Simple words were enough to shift the focus of the conflict. What began as an unreasonable compensation demand from Chen Yu had now become an internal dispute among the camp leaders.
Chen Yu considered this less a stratagem and more a mere trick.
Across the vast, millennia-spanning history of the Huaxia Empire, countless methods had emerged. He hadn't even resorted to imperial arts, such as "Two Peaches Killing Three Warriors" or "Releasing Troops with a Cup of Wine." It was merely a testament to the subterranean culture's poor foundation. Prolonged class stratification meant there were few significant ripples to be found here.
Any clever plan or strategy was born from times of chaos.
While Chen Yu and the other survivors might not have been as adept at survival in the subterranean world, their strategic prowess represented a dimensional advantage over the native inhabitants.
This was especially true considering they were still in the outer reaches of the subterranean realm.
Culture, economy, and heritage were all the weakest aspects of this region. If Chen Yu couldn't establish a foothold, it would be one thing, but once he did, no one in this area could impede his progress.
He just wondered how long this ease would last.
The camp leaders' contradictions intensified, escalating with each passing moment!
Shouts of foul language echoed incessantly. Chen Yu made no move to stop them, content to watch them tear into each other.
"Everyone, can we stop the noise for a moment?"
Seeing the camp leaders’ argument grow fiercer, Mu Cun hesitantly attempted to mediate.
"Your conflicts can be resolved later. Shouldn't we, for now, focus on how to distribute this compensation? Otherwise, us arguing like this is just making us a laughingstock!"
What was there to argue about? The priority was to get the money paid.
Mu Cun was anxious!
He needed these camp leaders to quickly pool the money, hand it over to Chen Yu, and then leave. Whether they would seek trouble with Chen Yu later was a secondary concern; escaping the current predicament was paramount.
And yet, these camp leaders were still arguing.
"What qualifications do you have to speak here?!" The bickering camp leaders, hearing Mu Cun's words, all turned their attention to him. "You instigated our presence here. Now you're asking us to pool money, thinking you can escape once we do? Don't dream. The moment we leave, you'll be the first one we butcher!"
"Enough, all of you!"
Suddenly, Sviertel, who had been silent, shouted with a dark expression.
"Pool the money."
Even he could only think of pooling the money. Chen Yu was in control of everything right now. Although Sviertel was from the City Lord's mansion, dispatching heavy troops would take time, and he might not even be able to persuade his uncle.
Quickly pooling the money and leaving this place, then considering how to deal with Chen Yu, was the correct course of action.
"Pool it? I'll pool your grandmother!" The camp leaders, their faces flushed from the argument, glared and grunted, "You guys pool it, I surrender!"
"I surrender too. You guys take your time pooling it."
"I surrender too."
"I surrender!"
In less than half a minute, seven of the more than a dozen camp leaders surrendered. Only six remained, stubbornly refusing to yield.
"Don't, don't all surrender."
Seeing the camp leaders surrender, Mu Cun grew anxious. He then looked at the remaining few, his heart sinking.
A compensation of fifty million. If the original dozen leaders had split it,
It wouldn't have been much.
Now, these few leaders bore an immense burden.
"Good, good. It seems many people understand how to abandon the dark and embrace the light." Chen Yu grinned and clapped his hands, his gaze falling on the other camp leaders. "What do you say? Pool the money for compensation or surrender? How about this, I'll give you one last chance to surrender with a quarter of the burden."
"Don't surrender."
Sviertel's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Don't continue surrendering. Can't you see that brat is deliberately using this method to incite internal conflict among you?"
"If we don't surrender, how will we pool this fifty million?" the remaining camp leaders frowned.
"Be honest with me, if you really had to pool it, could you actually come up with the money?" Sviertel whispered to the camp leaders.
The camp leaders remained silent, their eyes meeting as no one spoke.
"Can you or can you not!"
Sviertel demanded in a low, furrowed voice.
"If you can pool it, then I can guarantee that I won't let you pay this money in vain. I will recover it all for you, with both principal and interest."
"Are you sure?"
Several camp leaders looked up at Sviertel.
"I swear upon my soul!" Sviertel placed his hand over his chest. "You know I'm from the City Lord's mansion. My uncle is the City Lord of a first-tier town. Upon returning to the city, I will inform my uncle of everything here, and he will absolutely dispatch troops to deal with this. At that time, I can recover everything for you, principal and interest."
"If that's the case, why didn't you say so earlier?"
If Sviertel had explained this from the beginning, any camp leader would have chosen not to surrender.
They wouldn't have had to pool fifty million gold coins among them now!
"I also needed the right timing," Sviertel whispered. "How could the heavy troops of a town be easily mobilized? If there weren't enough leverage to impress my uncle, would he have dispatched troops? Now, I believe this leverage is sufficient. Tens of millions in gold should be enough to persuade my uncle."
The camp leaders narrowed their eyes, remaining silent. Sviertel's expression was solemn.
"Believe me, I guarantee it!"
Chen Yu watched them whispering amongst themselves and couldn't help but murmur,
"What are you thinking? Hurry up and surrender, you're wasting time."
"Don't underestimate them too much. They might actually be able to pool it." Suddenly, Luo Yi's low voice reached his ears. Chen Yu turned to see Luo Yi standing beside him with a smile. "These few camp leaders are currently the strongest among them, in terms of military strength, wealth, or foundation. If they grit their teeth, they might truly be able to produce tens of millions."
"No wonder."
Chen Yu, with his arms crossed, agreed knowingly.
He had been observing the number of beast soldiers. Although many camp leaders had surrendered, more than half of the beast soldiers remained.
He hadn't expected the ones who surrendered to him to be mere minnows; the real big fish hadn't taken the bait.
"What are you thinking now?" Luo Yi whispered. "If they actually pool the money, will you really let them go just like that? Although you've already profited enough."
Towards the end, Luo Yi could barely contain his laughter.
Having lived in the subterranean world for so long, he had never encountered someone as devious as his brother-in-law. He truly dared to ask for the moon, quoting figures that made his own heart pound with fear.
"Let them go?"
Chen Yu scoffed with his arms crossed, gazing at the camp leaders who were discussing the ransom payment, a glint in his eyes as he murmured.
"They aren't leaving!"