After a few strong drinks, Leimeng's floodgates of conversation completely opened!
"Brother Lin Chen! This time, you've turned misfortune into a blessing!"
Leimeng wiped his mouth, his face flushed with alcohol.
"Becoming the acting captain of Ashes Squad! Even if it's just acting, it's not a low starting point! That guy Old K won't be getting better anytime soon! In the future, Ashes Squad will be yours!"
He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Ling Chen.
"But, brother! You need to be careful! Those bird-brained guys from the Security Department have hearts smaller than a needle's eye! They didn't catch anything on you this time, so they definitely won't let it go! In the future, when you go on missions or handle affairs, you need to keep an eye out! Don't let them catch you with your pants down!"
Ling Chen sneered inwardly, but on his face, he showed gratitude and a hint of solemnity.
"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Leimeng! I'll be careful!"
"And..."
Leimeng let out a burp, his eyes becoming a little hazy.
"The waters of Shengjing... are deep! Don't just look at the surface glamour! Those grandsons from the Xuan Niao Guard! Relying on being direct descendants of the Central Special Task Force, their nostrils are practically pointed at the sky!
Resources, missions, and benefits all go to them! We, the Hunter Guild, are like stepchildren! Doing the dirtiest, most tiring work! Getting the fewest crystal cores! And still having to watch their expressions!"
He grew more agitated as he spoke, "This time, the crystal mine in Ash Canyon! We clearly discovered it first!
With just one word from the Xuan Niao Guard, they wanted to snatch it away! If it weren't for the vice-guild master arguing logically and then winning a spar against them, this juicy piece of meat would have been gone!"
"Ash Canyon?"
Ling Chen's heart stirred. This was precisely the fuse that had ignited the previous conflict between the Xuan Niao Guard and the Hunter Guild!
"Is that place very special?"
"Special?"
A hint of greed flashed in Leimeng's eyes.
"More than special! There's a small, high-purity energy crystal ore vein buried underground there! The reserves are abundant! The quality is superior! Mining it out would be enough for our guild to eat well for several years! The Xuan Niao Guard has been eyeing it for a long time! They've always wanted to get a piece of the action!"
He paused, his voice dropping even lower.
"And I heard that there might be other things hidden deep within that canyon! The Xuan Niao Guard sent several exploration teams in, but none of them came out! It's very sinister!"
"Oh?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Ling Chen's deep black eyes.
"What kind of sinister thing?"
"Who knows!"
Leimeng shook his head.
"Maybe some ancient ruins? Or a mutated beast's lair? Anyway, the Xuan Niao Guard is keeping it very tightly under wraps! The news is heavily blocked! The vice-guild master told us not to approach the core area for now! First, mine the crystal ores in the outer perimeter!"
He picked up his glass and took another big gulp.
"Brother! You're a captain now! In the future, you'll inevitably lead teams to Ash Canyon! Remember my words! Stay away from the core area! That place is sinister! Even the Xuan Niao Guard suffered losses there! Let's not go looking for trouble!"
"Understood! Thank you for the guidance, big brother!"
Ling Chen raised his glass and toasted Leimeng, but inwardly, he sneered repeatedly.
Sinister? Ruins? Mutated beast's lair?
The more dangerous a place, the more it often hides immense secrets and opportunities!
The core area of Ash Canyon...
A hint of interest flashed deep within Ling Chen's heart.
"And..."
Leimeng seemed to be getting a little drunk; his tongue started to tie.
"You need to be careful of one person..."
"Who?" Ling Chen's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Lei Hu!"
A flicker of apprehension and a hint of imperceptible fear flashed in Leimeng's eyes.
"The captain of the Xuan Niao Guard's Seventh Squad! Peak Limit Breaking Stage! His ability is Thunderous Might! That guy is ruthless and vindictive! This time, you defeated his subordinate Wind Falcon in the arena, which made him lose a lot of face! He definitely holds a grudge against you!"
"Lei Hu..."
Ling Chen silently noted this name. Peak Limit Breaking Stage! Thunderous Might! He was indeed a formidable opponent!
"That guy has a very deep background!"
Leimeng's voice was slurred. "It's said he has connections with a certain big shot in the Central Special Task Force! If you encounter him on missions outside in the future, it's best to go around him! Don't confront him head-on!"
"Understood! I'll be careful!"
Ling Chen nodded, his heart completely calm and cold.
"Come on! Drink! Drink."
Leimeng seemed to feel the topic was too heavy and picked up his glass again.
"Today is a happy day! Let's not talk about these depressing things! Let's celebrate your promotion, brother! In the future, I, your big brother, will look out for you in the guild! If anyone dares to touch you, I'll tear him apart!"
"Good! Drink!"
Ling Chen's face showed a hearty smile as he clinked glasses with Leimeng.
The reddish "volcanic eruption" swirled in the glass,
Reflecting Ling Chen's deep black eyes.
Deep within those eyes was a chilling calculation and greed.
Ashes Squad! Acting Captain!
The Boulder district residence!
Ash Canyon crystal mine!
Xuan Niao Guard's Lei Hu!
And Bai Zhi, the Azure Emperor's Eternal Body!
An invisible grand net was slowly unfurling.
The difference was, he certainly couldn't weave this grand net alone; he could never swallow the delicious cake of Shengjing in one gulp.
Only by... borrowing strength!