Chapter 267

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Chapter 267: Heavy Suspicion
After hearing Lin Cong’s words, someone immediately sarcastically said, “Why should we be split up and leave only your group in power? What chance do we have left?”
Lin Cong looked coldly at the person who spoke up and continued to provoke those around them. His icy gaze focused on the person as he said, “If anyone disagrees, you can go talk to your former leader. We can find a common ground, even if it means using the same methods.”
Upon hearing Lin Cong’s words, everyone subconsciously glanced towards the six dried bodies. Silence fell over the crowd. The person who realized Lin Cong was serious stopped provoking and blended into the crowd.
Lin Cong ignored that direction and followed Zhang Mu’s instructions to organize his thoughts. “Secondly, abolish the servant agreement between regular people and evolvers. Regular people will be rewarded for basic work, while evolvers will have tasks assigned through centralized arrangements to be announced later.”
Businesses can continue, but no coercion is allowed. Severe penalties will be given to those who force regular people or evolvers. Rewards will be given to those who report such cases after confirming the situation.
At this point, no one dared to argue with Lin Cong anymore. The six dried bodies hung high in the air, swaying with the wind, their empty eye sockets staring down at the people below.
“Lastly, the mutant beast group outside Luo Yang City will be dealt with within three days.”
With that, Lin Cong left, leaving the crowd in uproar.
“Is he planning to send us out to fight those beasts? Is he conscripting us by force? I don’t want to die in vain. How could we possibly stand up to those beasts one-on-one, especially with our numbers?”
“They should be able to solve it themselves. If they need our help, no one is willing to go out now.”
Different voices kept rising, but the main characters, Zhang Mu and Lin Cong, had already silently left.
When Zhang Mu and Lin Cong said this, it startled Lin Cong too. If Zhang Mu couldn’t do it, it would severely damage Wang Liang’s leadership and authority.
But out of trust in Zhang Mu, Lin Cong didn’t ask Wang Liang for permission and directly announced this news to the crowd of evolvers.
This news is the best way to stabilize morale and divert their attention now.
As for how to specifically achieve it, Zhang Mu had to go back and think carefully.
Three days should be enough, and the word is already out there, so they had to act.
When Zhang Mu returned to his small courtyard, Yuan Rui had already prepared the meal. It was the mutant beast meat that Zhang Mu had left for Lin Cong and some food that had been urgently collected and sent over.
He watched Yuan Rui eating slowly across from him, thinking about what happened earlier, and put down his chopsticks, considering what to say.
Yuan Rui noticed something was wrong with him and stopped, looking at Zhang Mu she asked, “What’s the matter, Uncle? Do you have something on your mind?”
After thinking for a while, Zhang Mu decided to tell her, “There are two things. First, we need to quickly deal with the mutated beasts outside the city. Second, we might have to be apart for some time. Your Era Merchant mission still hasn’t been completed, and it’s time to deliver it to Xi An City. Delaying it won’t bring any benefits.”
“I will have the Obsidian Beetle accompany you for protection. For the next two months, try to complete two more Era Merchant missions. After that, we can head further inland or to the south,” he explained.
Yuan Rui listened quietly and then asked Zhang Mu, “Uncle, what is the maximum time limit for completing an Era Merchant mission?”
“Six months,” he replied.
Yuan Rui felt relieved and happily said to Zhang Mu as she served him a piece of braised pork, “Since it’s six months, it’s still early. I can accompany you and deliver the mission right before the deadline.”
Zhang Mu smiled bitterly and said, “But if you exceed the deadline after completing the mission’s quota, many Era Stores may refuse you entry. Wouldn’t that be a wasted trip?”
Yuan Rui seemed indifferent, put down her chopsticks, and said with a hint of annoyance, “Uncle, initially I approached this Era Store just as you instructed because I wanted to know what you were up to. As long as I can complete this mission, isn’t that good enough? Besides, I have already earned enough. So, when the deadline approaches, you can accompany me for this one last trip, right?”
“I have already reached the second-rank in terms of abilities, which you also helped me achieve, Uncle. I can protect myself and heal your injuries. I can be of great help to you,” Yuan Rui added.
Finished, Yuan Rui actually never cared about Era Merchant’s tasks at all.
Well, the prestigious title of Era Sub-merchant that others coveted meant nothing to her.
“Uncle, you’re not trying to drive me away, are you?”
Zhang Mu, feeling pressured, had to compromise and abandon his previous plans. He decided to complete three Era Merchant tasks first before taking on another one, heading to Xi An City and then starting his long journey.
After nightfall, Zhang Mu arrived at the walls of Luo Yang City. With his enhanced night vision, he could see that in the distance there were still many mutated beasts gathered together, not dispersing even in the night.
He stepped on the temporary outer city wall, which was only one level high and built by earth-element evolvers. If a real mutated beast were to attack the city, perhaps they wouldn’t be able to withstand a single assault.
“Era City, with just one breath, is enough to sleep soundly at night. Everyone is fighting for its ownership, and it’s not without reason.”
“He who gains this city gains the people; he who gains the people gains the world.”
Zhang Mu pondered how to deal with the white tiger. The tactic of catching the leader first was not feasible now. Zhang Mu couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t get surrounded by the beast group and he wasn’t sure if he could kill the white tiger, as it was not an ordinary second-rank mutated beast.
However, since it is so intelligent, it cannot possibly be a vicious beast blinded by hatred, why would it still waste time and energy surrounding a city that it doesn’t dare attack.
What does it really want?
Is it just waiting for Zhang Mu, the one who killed half of its clan, to return?
How can it be so certain that Zhang Mu will come back? If Zhang Mu doesn’t return to Luo Yang City, wouldn’t it all be in vain here?
Many doubts arose, but the night was dark, Zhang Mu couldn’t even track the White Tiger now, so he had no choice but to give up.