I am grinding experience in another world

Chapter 444 - 437 Tacit Consent

Watching Fei Yong leaving with his beaten troops, Chen Mu turned his head to the pile of Red-eyed Aquatic Monkeys and couldn’t help but smile.

If he turned in all these monkeys, he’d get at least thirty Military Merits. Just this one haul was equivalent to three hard days of labor.

"Indeed, ’Without windfalls, a man isn’t rich; without night grazing, a horse isn’t fat!’ Haha!"

But his joy didn’t last long before it turned into helplessness.

Chen Mu pushed the Flame Wheel Vehicle to its limit and stuffed the Five Ghosts Bag until it was full. Yet even so, there were still some Red-eyed Aquatic Monkeys left behind.

"Why did you monkeys have to be so fat?!" Chen Mu complained, forcing himself to leave with a grimace.

Suddenly, he realized why Fei Yong had led such a large group to plunder; it wasn’t just to put on a show of force, it was more to help him carry the monkeys.

"Just don’t let anyone pick up a bargain."

Without hesitation, Chen Mu urged the Flame Wheel Vehicle to go faster than a galloping horse, racing back to camp.

But by the time he finished dealing with the monkeys in hand and hurried back, the remaining ones had vanished.@@@@

Chen Mu stood there, stunned.

All that hard work only to have others pocket the profits?

Dammit!

Just don’t let me find out who the bastard is!

"Maybe next time after I plunder, I should make those guys deliver them directly to the camp gate?" Chen Mu mused mischievously.

"Forget it, forget it, robbing others is already audacious enough."

"Having them deliver to my doorstep would be such a slap in their faces."

After a flurry of wild thought, Chen Mu reluctantly left the scene.

"This is, after all, my first time plundering. I’m still lacking in experience."

...

In the southeastern corner of Hai Character Camp, the Flame Moving Division’s Yi Third Banner Camp.

Shi Dechun quickly approached Chen Mu and saw that he was unharmed, he immediately sighed in relief, "It’s really great that you’re okay."

"This morning, in the blink of an eye, you were gone?"

"I thought you’d fallen for the tricks of those giant monkeys as well."

Dead Red-eyed Aquatic Monkeys were powerful and mysterious. There had been incidents with the careless who inadvertently got close to the huge monkeys and without any warning, had turned into wisps of smoke.

"I was just focused on collecting monkeys and ran a bit off-course. When I looked back, you had already left, so I followed another group back," Chen Mu lied casually, but a thought struck him.

Shi Dechun had noticed Chen Mu’s first departure; if in the future Chen Mu left the Third Banner repeatedly, it wouldn’t ensure remaining unnoticed by others.

"I need a valid reason for acting alone," Chen Mu narrowed his eyes, contemplating.

Shi Dechun didn’t notice the change in Chen Mu’s expression and anxiously asked, "You didn’t run into any robbers, did you?"

"I understand that everyone is grieving over the loss of military merit today."

"I have just been to see General Stone, unfortunately..." Xiao Jinquan shook his head and sighed with a grave expression.

The already low spirits in the room grew even more somber.

Seeing the troubled looks on everyone’s faces, Xiao Jinquan then revealed a smile, "Fortunately, it’s not like there are no solutions."

"I expended quite an effort to get in touch with Hong Xiu from the Bing Wu Banner today."

"After much persuasion and cajoling, I finally came to an agreement with Brother Hong."

"From now on, as long as we hand over thirty percent of the Red-eyed Swamp Monkeys, not only will he refrain from robbing us, but he will also protect our safety," Xiao Jinquan said with great excitement.

"Of course, I know this pains you," he said earnestly, "but if we don’t pay, we might end up losing half to others."

"If we run into those greedy and aggressive types, not only could they take everything, but we might also get beaten up. Wouldn’t that be even worse?"

"Everyone, think it over."

"If you agree, we will continue to team up and travel together tomorrow. If not, then please leave the team."

After finishing his piece, Xiao Jinquan left with the four or five people behind him to continue persuading others in different barracks.

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, some unwilling to comply, some thinking thirty percent was too much, and others suspecting there was collusion between Xiao Jinquan and Hong Xiu.

But in a corner, Chen Mu couldn’t help showing a smile.

Hadn’t he just been pondering how to break away from the group? And here was the opportunity, wasn’t it?

However, it might be a bit too conspicuous to leave on his own.

Chen Mu glanced at Shi Dechun.

The old man Shi, who had been all ears listening to the crowd, suddenly shivered, turned his head swiftly, and caught Chen Mu’s enigmatic gaze.

"What are you planning?"

"This protection fee, you don’t want to pay it, do you?" Chen Mu asked with a smile.

Shi Dechun instinctively wanted to nod, but forcibly held himself back.

This bald kid, is he stirring up trouble?

"No, I can pay," he said, looking at Chen Mu warily.

Chen Mu was taken aback.

How could you go against your heart?!

A red glint flashed in his eyes, "Come on, say it with me, you don’t want to pay."

Shi Dechun’s gaze immediately became muddled, and then he numbly uttered, "Right, I don’t want to pay."

Chen Mu’s lips curled up at once, "It’s too conspicuous for one person to refuse to pay, but if two people refuse, then... it’s still a bit conspicuous."

He pondered for a moment, surveying the other people in the room, squinting his eyes.

The people deeply engrossed in discussion suddenly felt a chill on their necks, feeling as if there were ghosts lurking in the room.