

This was indirectly showcasing his strength—having encountered two team-based A-level monsters and playing a crucial role each time.

"The leader said we might need to stay inside for several days, unsure of what monsters we'll face or how many. So I bought two Skill Update Cards."

Regardless of skill usage, this attitude showed thorough preparation, not coming to drag anyone down.

Satisfied, Guang Yu discussed the terms. As an external hire, Ji Xinghai would receive different treatment from regular members. Monster loot would be distributed based on contribution, plus an additional three thousand contribution points as remuneration. However, any extra gains from this mission wouldn't include him.

There was also one crucial point.

"This is an unexplored resource-type secret realm. Unlike nest-type realms, resource-type realms have diverse monster species and quantities, especially near valuable resources where monsters often claim territory. Ah Mao explained this to you, right?"

Ji Xinghai nodded.

"As the first explorers of this secret realm, all materials obtained belong to us, including you. Of course, this must be done after completing assigned tasks and following orders without acting independently. It's best to move with the main group; no one knows what's inside."

Perhaps thinking Ji Xinghai was young, he gave a few extra reminders.

Afterward, Guang Yu introduced him to the leader. She was a middle-aged woman with sun-kissed skin, maintaining a better state than most young people. Her well-defined muscles exuded a sense of power.

The leader was serious. After understanding Ji Xinghai's situation, she informed him of the instructions that would require him to use his skill. She also emphasized the importance of staying with the group, maintaining focus, and being ready at all times until the skill was used.

Businesslike and straightforward, no issues.

Ji Xinghai suddenly felt these people were easy to get along with, appreciating their upfront attitude.

"I also prepared two additional Skill Update Cards," he added.

The leader seemed pleased with this, her face breaking into a rare smile: "If there's another opportunity to use it, it's one thousand contribution points per use, with other rewards following standard rules."

By six o'clock, everyone had assembled.

The 'Guns and Roses' team had forty-two members present, plus Ji Xinghai, making forty-three. Additionally, seven senior members joined individually, along with an eleven-member research team and a six-member official protection squad.

In total, sixty-seven people.

They entered the lake in batches. Ji Xinghai was in the first group. Their boat carried seven people, including the leader and deputy leader, a pair of twins in flight suits, and two heavily armored defensive members.

Upon reaching the center of the lake, the twins went down first. One of them popped out, made a gesture, and the others followed by jumping in.

Ji Xinghai landed about seven meters above the ground. In mid-air, he adjusted his posture, landing with his palms and feet touching the ground first, then rolling to absorb the impact.

Standing steady, he noticed that the others had jet-powered descent equipment, but it wasn't necessary due to the short distance. Ji Xinghai brushed off the dust from his sleeve. His wrist had a one-time inflatable cushion that could protect him from a three-thousand-meter fall. Apart from its cost, it had no other drawbacks.

They landed on exposed red rock, surrounded by barren land. Distant cliffs formed layers of enclosures, with colors ranging from ochre, red, and rust to deep crimson. The low-saturation reds and yellows dominated the view, with the heavy red almost turning the sky blood-red.

Though it looked inhospitable, occasional small creatures adapted to this environment appeared, seemingly lizards. One, colored like a tomato and egg dish, was startled by the sudden appearance of humans and quickly vanished into a crevice.

"Can we release the drones now?"

"No, we tried. The magnetic field here is too chaotic, causing interference with electrical devices."

"I'll go up and take a look."

The team leader was talking to the twins. One of them had just closed a silver suitcase, which seemed to contain exploration equipment, but it couldn't be used now. The other said he would go up and then activated his flight mode.

Ji Xinghai placed his hand above his brow to shield his eyes from the sun as he watched the person fly up. What would he see in this desolate wilderness?

People were gradually coming down behind him, while in front of him, someone was flying low with wings, looking down at the vast land.

Just as everyone felt that it was too quiet, something shot towards the airborne person at an incredible speed.

"!" The quick-thinking team members had already drawn their weapons, but it was too far away, at least a kilometer.

Ji Xinghai squinted, seeing a crimson tongue with strong adhesive properties that directly wrapped around the airborne person and dragged them towards the entrance.

From his angle, he couldn't see the perpetrator's true face. Judging solely from the tongue, the creature must be over ten meters long, fitting the standard of a monster.

Shots rang out in unison, and the dragged flyer reacted, emitting golden arcs of electricity that scared off the crimson tongue.

The flyer, still shaken, quickly flew higher, but his flight gear had been damaged during the incident. So, he had no choice but to return, bringing back photos taken from high up.

"Go tend to your wounds first." The serious team leader cared more about her team member, so she instructed the injured twin to get treated. The sticky substance on the monster's tongue not only had strong adhesion but also had a corrosive effect.

Meanwhile, she took the aerial photos to show the Expert Group.

After all, these experts were the core of this mission; they were merely bodyguards.

At this moment, the Expert Group arrived, bringing their own machines—a type of detector that could function in such an environment. The mechanical dragonflies could bring back images from ten kilometers away. However, considering the recent ground-to-air attack, they decided to use only energy detection equipment for now.

Generally, the place with the strongest energy fluctuations harbors the most powerful monsters, which often dominate the most valuable resources.

"Head in this direction, at ten o'clock. There's a canyon formed by falling rocks where vehicles can pass."

They quickly made a decision, and the team started moving forward. The Guns and Roses led the way, followed by the Expert Group, and then the individual high-ranking members. Ji Xinghai stood quietly among the crowd.

He had put on multifunctional goggles, which covered a third of his face, making it hard to read his expression through the colorful lenses. He also carried a sniper rifle on his back.

"Why did you bring this heavy thing out so early?"

"To show off—of course."

The team members were both curious and skeptical about this outsider who had joined midway. Their team was an A-level team that had completed several high-difficulty missions independently. Why would they need such a green newcomer?

Guns and Roses had been established for over a decade, with several expansions and divisions into smaller teams. Thus, they were well-coordinated when necessary but had their own agendas privately.

So even though the deputy leader brought him along with the team leader's approval, there were still whispers.

However, Ji Xinghai ignored all of this. He only needed to answer to those who paid him; others were irrelevant.

The team stretched out in a line, entering a narrow path.

The sides were steep slopes with rock formations resembling tomato beef. There were almost no plants or water, and the air was extremely dry. The sunlight refracted, creating a dizzying effect.

Suddenly, a faint sound different from human footsteps echoed in the silent valley. The team leader frowned and ordered everyone to be on alert. Then, the cliff walls began to move.

"Huala."

Good grief, the tomato and beef-colored rocks on both sides weren't just rocks but the skin color of small monsters.

These monsters were roughly half a meter long, beetle-like but flattened. When their elytra unfolded, a pair of translucent wings appeared, allowing them to move at incredible speeds.

These insect monsters had typical folding wings that, when unfolded, measured over a meter long, white, smooth, and mirror-like. These wings reflected light intensely.

Those without protective goggles were immediately blinded for two to three seconds.

"Clearing mode." The team leader took out a high-temperature spray gun. For dealing with dense swarms of small monsters, a high-temperature spray gun was the most economical and practical option.

"Pang pang pang."

Ji Xinghai had already set up his sniper rifle. Each conventional bullet fired took down a large monster with a headshot.

The monsters' resilience matched that of insects; even after being headshot, they could survive for another ten seconds.

The deputy leader, standing next to him, saw everything clearly. The small monsters moved fast and had camouflage coloring, making it difficult to distinguish individuals. Yet, he managed to quickly identify the larger ones and take them down one by one?

This kid must have exceptional dynamic vision and quick reflexes. He's just a bit young and competitive, deliberately targeting the larger ones to show off.

In comparison, their team's sniper was more experienced.

The deputy leader mentally compared him to their team's sniper, but Ji Xinghai was focused on shooting.

Each bullet cost 10 contribution points, but small monsters only gave eight or nine points. Shooting them was a loss. Large monsters, however, provided over a dozen points, barely breaking even.

Unfortunately, monsters below a certain level couldn't trigger the 'Devour' skill, providing no attribute points.

Sigh, 'Devour' is great, but it's too picky. Even a mosquito's leg is meat, yet it's so choosy.

Actually, he noticed the anomaly on both sides earlier than the team leader but didn't say anything, waiting for her order before acting, preserving her dignity while also benefiting himself.

Ji Xinghai felt he had truly grasped the essence of 'office culture.'

After a round of shooting, a third of the bugs were eliminated, turning into energy in the air. Another third fled, leaving many one-star spoils behind.

Normally, these small monsters don’t drop loot, but many of them were leader monsters, so they dropped a little bit. Bit by bit, it added up to about a hundred cards.

"Consider this a good start?"

The team member who collected the loot came over cheerfully and piled everything at the logistics area to be divided equally among everyone later. Ji Xinghai glanced at the stack of cards and silently continued to oil the gun barrel.

"These are for you." The deputy leader came over and picked out five cards for Ji Xinghai.

Actually, he wasn’t sure how many cards had dropped because it was quite chaotic at the time, but he was certain that Ji Xinghai had taken down at least thirty leader bugs.

Ji Xinghai accepted them. Thinking about that pile of loot, he wondered if this team would have quite a few low-star items they couldn’t use?

After a brief rest, the team continued forward.

Past this treacherous valley lay the open canyon that the leader had mentioned. This long natural passage was about five or six meters wide, covered with thick layers of broken rocks, and curved as it extended ahead.

A group of stone-shaped minions was already lined up on this path, waiting.

The leader waved his hand, and a heavy-duty truck appeared: "Drive through them."