"So—Hulus is trying to set up Abner, forcing Abner into an opposition with Lin Da, inciting conflict between the two!"


    "Ah, can it really be like that?" Lia eximed, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "But this move has already been neutralized by Jite."


    Isa praised, "Jite may seem boorish, but he made his stance clear, telling everyone that Hulus has ulterior motives and the White Dove Adventure Group has no intention ofpeting with Lin Da for the position ofmander. Hulus''s attempt to sow discord has backfired, not only failing but also strengthening the rtionship between White Dove Adventure Group and Phoenix Tail Flower."


    "So that''s how it is..."


    Lia muttered, feeling a bit confused.


    On stage, Lin Da had not expected this kind ofplication.


    He seemed to have thought everything was going too smoothly—in the game, when yers triggered the [Attack]mand, all members would attack recklessly, even at the cost of their lives. However, the biggest difference between reality and games is that everyone has different thoughts and will fight for their interests.


    Even with a monster tide imminent, some were scheming for their own benefit.


    For example, to irritate the White Dove Adventure Group and ruin their rtionship with Abner.


    He inadvertently became the stone caught in the middle of the fight between White Dove Adventure Group and Specter Adventure Group, damaged by the residual effects of the battle.


    "I support Hulus''smand of the battlefield, such a young kid shouldn''t be in charge."


    "Me too."


    "Agreed."


    One after another, five or six captains of Rock-level Squads sided with Hulus.


    Among them was another Iron Level leader: [Shattered Rock] Rhode.


    A two-and-a-half-meter-tall fighter who fought with his fists.


    Now, even Mayor Adel was in a dilemma.


    The protest from two Iron Level Adventure Groups could not be ignored by anyone.


    ''Was this premeditated?'' Lin Da thought clearly. Perhaps, Hulus and Rhode had coborated more than once against White Dove Adventure Group. After all, there were rumors that the core resource area of the fifteenthyer of the Great Mystery Continent was monopolized by White Dove, naturally irritating the other two Iron Level groups.


    Seconds and minutes passed.


    Every while, the Murderous Crab tide would expand by an inch.


    Lin Da truly wished he could kick such a troublemaker as Hulus out of the war room.


    But his seniority was less than these veteran teams, and Mayor Adel also needed Iron Level Adventure Groups stationed in the city.


    In other words, Lin Da now needed apromise, one that would silence Hulus without angering these people and still use them to fight the Murderous Crab.


    Just as Mayor Adel was feeling the headache, Lin Da suddenly said:


    "Lord Hulus, in my opinion, you are actually better suited to be themander."


    Your journey continues on empire


    "Me?" Hulus was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Lin Da to kick the ball back to his court.


    "Yes." Lin Da smiled insincerely, "The Specter Adventure Group has a well-known reputation. With yourmand, adventurers in White Dove City will surely fight as if they''ve been imbued by a ''song of bravery,'' theirbat power doubling."


    "Your featsmanding adventurers in battle will also be talked about in major cities, bing the most famous Iron Level Adventure Group."


    Hearing this, Hulus began to sweat slightly on his forehead.


    The most famous?


    Indeed, if themand was impressive, his title as Soul Reaper would be widely known.


    But likewise, if it failed, if held ountable by those above, kicked out of White Dove City...


    This infamy would spread throughout the empire.


    No city would wee them, and they might even be banned from entering the World Tree by the empire.


    This consequence was tantamount to crippling their adventure group!


    "Why did Lin Dapliment Hulus and yet Hulus looks so unhappy?" Lia couldn''t understand.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Isa patiently exined it once more.


    "What, this is ''killing with kindness'' for Hulus?" Lia said in shock, "Lin Da is too devious, isn''t he? I didn''t know he was like that before."


    Isa smiled awkwardly.


    She thought to herself, this should be called ''wisdom,'' shouldn''t it? If they didn''t quickly resolve the nuisance that was Hulus, the monster tide woulde even closer to White Dove City.


    As for Lia not having noticed before, that was because Hu Linda''s ''cunning'' had always been directed at Magical Creatures and those adventure teams targeting Snow Goose.


    He never targeted Lia, so of course, she couldn''t feel it.


    "It turns out my biggest rival is a fool," Isa thought with mixed feelings.


    Meanwhile, Hulus chuckled, waved his hand, and said, "Someone like me is only suitable for dealing with the corpses of Magical Creatures. I''d rather notmand."


    Abner said, "I nominate Lin Da for themand."


    "Me too," Mayor Adel followed immediately.


    This made Hulus''s expression grow even darker, forcing a smile with seeming goodwill as he nodded, "I agree as well. Although he''s a junior, perhaps he can bring out something eye-catching, hehehe."


    With Hulus, the thorn, silent, [Shattered Rock] Rhode and the other Rock-level captains had no choice but to give in reluctantly.


    Their attempt to set up Abner had unexpectedly brought Lin Da and Abner closer together.


    A silent confrontation had inadvertently pushed the Specter Adventure Group and Solid Rock Adventure Group into an opposition against White Dove and Phoenix Tail Flower.


    Lin Da was very clear about how awkward and helpless this situation was.


    If he sided with Hulus, he would be targeted by White Dove Adventure Group and vice versa. Caught between the Iron Level groups, like a small boat in the waves, he could only move by borrowing force.


    ''If Phoenix Tail Flower were also Iron Level, would Hulus dare to cause trouble publicly? Just one of Monica''s Earth Bombardments would clear his health bar instantly!'' Lin Da thought, hiding his displeasure, while still maintaining a cordial exterior.


    "No more nonsense, let''s move on to the next step."


    "I call it: the Decapitation Strike."


    "Surely, everyone understands that there''s only one swiftest way to extinguish this Monster Tide."


    "That is... to vanquish all the Leader Level creatures within the Murderous Crabs, leaving the lesser Magical Creatures headless!"


    Lin Da''s voice resounded assertively through the hall, redirecting everyone''s thoughts back to the Monster Tide.


    Within this wave of the Monster Tide, there must inevitably be leaders.


    The presence of the leaders would bestow a sort of calming buff upon the Magical Creatures.


    This would make the lesser Magical Creatures fearless and aggressive, daring to attack even the most formidable adventurers.


    Once the leaders were dead, the calming buff no longer bestowed, those level ten-odd Murderous Crabs would crumble in disarray from merely the aura of a Star-ranked adventurer, significantly reducing theirbat effectiveness.


    Nobody objected to the Decapitation Strike.


    Lin Da pointed out several ck dots on a glowing screen with a long pole—"Roughly one in every thousand Murderous Crabs will be a level 20 ck Armored Crab General. With the Monster Tide estimated at about one hundred thousand, that means there are nearly one hundred ck Armored Crab Generals."


    "There are a total of sixty-six Rock-level Squads, and currently, the number that can be mobilized within the city is fifty-one."


    "On average, each team will have to kill two ck Armored Crab Generals."


    Lin Da''s long pole pointed directly at the center of Breeze River Beach.


    Everyone''s gazes sharpened.


    Undoubtedly, that was the most dangerous location.


    Until now, no one knew where the Murderous Crabs wereing from.


    To uncover the mystery, one had to venture deep into Breeze River Beach.


    "The strongest leader is ny percent likely to be found there," Lin Da said.


    In his heart, he knew the likelihood was a hundred percent.


    A ''Regional Level BOSS''.


    In games, yers would go mad over such an entity, all vying for thest hit.


    The carapace of this BOSS could be used to forge top-quality Orange Equipment.


    Its Demon Core, rich in Magic Power, could increase an adventurer''s training speed by a hundredfold.


    If one were lucky enough to encounter ''that kind'' of BOSS, the materials could even be used to forge Epic-level Equipment!


    Correspondingly, the difficulty of subjugating it was extraordinarily high.


    It would be pure suicide for a Rock-level Squad to face it.


    Lin Da looked solemnly at the map of Breeze River Beach, saying:


    "This ce will be investigated by the White Dove Adventure Group. The Barren ins and the Man-Eating Swamp are also teeming with Magical Creatures, so Specter Adventure Group and Solid Rock Adventure Group will each lead ten Rock-level Teams to subjugate them. After clearing out the Leader Level Magical Creatures there, they''ll immediately proceed to support White Dove Adventure Group."


    Hulus frowned slightly but did not voice any objections.


    The rare Magical Creatures deep within Breeze River Beach were indeed very appealing.


    However... Hulus was worried about failing to subjugate them.


    In terms ofbat power, Specter Adventure Group was weaker than White Dove Adventure Group.


    Looking at the map on the light screen, Breeze River Beach was located straight to the north, with the Man-Eating Swamp and Barren ins on either side.


    Lin Da quickly assigned the other teams their subjugation areas.


    With every touch of the long pole on the magical light screen, a piece representing an adventure team was left behind.


    To the astonishment of many, Lin Da seemed to remember the names of all teams present without referring to any list.


    When allocating subjugation areas, Lin Da took into ount the strength of each team.


    The more formidable the team, the deeper andrger the area they were assigned.


    "Chestnut Dragon Adventure Team, this area."


    "Ice Flower Adventure Team, here."


    "Snow Goose Adventure Team..."


    Lin Da disyed a rare moment of hesitation; after some thought, he assigned Snow Goose to a rtively safe area. When he met Snow Goose the day before, Aiko and the others were not in great shape, so he took extra care of them.


    Some astute adventurers noticed Lin Da''s favoritism but didn''tment further.


    It was understandable that those with ability had some special privileges.


    Besides, among the Rock-level Squads, Snow Goose wasn''t particrly strong, their coordination was poor, and their overallbat capability was below average.


    cing them in a safer zone wasprehensible.


    On the other hand, Ice Flower Adventure Team was ced in aparatively inner area.


    Lin Da trusted Isa very much.


    Then he ced thest piece, "Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team."


    Phoenix Tail Flower was in charge of a midyer area.


    The other ''pieces'' in that area were Rock-level Squads.


    Although those teams were the weakest echelon that had just entered the Rock Level,


    Rock Level was still Rock Level, indicating teams that had sessfully cleared more than tenyers.


    Lin Da''s decision to ce Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team in such a hazardous area immediately prompted reminders from some well-intentioned individuals.


    Gale, with his silky blond hair, smiled amicably and said,


    "Lin Da, perhaps you''ve put the Phoenix Tail Flower piece in the wrong ce? I know you''re eager to attract the girls'' attention, but being able to step back when necessary is also a quality of excellence. Leave the limelight to us at White Dove Adventure Group."


    Lin Da smiled, his expression resolute, "Rest assured, if I ce Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team in this area, it''s because I have confidence in their capabilities. Phoenix Tail Flower''s member, Monica, is an Earth Mage, and as you all know, Earth Mages have an attribute advantage over Murderous Crabs.


    Monica might only be level 19, but her damage output won''t be any less than that of a level 20 Mage!"