C6 (1)

Chen Ye had wasted a full thirty minutes just running over, and then he had to cast his [Tracking] skill repeatedly to scout the area. If his [Tracking] skill had been more advanced, he might have found clues much sooner. Regrettably, he had forsaken the F-class [Tracking] in favor of learning Stealth (E), leaving him no choice but to compensate with frequency of use.

Thankfully, [Tracking] had no cooldown time. After nibbling on some military rations, Chen Ye finally stumbled upon a clue: a few strands of gray hair.

You have discovered some distinctive hair. Preliminary assessment suggests it belongs to a medium or small-sized animal.

You have uncovered traces of a medium or small-sized animal's movements.

Following these traces, Chen Ye climbed a tree and had an epiphany—it was a monkey!

Before long, the trail became increasingly distinct, and he realized the creature was close by. To avoid startling it, Chen Ye activated his Stealth (E) skill. Shortly after, he spotted a monkey dozing on a branch. When he got within twenty meters, he obtained information about the monkey.

Mountain Gray Ape (Juvenile): HP: 40/40; Sly, Agile, Stealing; This isolated Mountain Gray Ape is particularly mischievous and lively in its youth. When hungry, it frequently resorts to thievery.

Chen Ye immediately noticed an unfamiliar object hanging around the ape's neck, clearly not an item a monkey would typically possess. But the creature was perched high up in the tree, and without the ability to fly, even climbing would surely alarm it. The "Sly" attribute, though not explicitly defined, suggested that the startled ape wouldn't engage in a fight.

Chen Ye caressed his 56mm automatic rifle and muttered to himself, "Only one shot. At this range... it's a sure hit."

"Bang!" The gunshot echoed, birds scattered, and the Mountain Gray Ape (Juvenile) screamed in agony as it plummeted from the tree. Chen Ye drew his dagger and dashed forward, delivering the final blow with swift precision.

[Side Mission 3: Revenge of the Mountain Gray Apes] — Your rash actions have provoked the wrath of the Mountain Gray Ape community on Suttrie Mount. Now, it's a fight for survival: kill or be killed.

Chen Ye felt a sudden jolt of unease; it now made sense why the monkey had seemed so odd. The token had come to him a bit too easily, and he hadn't anticipated it being a trap. Without a moment's hesitation, he quickly placed the token into the Celestial Vault and made a hasty retreat through the forest, retracing his steps back to the path.

Upon reaching the agreed-upon meeting spot, Chen Ye and Cheng Bin regrouped and headed back to their post. Although nothing out of the ordinary occurred, the involuntary initiation of the third side mission hung over him like a ticking time bomb, causing great anxiety.

"I was indeed reckless. There must be a better approach to accomplishing the mission. The clue clearly pointed to the other party being hungry. If I had learned some basic cooking skills, I could've exchanged food for the token and possibly even gained their favor... Is it possible that these wild creatures also function as NPCs?" Chen Ye reflected on the events and questioned himself.

Despite his remorse, Chen Ye was aware that he wasn't clairvoyant. Nobody could have predicted that the token's clues would be linked to culinary skills. There might be other methods, but killing the creature was undoubtedly the worst option. The anticipated retaliation from the creature's kin was a formidable obstacle, surely a critical juncture between life and death.

He revisited the third side mission's instructions, pondering over them several times, and began to piece things together. Speaking softly to himself, he said, "Considering the world's backdrop and the main mission, there are at least two factions in this scenario. First is the faction I represent from the Kingdom of Z, and second is the opposing forces from other nations. It's highly probable that a clash between the two will erupt at the end of the time limit, making it unlikely for me to get through the seven days unscathed."

"It now appears there's at least one neutral faction, akin to the Gray Mountain Ape. The decision to treat them as foes or allies to bolster our strength could be pivotal in navigating the crisis. Yet, the world's design doesn't permit me to directly forge a relationship with this neutral faction. The second side mission might just be the spark that ignites a relationship with them, and the third side mission the inevitable aftermath of that spark. This presents two distinct choices, each directly influencing the difficulty of the main mission." Whether it was the "new recruit" title enhancing his insight or not, his thoughts were racing.

Chen Ye examined himself closely. Despite the oddities of this world, it operated on its own set of rules. The mountain gray apes wouldn't just descend from the heavens to seek vengeance; they must have used some clue to identify him as the killer of their kin. During the recent events, he must have left a trace. He scrutinized himself from head to toe, finding potential giveaways everywhere—the mud on his shoes, the torn edge of his shirt from the brush, and especially the bloodstains from a young mountain gray ape on his sleeve. Without a second thought, he stripped off all his clothes and stashed them in the Celestial Vault. Then, using ten bullets as currency, he borrowed an ill-fitting set of clothes, dashed to a nearby river for a bath, and even smeared himself with a concoction of special grass juice and animal dung.

"Did you take a tumble into a manure pit? What's that stench?" Cheng Bin wrinkled his nose as he woke up.

As Chen Ye polished his "Basic Culture (G)" proficiency, he responded, "I had the worst luck. It was too hot to sleep, so I went for a bath. On my way back, I slipped and fell right where some animal had relieved itself. I washed again but couldn't get rid of the smell. I'll just have to deal with it when I get back."

Cheng Bin couldn't help but laugh, suggesting that Chen Ye's misfortune might actually be a sign of impending good luck, though his tone was clearly more about enjoying Chen Ye's predicament than offering genuine consolation.

Cheng Bin was a comrade with a unique charm. Unlike others, such as Gong Dazang who required food to increase his favorability, Cheng Bin's favorability grew simply through conversation. With time on his hands, Chen Ye saw no reason not to multitask, feeling quite assured about his progress on the secondary mission.

The final shift change took place at 8 o'clock, ensuring everyone had ample time to rest. By 7 o'clock, Chen Ye had secured the "Elementary School Student" achievement. He now possessed three Basic Skill Advancement Potions, but only the Basic Steps (F) met the criteria for advancement; his proficiency in Basic Shooting (B) still had a long way to go.