Chapter 31: Other Helpers
After only a preliminary test, Netero accepted Su Xiao's joining of the Ant King Extermination Team. Morel, standing nearby, said nothing. Strangely, the usually cautious Knov also remained silent.
"Chairman, with this, the Ant King Extermination Team has reached five members. Isn't that number a bit too many?"
Hearing Knov's words, Su Xiao raised an eyebrow. The number was larger than he had anticipated. The "five people" the other party mentioned wasn't the total number for the Chimera Ant subjugation, but the number of people who would fight the Ant King.
According to the original story's development, Chairman Netero was supposed to have a one-on-one duel with the Ant King. Now, however, it had become a five-person siege against the Ant King.
Aside from Netero and Su Xiao, who were the other three? This was quite intriguing. Those three had moved faster than Su Xiao.
"Don't worry. Five people give us a better chance of winning."
Netero chuckled lightly. Although Netero was already 110 years old, he was not serious or rigid. On the contrary, he was a lively and witty old man who still enjoyed challenges even at his age.
If it came to individual strength, even the V5 organization had to be wary of Netero. That was why the Hunter Association enjoyed so many privileges.
"Morel, Knov, take your men to scout near the East Gorteau capital first. When the time is right, consider launching an attack on the capital. The Ant King Extermination Team has already gathered five members. I have other matters to attend to here."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Leave it to us. If we don't receive a signal, we'll decide the timing of the attack ourselves."
"Alright."
Netero watched Morel and Knov leave. There were still other Hunter Association personnel near the capital.
"You came here specifically to find helpers?"
Su Xiao suddenly had a feeling that the reason he could meet Netero and the others here was because they had been wandering near the capital, looking for someone, or rather, waiting for someone to come to them.
"That's right. It was a suggestion from one of the Extermination Team members. Things turned out just as he predicted. There are indeed many 'like-minded' people near the capital."
Netero gestured for Su Xiao to follow him. After a moment's hesitation, Su Xiao chose to follow. Before long, Bubu Wang and Amu, who had been lurking nearby, caught up and joined Su Xiao.
"Are these other helpers?"
Netero looked at Bubu Wang and Amu with interest.
"You can think of the three of us as a small team."
"Is that so? Then there's no problem."
Netero stroked his beard and didn't delve into the origins of Bubu Wang and Amu.
The place Netero was taking Su Xiao to was a small town near the capital of East Gorteau. When Su Xiao stepped into the town, he suddenly felt as if time had gone back several hundred years.
The ground of the town was paved with stone slabs. Due to long-term neglect, the slabs had been worn unevenly. Stepping on them, mud could spurt out from the cracks between the stones.
Most of the buildings in the town were two stories high, basically made of wood or stone. There were no concrete structures at all. The shop doors on the street hung with single-colored banners, which were something like signboards.
Occasionally, a horse-drawn carriage passed by on the street. As for cars, their use was strictly prohibited in East Gorteau.
This was a country that was both deformed and exuded a primitive beauty. Coming here, one could definitely experience the feeling of time going back several hundred years.
"This kind of strange sight can only be seen in East Gorteau."
Netero had been here before, thirty years ago. Now, almost nothing had changed, except that the buildings on both sides of the street were a bit more dilapidated.
"By the way, I still don't know your name?"
Netero, with his back to Su Xiao, was searching for a certain shop on both sides of the street.
"White Night."
Su Xiao was admiring the scenery of the town, but he couldn't help feeling a bit puzzled. How had this place not been occupied by the Chimera Ants?
"White Night. A very suitable alias for killing."
Netero could tell it was a pseudonym but didn't press further.
After the two of them went deep into the southern part of the town, they arrived in front of an inn. This was the most "luxurious" inn in the town, one of the few three-story buildings.
As soon as Su Xiao walked into the inn, a short, fat middle-aged man came forward to greet him. He served as the owner, cook, receptionist, and everything else. This was a family-run business.
"Are you two guests travelers from out of town?"
The owner came over to strike up a conversation. In this godforsaken place, foreign travelers were the biggest source of income.
"We've already booked a room..."
Chairman Netero exchanged a few words with the innkeeper, who became even more enthusiastic and led the two of them up to the third floor.
Walking on the creaking wooden stairs, Su Xiao gained a new understanding of East Gorteau's poverty. If it wasn't due to the Hunter Association's lack of funds, then it could only mean that this was indeed the most luxurious inn in the town.
In front of a guest room at the far end of the third floor, the lock on the door was already rusted shut. Large patches of paint had peeled off the door, and wisps of blue smoke drifted out from the warped door frame.
As soon as the innkeeper pushed the door open, the thick smoke that rushed out made him tilt his head back, coughing repeatedly.
The room was like a "fairyland," filled with billowing smoke. Three figures could be vaguely seen within the haze.
"Smoker, if you weren't a contractor, you definitely wouldn't live past sixty."
A female voice came from within the thick smoke.
"Who says I'm a contractor?"
This time, it was a slightly hoarse but vigorous male voice.
"Chen, say something too. This old chain-smoker is getting more and more arrogant."
The female voice carried a provocative tone.
"If you don't want to wait here, you can leave. No one is forcing you."
"Hey, kid, aren't you being a bit too arrogant?"
The female voice had already turned cold.
"I'm not arrogant. At least I don't provoke others or actively pick fights."
"Serves you right that your adventure group was wiped out."
"You... say that again... what you said before."
The last male voice was calm to the point of being emotionless. There was no anger, no threat, no arrogance—just calm, a deathly calm.
"Can't you two just get along? One likes to provoke, and the other can make people want to kill him within three sentences. Chen, being this sharp-tongued is a talent in itself. That deceased leader from the Brotherhood must have had a hard time. Or maybe it's a result of some post-traumatic stimulation."
The one who stepped in to mediate was the man called Old Smoker. From the sound of his voice, he was quite old.
"I'm not sharp-tongued. People are all hypocritical. Once you state the facts, it makes people angry. Just like you're hypocritically stepping in to mediate now. In reality, your true intention is to kill everyone else in the room."
"Stop. If you keep talking, I'll want to kill you myself."
"If you have that ability, you don't need to care about my opinion. Based on the comparison of our combat power, you're likely unable to achieve that."
"You... Hoo~"
Old Smoker seemed to take a drag of his cigarette to calm down, then fell silent.
"Three of you, we're about to fight side by side, so there's no need to stir up internal conflict."
Netero, standing at the door, spoke up. He didn't enter the room; the smoke inside was simply too thick.
"So... so much smoke! It's on fire! Someone call the fire department!!"
A loud shout came from the street below.