C15 Red Scorpion Was Destroyed!(2)

Reed knew better than to turn his back on the enemy, but like a startled bird, he made that critical mistake. Lee Yunfei seized the moment, launching a dagger into Reed's thigh and crippling him in an instant.

Reed let out a scream and spun around, gun in hand, ready to fire at Yunfei. But Yunfei was quicker, kicking the weapon away and delivering a punch that dislocated Reed's jaw. Reed's health plummeted, and he collapsed into a near-death coma.

Capturing the enemy alive was the plan Yunfei and Chen Ye had agreed upon. Yunfei was indifferent, his youth betraying his lack of exceptional emotional or intellectual intelligence, despite his unique skills. Chen Ye had mentioned wanting to keep tabs on Mo La's latest moves, and Yunfei took note. Yet, Chen Ye's true aim was likely to ensure his own high damage output to secure an extra treasure chest.

Chen Ye retrieved the blue treasure chest from his fallen adversary and surveyed the battlefield, now riddled with bullet holes. He considered finishing off the enemy, but there was no need; the mercenaries had been thoroughly decimated by their vengeful comrades. Checking the mission details, Chen Ye noted that despite their victory, the mission wasn't marked complete. He turned to Yunfei and said, "Two enemies remain at the eastern entrance. I have a strategy to draw them out and eliminate them completely!"

Yunfei gave Chen Ye's cunning plan an eye roll but didn't object. He ordered his soldiers to guard Reed closely and had the medics attend to him, ensuring he stayed alive. Meanwhile, Yunfei feigned being securely tied up, when in reality, he had fashioned a quick-release knot. Chen Ye escorted him towards the east gate, accompanied by five other soldiers. They donned the mercenaries' uniforms, and one of their comrades smeared mud on his face from the grass, while the rest covered their features with hats, helmets, and masks, effectively disguising themselves.

The group of seven boldly made their way to the east gate. Two kilometers from the barracks, they heard a whistle. Chen Ye responded with a whistle he'd found on Reed, and soon, two unsuspecting Red Scorpion members leapt from a nearby tree. They approached without caution, but before they got within thirty meters, an enraged Yunfei broke free and struck one with a deadly throw, while the others riddled the second with bullets. Chen Ye managed a few shots, claiming 30% of the effective damage and earning himself a white treasure chest.

After attending to the fallen comrades at the east and south gates, Lee Yunfei and Chen Ye returned to the checkpoint with Reed in tow. Chen Ye glanced at the countdown; three hours remained, and Reed's health had improved slightly, stabilizing him out of immediate danger. With a sense of relief, Chen Ye discreetly opened two still-warm treasure chests, confident that the mysterious powers from the Celestial Tome World would go unnoticed by the world's natives.

You have opened the white treasure chest and obtained "Basic Skill Upgrade Potion x1."

Blue Treasure Chest: 20% chance for white quality items, 50% for blue quality items, 20% for green quality items, 1% for silver quality items, and an additional 9% chance for extra items.

You have opened the blue treasure chest and obtained "Coldo's Aiming Scope," along with an extra "Basic Skill Upgrade Potion x2."

Coldo's Aiming Scope: A favored tool of warriors skilled in reconnaissance. No requirements. Blue grade. Off-hand equipment. Increases vision by +3 and critical hit by +5.

Back at the checkpoint, Chen Ye briefly updated the station chief. Skipping his meal, he headed straight to the detention room and surveyed the captive.

Red Scorpion Leader (Reed): HP 24/150...

Reed's health was not yet at the 30% threshold for effective damage. Chen Ye patiently waited for his recovery, even administering an emergency bandage to speed up the process. To pass the time, he pulled out his "Reading Notes" and began to study. Utilizing this silver-grade item required a grasp of basic culture, which he lacked. With time to spare and three skill potions at his disposal, he decided to reserve one for "Beginner Physical Fitness" and dedicate the rest to advancing his "Basic Culture" level. He had an inkling that mastering "Military Strategy" might be crucial for successfully completing the third main storyline mission.

Despite the high level of the "Reading Notes," Chen Ye recognized every word, though the meaning was less clear than the straightforward tales in "Conference of Stories." This didn't deter him from improving his proficiency. Minutes later, his basic cultural proficiency (G) was maxed out. After downing a skill potion, he continued to grind. An hour later, with another potion consumed, he had elevated his cultural proficiency to a D grade.

"You're wasting your time. I'll never utter another word. No matter how severely you torture me, the Red Scorpion won't betray their employer!" Reed defiantly stated, yet his shifting eyes gave him away. Clearly, he wasn't ready to die; he was angling to trade information for his life.

"Time's up!" With only five minutes remaining, Chen Ye closed his book and smiled at Reed, haunted by the memories of Gong Da Gang, Cheng Bin, Wang Jianguo, and his other fallen comrades.

Reed's eyes bulged as he insisted, "I won't talk! Not unless you guarantee my safety... Ah!"

With a "pfft," Chen Ye slashed at Reed's neck with his dagger. The damage was surprisingly minimal, perhaps because Reed was a minor boss-level enemy. After four slashes to the neck, totaling a mere 80 points of damage, Reed was essentially tortured to death. In his final moments, he relented, crying out, "I'll talk, I'll tell you everything..."

But Chen Ye had no intention of listening to any information. With a swift motion, he decapitated Reed, and a green treasure chest materialized before him.

Chen Ye didn't rush to open the chest. Having gained some unique insights from previous experiences, he decided to try a different approach.

As he stepped out of the detention room, he was met by Lee Yunfei, who had been waiting for him. Chen Ye shrugged apologetically, "I didn't mean for it to happen. I never imagined there'd be such a hard case among the mercenaries. No matter the torture, he wouldn't crack. I'm truly sorry; my anger got the better of me."

Lee Yunfei glanced inside and swore, "What a mess. Damn it, clean this up!"

[Side Mission 4: Red Scorpion] Completed. 18 remaining. Earned 100 Buddha Points, with an additional 126 Buddha Points; 4 Slaughter Points. Special Reward: 100 Buddha Points for eliminating all members of the Red Scorpion.

Upon seeing the notification, Chen Ye recalled that he had a batch of rewards to claim. After a hasty meal, he sought out the quartermaster. But the once animated officer seemed to shudder at the mention of exchanging items, as if suddenly possessed. His eyes flickered with a string of mechanical codes, and a message box appeared. Chen Ye's eyes lit up with excitement as he perused the items listed. While the standard consumables were one thing, it was the final few items that truly whetted his appetite.