The majority that could be extracted had been, and continuing to waste breath on these people was pointless.
The moment Chen Yu finished speaking and turned to leave, a cacophony of shouts erupted, the clash of steel, and heart-wrenching screams making the bright noon feel chillingly cold.
"Don't look back."
Chen Yu, walking at the forefront, noticed Kailin's subtle attempt to glance back out of the corner of his eye and sternly called out to her.
"Try to get used to it. This is just the beginning."
Kailin and the others pursed their lips, daring not to move.
However, the desperate cries and unpleasant curses still caused them to instinctively shrink their necks and clench their tender fists.
It was over!
The joyful times of the past had come to an end at this very moment. From now on, Chen Yu and all the core members of his encampment had to undergo a transformation.
Let the swords wielded by the soldiers be considered as cutting away the beginning of what was.
Returning to the city-state, Kailin resumed her duties of entertaining guests in the commercial district. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the commercial district also required her presence as the city lord. Chen Yu was unaware and did not inquire about her inner emotions at that moment or whether she was affected by the chaos outside.
She was the city lord!
Whether she had willingly stepped into the role of city lord or was pushed into it by Chen Yu, her life's trajectory was destined to change. The future battles for supremacy originating from this city-state, or perhaps the command tokens, meant that this city-state could not remain ordinary. As its lord, she had to face all sorts of unexpected changes.
She had to grow!
Chen Yu did not want puppets who merely followed his commands; he needed countless subordinates who could truly stand on their own and be trusted with important matters.
If Kailin could not bear this pressure, she would only have two possible outcomes in the future.
To be left behind, or to withdraw.
As a small raft gradually transforms into a sailboat, then into a luxurious cruise ship, crew changes are inevitable during this process.
Chen Yu did not want to abandon anyone who followed him from the early stages.
However, he absolutely would not keep anyone who became a burden.
He could buy them time within his capabilities, but his individual capacity had limits. In the face of countless intricate factions within the entire underground world, he was as insignificant as a drop in the ocean. He could only gather more strength to avoid being swept away by the current.
"Hoo."
Chen Yu, leaning back in the vine chair at the encampment, exhaled deeply.
Looking at the buildings and facilities of the encampment before him, he still preferred this encampment, which held countless joyous moments, over the city-state built with immense capital.
He suddenly understood why many successful individuals liked to return to their hometowns in their old age.
Compared to the empires they built by averting crises time and again, their hometowns represented their most genuine selves.
Everything else was merely a ship that had set sail and could not stop.
Those did not truly belong to him.
"Boss..."
Heidou, having finished his lessons, saw Chen Yu and was about to rush towards him with a smile, but was held back by Sona and the little devil Barbara beside him.
"Don't disturb him."
Sona whispered softly, and Heidou, being held back, looked confused.
"What's wrong?"
"He needs time to settle his mind," Sona said softly, looking at Chen Yu on the vine chair. "What happened outside the city just now has pushed him towards transforming into a conqueror. He is now bidding farewell to his past self."
"Ah?!"
Heidou looked bewildered, but was awestruck.
Since Sona and the little devil were stopping him, he wouldn't be so inconsiderate as to disturb him further. The few of them watched Chen Yu on the vine chair quietly, in complete silence.
Time flew by like a white steed.
Night had fallen.
During this period, Heidou and the others still did not approach, and Chen Yu on the vine chair made no movement.
"Camp Master."
A towering figure appeared, Er Gou, carrying a greatsword, stood before Chen Yu.
Chen Yu, reclining on the vine chair, slowly opened his eyes.
"It's all resolved."
Hearing this, Chen Yu looked sideways and saw the encampment chieftains standing outside, several of them covered in blood and captured, while the others looked at them with mockery.
The difference between surrender and resistance was so apparent.
"That was quite fast."
He raised his wrist to check the time, and it had been less than three hours in total.
"In fact, most of them surrendered halfway through the fight. Only a small portion resisted stubbornly and fought to the death with our people," Er Gou said in a low voice. "Camp Master, you also said not to cause too many casualties, so we fought cautiously, which wasted a lot of time."
"What about our casualties?" Chen Yu raised his eyebrows.
"A few idiots sprained their arms and legs; the rest are unharmed."
This outcome was within Chen Yu's expectations. The surrender of several chieftains and the voluntary surrender of beast soldiers meant that the number of beast soldiers in the encampments was not as absurd as initially thought.
With the overwhelming advantage in equipment, victory was inevitable.
"It seems like two of the chieftains are missing."
Looking at the captured chieftains, Chen Yu raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Kuka killed them."
Chen Yu's fingers trembled slightly as he glanced at Kuka, who was cloaked and hidden entirely in the darkness.
"There are still some tough bones in the underground world," Chen Yu murmured, collecting his thoughts. He gave a signal, and the captured chieftains were taken away.
He didn't want to communicate with these chieftains, or rather, it wasn't the time for deep discussions.
"Chen Ba Tian, kill me if you dare."
"Kill me!"
Piercing shouts echoed incessantly within the encampment, but Chen Yu couldn't be bothered to look at them. The other encampment chieftains either gloated or felt a touch of pity, but none of them spoke up for those chieftains.
They were rejoicing in their wise decision to preserve some of their foundations.
"Gentlemen."
As the chieftains were sighing in their hearts, Chen Yu's call awakened them.
"Welcome, all of you, to this free city-state," Chen Yu said, spreading his hands. "I believe you have some questions as to why they call me Camp Master. I'll briefly explain here to avoid any misunderstandings. This is a member of my encampment, and you all know I am an outsider. Because I share the same aspirations as City Lord Kailin, I have remained in this city-state to cooperate with her."
The chieftains nodded slightly, remaining silent.
Who the city-state truly belonged to was not important to them, and besides, they dared not think too wildly. They were not truly safe at the moment.
"The explanation is over. Now, let's discuss your business."
"Heidou!"
Chen Yu called out from the vine chair. Heidou, who had been standing at a distance, jolted and shot forward.
"Boss..."
"You've been standing there for so long, your body must be stiff," Chen Yu said with a smile, patting Heidou's shoulder. "Next, it's your turn to shine."