After another fruitless day of exploration, the convoy returned to Outpost No. 03 in the glow of the setting sun, hauling the corpses of several Advanced Beast Soldier Hard-Skinned Warthogs.
Lin Mo lay sprawled on his special seat atop the vehicle. He couldn't even muster the interest to Devour these "low-quality ingredients," and simply let them jostle around in the truck bed behind him.
Enough! I've had enough! This is just a waste of life, and a waste of my armor and talents!
The tedium of clearing out "small fry" day after day, along with his frustration at the near-total stagnation in his growth, had finally reached its breaking point. He couldn't keep wasting time like this, slowly boiling like a frog in a pot. He needed a clearer goal, stronger prey, and a more efficient way to hunt!
Back at the Outpost, he didn't even bother asking what they planned to do with the spoils. He jumped straight off the vehicle, planted his head against Wang Feng, who was just about to head to the command room, and shoved him toward his office.
"Hey, hey, Tiger King? What's going on? Hungry? Dinner's about to be served in the cafeteria..." Wang Feng stumbled under the shove, looking bewildered.
Eating, eating, all you ever think about is eating! I need to discuss something important with you!
Seeing this, Wang Keke hurried after them. She had a vague idea what Lin Mo was trying to do.
Once they were in the office, Lin Mo plopped down in the large chair covered with animal hide, taking the seat of honor. He raised a paw and impatiently thumped the desk in front of him, making a series of dull knocks. His golden eyes burned as he stared at Wang Feng, his gaze filled with unmistakable seriousness.
Taking in the scene, Wang Feng raised an eyebrow and pulled up a chair. He sat down and asked, unhurriedly, "It seems our esteemed Tiger King has something important to discuss with me?"
Wang Keke translated for him. "Uncle Thirteen, Mimi... uh, Tiger King thinks the recent missions have been... too boring, and the rewards too small."
Lin Mo growled and began gesturing. First, he pointed to Outpost No. 03 on the map, drew a small circle around it, made a face of disdain, then vigorously wiped the circle away. Next, he swept his paw across a broad swath of territory surrounding Northeast Base City, then pointed to several other satellite cities and the faint symbols marking Outposts nearby.
How much could there be to gain from hunting around just one Outpost? I want the whole menu of Beast General Rank prey around Northeast Base City!
Wang Keke tried her best to understand and translate. "Tiger King means he's not satisfied with staying around Outpost No. 03. He thinks there are nearly twenty Outposts like ours around the satellite cities. Each one must have one or two Beast General Rank monsters or groups that have been troubling you for years. You know where they are and roughly how strong they are, but for one reason or another, you haven't been able to deal with them for good. Right?"
Wang Feng's expression grew serious. He nodded. "That's right. Every Outpost has its own persistent problem. Some are in difficult terrain, making the cost of clearing them too high. Some involve powerful, exceptionally cunning monsters that are hard to track down. And with others, one wrong move could set off a chain reaction."
A look of just as I thought crossed Lin Mo's face, and he continued gesturing. First, he pointed to himself, then to the Wind-Breaking Squad outside, Wang Keke, and Aunt Zhang, making a gesture to show they were "very strong." Then he drew a winding route on the map connecting the various Outposts, before making a throat-slitting gesture that meant "wipe them all out."
Wang Keke's eyes lit up. She translated, "Tiger King suggests we stop being stationed at a single Outpost. Instead, our team could form a special 'Patrol Hunting Squad'! We'd focus on eliminating confirmed, high-threat Beast General Rank targets near the various Outposts!"
Exactly! That's it! I'll be the one who rushes to the rescue... no, the 'cleaner'! Wherever there's something tasty... ahem, wherever there's a threatening Beast General, that's where we go! That's how you make full use of your resources. That's efficient hunting!
Wang Feng abruptly straightened in his chair, his eyes flashing. The idea was... incredibly bold! But it was also incredibly tempting!
A mobile force made up of a War General Level martial artist, a Spirit Reader, a top-equipped Mutated Winged Tiger, and an elite squad, dedicated to precisely eliminating the stubborn threats around the various Outposts! It wouldn't just ease the defensive burden on each Outpost and expand the safe zones; it would also yield a wealth of precious Beast General materials. Their value would be immeasurable, whether used to improve martial artists' strength or kept as strategic reserves!
He could almost see the passages once guarded by powerful monsters being opened, and resource-rich areas being reclaimed one after another!
"Patrol Hunting Squad... eliminating Beast Generals..." Wang Feng murmured, tapping his fingers absently on the desk as his mind raced, weighing the pros and cons.
There would certainly be risks. Long-distance deployments could bring unexpected dangers. Fighting in different regions would mean adapting to new environments and monster habits. The demands on the squad would be immense...
But the rewards would be just as great! They wouldn't just solve practical problems; they would also greatly boost the Wang Family's influence and clout with the Military and the major factions! And at the heart of it all was the Winged Tiger before him, eyes shining with ambition!
Wang Feng raised his head and met Lin Mo's gaze. His expression turned sharp and challenging. "Tiger King, this is an astonishing idea. But you have to understand, it means you'll face more unknown dangers, and the intensity and frequency of battles will far exceed what you're used to. You might fight a Forest Anaconda in a swamp today, hunt down a flying Beast General in the mountains tomorrow, and dive into underground caves the day after... Are you ready?"
Lin Mo rose to his feet, his massive frame radiating an oppressive presence. He let out a low growl, brimming with confidence and fighting spirit. Raising a paw covered in dark golden claws, he stuck out his tongue and leisurely licked the sharp edge.
Ready? My squad and I were born to challenge the strong! Comfort is the greatest insult of all! As long as the menu is tough enough, I'll go through hell and high water!
Watching his haughty stance, Wang Feng finally burst out laughing and slapped the desk. "Good! If Tiger King has such ambition, how could I, Wang Feng, not support him?! I'll compile the list of 'persistent problems' reported by the various Outposts at once, then report this to my superiors and the family to secure as much support as possible! Get ready. The patrol hunt will set out soon!"
Hahaha! It worked! My grand ambitions... ahem, my path to efficient evolution is finally on track! Beast Generals of Northeast Base City, wash your necks and wait. Daddy Tiger King is coming to hunt you!
Lin Mo hopped down from the chair, thoroughly satisfied, and strode out of the office with his head held high. He could almost see countless Beast Generals howling beneath his claws, turning into fuel for his evolution.
The dull days were finally over. The legendary tour of the Hunting Tiger King was about to begin!
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