Chapter 35 S-rank Ren Dongyang's Means, The Prey's Wealth Beyond Imagination

Chaos erupted.

Xu Gu took advantage of the commotion to infiltrate the core area.

By now, Ren Dongxu's cleanup operations were nearly complete.

The majority of Ascension Sect members had been driven by Ren Dongxu's people to certain designated areas.

All that was left was the final roundup.

...

"Sir, as per your instructions, most of the B-level and above new Mechanical Men from Xia City's Awakening have been brought here."

Above the empty square in the underground base, Ren Dongyang's lips curved upwards as he listened to his confidant's report, unable to suppress a loud laugh.

He then corrected:

"It's the new Mechanical Men that the Ascension Sect kidnapped, and we have rescued them."

Ren Dongyang, an S-class Excavator, was also a giant, but when compared to the size of a heavy-duty truck, he was still much smaller.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The B-class standard taxi Mechanical Man beside him changed color slightly and quickly slapped his own face, correcting himself.

"Such audacity, to think that most of the newly awakened Mechanical Men were actually kidnapped by Ren Dongyang in order to forcibly subjugate them?"

Hidden in the distance, Xu Gu, using powerful radar, noticed all of this and a hint of coldness flickered in his eyes.

However, he had no intention of meddling further.

For instance, publicizing the truth to everyone.

After all, in a semi-apocalyptic setting, to not admit its cruelty would be a lie.

Considering that Ren Dongyang had the backing of a major family and dared to do this so proficiently, it was surely not the first time, and it had probably become a customary practice among those major families. Making it public wouldn't make any difference.

However, he could sell this information to Yang Xue.

And hit her with a hefty fee!

Doesn't she have an elementary school classmate who was also kidnapped?

Wouldn't she want to take revenge?

Isn't this information worth 200,000 points?

And if he helps save her friend, wouldn't that be 300,000 points?

That would make a total of 500,000 points incoming! Eradicating a Mechanical Abyss and Beast Tide only gives a pure reward of 900,000 points. This is a direct 500,000!

Indeed, it is always more lucrative to fleece the wealthy!

Boom!

After a long while, another loud noise came from afar.

Signifying that the encirclement mission was entering its final stage.

"Bring them all up," Ren Dongyang lazily stretched and ordered.

"Yes!" His confidant responded respectfully.

"Ascension Sect! You lunatics! How dare you kidnap me!"

"Do you know who I am?!"

"Release me now!"

"I beg you, please let me go..."

As some of Ren Dongyang's people drove the kidnapped new Mechanical Men to the square,

And untied them, removed their hoods, and deactivated the radar interference,

The square instantly boiled over, like a pot exploding, filled with angry voices and wails.

"Silence!"

Ren Dongyang's confidant shouted sternly.

Instantly, the ruckus quieted down.

Apparently, they had suffered quite a bit of torment and hardship while being captured.

Ren Dongyang said, "We're not from the Ascension Sect, we're here to rescue you."

"Wow!"

The crowd erupted in astonishment.

Some even knelt directly on the ground, tears streaming down their faces.

During this period, they had endured inhuman tortures and unimaginable pain, nearly driving them to mental breakdown, and they had even resigned themselves to death!

Luckily someone had come to rescue them!

They all showed excitement, overwhelmed with emotion, crying tears of joy.

It was as if they saw the light.

However, the next instant, their mood once again sank.

Only to hear Ren Dongyang, with an amiable smile, say gently:

"We are not from the Mechanical Association. In order to rescue you, we fought a fierce battle with the Ascension Sect, resulting in great losses and casualties.

"We are not a charity. These losses must be borne by you.

"B-class Mechanical Men, 500,000 points each. A-class Mechanical Men, 2,000,000 points each."

With these words,

The crowd was suddenly shocked, then boiled over completely.

"What?"

"500,000 points? Five hundred million Star Coins?"

"I have to pay 2,000,000 points? Twenty billion? I've just awakened! Where would I get all that money!"

"All I have is 1,000 points, given by the Association."

Hearing these figures, everyone's faces changed dramatically, emotions plummeting.

This money was indeed no small sum for them.

Although, in the future, they were certain to earn many times more than this, even dozens of times more, but certainly not now!

Finding this amount of money in the short term was as hard as reaching the heavens.

Unless one seeks protection from a certain power and sells a measure of their freedom! But...

Likewise, hearing these words, Xu Gu, who was just about to leave to carry out his mission—slaughtering members of the Ascension Sect for extra points—halted his steps.

Suddenly, the extra points didn't seem so appealing.

Since he was going to snatch away Ren Dongyang's mission rewards anyway, why not just take the bounty on his head as well?

Ren Dongyang said with a grin, "You've already made a fortune, after all, you survived. Some of the Mechanical Men didn't make it; they were tormented to death by the Ascension Sect."

As he spoke, his trusted aides dragged over a few corpses of the newly awakened Mechanical Men with exceptionally tragic deaths.

Whoosh!

Everyone's complexions turned instantly pale with fright, their bodies stiffening and spine-chilling fear gripping them.

Seeing the opportunity ripe, Ren Dongyang went on, "Of course, I wouldn't make things difficult for my fellows. If you pay, you can leave at any time.

"If you don't have the money, you can seek refuge with the Ren family. The treatment will be the same as what's publicly offered outside. Just sign the contract, and the points you owe me will be halved upfront."

At this, everyone's expressions eased slightly.

Seeking refuge with the Ren family was already a decent choice, and the points needed for compensation were even halved.

In that moment, most of the people were tempted.

Yet, a few of the prouder new Mechanical Men said:

"What if we don't compensate you? What will you do then? You wouldn't kill us, would you?"

"You're right, compensation is fine, but yours is just too much!"

"This is like asking for our lives!"

Ren Dongyang's expression grew murky, and he coldly stated:

"I won't kill you. But I can leave you behind here, ignoring you.

"The members of the Ascension Sect here haven't died, they're just temporarily suppressed. After we leave, they will return with a vengeance. Whether you live or die then will be up to your fate."

Especially, just as his words ended, the hideous roars of the Mutants coincidentally echoed from the side.

Those who did not intend to compensate turned deathly white in an instant.

Wasn't he just leaving them to fend for themselves?

Seeing this, Ren Dongyang laughed loudly and declared, "Good, sign the employment contract then. Rest assured! Seeking refuge with me won't see you at a loss!"

He knew that the people he had captured were all penniless.

He didn't expect to make money from these people either; his high demands were just to take control of them and use them as cannon fodder.

However,

Just at that moment,

A gust of wind suddenly swept across the plaza.

"Run!"

Yang Xue gritted her teeth, pushed the Stealth Accessories to their limit, and grabbed her elementary school classmate as they sprinted towards the corridor ahead.

Such action carried a great risk of exposure.

She had wanted to wait longer, but if she did, the contracts would be signed!

By then, it would truly be troublesome!

"Who?"

"Seeking death! How dare you behave so impudently in front of me!"

"Kill them for me!"

As expected, her move was too conspicuous.

Although most of Ren Dongyang's stronger bodyguards were busy besieging the members of the Ascension Sect in this base,

At such a close distance, Ren Dongyang, as an S-rank individual, was not to be underestimated and easily noticed the activity.

In an instant, a dozen C-rank Mechanical Men bodyguards surged forth, their guns spewing flames as they bombarded the direction Yang Xue was fleeing towards.

Yang Xue's face changed drastically, not expecting to be discovered in an instant. She could only put up an Energy Shield to resist the onslaught as she continued to escape.

Outnumbered, she was bound to lose if she lingered in battle.

If she fell into Ren Dongyang's hands, it would not be a simple matter of two million points to get free. She'd have to pay at least ten times, or even dozens of times more!

"Roar!"

But, in the path ahead, nobody knew when, but a dozen or so Elite Mutants had blocked the way,

Charging wildly towards them.

"Why is this happening to me!" Yang Xue's pupils shrank, her body trembling as she cursed out loud, her expression extremely gloomy. She was caught between the pursuing forces behind her and the Elite Mutants ahead – truly between a rock and a hard place!

"Is that her? Yang Xue! The isolated Yang Xue!"

"Everybody, get her! No! Save her!"

After Yang Xue was completely exposed, Ren Dongyang was first stunned, then instantly overjoyed and even a bit hysterical.

At the same time, he fervently messaged his subordinates.

Either capture or kill!

She must not be allowed to escape, even at a tremendous cost!

"Damn it!"

Hearing Ren Dongyang's frenzied words, Yang Xue's heart sank sharply, feeling a wave of regret for taking this risk.

She had thought that relying on her status, the other party wouldn't dare to touch her.

Now, it seemed she had underestimated Ren Dongyang's madness.

This time, even with something to protect her life, escape might still be impossible!

Her elementary school classmate, overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing Yang Xue come to the rescue, now plummeted into despair, utterly hopeless.

"I'll fight with everything I have!" Yang Xue gritted her teeth, ready to charge at the group of Mutants, hoping for a final gambit.

At that moment,

"Do you need help? For five hundred thousand points, I'll get you out."

Xu Gu's message arrived as expected.

Yang Xue's heart contracted sharply, and then she looked up abruptly with a glint of wild joy, quickly replying:

"Deal!"