The night was dark.
In a shaded valley less than fifty kilometers from Red Moon Mountain, a jungle village crafted entirely of concrete and steel, encompassing nearly half of the valley, was brightly lit. In front of a three-story building in the center, there were quite a few apes over two and a half meters tall, covered in thick fur, hawking their wares on the bustling street, making it look like a lively marketplace.
In the perilous wilderness, it was like a paradise removed from the world.
And this village was the wilderness base camp of the Great Ape Gang, an area where few from Chasing Light City’s wild gangs and the many vagabonds dared to tread.
To enter this village, you had to be of the Ape Race, lest one face expulsion or even death.
However, inside the three-story building of the Great Ape Gang, there were individuals not of the Ape Race, receiving distinguished hospitality from the gang’s higher-ups.
In a luxuriously extravagant hall made completely of energy ore, a troupe of beauties from various races, clad in short skirts, danced gracefully on stage. Their voices were so captivating that the ape guards stationed in the hall occasionally got distracted, frequently turning their heads to watch.
"I don’t know what kind of special day it is today, for the Deputy Gang Leader to invite the Phantom Dance Troupe here." A young Ape Race guard, wearing B5-level armor and possessing Intermediate Apprentice strength, looked at a red-haired ape lady dancing beyond the gate, nearly drooling with envy, "I wonder when I’ll be able to go inside and enjoy the show."
The Phantom Dance Troupe, the most famous performing troupe in the suburbs, always had a full house for their performances. Many of those with some wealth and status were willing to pay the high price of five or six thousand Bit for front-row seats.
And inviting the Phantom Dance Troupe to perform in the wild was outrageously expensive.
"What are you thinking, kid?" A middle-aged Ape Race guard on the other side chuckled, "Even having abilities at the Advanced Apprentice level won’t get you in there. You’re dreaming too big for an Intermediate Apprentice to even think about it."
The Great Ape Gang, as an old and prominent crew in the wild, didn’t place Advanced Apprentices in high positions; only Extreme Apprentices could rank high within the gang.
"But what about those Feather Race individuals the Deputy Gang Leader is receiving? They must be something special to make the Deputy Gang Leader so generous." The young ape guard curiously looked at several young Feather Race individuals sitting on the high stage. These young people were dressed in extraordinary attire, and their impressive strength had already reached the level of Extreme Apprentices.
"Them?" The middle-aged Ape guard also glanced over and said, "They should be young masters from some suburban families. I heard they have close ties to the White Feather Gang. They’ve come to encourage the Great Ape Gang to make a move on Red Moon Mountain soon."
"Red Moon Mountain? Isn’t that where the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, which is barely fifty-ranked, occupies a micro energy ore vein?" The young ape guard questioned, "Doesn’t the Great Ape Gang already have two micro energy ore veins? Taking a third should raise concerns among those other powerful factions, right?"
"I don’t know about that." The middle-aged ape guard shook his head, finding it strange as well.
In the wilds of Chasing Light City, micro energy ore veins were very scarce. Even large wild gangs backed by powerful factions would face obstructions if they occupied two; let alone three.
In the hall, sitting in the main seat was the Great Ape Gang’s Deputy Gang Leader, Noko, who sipped on suburban-limited Red Fire Wine while eyeing the three young Feather Race individuals opposite him with a sinister grin.
"I’ve understood your requests." Noko snapped his fingers, and the dancers on stage stopped and exited the hall, leaving only Noko and the three Feather Race individuals in the hall. He spoke slowly, "However, since we’re providing both manpower and resources, shouldn’t the allocation of Red Moon Mountain’s small energy ore vein be renegotiated?"
"After all, this is different from what was originally discussed. You were supposed to weaken the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall continuously, while all the Great Ape Gang had to do was feign an attack on Red Moon Mountain."
"That’s definitely not a problem. As per our earlier agreement, we can offer the Great Ape Gang a thirty percent share." The leading noble Feather Race youth smiled and said, "This share is so tempting that even a top-five faction would jump at it. Deputy Gang Leader Noko, surely you recognize our sincerity?"
"Thirty percent?" Noko was slightly surprised, finding it hard to believe the noble youth’s words, "Are you serious?"
"I’m serious!" The noble Feather Race youth nodded, "It’s a small energy ore vein; there’s no joking about it."
"Good! Leave the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to us. We’ll ensure it disappears from Red Moon Mountain within two days!" Noko laughed heartily, completely without doubt in the noble youth’s assurance.
This youth held such high status that even the Gang Leader of the White Feather Gang, who leaked the secret of Red Moon Mountain, usually wasn’t qualified to meet him. It was only due to the intertwined connections between the Great Ape Gang and the Gorilla Gang that this opportunity arose. This text is hosted at novel•fire.net
Noko then respectfully escorted the three Feather Race youths out of the main base. As they fully departed, a masked ape youth possessing quasi-warrior strength approached.
"Uncle, isn’t it too risky? That’s a thirty percent share of a small energy ore vein," the masked ape youth expressed concern, "But it’s just a barely top-fifty faction, and the White Feather Gang didn’t move. Can it really have such high value?"
"There indeed is some trickery." Noko nodded, gazing at the vanished Feather Race youth, "I just received word that over fifty Wanderers ambushing the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s caravan were all wiped out, including experts like Greedy Rogue and Poison Rose. Yet, the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s side suffered no losses."
"Even experts like Greedy Rogue and Poison Rose were defeated?" the masked ape youth was a bit surprised and grew more worried, "So the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s strength isn’t as simple as it seems. Are we really okay to attack Red Moon Mountain directly?"
"So what if they’re strong?" Noko’s gaze was arrogant, with a hint of disdain at the corners of his mouth, "In the wilderness of Chasing Light City, even dragons must bow down before our Great Ape Gang. Go gather our forces. We’ll attack Red Moon Mountain tomorrow."
"Yes!" agreed the masked ape youth, deciding not to speak further. His Uncle Noko made a valid point: however powerful a new Human Race faction might be, it wouldn’t be beyond managing; it would just require more effort.
At this time, less than an hour after the masked ape youth went to rally the Great Ape Gang, a medium-sized transport truck rolled to within a kilometer of the village.
"They probably won’t expect us to strike first. Your task is simple—before the Great Ape Gang converges all its experts, rush in and kill as many of their top fighters as possible, then regroup with me in half an hour," Lin Qi instructed from a hill overlooking the Great Ape Gang’s main base.
"Is it just a timed operation?" Twilight of the Gods asked, sighing slightly.
"Half an hour is plenty," Luo Wushang said indifferently, directing, "Once we scatter our efforts, try not to alarm ordinary members. Prioritize locating the BOSS. Whoever locates them should signal, and we share the reward together."
Fang Zhen, One Leaf Floating Cloud, and the others all nodded, thinking it was the best approach.
Soon, Luo Wushang and the other nineteen quickly infiltrated the Great Ape Gang’s main base.
After everyone entered in small groups, Little Yuan, who moved alone, somehow had the good luck to sneak into a Great Ape Gang officer’s rest house.
Inside was a group of Ape Race men and women, both with Advanced Apprentice strength, nibbling on meat and downing liquor, while various Apprentice Level underlings were trying to enliven the atmosphere.
"Brothers, watch closely as I demonstrate how to handle enemies like the Ape Race." Little Yuan made a victory gesture in the air, then pushed open the door, wielding a B2-level battle saber as he walked in.
Yet Little Yuan’s presence didn’t stir the apes inside. They drunkenly looked at the relatively short Little Yuan with cloudy eyes.
"Oh, a little one from the Human Race?"
"Lost your way, little guy? Come dance for me, and maybe I’ll let you leave!"
"No way, you must tell us a joke. Make us laugh, and maybe we’ll let you live!"
For the sudden arrival of a human, the Great Ape Gang officers weren’t alarmed and knew not to take liberties, continuing their feast. Even as their guard fell, Little Yuan remained silent, speechless at the unawareness of these members. He brandished his B2-level battle saber, confidently nodded to those around him. He then pushed open the door, entered quickly, and declared, "Whoever finds it first, give the signal and let’s all share the reward."
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