Chapter 224: This is Just the Beginning

  Half an hour ter.

  Nearly 800 Sky-Splitting Lizard corpses had been brought up.

  The adventurers felt regretful, sorrowful, and remorseful.

  From the split-open heads of these Sky-Splitting Lizards, another seven space crystals were extracted oer another.

  However, none of it had anything to do with them.

  Before the adventurers could react, anroup of heavily armed soldiers arrived at the tform.

  Thick stone sbs were quickly transported down.

  came several intimidating heavy crossbows.

  After three to four hundred soldiers desded, nearly 1000 kobolds happily scurried down as well, all uhe gaze of the adventurers.

  The fused adventurers started speg.

  "Is Bay Territory pnning to take everything for themselves?"

  "Use your brain a bit. If they wanted everything, why did they just distribute two or three thousand gold s to us?"

  "Exactly, and they even expined all the traits of the Sky-Splitting Lizards. If they didn’t want us involved, why go to all that trouble?"

  "Right, and all those materials like stone blocks they moved down—maybe they're building a safer forward base..."

  "Building a forward base down there? That doesn't seem very safe with so many Sky-Splitting Lizards swarming around..."

  "Who knows what Bay Territory is pnning?"

  "..."

  Not only were the adventurers p Bay Territory's as, but the noble heirs, who had just reported back to their families, were also gathered together, discussing the moves of Bay Territory.

  This time, however, they were smarter, bringing along the captains of the adventurer squads.

  And they subtly hihat as long as the rewards were good, their bonuses would be at least as high as those offered by Bay Territory.

  They had no choice.

  Aside from cursing Bay Territory for infting the market, they had to grit their teeth and keep up.

  The adventurers weren't fools; they weren’t citizens of their nds.

  If w with them didn’t yield better rewards, why would they work so hard for them?

  Wouldn't it be better to work for themselves?

  Schroeder rubbed his temples. Losing three high-tier adventurer squads wasn’t a devastating blow for him.

  But having fewer forces meant his influence would iably weaken.

  Moreover, although the family hadn't questioned him,

  his mother’s unication spell clearly reminded him:

  "Find out as soon as possible the true style of Bay Territory and discover what h-value items exist in the ruins besides the space crystals!"

  Schroeder uood the deeper meaning of his mother's words—her aim was for him not to act rashly and waste the forces at his disposal.

  High-tier adventurer squads weren’t on fodder; even their Arad family had to treat them cautiously.

  Fortunately, the noble heirs around him either cked strength or suffit reputation to pete with him.

  Schroeder was fident he could solidate all their power in his hands, bringing everyoogether.

  Even if Bay Territory knew some inside information, when it came to dividing the spoils in the end, strength would still speak loudest.

  Schrhly suspected that Bay Territory already knew about the dangers of these underground ruins, and possibly even the information about the Sky-Splitting Lizards.

  Otherwise, how could they expiime-ing and bor-inteform they built before fully opening the ruins?

  Schroeder suspected that they hadn’t warned him because they wao weaken his forces and secure greater trol.

  Thinking this, Schroeder couldn't help but feel some frustration, but notig the noble heirs' gazes, he had to brace himself and expin:

  "Don’t worry about Bay Territory. They’re making such a big deal of attrag adveo exploit them."

  "Sure, they’re being generous now, but it won't be long before they take it all back."

  "Besides, Bay Territory’s as be us too."

  "The faster we deal with the Sky-Splitting Lizards, the quicker we make more money from the ruins we’re familiar with and skilled at excavating!"

  "Who knows, by then Bay Territory might e looking for a share of the spoils..."

  Schroeder subtly reminded everyone.

  "We’re all in this together. Only by stig together we gain more!"

  "Bay Territory has the advantage of terrain and manpower. If we don’t uo resist them, they’ll pick us off one by one and take the bulk of the ruins’ profits..."

  It had to be said, while Schrht ck experien handling operations, he was quite skilled at rallying nobles and solidating power.

  Unfortunately, Matthew had no i in these noble heirs.

  Holding the humanoid-transformed Yaya in his arms, he was expining to her bit by bit how to better use the adventurers’ strength.

  By giving them bes, he could gain even more iurn.

  With her big, curious eyes turning, Yaya looked at the busy kobolds and soldiers, then g the vast, dark ruins of the city, nodding thoughtfully as she said:

  "Ah, I uand now. As long as those foolish nobles titing an example outside."

  "We easily recruit many adventurers who long to join us..."

  Yaya’s unique analysis made Mattheily rub her head, agreeing:

  "Exactly. What will truly attract these adventurers is our better system and bes."

  "Ohose nobles raise their prices, they’ll be shocked to find that we’ll always offer better!"

  Matthew could recruit more "workers" without worry, because he never po "squeeze" too much profit from them.

  As long as he had no "desire," he could always easily attract adventurers.

  Bay Territory was just getting started!

  Sed-Tier Spell—Softeh and Stone!

  The stone and mud, mixed with various fixed materials, gradually fused into a solid whole.

  Matthew had iionally mixed in maallic materials to ehat once solidified, the structure would be much more resistant to spells and attacks.

  About two hours ter.

  A half-enclosed fortress eg to the ruiraood deep within the ruins.

  Matthew left behind his most powerful heavy infantry, along with 300 elite soldiers skilled in handling crossbows.

  Finally, he left 1000 kobolds.

  They had a secret mission to carry out!

  On top of the wall.

  The eager adventurers and nobles, upon seeing Matthew leading his team back to the wall, prepared to desd.

  Then, Matthew’s words halted their as:

  "Don’t you all want to know how to spot Sky-Splitting Lizards in the dark?"

  Annou A big thank you to [Tatus] for joining my Patreon! Your support means a lot to me.

  FAL