The fluorescent lights flickered.
A vast and mighty army departed from Chen Yu's camp, leaving Kailin and her staff to gaze at their receding backs, their hearts silently praying.
"I hope the camp leader achieves victory."
Kailin, with her fists clenched, placed her hands over her chest and prayed silently for them.
"The camp leader will win, oh~" Little Su Bei in her floral dress tilted her head, and Nuo Ya also smiled and reached out to pat her little head, "He will."
"Hehe, then I'll be able to meet big sister soon."
"Yes."
Nuo Ya's gaze was gentle, and after a brief prayer, Kailin's expression changed.
"Everyone, stay alert. The camp leader has taken almost all of our camp's fighting strength for this siege. We must ensure the safety of our main base during this time."
"All teams, be vigilant. Report any suspicious individuals immediately."
Kailin waved her hand.
The people in the camp nodded solemnly and returned to their work.
Unbeknownst to them, Illya was leaning against the camp wall, not watching Chen Yu's departure, nor the other staff.
She was staring intently at the tied-up 'food rations,' pursing her lips.
"Too green~"
"Still so young, lad."
Stretching lazily, Illya tiptoed and hopped like a cheerful butterfly towards the food rations.
"Hi."
Illya smiled sweetly and waved, her gaze falling on the wristband in his hand.
"Give it here!"
Snatching the wristband, Illya wrinkled her nose, crossed her hands behind her back, and hopped away like a butterfly.
Leaving behind a group of food rations silently watching her retreating figure.
"Who is she?"
"This woman ruined our good deed."
"Damn!"
The 'food rations' were furious.
The situation at Chen Yu's camp was a great opportunity for them. To lay siege, the camp had almost completely deployed its forces.
The guards watching them were gone.
With such a hollow defense, it was the perfect time for them to escape.
Perhaps—
They could even take over Chen Yu's camp in one fell swoop.
For a camp of this scale, capturing it would be a great achievement. The rewards would surely be substantial.
This opportunity, however, was snatched away by that little girl.
"Heh."
Unexpectedly, the crocodile beastman let out a cold laugh. Hearing this, the other beastmen couldn't help but look at him intently.
"Could it be..."
Turner City-State.
Within the majestic mansion gates, the crocodile leader sat at the head of the front hall, with seats on either side filled with people.
"Have you all received the news?"
"My cousin has infiltrated Chen Yu's camp. My cousin just sent a message saying that Chen Yu's camp is now empty, and it's a good time to attack."
"I've decided to send my men to annihilate Chen Yu's camp."
"What are your thoughts, everyone?"
The crocodile leader narrowed his eyes. The beastmen on both sides remained silent, instead turning their gazes towards the human next to the crocodile leader.
"Patriarch."
After a moment of thought, the human bowed and whispered.
"I think there might be a problem. Your cousin just sent the message, why did he use someone else's wristband? And when we asked for details just now, it was like a stone sinking into the sea."
"Could this be a trap set by Chen Yu?"
"Chen Yu is full of schemes and cunning, he..."
"Military advisor, do you know Chen Yu?" The crocodile leader glanced sideways. The human quickly shook his head, "No, why would I know him?"
"Oh?"
The crocodile slightly raised his eyelids.
"Listening to you just now, I thought you were acquainted with Chen Yu."
"Aren't these all things I heard from you, Patriarch?" the human replied with a smile. "I just feel that he should be like this..."
"Hey, Master, aren't we..."
Before the human could finish speaking, a beastman girl beside him widened her eyes and was about to speak, but she was rebuked by his glare.
The glared-at girl lowered her head with a wronged expression.
Looking at the human with a fawning smile, she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose.
"Hypocritical~"
Muttering to herself, the beastman girl stopped speaking. The human also put on a sycophantic smile.
"Patriarch, in any case, I believe we should be more cautious."
"Heh, it's fine." The crocodile leader waved his hand. "I trust my cousin implicitly. Since he said so, there must be no problem. My mind is made up. We will seize this opportunity to defeat Chen Yu. Who is willing to lead the troops to crusade?"
"Patriarch, me!"
A burly bull beastman emerged from the front hall.
"I am willing to go!"
...
"It seems my second brother has already informed the Patriarch. What was the Patriarch's reply?"
"Yes, yes, what did the Patriarch say?"
"When will they rescue us!"
In the camp, the beastman food rations were asking incessantly.
"Rescue your head!" With a bang, he slapped the back of a beastman food ration's head. The beastman turned around and saw Illya, who had just left on tiptoes, reappear behind them.
"Little lady..."
Bang!
Before the beastman could finish speaking, Illya, from somewhere, produced a large stick and hit him on the back of the head.
The beastman who was hit felt a blinding light before his eyes.
His neck tilted to the left, and he collapsed.
The other beastmen silently watched the scene, not daring to make a sound. The reason was simple: they saw that behind Illya, Kailin and Nuo Ya were also holding sticks.
A gentle smile lingered on their faces.
Bang, bang, bang!
Without any further words, the women holding sticks delivered a stunning blow to the beastman food rations.
The crocodile beastman watched as his companions one by one drifted into sweet dreams. When he turned his head, a petite figure stood before him.
It was Su Bei.
Her small body held a large stick that was completely disproportionate to her height. With a hint of timidity in her eyes, she bit her lip.
"I'm sorry~"
Bang!
A blow fell.
The last conscious food ration also fell asleep on the spot.
"Phew~!" Illya, leaning on the stick, raised her hand to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead. "Brother Chen Yu is really something, forgetting these guys."
"The camp leader has many things to consider, so omissions are inevitable." Kailin whispered.
"Ah~"
Hearing this, Illya squinted and smiled.
"Speaking of Brother Chen Yu so fondly, aren't you trying to be the camp leader's wife? Sister Kailin, that kind of thought isn't good."
"Little sister Illya, calling him Brother Chen Yu back and forth, you're the one who wants to be the camp leader's wife, aren't you?"
Su Bei and Nuo Ya, holding their sticks, silently watched the scene.
"Sister Nuo Ya, they~"
"Shh, let's just go back to farming."
Tugging on Su Bei's little hand, Nuo Ya tiptoed away with Su Bei. Kailin and Illya stared at each other for several minutes.
Then—
"Hmph~"
Both of them snorted in unison, turned their heads, and left in opposite directions, leaving behind a group of sprawled food rations in the bleak north wind.