Different World Card Master: Change the World with Cards

117: Bloody MercenariesHe Xiang and Yang Tiantian were a married couple who grew up together in an orphanage and both became mercenaries after adulthood.

They belonged to the same mercenary group, called the Bloody Mercenary Group. Although the name was a bit old-fashioned, it was the third-ranked mercenary group in Province B.

One day, their small team took on a C-rank mercenary mission: stealing Ink Bird eggs.

Ink Bird eggs are highly nutritious and can also beautify the skin. Many wealthy ladies purchase them for their children to eat or use them in face masks to maintain their own skin.

Therefore, they were quite valuable, warranting a six-person operation.

They had taken on similar activities several times before.

However, unfortunately, their intelligence this time was not very accurate; there was more than one Ink Bird in the nest.

After one was lured out, four people rushed into the cave. As a result, everyone walked right into a trap; there was another Level 5 Ink Bird inside.

Thus, all four team members who entered perished, leaving only the couple.

It wasn’t that the couple intended to sacrifice the team. Rather, one of them was sent to lure out the other Ink Bird, which carried the greatest risk, so the other person was assigned a less risky task: providing backup for the team.

Unexpectedly, the Ink Bird that had been lured out heard the commotion in the nest and returned, so He Xiang was not in danger.

The others were quickly killed by the Ink Bird in the nest, and Yang Tiantian didn’t even have time to provide backup.

So, out of a six-person team, by a stroke of luck, only the couple survived.

The couple looked at each other.

In reality, they were still not out of danger. With their combined abilities, trying to get out of the Exotic Beast Zone might still lead to more danger.

The two huddled together in their original hiding spot, where they could see two Ink Birds circling the cave entrance in the distance, as if warning outside creatures not to approach.

They dared not move, fearing they might attract the Ink Birds’ attention.

They were crying internally, not knowing what to do.

They knew that at night, the Poisonous Swamp Exotic Beast Zone would become even more dangerous.

It was truly a dilemma.

As it grew darker, the couple became increasingly anxious.

Just as they were about to risk their lives and make a desperate move...

Suddenly, the two Ink Birds dropped straight down. He Xiang and Yang Tiantian were so scared they didn’t dare move, slowly retracting their outstretched feet, fearing that an even more dangerous exotic beast was approaching.

Otherwise, how could two Level 5 Ink Birds suddenly die?

When they had six people, they didn’t dare to fight even one Ink Bird, only daring to secretly steal its eggs. Now that there were only two of them, they were even more terrified.

With their limited knowledge, they couldn’t imagine what kind of exotic beast could make two Level 5 Ink Birds suddenly collapse like that.

Could it be that a Level 8 or 9 exotic beast escaped from the central zone, and they just happened to encounter it?

Before they could figure it out, a man in a military combat uniform walked up and extracted a star energy stone from one of the Ink Birds.

He Xiang and Yang Tiantian’s bodies finally relaxed; there should be no danger now.

Seeing that the man was about to leave, He Xiang couldn’t help but speak up.

”Wait... wait a moment, are you from the Longteng Military Region of Province B?”

Sun Yanwu paused. He had actually noticed the two of them earlier but, after an assessment, concluded they posed little threat to him, so he didn’t pay them much attention.

”Yes, is there something you need?”

”We are mercenaries from the Bloody Mercenary Group. Our team encountered those two Ink Birds just now, and four people lost their lives. Now, only my wife and I remain.”

Sun Yanwu frowned. What did they mean? Did they still want to claim these two Ink Birds?

According to the spoils of war distribution principle, they had no right to a share.

”Are you trying to contend with me for the Ink Birds’ star energy stones?”

Hearing Sun Yanwu’s question, the couple quickly waved their hands, fearing that even a moment’s delay would confirm his suspicion.

He Xiang quickly explained.

”No, no, we just want to seek protection. When do you plan to leave the Exotic Beast Zone? Our combat strength is not high, and we can’t get out safely, so we wanted to ask if we could follow you?”

Yang Tiantian also hurriedly chimed in.

”Yes, we can help you carry things, and we’ll also pay you a fee. Please protect us on our way out.”

Sun Yanwu thought for a moment. They only had one more objective: kill it, get the star energy stone, and then they could leave. So, taking them along wouldn’t be impossible.

Furthermore, there were some agreements between the Government and mercenary groups, such as seeking military protection for a certain fee, provided the soldiers weren’t on an important mission.

”Okay, show me your mercenary badges so I can confirm.”

He Xiang and Yang Tiantian were overjoyed when they heard the other party agree.

They quickly took out their mercenary badges from their shirt pockets and handed them over for confirmation of their identities.

”Oh, right, there are also Ink Bird eggs in the cave. They’re quite valuable; many wealthy people buy them for their children to eat. The eggs are very nutritious and good for kids.

Um, do you still want the exotic beast meat? If not, can we cut some for ourselves?”

With their safety assured, He Xiang and Yang Tiantian felt very happy and didn’t mind doing the other party a favor.

Sun Yanwu thought of the children in the military region, turned around, and retrieved the eggs from the cave, reminding them.

”You can’t eat the meat of this exotic beast. Only exotic beast meat below Level 3 is edible. Of course, you can cut some and sell it to research institutes; that way, you’ll still have some harvest.”

”Okay, okay, thank you for the reminder.”

The couple’s hearts jumped. It was a good thing they were reminded, otherwise, they would have been doomed today.

The two didn’t want to waste time, so they quickly cut a few pieces of meat and put them into a specialized bag for exotic beast meat.

This bag prevents odors from escaping, though its price is also quite ’beautiful’.

The two closely followed Sun Yanwu’s footsteps towards their next destination... ”You two stay here and don’t make a sound. I’ll be back in a moment.”

He Xiang and Yang Tiantian obediently nodded.

After settling the two, Sun Yanwu stealthily approached the Ink Bird nest in the distance.

Soon, the three Ink Birds in front fell instantly, just like last time.

Although He Xiang and Yang Tiantian had thought it might be done by the man’s teammates, they had just looked around and hadn’t seen anyone.

The two widened their eyes and looked at each other, with only one thought in their minds.

What kind of new weapon was that? They wanted one too!

This time, Sun Yanwu also returned with star energy stones and Ink Bird eggs, bringing these two ’tag-alongs’ to meet up with his teammates.

When Feng Bao saw Sun Yanwu bringing two people, he immediately guessed they were seeking protection.

And so, the three, along with the two ’tag-alongs’, walked out of the Poisonous Swamp Exotic Beast Zone.