Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

「The thirteenth day since Tang Wen received the taming mission.」

「The council hall of the Black Water Gang’s Main Altar.」

Tang Wen, Elder Li, the Gang Leader, and the Vice Gang Leaders were all present.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao rose and said, "Gang Leader! Commander Tang Wen has successfully tamed all fifteen Exotic Beasts."

"Excellent, two days ahead of schedule!" The Gang Leader gave a rare smile.

"Hold on!"

The one who stood to speak was Vice Gang Leader Lin.

Tang Wen frowned.

’This old dog is trying to start something?’

All eyes turned to him. Vice Gang Leader Lin sneered and pulled a ledger from his wide sleeve:

"Gang Leader!

I’m afraid there’s something you don’t know. To tame a few mere Middle-level Exotic Beasts...

Commander Tang Wen used your name as a pretext!

And withdrew a full thirty bottles of Extraordinary Blood Marrow from the storeroom!"

The Gang Leader was a man of great composure, but even he subconsciously frowned upon hearing this number.

Vice Gang Leader Lin’s voice grew louder. "Not ten bottles!

Not twenty bottles!

A full thirty bottles of Blood Marrow! That’s equivalent to all the Blood Marrow from three whole Extraordinary Exotic Beasts!

On top of that, several thousand pounds of Extraordinary Beast Meat!

And thousands of pounds of precious medicinal herbs!"

The atmosphere in the vast and majestic hall instantly froze, as if it had been flash-frozen.

’Damn it!’

Tang Wen felt the urge to kill.

Some issues are light as a feather until you put them on the scales.

If the Gang Leader had found out about the overspent materials privately, he might have just turned a blind eye and let it slide.

But now it had been exposed in front of everyone.

If the Gang Leader didn’t deal with it, and everyone started doing the same, what would become of the gang’s warehouse?

Tang Wen looked at Elder Li.

Elder Li shot him a calm glance. ’Thirty bottles, and you little punk only gave me five!’

Tang Wen looked at Vice Gang Leader Zhao.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao didn’t even look at Tang Wen. ’Thirty bottles, and I only took eight.’

’Damn it!’

’Can’t count on them.’

Tang Wen quickly cupped his fist and bowed. "Gang Leader, this subordinate did take extra supplies, but I also exceeded the mission requirements."

He knew that making excuses now was pointless; he could only admit it.

Vice Gang Leader Lin laughed out loud.

As if he had heard the funniest joke.

Tang Wen cut him off directly:

"This subordinate learned that you, Gang Leader, personally requested this batch of Exotic Beasts.

I figured the matter must be of great importance.

Therefore, I feared that a single Public Water Spirit would not be enough to ensure success!

So not only did I force-mature that half-grown Water Spirit into a Middle-level Exotic Beast ahead of schedule...

I also force-matured and evolved one of the Water Elephants, one Water Snake, and one Otter into High-level Exotic Beasts!

That is why I consumed so much Extraordinary Blood Marrow and precious medicinal herbs!

I ask the Gang Leader to see the truth of the matter!"

Zhao: "Is that true?"

Lin: "Impossible!"

The two Vice Gang Leaders had different reactions.

Seeing Vice Gang Leader Zhao speak up, Tang Wen quickly added, "The Exotic Beasts are just outside in the courtyard. You can see for yourselves whether it’s true or not."

And it was, in fact, the truth.

As it happened, while Tang Wen was inspecting these Aquatic Exotic Beasts...

He discovered that a few of them were stuck at the peak stage of Middle-level Exotic Beasts.

So, he gave them a little push to evolve.

Three Exotic Beasts cost him only half a portion of Blood Marrow and a few pounds of flesh. The cost-effectiveness was incredibly high.

He had originally planned to use this to give the higher-ups a surprise and take the opportunity to claim credit.

He never thought he’d have to throw it out just to save his own skin.

’Vice Gang Leader Lin, is it?’

’Heh.’

’Just you wait. I’ll be paying you a visit!’

Tang Wen secretly decided to send a letter home. He was calling for backup tonight!

’The waters in Ganshan City run deep, but the rewards are plentiful.’

’At the nearby Four Seas Camp, there’s even the Advanced Cultivation Technique the Queen needs!’

’If Flame Camp wants to grow stronger, there’s no reason not to come.’

Vice Gang Leader Zhao’s voice rang out at the perfect moment:

"Someone, bring the Exotic Beasts in!"

"No need, Old Zhao. I’ll go out and see them myself," the Gang Leader said, walking down from the main seat at a leisurely pace.

Vice Gang Leader Lin’s expression shifted repeatedly. He said stubbornly, "Gang Leader, even if it was to create four High-level Exotic Beasts, the cost is still far too high!"

Vice Gang Leader Zhao said sinisterly, "Too high? Is that so? Fine! Next time, let’s have your grandson do it! I’m sure he uses very few resources, right?"

"You!"

"What about me?"

"I!"

"What are you going to do about it?"

The two of them were locked in a standoff.

Tang Wen’s mood improved slightly.

The Gang Leader’s deep voice rang out, "Enough! The situation is urgent. A little waste is nothing. As long as there are results!"

The group went out to the courtyard.

The four Exotic Beasts at the front were clearly much larger than the other Middle-level Exotic Beasts. They were lined up in a row, and upon seeing Tang Wen, they immediately started squawking and clamoring excitedly.

Whether it was the Gang Leader or the Elder, they both knew their stuff.

They could tell at a glance that Tang Wen wasn’t lying.

The four Exotic Beasts at the front had indeed crossed into the realm of High-level Exotic Beasts.

"Not bad."

The Gang Leader smiled at Tang Wen.

The latter hurriedly acted modest, relaxing inwardly.

"Record his merit!"

"Thank you, Gang Leader!"

"However, when you get the chance, you should still learn from a true Beastmaster. This was far too extravagant."

Understanding the implied warning, Tang Wen nodded hastily.

No matter how unwilling Vice Gang Leader Lin was, he could only endure it for now.

But the occasional glances he shot Tang Wen were extremely hostile.

And Tang Wen, in turn, sensed danger from him—mortal danger.

’This old bastard has decided to kill me?’

’Something’s not right.’

’You have a problem with Vice Gang Leader Zhao, so go after him!’

’Why are you targeting me?’

Tang Wen secretly raised his guard to the maximum.

Thinking it over, his only conflict with this Vice Gang Leader Lin was this "Beast Taming" incident.

’He wants to kill me just for this?’

’Because I made him lose face?’

’It can’t be that simple.’

’Could it be because I did my job too well?’

’Something that benefits the gang, but doesn’t benefit—or even harms—Vice Gang Leader Lin’s interests?’

Thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t impossible.

It was like a construction site with standing water.

Logically, the faster you pump the water out, the sooner work can resume.

But in reality, if you finish a seven-day pumping job in three days by working overtime...

there’s a high probability no one will thank you.

It’s even hard to say if you’ll ever get another job in that circle again.

Tang Wen felt that this was probably the kind of situation he was facing.

However, he still needed to verify it.

The Gang Leader and the others finished inspecting the Exotic Beasts.

Tang Wen took two quick steps to walk beside Vice Gang Leader Zhao and took out a porcelain vial:

"Vice Gang Leader Zhao, this is a Pill I made with the leftover Blood Marrow.

In the future, if these Exotic Beasts refuse to follow orders because they’re afraid of dying...

just feed them half a pellet, and it will immediately make them frenzied! They’ll no longer fear death!"

The moment he finished speaking, Tang Wen felt a malicious gaze fall upon him.

Judging from the direction, it was Vice Gang Leader Lin.

Without a second thought, he looked over and shouted, "Vice Gang Leader Lin, what’s with that look? Don’t you want me to complete my mission?"

Even though Vice Gang Leader Lin was an old hand at this, he couldn’t help but be stunned when the conflict was laid bare so directly.

Although he recovered instantly, a flicker of his true expression was still caught by the others.

The Gang Leader didn’t even turn his head, but his steps faltered for a fraction of a second.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao and Elder Li exchanged a meaningful look.

Vice Gang Leader Lin was an old actor, after all, with quick reflexes:

"What nonsense are you spouting!

You brat, so greedy!

Of course I can’t stand to watch it!

However, at least you didn’t delay the gang’s important affairs!"

"Ohhh~" Tang Wen pursed his lips, wearing a look that said not even a three-year-old would believe him.

Vice Gang Leader Lin was so angry his blood rushed to his head.

If this weren’t the wrong time and place, he would have already slapped Tang Wen into a meat pulp!

’So it really is like this.’

’The gang’s salvage operation conflicts with Vice Gang Leader Lin’s interests.’

’So, the better I do, the angrier he gets.’

’I’ve exposed this fact.’

’The Gang Leader and the others must have seen it too.’

Analyzing it this far, Tang Wen felt a strange sensation.

’The situation now is that we all know, at least regarding this salvage operation, that Vice Gang Leader Lin has ulterior motives.’

’Vice Gang Leader Lin also knows that we know.’

’And we know that he knows that we know...’

’So what’s your next move to break this stalemate?’

’Serves you right for targeting me, you old coot!’

’Couldn’t you have just plotted in secret?’

Vice Gang Leader Lin’s intentions had been laid out in the sun by Tang Wen.

Now, even the Gang Leader knew that they had become sworn enemies.

Tang Wen had ensured that, for the time being, he wouldn’t face retaliation from him.

Because if anything "accidental" happened to him, everyone’s first suspect would be Vice Gang Leader Lin.

And what any gang hates and fears the most is internal strife.

Vying for power and profit, having verbal sparring matches—that was fine.

But if anyone dared to make a real move, it would be crossing a major taboo.

Vice Gang Leader Lin had clearly figured this out as well. When he looked at Tang Wen again, his gaze was completely calm.

’Damn it!’

’I underestimated this wild mongrel.’

’Bringing out the ledger was already a checkmate move that broke the unspoken rules.’

’I never expected him to force his way out of it and end up dragging me through the mud.’

’The salvage operation... I’ll have to be more covert!’