"Alright, alright, stop with the useless chatter. Tell me, what happens after connecting Stele City with the human territories?"
Qian Er pointed to the connection between Stele City and the human territories on the map and asked.
"You see, Stele City is located in the northeastern part of the old Sky Curtain Bull Territory, bordering the Endless Volcano of the Crimson Flame Hellhound race. Stele City and the Silent Desert are separated by its territory."
The Crimson Flame Hellhound is also one of the Twelve Victorious Races, a fire and earth-type alien race with a total race value of 570 points. They are a divine race, meaning they are in the first echelon of alien races below quasi-gods. They are also a social race, which makes them quite troublesome.
"What do you mean? Are we going to attack them?"
Qian Er looked at the large dark red area on the map and asked.
"It's not certain yet. We mainly don't have an opportunity."
Shen Yifei shook his head, his eyes fixed on the dark red area.
"I haven't heard much about this race. They seem very low-key. Why choose them as our opponent? Just because I discovered the teleportation array to the Silent Desert?"
Qian Er asked, puzzled.
Logically speaking, shouldn't they be potential allies? Why this reaction?
"Because this race's innate ability is called Magma Shaping. They can use magma to create various weapons and tools. The key is that these random, nonsensical tools actually work, like the Greenskin's 'Orky Know-How'."
Mentioning this, Shen Yifei looked indignant.
"I understand. We're cutting off their source of wealth, right? Then they deserve to die. Speaking of which, who owns the weapons and various tools circulating in the world? It can't just be us two, right?"
"No, but the majority is indeed from humans and the Crimson Flame Hellhounds. These two races account for 80% of the market share. After we take them down, Stele City will get one-tenth of that share."
Qian Er understood. Now, the Crimson Flame Hellhounds truly deserved to die.
"What do you need? I'll have Lao Zhang cooperate with you."
Qian Er said with a smile.
"Everything else has been negotiated, but the most important thing hasn't been settled yet."
Saying that, Shen Yifei took out an ancient black communicator and handed it to Qian Er.
"Your combat power is the most important thing. Take this. When needed, I'll use this to notify you. Then, you immediately send troops to pressure the Crimson Flame Hellhound's border. Make as much noise as possible. You attract attention in the front, and I'll sneak up on them from behind."
Taking the rather ancient communicator and putting it in his pocket, Qian Er solemnly nodded.
… …
"I say, what's the higher-ups' problem? Why are they suddenly starting a war over these few godforsaken places?"
In the area between Stele City and the human territories, several human scouts disguised as smugglers were whispering.
"Isn't it good to have a war?"
A young woman who looked like a dark-type Beastmaster suddenly turned her head, her face full of fanaticism.
"Nonsense. Besides you lunatics, who wants to fight a war? Besides, if we're going to fight, we should fight in richer places. What's the point of fighting in these godforsaken places?"
A middle-aged man wearing a white robe, even his head covered in a white turban, of medium height but sturdy build, said unhappily to the woman.
As soon as he opened his mouth, he couldn't help but spit out a few times, getting the sand out of his mouth.
"This damn place has such evil wind and sand. I can't think of any value worth such a big commotion."
The white-robed man, Lao Xue, said unhappily.
"Lao Xue, stop complaining. I think this place is good."
Speaking was a gaunt man riding a Ground-Shaking Camel Beast. He was naked from the waist up, immersing himself in the wind and sand, his face full of intoxication.
"You earth-type Beastmasters are even weirder."
The white-robed man, Lao Xue, felt a chill all over his body and quickly left, riding his mount.
Seeing his actions, the merchants of various races mixed in with the three looked over in confusion, but quickly retracted their gaze.
The three's communication was all done through a mental link created by the Beast Crystal Flower pinned to Lao Xue's collar.
The Crystal Flower Beast is a rock and psychic-type Beast. This Beast's shape is a plucked peony flower, but it is made of crystal, like a handicraft. Lao Xue is also a psychic-type Beastmaster.
"Are you looking down on me? Then don't eat the food my Beast hunts later!"
The gaunt man, Lao Chen, jokingly retorted to his old friend. In this Gobi desert area, the abilities of earth-type Beasts are maximized.
"Don't, Brother Chen, Daddy Chen, Godfather! I'll die if I only eat canned food without fresh meat!"
Lao Xue quickly leaned over, flattering the gaunt man, Lao Chen, with a smile on his face.
"Ew, you two play even more tricks than me, a necromantic Beastmaster."
The young woman, Xiao Zhao, glanced at the two of them with disgust, then looked at the surrounding alien merchants with a fanatical expression, already imagining how delicious these guys' souls would be.
"Xiao Zhao, that's not right of you. How can you say that about your seniors?"
Lao Xue coughed pretentiously, imitating his superior's official tone.
Hearing the pretentious tone, Xiao Zhao raised her eyebrows and looked at Lao Chen.
"Captain, have you ever wanted to beat him up?"
"Sometimes."
"Then don't hold back next time. Let's beat him up together."
"I think it's okay."
"I don't think it's okay!"
Lao Xue shouted in the mental link, trying to break up the two's temporary alliance.
"Alright, alright, let's get down to business. How's the information you've been gathering along the way?"
After joking around for a while, Captain Lao Chen asked seriously.
Speaking of business, the three immediately became serious. After all, they were professional scouts, and they spoke eloquently when it came to their profession.
"In summary, I don't think there's anything unusual here. It's the same as the previously explored situation. Next, we can directly send troops."
The young woman, Xiao Zhao, had a fake gentle smile on her face as she reported what she saw to the other two.
"Yeah, it's about the same as what I scouted. After we finish the next city, if there are still no problems, then our investigation can end, and we can return with this temporary merchant caravan."
Lao Chen nodded, adding a few points he observed, ultimately reaching the same conclusion as Xiao Zhao.
"No, I feel like something's wrong… Run!!!"
At this time, Lao Xue, who had been silent since reporting the situation, suddenly interjected. But before he could finish speaking, a chill directly enveloped Lao Xue's heart. Without thinking, he directly chose to trust his intuition, letting out an explosive shout, and released all four of his Beasts, forming an airtight mental barrier.
The moment he made a move, the surrounding atmosphere changed. The originally amiable merchants of various races all turned their heads with blank eyes, silently staring at the three, and the surrounding wind and sand became even stronger.
