Entering the city.
It truly is time to consider matters regarding entering the city.
Chen Yu began preparing to enter the city after stripping the beastman mercenaries who came to attack him. Now, it was almost time.
"How is it?"
Hei Dou, on his shoulder, stuck its head out and made a face.
"The city-state, it's quite wonderful."
As it spoke, Hei Dou's eyes gradually turned into heart shapes, and it licked its small paws, its mouth curving into a dazed expression.
"Heh..."
Chen Yu sneered.
Seeing the look in Hei Dou's eyes, he knew exactly what was going through its mind.
Cat-eared girls.
Bunny teachers.
Fox sisters.
*Slurp, slurp—*
"What's with that look, Boss? Why are you looking at me like that?" Hei Dou became a little flustered by Chen Yu's sideways glance. It coughed lightly, "I actually just wanted to say that going to the city-state has many benefits. No matter what our purpose for going to the city-state is, we have to go and see it, don't you think..."
"Enter the city, we must enter the city!"
After a brief sneer, Chen Yu's expression also changed dramatically.
"Right, enter the city!" Hei Dou echoed, its eyes widening as it shouted, "For the development of the camp, for the progress of the camp members, we..."
"What are you talking about? For the beast-eared girls!"
Chen Yu's eyes widened as he clenched his fists. Hearing this, Hei Dou, who had been cautiously testing the waters, finally relaxed and extended its small paw to touch Chen Yu's arm.
Man and cat, their eyes met, and they nodded firmly.
"Beast-eared girls, forever the best!!"
He was getting excited.
Chen Yu had many thoughts about the city-state. A long time ago, Hei Dou had mentioned to him that a small gold coin could last half a month in the city-state.
After working so hard in the underground world, shouldn't he go into the city to relax?
What's wrong?
After working for so long, shouldn't one be allowed to enjoy themselves?
Can't he challenge his weakness?
Thinking of the fox sisters swaying gracefully in the city-state, holding wine and waiting for him, Chen Yu was filled with energy. He could almost see those beast-eared girls waving at him.
Now, all Chen Yu needed to do was finish the final preparations.
Inspect the camp.
And check if all the facilities were operational.
All done—
"Cough, cough, cough, I have an announcement to make!"
Chen Yu strode to the front of the main camp. The beastman mercenaries had not yet finished their meal.
He glanced at the food barrels.
He almost spat blood.
These mercenaries had devoured ten barrels of roasted meat.
A total of 300 portions of roasted meat!
Were they pigs?
On average, each person had eaten 7-10 units of roasted meat, which translated to 4-6 catties of meat.
"Now I finally understand the pain of running a company and being a leader. Having so many subordinates, the expenses are truly unbearable for an ordinary person," Chen Yu muttered to himself. "So, how did those who founded sects in ancient times sustain themselves? Where did the money come from?"
This was also a necessary path.
There were only thirty-odd people now, but in the future, his camp might become a city-state, a city, or if he was lucky, a kingdom.
At that time, the resource consumption would be even more severe.
He would just have to get used to it.
Fortunately, with his current abilities, it wasn't that he couldn't afford such expenses, and his enterprise was self-reliant. They also needed to create value for the enterprise.
Clearing his throat, Chen Yu didn't pay much attention to it.
"Come, come, everyone put down the meat you're holding. I have something to announce, everyone look at me!" Chen Yu called out again. Everyone, whether they were still eating or had finished, stopped.
Countless pairs of eyes focused on Chen Yu.
"Boss, what are you going to announce?" Kuka came over, his face full of curiosity. Chen Yu glanced at him and smiled faintly, "I'm preparing to enter the city!"
Upon hearing this, the beastman mercenaries didn't react much.
They had lived in the city-state before, so entering the city didn't stir much emotion. However, Kuka and the others who had been with Chen Yu from the beginning were all excited.
"Boss, you're going into the city?"
Kuka and the others knew very well what Chen Yu entering the city represented.
The influx of resources.
The camp's rapid, rocket-like evolution.
"That's right, we're preparing to enter the city," Chen Yu said with a grin. "I've been in this underground world for a while now. For so long, we've struggled to survive in the wilderness. It's time to enter the city and experience the city-state culture of this underground world."
"Boss, you're right!" Kuka said seriously.
"I came here to ask you all, do you want to stay inside the wristband and enter the city with me, or should I set up camp in the area near the city-state?"
"I suggest the latter!"
Kailin raised her small hand and stepped forward.
At this moment, she was still holding roasted meat in her left hand, her mouth greasy. Perhaps sensing Chen Yu's gaze, she quickly sucked the oil off her fingers and licked her lips again, grinning.
"Leader, I think the latter is better."
"Reason!"
"Although the survival camp can be absorbed into the wristband, the internal air reserves are not sufficient," Kailin replied, looking up at Chen Yu. "The number of people in our camp affects the air consumption, which means we cannot stay in the camp within the wristband for extended periods."
"Continue."
"Keeping us inside the wristband would also affect our work efficiency. If we were to be settled in a nearby underground space, the company employees could expand outwards and continue to acquire resources while you are in the city-state. Moreover, having the camp inside the wristband would also affect the output efficiency of self-producing facilities and the growth of crops."
Kailin's answer was well-reasoned and resounding.
As she spoke, Chen Yu noticed her eyes. It wasn't that she was deliberately trying to impress him, but rather that she genuinely thought this way from the bottom of her heart.
Although she didn't say much, he could tell she was thoughtful and organized.
A relatively clear-minded person.
It's just that...
She didn't seem particularly confident.
Even though she looked directly into Chen Yu's eyes, her arms were trembling slightly.
"I feel like I've found a treasure."
Chen Yu murmured.
He wasn't actually sure what true business elites or management talents were like. Before coming to the underground world, he was just a student.
However...
Kailin's expression at the moment was very much like that of a student union president in school.
Just slightly lacking in confidence.
That's fine.
Confidence can be built up gradually, and Chen Yu would give her that. From her speech just now, Chen Yu felt that she could become a qualified manager.
Someone who could help him share his worries.
"Alright, we'll do as you say."
Chen Yu smiled faintly.
Upon receiving Chen Yu's affirmation, Kailin's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Leader!"
"You said it very well, keep it up," Chen Yu said, patting her shoulder with a smile. "Be more confident. It's okay even if you say something wrong. I'll correct the mistakes for you. What you need to do in the future is be in management. If you are not confident, how can you convince the people below you?"
"I, I understand!"
Kailin looked up, biting her lip fiercely, her eyes filled with determination.
"Since it's decided, we'll have to part ways briefly." Almost as soon as Chen Yu finished speaking, the camp was instantly retracted into the wristband.
Then, Chen Yu took out a return scroll from his bracelet.
"City-state, here I come!"
--
Author's notes:
Good afternoon, eat heartily!