Grotesque Humans Public Enemy

Chapter 43: Grotesques - Humanity's Public Enemy

The Wood Puppet Grotesque was a problem that all the camps around Redwood Ridge had to face; none could escape it.

If it wasn't dealt with, everyone was just waiting to die, that was beyond question.

Hong Gang and the other three understood that even if they left, Luo Ming wouldn't abandon them.

So, when the four of them had proposed leaving earlier, they had harbored a thought of letting Rogue Camp deal with this trouble alone.

But Luo Ming was clearly not a fool.

Shi Qing's desire to leave was understandable.

Big Stone Camp had lost too many people; if the two of them didn't leave, the hundreds of people in the camp would starve or freeze to death.

However, the other four camps' losses were still within an acceptable range.

Luo Ming certainly wouldn't let them go, but he wasn't an overbearing person either, so he wouldn't force the other three to stay. That's why he had said what he did.

"If you want to leave, you can. But Rogue Camp will definitely no longer try to deal with that Wood Puppet Grotesque. Yang Ning and Li Hu can leave if they wish, and I, Luo Ming, won't try to keep them either."

"When the Wood Puppet Grotesque starts causing trouble, everyone will suffer together in the end."

Hong Gang and the other three could naturally understand the meaning behind Luo Ming's words, which was why their expressions had all changed simultaneously.

Luo Ming's last sentence, saying he would lead the camp elsewhere to find a new way to live, was basically an angry outburst and could be ignored.

Not to mention how far they could travel in just one night.

Outside of Redwood Ridge, they would be completely blind.

In an unfamiliar environment, any one of the Frost Beasts, Grotesques, or the extreme cold would be enough to kill them all.

If they could truly escape, these people wouldn't have waited until now.

"Leader Luo, we all respect you, so let's cut to the chase. We can continue to help deal with the Wood Puppet Grotesque, but if it's like the previous four times, using people as bait and letting our brothers die for nothing, that's impossible!"

Hong Gang, who was always the most outspoken, was the first to speak.

The other three leaders, upon hearing this, all nodded in unison towards Luo Ming, showing their agreement with Hong Gang's words.

In fact, let alone these three leaders, Luo Ming himself agreed with Hong Gang's statement. However, he didn't respond immediately. Instead, with a troubled expression, he turned to look at Yang Ning and Li Hu, who were seated above.

Although he felt somewhat resentful, Luo Ming had to admit that when it came to dealing with the Grotesque, he didn't have the final say. It was up to Yang Ning and Li Hu.

Regardless of whether the two of them had taken a liking to some benefit from the Grotesque, they were genuinely helping. Currently, only these two possessed the strength to deal with the Grotesque, and that was undeniable.

After a moment of thought, Luo Ming, still with a troubled expression, bowed first to the two of them. Then, lowering his head, he said respectfully:

"I, Luo, thank you two adults for your righteous intervention. I believe all the leaders here share the same sentiment and are grateful for your willingness to help without regard for personal gain.

However, in the previous four attempts, too many people died. You two adults witnessed it firsthand. Hong Gang and the other three lead small camps, and their Lumbering Realm combat power is already scarce. If they lose a few more people like this, their survival will truly become a problem.

Can you two adults think of another way to lure out that Wood Puppet Grotesque?"

After speaking, Luo Ming quietly waited for a response from the two men seated at the head of the table.

The other four leaders also waited silently for Yang Ning and Li Hu to speak, hoping they could devise another method and no longer ask them to provide people as bait.

However, what everyone failed to notice was that from the moment their conversation began, Li Hu's expression had been one of extreme impatience.

Even Yang Ning, who was usually calmer by comparison, was now frowning deeply, his expression also very grim.

Li Hu couldn't help but step forward. Given his personality, he was likely about to vent his frustrations on everyone.

But before he could speak, Yang Ning stood up from his seat, stopped him, and then turned to face everyone. After a moment of thought, he asked in a low voice:

"Do you all feel that using people as bait to lure out the Grotesque is too cruel, and that after four failed attempts, so many lives were lost in vain, making it not worth it?"

Luo Ming did not speak. The four leaders exchanged glances and remained silent.

Of course, silence was also an answer.

Yang Ning naturally understood this. He scanned the five men and then suddenly let out a low laugh, shaking his head repeatedly with a look of helplessness.

"Do you know what it means for the Wood Puppet Grotesque in Redwood Ridge to advance from Intermediate to Advanced level?"

As he asked this question, Yang Ning's tone carried a clear hint of anger, and he didn't expect an answer, continuing directly:

"An Advanced Grotesque, even an expert at the Frost Resistance Level, could easily be killed if they have no prior knowledge. Earth-Piercer Level humans are even less than ants in its eyes; it can kill them with a wave of its hand.

Therefore, once it advances, it will mean that not only the people of Redwood Ridge, but all the large and even giant camps in the surrounding areas will become its hunting grounds.

And if we're unlucky enough to let it advance to the Superior level, even North朔 Town will have to pay a great price to deal with it.

Do you really think the two of us are staying here to save your worthless lives?"

Yang Ning's first outburst, his harsh tone, made Luo Ming and the others tremble inwardly, and a deathly silence fell upon the hall.

But his words were not finished:

"Grotesques, these evil creatures that evolve by killing humans, are inherently enemies of humanity. If we weren't worried about it becoming stronger and affecting more camps, do you really think the two of us would care about the lives of the two to three thousand people in just your few camps combined?

These Grotesques have no humanity; they only kill and evolve based on instinct. They won't stop even after becoming stronger. If they aren't eliminated while they are still weak, they will only bring endless harm.

Do you think the methods I'm using are deliberately trying to harm you?

Grotesques are bloodthirsty. Besides using people as bait, there is no other way to lure them out. This is a consensus among the humans of the Ice Abyss."

Twenty-nine lives may seem like a lot to you, but in my eyes, if we don't get rid of that Wood Puppet Grotesque early on and let it evolve successfully, then the casualties will be 2,900, 29,000, or even more.

Not to mention North朔 Town and the nine towns of Mount Ao, which one hasn't lost tens of thousands of people fighting Grotesques? I personally witnessed over a hundred Earth Excavation Realm experts volunteer as bait to encircle and suppress a mid-level Grotesque.

Speaking of which, Yang Ning seemed to recall something. He pointed at Li Hu behind him and said loudly to everyone, "Li Hu's father was a volunteer bait, sacrificing himself to hunt a Grotesque for North Shuo."

Upon hearing Yang Ning's words, Li Hu showed no sadness on his face, only pride and self-satisfaction, along with a deep-seated hatred for Grotesques.

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Yang Ning seemed to feel he had said too much. After a moment of silence, he finally shook his head and sighed, "Forget it, I've said all I can. We'll try one last time tomorrow. If we can't eliminate that Wood Puppet Grotesque, Li Hu and I will return to North Shu for reinforcements. At that point, you'll be on your own!"

With the conversation reaching this point, neither Luo Ming nor the other four leaders could muster any words of objection. Even if they had the thought, it was suppressed by Yang Ning's previous words.

They were all leaders of their respective camps, and even if they weren't master manipulators, they had some ability to read people.

Yang Ning's emotions were clearly genuine when he spoke earlier.

Since the conversation had reached this point, it was naturally difficult for anyone to object to Yang Ning further.

At worst, they would just try one last time tomorrow. If they could truly eliminate the Wood Puppet Grotesque, everyone would be happy.

After the meeting concluded, everyone returned to the rooms arranged by Luo Ming to rest.

The accommodation at Rogue Camp was quite good, with each person assigned a room. Shi Dong and Shi Qing, the two brothers, were placed in adjacent rooms.

By now, it was already dawn outside, and everyone was exhausted from the night. Upon returning to their rooms, almost everyone lay down and fell asleep immediately.

At noon, when everyone was sleeping most soundly and the temperature outside was at its coldest.

Shi Dong suddenly opened his eyes from his bed.

He quietly got up, opened the door, and walked out of the wooden house.