In the world of mercenaries, Mercenary Points were the lifeblood of progress. Only by accumulating these points and leveling up their guild could they access higher-tier, more lucrative contracts.

  As the political dance between Mu Qianqiu and Qin Ming drew to a close, the three men standing behind the Guild Master prepared for action. While Mu Qianqiu was here primarily as a figurehead, the other three had come to bleed.

  Qin Ming knew better than to question their presence.

  Blood Wolf followed Tiger-Hunt’s advice: Since you're here, make yourself useful. They waited in silence, eyes fixed on the treeline.

  They didn't have to wait long.

  A massive roar erupted from the depths of the Cloud Mist Forest. In an instant, a curtain of dust billowed upward, and the sky was filled with the frantic wings of startled birds.

  "The horde is here." Qin Ming immediately moved to his command post, his voice cold and sharp.

  "Gentlemen, you know the mission," Mu Qianqiu interjected. "I won’t presume to command you, but remember: the greater the contribution, the larger the share of the reward."

  Mu Qianqiu knew his limits. As a branch manager, he had authority over small-time squads, but elite mercenaries like these only gave him face out of professional courtesy; they didn't take orders from him.

  "You don't need to tell me that," Berserk Bear growled. He had been simmering with rage since being ignored by Blood Wolf and Tiger-Hunt. Now that the monsters had arrived, he saw his chance to flex. "If you two don't mind, my Berserk Bear Mercenary Group will take the vanguard."

  He wanted these two to see exactly what kind of powerhouse they had dared to snub.

  "If you want the front line, be my guest," Blood Wolf said with an indifferent shrug.

  "I’m surprised you're still here," Tiger-Hunt added, feigning shock as if he had only just noticed the man. "I figured you’d have tucked tail and run before the tide hit."

  "Hmph. Keep your sarcasm. I offered you a place in my group and you spat on it. Don't come crawling to me when you regret it," Berserk Bear spat back.

  Tiger-Hunt grinned. "I’d love for you to make me regret it. I just doubt you have the stones."

  Berserk Bear didn't deign to respond further. He marched over to Qin Ming and cupped his fist. "City Lord Qin, the Berserk Bear Mercenary Group is ready to assist the City Guard."

  Qin Ming glanced at him, then stood and gave a courteous nod. "Then I shall leave the opening move to you, Captain."

  "Count on it." Berserk Bear turned and leaped off the high wall.

  Mid-air, he reached back and drew a massive warhammer. He landed with a heavy thud, the haft of his hammer slamming into the dirt and spider-webbing the ground beneath him.

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  "Berserk Bear Group, front and center!"

  At his roar, his subordinates—who had been waiting below—gathered instantly. While their movements lacked military precision, it was clear they were a seasoned team.

  "At least he knows that a ragtag bunch of freelancers won't survive a war," Blood Wolf remarked, his critique as a veteran squad leader being quite objective.

  "Too bad his personality is trash," Tiger-Hunt added bluntly, making no effort to lower his voice.

  Below, the City Guard had already locked horns with the vanguard of the beast tide. Against a mindless stampede, the Guard’s disciplined formation was devastatingly effective.

  The Heavy Knights stood like iron walls at the front, bathed in the golden glow of the Priests' support spells. They absorbed the initial shock of the charge, grounding the momentum of the beasts.

  As the saying goes: The first drum skin breaks, the second sags, and the third fails. Battle is about momentum; if the first wave is halted, the rest is a slaughter.

  With the charge slowed, the infantry surged forward to engage. In the rear, the Mages raised their staves, their mana beginning to hum as they channeled their spells. The battlefield descended into a brutal, grinding stalemate.

  Berserk Bear gave a quick, rousing speech to his men before waving his hammer. "Go, brothers! Let's show these soldiers how real warriors fight!"

  The Berserk Bear Group was the largest mercenary unit in the city. While their individual talent varied, their average level was significantly higher than that of the standard City Guard. As a thousand high-level mercenaries dove into the fray, they became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

  Berserk Bear stayed just behind the front line of his men, letting them do the heavy lifting. With this fresh influx of power, the wind began to shift. The monsters, who had been trading lives with the Guard, were now being pushed back, leaving a trail of carcasses in their wake.

  Berserk Bear’s chest swelled with pride. He glanced back at the city wall, a sneer twisting his lips as he looked at Blood Wolf and Tiger-Hunt.

  "Wow. Look at him. He actually thinks he's doing something," Tiger-Hunt muttered.

  Standing on the elevated wall, both he and Blood Wolf could see that sneer with perfect clarity.

  "Small men, small victories," Tiger-Hunt shrugged, unbothered.

  "I’m just confused," Blood Wolf said, his brow furrowed. "This horde... it isn't nearly as strong as I expected."

  Cloud Mist City had seven recorded beast tides in its history, and every single one had been a catastrophe. Massive hordes usually overran the City Guard, causing horrific casualties and nearly breaking the gates every time.

  But today, the opposite was happening.

  "Heh, take a closer look at what the City Guard is wearing," Tiger-Hunt whispered. "That's all the Boss’s gear."

  Blood Wolf narrowed his eyes. Realization dawned on him. "I see. Now it makes sense."

  His own squad was outfitted with Kael's equipment; he knew better than anyone the sheer quality of those items. Now that the entire City Guard was armored in Kael’s steel, their overall combat effectiveness had at least doubled.

  Blood Wolf glanced at Tiger-Hunt. "No wonder you’re so relaxed."

  "Exactly," Tiger-Hunt grinned.

  He might be blunt, but he wasn't stupid. The Berserk Bear Group might have a slight advantage in raw levels—after all, anyone with real talent usually wouldn't settle for being a common City Guard—but in terms of equipment, they were peasants compared to the army.

  Berserk Bear wasn't winning the war; he was just piggybacking off the overwhelming advantage Kael's gear provided to the soldiers.

  Tiger-Hunt and Blood Wolf saw it. Qin Ming, sitting at the command post, saw it too. But as long as the situation favored the city, Qin Ming wasn't going to point it out.

  However, a different shadow loomed in Qin Ming’s mind.

  "The monsters shouldn't be this weak," Qin Ming stood, peering deep into the Cloud Mist Forest. "If they aren't even as strong as yesterday’s wave, why would they rush to attack the city so soon?"

  Monsters might be primitive, but they were sensitive to power gaps. A low-level beast would tremble or flee before a superior predator; it rarely fought a losing battle unless driven by something else.

  Something was wrong.