Chapter 197

Chapter 197

"Captain?"

When the Captain regained her senses, the snake monster’s two heads were frozen in place, about to collide. It seemed they had been pulled into Ji Xinghai’s skill once again. She couldn’t understand why these three heads, which had been so harmonious—two sleeping while one kept watch—now seemed to regard each other as mortal enemies upon waking.

Was there an inherent grudge?

There was no reason for it.

"Captain, we have a discovery here!"

"Captain, I have a discovery too!"

Several excited voices came through the radio. The Captain snapped back to reality and temporarily set aside her confusion. Activating the direction control thrusters on her heels, she hurriedly flew toward the nearest suspected energy ore site.

With only thirty to forty minutes left for the two skills, the Expert Group moved around with their equipment, racing against time to test the crystal-embedded ores and determine if they were the energy stones they sought.

Following behind the Expert Group, the Captain began timing again.

If this place was confirmed as their target, then the S-class unknown three-headed snake monster would need to be relocated.

Ji Xinghai’s two skills could drain 20% of the snake monster’s health. Given this premise, not acting would be a waste of the mission expenses and salaries.

Moreover, defeating an unrecorded monster and obtaining some of its data would earn their team additional contribution points and an honorary reward.

These were also what the Captain desired. Without the ambition to reach the top, why would she lead a team into such risks?

Finally, good news came from the Expert Group: low-purity ores were found at Site One, and different low-purity ores were found at Site Two.

"I discovered a mine shaft where small mining creatures appeared. These creatures’ corpses were also found near the Night Owl nests. We suspect the Night Owls obtained high-purity energy stones through them.

"This is a resource-rich mountain!"

They had confirmed that this was the energy ore source they sought, and the Expert Group suspected that the snake monster could grow to S-class due to both its potential and these energy ores.

The excited experts wanted to stay and conduct surveys, but time was running out, and the snake monster could wake up at any moment.

"We can enter the mines dug by the monsters. These small creatures are skilled miners; they must have found the richest veins here. Let go of me..."

Soldiers dragged the disobedient experts away, returning to the aircraft with collected specimens and data. It was now the mercenaries’ moment to shine.

"Except for those setting traps, everyone else should evacuate quickly. This is an unknown S-class monster, and we don’t know its abilities..."

Members of the Guns and Roses team and lone wolves listened to the Captain’s serious task assignments. While the lone wolves weren’t under her command—they were mostly arrogant and just listened casually—the other team members carefully noted their tasks.

Fully armed and hovering in mid-air, the Captain held the unused ice-freezing equipment in her hand.

Though losing 20% of its health wouldn’t make the monster berserk, it would certainly be enraged. Its massive size alone would cause harm when it moved.

And it surely hated Ji Xinghai. Temporarily freezing it for a few seconds could give him a chance to escape.

She hadn’t forgotten the bizarre self-mutilation scene earlier, but it seemed unlikely that the monster would foolishly fight itself in the face of danger. Thus, the Captain didn’t consider this unexpected situation.

Finally, the monster woke up. As soon as its eyes opened, they emitted cruel glares, making everyone tense. Unexpectedly, the three-headed snake monster didn’t even see these tiny humans as threats; instead, its three heads began fighting each other right in front of them.

One head rammed another, while the other bit back, and finally, a tail lashed out fiercely.

Ah, that’s your tail, but it’s also my tail!

After all, they were still ‘one snake’ and couldn’t really kill each other, but the chaotic fight still caused significant blood loss. Part of the hill collapsed.

As the chaos unfolded, the injured three-headed snake monster finally realized something was wrong.

They looked around, puzzled. Why were those tiny black ants circling them?

"Now!" the Captain shouted into the radio. She didn’t know what happened to the three-headed snake monster, but she knew to strike while the iron was hot. The first kill was hers!

Guns and Roses team members and lone wolves engaged in a life-and-death battle with the three-headed snake monster, while Ji Xinghai retreated with his mission accomplished, appearing far from the snake monster with a metal plate on his back.

Given the intense fighting, it was clear that this was indeed the resource-rich area with ores.

This successful mission would make the Guns and Roses team more willing to seek him out next time. Ji Xinghai could already imagine the joy of money pouring in from all directions.

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently, interrupting Ji Xinghai’s thoughts. He heard the sound of mountains cracking and rocks rolling, and the terrified cries of small monsters. He saw the ground split open and close again.

The constantly splitting and closing ground resembled a monstrous mouth, ready to swallow anyone who fell in.

"Get up here!"

Someone did fall into the crack. Fortunately, they weren’t ordinary people and had skills and equipment to help them escape quickly.

Ji Xinghai nimbly jumped over the dangerous areas like playing hopscotch, finding a spot that was only shaking but not splitting. Only then did he turn to see what was happening.

The previously somewhat dumb three-headed snake monster had transformed into a devouring beast. Each time its tail hit the ground, the earth shook violently. Its three heads spewed corrosive toxic mists in different directions, melting even the rocks.

It turned out that the three-headed snake monster had activated its ability, causing strong earthquakes each time it attacked. Few could stand steadily except those in the sky.

So strong?

One attack had destroyed the Captain’s previous setup. Apart from the damage from the self-inflicted fight and the gamble, it barely lost any health. Was there such a stark difference between S-class and A-class monsters?

However, seeing the Captain calmly directing and others quickly adapting to the shaking ground and occasional large cracks, and considering the snake monster’s inexperienced mind, Ji Xinghai felt he had nothing to do here. He took out his motorcycle and left the battlefield.

Good luck, everyone.

The observant Captain noticed the motorcycle and turned back to continue directing.

This battle lasted from day to night and then from night until dawn. Finally, before the first rays of sunlight touched the ruins, the three-headed serpent was worn down and killed. They began to clean up the battlefield.

The wounded entered a temporary medical tent, while the Expert Group went to search for the collapsed mine shaft in the chaos. The leader sought out Ji Xinghai.

Ji Xinghai had just yawned and stepped out of his tent.

With the serpent's death, a wave of attribute points flowed into Ji Xinghai's data body. At the moment when his three basic attributes broke the hundred mark, he saw many flowing numbers, forming codes he didn't recognize.

As light and shadow flickered, the world seemed to flip. He saw a mysterious lake appear, along with his reflection in it, before he 'woke' up. The mountains were still mountains, the sky still the sky, incredibly real yet subtly false.

Ji Xinghai pondered this.

"Found you here," said the leader, "go get your spoils, great hero."

This time was a huge harvest. Ignoring everything else, the first kill of an unknown S-class monster would ensure them a prosperous year. So even the usually stern leader appeared particularly approachable, having shed her heavy armor.

Seeing her like this, Ji Xinghai knew his future side income was secure. He stood up, packing his tent as he asked, "Leader, do we have any unused second-hand equipment or extra skill cards?"

Now it's 'our' team?

The leader replied, "We do have some. Do you want them?"

"It's not that I want them, but Brother Cat mentioned that the official buy-back price is only ten percent. Storing them takes up space, so I thought it might be convenient for everyone." When it came to benefits, Ji Xinghai's mind was always sharp. He wouldn't put himself at a disadvantage. So it wasn't 'he wanted them,' but rather 'the team needed them.'

The leader wasn't fooled by his words, appreciating him but sticking to business: "Do you want to be a middleman? There are valuable items in the warehouse. If not for lack of time to sell them piece by piece, they'd still be there. If you want them, two-tenths of the original price, no picking."

"Sis, at that bulk price, these are outdated second-hand items and useless leftovers. Selling them at two-tenths would be a loss. One and a half-tenths, all included."

For a mere point-two profit, they haggled from afar to the spot where the three-headed serpent met its demise.

"One and seven-tenths bulk price, you cover shipping, interest-free installments."

"...I'm not good at business. Next time, let someone else handle it." Feeling exhausted, the leader quickly changed the subject: "Here are the spoils from the three-headed serpent. As usual, you have the first pick."

The three-headed serpent, indeed an S-class monster, despite its flaws, had a powerful physique and outstanding special abilities that made up for them. Even a mercenary group like Guns and Roses had to expend countless resources to wear it down. Thus, the rewards upon its death were unprecedentedly abundant.

"Indeed, the first kill has bonuses. Last time, when we killed an S-class monster, the rewards weren't nearly as generous."

"A five-star skill card also dropped; first kills always yield five-star skills."

All the members, injured or not, wore bright smiles. With so many spoils, everyone would benefit.

Ji Xinghai's contribution was 20%. Although the serpent was provoked into self-destruction, the lost percentage didn't fall on him.

Even so, others envied him.

In the crowd, many harbored jealous glances. While they acknowledged Ji Xinghai's excellent performance, his high contribution mainly relied on 'skills.'

'Skills' could be luck or money, which didn't make it convincing.

Unfortunately, the leader personally brought him to take the first pick, and her authority deterred anyone from causing trouble.

Still, they watched Ji Xinghai closely, curious about what he would choose. There were many good items, especially rare five-star skills.

"These will do." Ji Xinghai quickly selected three items and took twenty-five attribute points.

Five-star equipment: Isolated Island—a peridot earring. Wearing it increases Strength +18, Agility +18, Intelligence +22, and grants the skill 'Spring Revival,' which restores 3% health when HP drops to zero, usable once every three days.

Four-star skill: Tremor—causes severe ground shaking within a one-kilometer radius, equivalent to a magnitude 9 earthquake lasting five minutes, followed by six aftershocks every five minutes, each lasting three minutes, totaling nine aftershocks. The skill affects friend and foe alike, with a cooldown of 48 hours.

Four-star battle pet crystal.

He pierced the sugar-tower-shaped peridot earring through his pale earlobe, drawing a drop of blood.

This accessory's skill perfectly complemented the 'Furious Blood' skill.

Actually, a five-star skill dropped, a powerful single-target attack skill. Others watched him, worried he would take this rare five-star skill, but Ji Xinghai showed no interest.

He had a clear plan: to leverage the team's advantages to gain contribution points and wait for a mech.

And now was the 'early stage' of building up strength. By using 'Crazy Gambler' to control the boss and gain 10% contribution, it was a win-win. But if he became the main force, it would create conflicts with the team's core members, unnecessary.

After selecting the spoils, the leader led the somewhat conspicuous Ji Xinghai away.

"We have almost two more days. We can stay or leave with the officials. Want to go mining? Whatever we dig up now is ours."

Ji Xinghai shook his head, guessing the best batch had already been pocketed by Nightingale.

The leader wasn't surprised by this response.

"Looks like you're leaving. I've added you to the group. If you're interested in any missions, contact me anytime. And if there's a suitable mission for you, I'll call you."

Pausing, she hesitated for a moment before taking out a card.

Tata? Ji Xinghai looked at the name on the card.

"The guy who won the mecha design competition ten years ago with overwhelming superiority, once seen as the hope of the mecha world."

Hmm? There's a story here.

"Current mainstream mechas are body-connected, but this kid wanted to break tradition and design a brain-controlled mecha.

"It was a risky idea, and no one wanted to take the risk. Later, his lover stepped forward to be the first to test the brain-controlled mecha, but unfortunately..."

The captain sighed. "He went mad because he couldn’t handle the neural connection between the mech and his mind."

"Due to this incident, neural mechs were regarded as 'an evil concept that defies natural laws.' He had to pay a large sum in compensation, and the investors withdrew all their funding."

"Neural connection mechs?" Ji Xinghai twirled the ring on his finger.

Thinking Ji Xinghai had misunderstood, the captain explained, "I’m not suggesting anyone become his experimental subject. In fact, he won first place with a traditional mech. So, if you plan to gather materials and build your own mech, this guy is a pretty good designer."

"Very talented, meticulous in his work, and extremely familiar with mechs. Most importantly, he’s very affordable."