Within the city walls, news of the approaching enemy reached the citizens and guests alike.
Discussions erupted everywhere.
"Have you heard? Over a dozen encampments outside are mobilizing to attack. Do you think it will affect us?" someone among the guests asked nervously, looking around.
"It shouldn't, right?"
"Why are you all panicking? At worst, we're just merchants and have no real connection to this city. Why would those enemies bother with us?"
"Brother, don't these fringe bandits love nothing more than to rob us merchants?"
Suddenly, someone among the guests whispered anxiously, and immediately, the guests around the commercial district began to show signs of unease.
Bandits loved robbing merchants like them the most!
"There shouldn't be any problem, should there? This city should have its own garrison. Look at the investment, easily tens of millions. If they dared to invest so much, they must be capable of defending the city."
"With over a dozen encampments, that's tens of thousands of beast soldiers. How can they be resisted so easily?"
"So what do we do now?"
"Running is impossible. The beast soldiers from the encampments are all around the city. As long as the Ailton family is still here, there won't be any problems."
"That's right, that's right!"
At this moment, it was the Ailton family that provided these guests with a greater sense of security.
"You people are really quite timid," as the guests mumbled amongst themselves, a young man among those hosting them scoffed. "It's just a few encampments, and you're all scared like that. This city has our Steward Chen. As long as he's here, there will be no problem."
"Exactly! With Steward Chen here, crushing those native encampments is as easy as pie."
These hosts were survivors Chen Yu had recruited. Considering the rough etiquette of the underground beasts, Chen Yu had thought of having the survivors serve as hosts.
For this purpose, Chen Yu had specifically sought out survivors who had been in Area 0713 from the very beginning.
The survivors from this area, having integrated earlier, trusted Chen Yu more and were more obedient. However, one point that gave Chen Yu a headache was their extreme trust in him.
Obedience was the baseline; more importantly, it was admiration.
Blind admiration!
They had survived in the underground by buying Chen Yu's bread meal packages, and many had their lives saved by Chen Yu's sold food when they were on the brink of death.
It was countless such instances that made them view Chen Yu as a saint, a savior.
If anyone dared to speak ill of Chen Yu, they would wish they could bite those people to death with their own mouths.
As was the case here, these guests showing distrust in the city was tantamount to distrusting Chen Yu, something they absolutely could not tolerate.
"We're not doubting Steward Chen, it's just that outside..."
The guests explained with smiles, but the survivors hosting them snorted.
"What about outside?"
"Just a rabble of a few encampments. With our boss Chen Yu around, he can ravage them however he wants. Rest assured, this city is definitely worth your investment. If you back out now, it won't be this cheap to invest later."
"Yes, yes, I just don't have the capital. If I did, I would invest."
A few survivors chimed in, thinking of attracting more investment for Chen Yu and the city. They lived happily in this city, and though it was an underground, they were gradually developing a sense of belonging.
They all wanted to contribute to the city.
"Chen Yu?" Suddenly, a man with a handlebar mustache among the guests stepped forward. "Young man, did you just mention Chen Yu?"
"Ah, what's up?"
"May I ask who Chen Yu is..."
"He's our city's Steward Chen. Don't you know him?" The host's eyes held suspicion. The man who came forward smiled. "So, Steward Chen's name is Chen Yu. I hadn't asked for his name when I interacted with him before. May I ask, are all of you explorers invited here?"
"What about it?"
"No, it's just that hearing you mention natives, if you were from our underground, you wouldn't say it like that. I'm just curious and asking. Don't worry, I have no hostility towards the outside explorers. I'm just curious about a few things and wonder if you gentlemen could tell me a bit."
"What questions?"
"I heard you explorers have regional divisions. May I ask which region you are from? Steward Chen should also be an outsider explorer, right? Which region is he from?"
...
...
...
Chen Yu was unaware of the events within the city. At this moment, he was in a great mood, smiling as he looked at the encampment leaders before him.
"The beast soldiers can also surrender."
Chen Yu raised his hand again and looked at the beast soldiers holding weapons.
"Lay down your weapons and surrender now. Our city is willing to accept you. If you miss this opportunity, you'll face labor reform."
"Seize the opportunity, for it will not come again!"
The beast soldiers of the Rabbitman encampment, having lost their position, though not having a significant impact on the overall army, had their morale severely hit.
Many beast soldiers from other encampments saw the Rabbitman encampment's forces retreating towards the city.
Their thoughts became much more active.
Previously, Chen Yu's city had been promoting freedom, and their beast soldiers in the encampments had been moved by it. Now, seeing the elite equipment of the city's troops, they had no desire to stubbornly fight on.
"I surrender."
"I surrender too." Seeing someone throw down their weapons, more and more beast soldiers were dropping their weapons, raising their hands, and running towards the city.
Er Gou let the surrendering beast soldiers pass.
Secretly, he dispatched a thousand soldiers to keep an eye on those who had surrendered.
No one could guarantee there weren't any opportunists.
Noticing Er Gou's arrangements, Chen Yu smiled. The Divine General fusion did have some effect; this silly, simple-minded Er Gou had become much more cautious in his actions.
"You, you..."
The leaders of the various encampments watched their subordinate beast soldiers give up resistance and surrender, filled with anger and anxiety.
"Look, look, the people's hearts are with us!" Chen Yu spread his hands, looking at the encampment leaders. "You people came to report me, but your own people don't want to follow you; they want to follow me."
"You threatened them!"
Mu Cun glared and shouted, then looked at Wells.
"Envoy, this foreigner..." Svelen began to ask, but saw a trace of displeasure in the eyes of the two envoys from the Mermaid Kingdom.
He didn't know if it was his imagination, but on the way here, they had been all smiles towards him.
Now, it was all disgust!
"We have seen Mr. Chen's evidence, and the evidence provided by Mu Cun is forged," the Mermaid envoy whispered. Svelen's eyes widened. "Envoy, are you sure?"
"Are you doubting us?"
"Your Excellencies, he maliciously invaded my encampment and captured my villagers," the Great Crocodile stepped forward. "This matter..."
"Present evidence."
Meeting the envoy's gaze, the Great Crocodile silently lowered his head.
Evidence?
How could he possibly have evidence!
"Then... what about the Ska family matter?" Suddenly, the Great Crocodile raised his hand and pointed at Giles. "This foreigner extorted a million gold coins from the Ska family."
"Ska family, is this true?"
The envoy raised his eyebrows and whispered. All eyes fell on Giles, and Giles, who had remained silent all along, felt all eyes on him. He slowly looked up, glanced at Chen Yu, who had a smile on his face, and then shook his head.
"No."
Instantly, the encampment leaders erupted!