Over the next few days, Lin Mo followed the Wind-Breaking Squad and strictly stuck to their patrol route, learning every inch of the so-called "safe zone" around Outpost No. 03.
He was nearly able to recite every little hill, every dried-up riverbed, and every spot the Iron-Toothed Rats favored for digging their burrows.
The novelty quickly wore off, replaced by an ever-growing sense of frustration.
Every day was the same: get in the vehicle, patrol, get out, inspect the tracks, occasionally drive off or kill one or two low-level Beast Soldiers foolish enough to get in their way—Hard-Skinned Wild Boars or Long-Haired Rabbits, for example—then return to the outpost. The routine was maddeningly predictable.
(Inner thoughts): Something's wrong! This isn't how it's supposed to go! Where's the intense hunting? Where are the blood-pumping battles? Where's the bountiful "all-you-can-eat buffet"? Why does this feel like... I'm working a damn job again?! I've just gone from being a working tiger in a photo studio to being a working tiger on patrol!
He felt nothing as he watched the low-level Beast Soldiers they'd killed. He almost wanted to yawn. The energy and life force these "ingredients" provided were a mere drop in the bucket for someone at the Advanced Beast Soldier level like him. And as for talents? He could forget about that. Devouring them was a waste of time.
(Inner thoughts): Oh, no. I've been had! Wang Feng, that thick-browed, big-eyed liar, talked me into this! "The strongest mobile force," my ass. This is the strongest patrol force! I came here to hunt and get stronger, not to be some security guard!
This "clocking in for work" feeling left him restless. Lin Mo was destined to become a mighty ruler who would roar across the mountains and devour the stars. How could he be trapped in this safe zone, barely a dozen kilometers across, repeating the same boring work every day?
No! Absolutely not! He had to change things!
After patrol that day, Lin Mo didn't head straight back to his "single room" as usual. Instead, he pressed his head against Wang Keke's back and pushed her toward the dormitories.
"Mimi, what's wrong? Are you hungry? They'll be serving dinner in the cafeteria soon," Wang Keke asked, puzzled.
Lin Mo shook his head hard, letting out an urgent rumble. His eyes were filled with the grave expression of a tiger with important business to discuss.
Back in Wang Keke's dorm room, Lin Mo plopped down in the middle of the living room, blocking the door, and awkwardly scratched at the floor with one paw. First, he drew a circle to represent the outpost. Then he drew a few small dots outside it and smashed them with his paw. Next, he drew several much larger dots pointing into the distance. Finally, he gazed at Wang Keke expectantly.
Wang Keke tilted her head and studied the drawing for a while before asking tentatively, "Do you think... patrol is boring? And you want to fight bigger monsters?"
"Roar!" Lin Mo nodded emphatically, his tiger face brimming with the relief of someone thinking, You finally get it.
(Inner thoughts): Exactly! Let's go after the big ones! Sweeping up trash around here is a waste of life, a waste of equipment, and a waste of my talent!
Wang Keke looked troubled. "But Uncle Thirteen said safety comes first. We can't stray from the patrol route..."
Lin Mo immediately gave her a contemptuous look. He patted the expensive Dark Gold Armor on his body, waved his sharp claws and their guards, showed off his powerful wings, then pointed toward the Wind-Breaking Squad's quarters next door.
(Inner thoughts): Safety? With me here, this full set of top-tier gear, and those professional fighters from the Wind-Breaking Squad, where can't we go—as long as we don't run into a Lord Rank monster? Uncle Thirteen is just too cautious! We need to take the initiative!
He kept gesturing, making a "gather up" motion before pointing into the distance and miming a huge bite of meat.
Wang Keke understood. "You want us to... put together a team and go out hunting? Not along the patrol route, but somewhere more dangerous?"
"Rooar!" Lin Mo let out an excited growl, his tail happily thumping against the floor.
(Inner thoughts): Yes, yes, exactly! We'll form the Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force! Our targets: high-level Beast Soldiers, even Beast General Rank monsters! To hell with those damn patrol duties!
Seeing the fire burning in Lin Mo's eyes, Wang Keke was swept up in his enthusiasm. She also found the daily patrols a little boring, and she longed for a real fight to test the results of her training. After thinking it over, she said, "All right. I'll talk to Uncle Thirteen. But we'll need a detailed plan. We can't charge in blindly. We could try hunting in areas where the outpost's surveillance is relatively weak, but where we've confirmed that valuable targets are active."
Lin Mo nodded eagerly.
(Inner thoughts): A plan? No problem! We'll let the professionals in the Wind-Breaking Squad handle that! I'll just point the way—wherever the "good food" is, that's where we're going!
So Wang Keke went to Wang Feng and tactfully brought up Lin Mo's idea—well, mostly Lin Mo's. She emphasized that they were strong enough and hoped they could take on more challenging hunts after completing their basic patrol duties. It would give the team valuable training while bringing better resources back to the outpost.
Wang Feng looked at Lin Mo, whose expression clearly said "I'm going whether you like it or not." Then he looked at his determined niece and at Aunt Zhang and the Wind-Breaking Squad, who stood silently nearby but were clearly ready to go. He pondered for a moment.
He knew a tiger couldn't be kept in a cage forever, even if the cage was gilded. The right amount of risk and pressure was what spurred growth.
"All right," Wang Feng finally said. "I'll let you go on hunts. But you must follow these rules. First, before each mission, you must report the hunting area, estimated targets, and action plan to me in detail. Second, you must bring a distress beacon operating at maximum power and keep communications open. Third, if you encounter an unavoidable threat or danger beyond what you anticipated, abandon the mission immediately and retreat at full speed. Fourth, you must complete at least two basic patrols each week."
"No problem! Thanks, Uncle Thirteen!" Wang Keke replied happily.
Lin Mo gave a satisfied growl, accepting these "unfair terms."
(Inner thoughts): Deal! As long as you let me hunt, I'll agree to anything! My days as a working tiger are finally over! The legend of the Hunting Tiger begins now!
After leaving the commander's office, Lin Mo felt like the sky was bluer and the air was fresher. Even the smell of motor oil at the outpost seemed more pleasant. He strode proudly toward the Wind-Breaking Squad's quarters, ready to hold the first strategy meeting of the Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force.
His mind was already sorting through candidates for his first unlucky "feast." Should he head east to Black Wind Valley and hunt down those pesky Gale Wolves? Or go west to the marshes and take on that Horned Forest Python that was rumored to have the potential to reach Beast General Rank?
(Inner thoughts): Heh heh heh, my little darlings, just you wait. Daddy Tiger King is coming!
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