Volume One: Planet of Ten Thousand Beasts Chapter 40: New Member

Upon returning to the settlement, Li Juxu had intended to spend a few days accompanying his younger sister. Unexpectedly, Boar sought him out, explaining that the team leader had found new members and was calling a meeting to prepare for a mission—they had already been waiting for him for an entire day.

"I will come back to see you after I finish this mission," Li Juxu said, hurriedly leaving his sister’s room. He was grateful that he had returned the combat vehicle to Pu Shaoyun immediately upon his arrival; otherwise, it would have caused further delays. Upon rushing back to the lodge, he found not only their leader, Cao Gang, and his girlfriend, Wang Xiaoxin, along with Mouse and the now-recovered Drummer, but also three unfamiliar faces.

"Since everyone is here, let’s have a quick meeting," Cao Gang said, glancing at Li Juxu. He didn’t say much, but Li Juxu caught the reprimand in his eyes. Cao Gang did not object to his members taking on side jobs, but they had to manage their time well; the team’s mission always came first, and nothing could interfere with it. Li Juxu offered no explanation, nor was it easy to provide one, so he sat silently in the corner.

"Let’s start with introductions. Night Owl, the others have already met our new members, but you’re the only one left in the dark. This is our machine gunner, Cannon; our demolition expert, Blondie; and this is our sniper, Mantis," Cao Gang stated.

Cannon was tall and broad, his bulging muscles filled with explosive power—a true powerhouse. Blondie sported yellow hair and an earring, giving him a somewhat unconventional look, while Mantis, the sniper, appeared rather standard, of average build and unremarkable features.

"Hello, I’m Night Owl!" Li Juxu stood up, ready to step forward and shake hands, but he noticed the three new members remained seated, waiting for him to approach them. This was a breach of protocol; as a veteran member, he was their senior, and the newcomers should have been the ones to greet him. Clearly, the three were looking down on him because of his youth. Displeased, he sat back down.

"Now that everyone has been introduced, let’s discuss the mission. We accepted this contract previously, but there have been some slight changes. We are to hunt Blood Wolves in the Blood Wolf Canyon. We need twenty carcasses, and they must remain intact. Additionally, we need one live Blood Wolf. Does anyone have any questions?" Cao Gang acted as if he hadn't noticed the tension and moved straight to the briefing.

"What do you mean by 'intact'?" Boar asked.

"No missing limbs," Cao Gang replied.

"We can’t carry twenty Blood Wolves back on our own," Drummer pointed out.

"I’ve already rented a truck. We depart tomorrow at eight. Any other questions?" Cao Gang looked around at the group.

"What about ammunition, medical supplies, and injuries?" Mantis asked.

"The team covers those," Cao Gang answered.

"Then no problem," Mantis said.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves. Don't go out today; rest up and conserve your energy. We depart on time tomorrow. Meeting adjourned." As Cao Gang finished, he cast a lingering look at Li Juxu.

"Have you fully recovered?" Li Juxu didn't return to his own room but went to Drummer’s instead.

"I’m a rough guy, not that fragile. I was fine a long time ago." Drummer, as if expecting Li Juxu to visit, tossed him a drink. He didn't have tea, and he was too lazy to boil water.

"Does the team leader have a problem with me?" Li Juxu was cold by nature, keeping his distance from the team, but he had his preferences. His relationship with Drummer was better than with the others, and he had saved Drummer’s life multiple times in past missions. Usually, Drummer looked out for him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been the first to call him with a mission after hearing the news at the hospital.

"How was it? The mission I found for you—did it go smoothly?" Drummer didn't answer directly.

"There were some twists and turns, but the mission was completed," Li Juxu replied.

"That sniper, Mantis, is an old acquaintance of Cao Gang’s; they used to be partners. You might not have heard of him, but he’s actually quite famous. He once took out a target from 2,000 meters away. He was a team leader himself, and the machine gunner and demolition expert are his men," Drummer explained.

"A team leader? Then why would he join our team..." Li Juxu wondered.

"Something must have happened, though I’m not sure of the specifics. But you can imagine that the power dynamic within the team will change from now on," Drummer said.

"It doesn't matter, as long as the pay is fair." Having understood the situation, Li Juxu actually felt a sense of relief. If he hadn't gone through his recent experiences, he might have been anxious or resentful. But those experiences had helped him grow and become more confident, making him indifferent to such superficial things. Forget the hierarchy within the team—even if he were to take Cao Gang’s seat, what would it amount to? In front of someone like Pu Shaoyun, Cao Gang probably wouldn't even have the right to speak.

"It’s good that you can think that way. I was worried you’d be angry," Drummer said.

"No need. I’m here to make money, not to seek fame," Li Juxu replied. The two chatted for a while, and after some aimless talk, Li Juxu returned to his room. The night passed without incident.

The next morning, after breakfast, the team departed at eight sharp. Being part of a team was a significant advantage; Li Juxu only had to carry his Kui-23 sniper rifle, leaving all other concerns to others. He had found his "Breaker" rifle, but with no time to repair it, he had to settle for the Kui-23. Come to think of it, the Kui-23 belonged to the Shark team; he had forgotten to return it.

Supplies like medicine, ammunition, food, provisions, vehicles, and maps were all handled by others. One only needed to show up on time, which saved a lot of mental energy.

The Dongfeng heavy-duty truck had been modified for increased defense, though it lacked offensive capabilities. The rental agency provided it to Cao Gang as a transport vehicle, not for combat; one rarely gets to rent actual combat vehicles. In Li Juxu’s eyes, the modification work was elementary—not only did it pale in comparison to Pu Shaoyun’s combat vehicle, but it was also far inferior to the Shark team’s pickup truck. Still, something was better than nothing. Once on board, Li Juxu began cleaning his rifle. It wasn't that he didn't want to rest his eyes, but he knew that with this level of modification and the road conditions, trying to sleep was a pipe dream. If he didn't rattle his breakfast out of his stomach, it would only prove his physical resilience was top-notch.

His prediction proved correct. After eight and a half hours on the road, they reached their destination. They could have taken a shorter route, but a section of that road was impassable, forcing them to take a detour that added several hours. Everyone’s faces were pale, though thankfully, no one had vomited from motion sickness. It took them over ten minutes of sitting on the ground to recover.

After distributing ammunition and finalizing the tactics, everyone shouldered their gear and slowly entered Blood Wolf Canyon. Blood Wolves rarely appeared during the day; nighttime was their primary hunting time. Thus, if one wanted to hunt them, the night was the best time.