Chapter 102: A Hundred Cobblers

After the battle outside the valley concluded, the people within were already brimming with intense excitement. However, they soon noticed that Scavenging Qilin, who had helped them escape disaster, did not look the least bit happy. Instead, he wore an expression of profound gravity.

"Damn it! What was bound to come has arrived."

When I saw that the Supreme Mercenary Corps outside the valley had no intention of withdrawing, my inner anxieties were confirmed. My heart sank, especially when I saw War Wolf leading a dozen or so Supreme mercenaries into the valley with a smug, arrogant expression.

At this moment, Little Love finally sensed something unusual about War Wolf and his men. Alertly, she asked, "Do they know you're here?" Looking into her worried eyes, I knew she finally believed what I had told her.

But that didn't matter anymore. Little Love couldn't help much anyway. The most pressing issue now was how to get away from these damned people.

Just then, several archers and warriors nearby seemed to notice the change in my expression, then caught sight of War Wolf charging toward us—the guy was practically broadcasting his malicious intent, his face twisted with murderous rage.

"Scavenging Qilin, are they here for you?"

The moment the nearby archer spoke, an uproar erupted!

"Brother, you offended the Supreme Mercenary Corps? That’s big trouble! Frostshroud City is their turf!"

"I thought they were here to help us clear the Kodo beasts! Damn, so you’re the one they have a grudge against? What are we going to do?"

"Tsk! While they're still on their way, why don't you log off and hide?"

Someone suggested logging off, but another immediately countered: "Logging off isn't a solution. You can't hide forever. If they camp here, you’ll just get killed the moment you log back in, and you’ll have wasted an entire night."

"Exactly, the Supreme Mercenary Corps is capable of that..."

Hearing this, Little Love, who hadn't been overly nervous before, suddenly grew anxious. "What should we do? Should I talk to Little Wolf and ask him to bring people to help?"

Hearing this, her companions from the Dragon Flame Mercenary Corps broke into a cold sweat. They certainly didn't want that; the Dragon Flame Mercenary Corps was leagues behind the Supreme Mercenary Corps. If they were misunderstood as being Scavenging Qilin’s backers, the resulting feud would be a catastrophe for the whole guild.

"No need, I can handle this myself," I declined.

On one hand, I knew the cost of opposing a top-tier mercenary corps and didn't want to bring trouble to Dragon Flame or cause distress to White Valentine and my sister-in-law. On the other hand, before War Wolf led his men into the valley, I had already made up my mind: I had already leveled up, so even if I were killed, I wouldn't lose a level. Besides, the chance of dropping gear when killed by players wasn't that high.

However, the people gathering around me didn't know I had already leveled up. They assumed Scavenging Qilin intended to shoulder the burden alone so as not to implicate others.

When I said that, the expressions of the surrounding players shifted:

"What kind of talk is that? Do you think your brothers are cowards? It’s just one mercenary corps! What’s the big deal?"

"Exactly! Screw them! I already lost two levels today because of that mess with the Dragon Wolf Knights. Don't be afraid, brother. When they get here, we’ll surround you and show them how tough we are!"

"Right! Worst case, we just stop leveling in Frostshroud City! I don't believe they can harass us every single day!"

"That's right, let's do this... everyone coordinate... like this..."

"...Huh, I think that'll work."

Under the encouragement of these hundred or so first-tier newcomers, the group effectively formed a small league of resistance against the Supreme Mercenary Corps. Beyond being moved, I was pleasantly surprised—a hundred "cobblers" put together had actually come up with a brilliant plan in such a short time.

"Kid! Let's see where you can run now!"

War Wolf stared at Scavenging Qilin, who stood out among the first-tier players, his teeth gritted in hatred. He completely ignored the other newcomers in the valley. He had no idea that these hundred players had united to pull off an unprecedented "conspiracy" against them.

Just as the dozen of them charged in a line into the Kodo herd, the newcomers erupted into thunderous cheers and applause, waving at them enthusiastically as if welcoming their arrival. What excited the mercenaries most was that among these newcomers were over twenty female players, including a fox-kin girl.

The pure and enchanting fox-kin looked like a fairy descended from heaven. With bright, sparkling eyes, she gazed at them expectantly, biting her lower lip—a pitiful, moving sight, like a stranded fairy on an island waiting to be rescued.

In an instant, the dozen Supreme mercenaries, including War Wolf, had their blood boiling!

Except for War Wolf, who occasionally cast a "less than ruthless" glance to pin down Scavenging Qilin’s position, the others completely ignored his presence. They increased the intensity of their skills and veered off their original paths, desperate to reach the fox-kin girl and save her from the "fiery depths."

The well-woven net they had cast immediately developed a gaping hole.

But they didn't care. After all, it was War Wolf who had almost been killed by a newcomer earlier; he was the one who had lost face. If an archer couldn't catch a first-tier player in this situation, he might as well quit. Plus, there were so many brothers outside the valley... surely a single first-tier player couldn't fly away, could he?

Just as they were all utterly captivated by the charming Little Love, the warriors, archers, and mages gathered on the left and right sides of the valley suddenly acted!

Dozens of people moved in unison, quickly clearing the Kodo beasts in front of them and carving out a clear path—their disciplined coordination was faster than even third-tier players.

At this point, War Wolf, still deep in the herd, felt a sudden jolt as he realized the situation was strange.

His gaze darted around, and he saw that Scavenging Qilin, who had been standing calmly in the center of the valley, was now sprinting at incredible speed toward the left, toward the path the newcomers had just opened. He moved without obstruction, charging toward the edge of the Kodo herd with astonishing velocity!

"Idiots! We've been played!" War Wolf roared in a blind rage at his men.

Regrettably... no one listened.