If Chen Yu knew Guang Chu's thoughts, he would have to praise him for his clear-headedness.
Right!
Contacting the city-state was more important than exploring the wilderness. Before entering the city-state, the survivors were like aimless flies.
Living purely to live.
If they entered the city-state, they would gain more opportunities and learn more about the conditions inside the caves, thereby gaining more benefits among the survivor population.
Exploring the caves.
Those survivors had no absolute guarantee of their safety and had to bear risks.
It was fine for Chen Yu to explore.
They were incomparable to Chen Yu. Even if Chen Yu didn't use beasts to explore, he ate food with attributes every day.
The attributes were outrageously high.
Bronze peak, understand.
Besides, he possessed the Five-Colored Sword and had guards. What did he have to fear?
Ding.
The wristwatch chimed.
Chen Yu lightly raised his wrist and saw that Kailin had sent him a message.
"City Lord~"
"Jack and the others have already left the city. Tianhe and the others are still waiting for personnel, and our city's teleportation scroll inventory is insufficient. We need to wait for a while before setting off."
Huo.
The efficiency was quite fast.
Looking at the message in the chatbox, Chen Yu couldn't help but sigh slightly. With Lion Jack, Rou Si, and Black Donkey joining his camp, this was the first time they had truly left Chen Yu for a long journey.
Speaking of which, his mood was a little subtle.
But—
Chen Yu estimated that there wouldn't be too much danger.
After taking the evolution potion, Jack and Rou Si were comparable to Bronze peak, and they each led a group of Blood Pill warriors.
They wouldn't encounter much trouble in the outer areas of the cave.
It's just that they wouldn't be able to meet again for a while, which would make him feel a little lonely.
After all, they had been together day and night before.
Despite this, Chen Yu was also very aware that such situations would happen frequently in the future. He couldn't let everyone stay by his side all the time.
They would eventually lead their own factions.
Their forces would continue to grow.
These old companions were destined to be separated more often than not.
With the departure of Jack and the others, Chen Yu's forces could be said to be gradually getting on the right track. In an environment like the cave, any force needed to have departments for exploring and acquiring external resources, as well as intelligence departments. Currently, Jack and the others belonged to the first batch of exploration department members under Chen Yu.
Tianhe's role would be the city-state's intelligence department.
Once the statistics department was successfully built, the citizens within the city-state were registered, and the Blood Pill warriors were further trained, a city-state would essentially take shape.
"City Lord, there's one more thing."
"Fang Xiu said he wants to see you."
Kailin's message came through the wristwatch again. Just as Chen Yu was about to reply, he saw Fang Xiu standing about twenty meters away, looking at him.
"Hmm~"
"I see him. Are there enough people in the city?"
"There are never enough people," Kailin messaged back. "You've recruited a lot of women, children, and the elderly this time, which hasn't significantly boosted our city-state's manpower. I actually have an idea. We're holding a group of hyenas in the prison. If they're willing to work for us, then..."
"Leave it to me."
The hyenas in custody would definitely have to work. Not only them, but those captured from the crocodiles earlier must also be exploited for their labor.
Otherwise, what was the point of keeping them?
If they didn't pay the ransom, they still had to be provided with food. Chen Yu wasn't a charity.
"You take care and don't get too tired. I'll find a way to solve the manpower issue."
"Okay, City Lord~"
Exiting the chat box, Chen Yu put down his wristwatch and looked up at Fang Xiu.
"I heard you were looking for me."
Upon hearing Chen Yu's voice, Fang Xiu, who had stopped in the distance, slowly walked up. His face did not betray much emotion as he came directly in front of Chen Yu.
"You're actually the City Lord of this city-state, aren't you?"
Immediately, Chen Yu frowned.
"Oh?"
"I've met many leaders. Kailin doesn't have the aura of a City Lord. She definitely isn't the City Lord of this city-state," Fang Xiu whispered with a serious tone. "As for you, I can feel that the beasts here seem to respect you a lot, and there's a hint of fear."
"So you say I'm the City Lord?"
"Not entirely. It's mainly because I just heard Soni say 'City Lord Chen Yu,' which confirmed it for me. She seems to have authority in this city, and she privately calls you City Lord. So, you must be the real City Lord."
Tsk.
This was quite a coincidence. Fang Xiu actually overheard it.
Chen Yu didn't blame Soni.
In fact, if someone were more observant, they would have discovered Kailin's identity was fake sooner or later.
"So, you came to find me just to tell me this?" Chen Yu shrugged. "I am indeed the City Lord of this city-state. But don't you think that even if you knew this, you should have kept it to yourself? Do you want to threaten me with this? Do you know Xu Xiaoshan?"
"You're mistaken."
Unexpectedly, Fang Xiu's face was filled with a smile.
"I don't intend to threaten you. On the contrary, I'm actually here to defect to you."
"Since you've come to my city-state, isn't that defecting to me?" Chen Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Or, you didn't intend to sincerely defect to me before?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Yu saw Fang Xiu suddenly become flustered.
"Actually, actually, I want to surrender."
"Surrender?"
"I, I was actually sent by Zhao Zhi." Fang Xiu's face was filled with anxiety. Upon hearing this, Chen Yu's eyes widened, and he took several steps back, gripping the Five-Colored Sword.
"What are you trying to do? Don't try to provoke me!"
An undercover agent revealing himself.
Wasn't this bullying him?
Provoke?
If Fang Xiu was an undercover agent, he should have just done his job. He even dared to reveal his identity and fight. Even the Nazis wouldn't have dared to do that.
"I'm not trying to provoke you. I'm genuinely here to surrender."
Seeing Chen Yu draw his sword, Fang Xiu also seemed a little flustered.
"Calm down. I've already revealed my identity. Do you think I'm doing this to intentionally provoke you? I'm not crazy, am I? Am I looking for death?"
This argument did have some logic.
Chen Yu nodded slightly.
"Then why are you suddenly surrendering? You're Zhao Zhi's person. Do you really expect me to trust you?" Chen Yu said in a deep voice.
"I, I did consider that, which is why I haven't said anything until now."
Fang Xiu rubbed his hands. "I know you'll definitely be suspicious of me, but I actually had my reasons with Zhao Zhi. I never truly pledged allegiance to him."
Standing not far away, Fang Xiu's eyes were full of struggle.
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.
Judging by his expression, it didn't seem like he was lying.
"Explain. I'll listen," Chen Yu whispered, then suddenly raised his sword. "If I'm not satisfied, please test my sword."