Credit

Time seemed to freeze for an instant. Even the Earth Dragon's raised body went rigid.

The next moment, like a knife slicing through worn-out cloth, a sudden, muffled rip reached everyone's ears.

The Earth Dragon split open beneath its head, as if someone had unzipped its jacket, all the way down to its belly.

Only this jacket was made of flesh and blood, and the zipper was a dagger in the hand of a blood-soaked figure.

Chen Chong leaped out of the Earth Dragon's belly, flipped over, and landed on one knee.

With a crash, the disemboweled Earth Dragon toppled behind him, sending up clouds of dust and making the ground tremble.

Chen Chong coughed twice, rose from the dust, and looked around.

The Security Department squad, Peng Wei and Pei Li, and even Liu Xun all stared at him as if they'd seen a ghost.

He kicked the mangled flesh writhing at his feet.

"What are you standing around for? This thing's still moving."

Still moving... No, he could still talk?

Hadn't he just come out of the Earth Dragon's stomach?

Everyone stared at Chen Chong, then finally came to their senses.

The Security Department squad gradually showed unrestrained astonishment. They'd never imagined that this unremarkable Cannon Fodder Fighter could escape the dragon's jaws!

They hadn't seen how Chen Chong was swallowed by the Earth Dragon, but everyone had seen how he got out.

He'd used a dagger shorter than a forearm to gut an Earth Dragon over twenty meters long, then leaped out looking completely unfazed...

"Yeah, sure, I believe you. Why wouldn't I? Just like when I went out last time, used an Earth Dragon as a fleshlight, and got crushed to death. Totally legit."

If they'd heard someone describe this scene in a bar, they'd have laughed and said exactly that.

After all, it was simply too ridiculous.

The most ridiculous part was that they'd seen it with their own eyes.

The most inconspicuous Cannon Fodder Fighter had descended like a god and saved them. Some of the injured squad members even wondered if it was all just a fantasy they'd conjured up before being swallowed by the Earth Dragon.

Peng Wei stared at Chen Chong, looking almost as if he'd seen a ghost. Pei Li, meanwhile, stared blankly at the dagger in her hand, then at the one in Chen Chong's, and began to wonder if they were really identical.

Liu Xun gave Chen Chong a long look. He had been about to step forward, but stopped.

He'd meant to finish off the Earth Dragon, which wasn't quite dead yet, but Chen Chong's presence made him feel as if he'd be going over there to take orders from him.

Liu Xun's expression darkened. After a couple of seconds, he still walked over and began cutting open the Earth Dragon with his battle blade.

He was quite proficient. Before long, he'd chopped the Earth Dragon into several pieces, making sure it was well and truly dead.

Then he turned to Chen Chong and sized him up.

"Not bad."

The brutal fight was over.

Two members of the Security Department squad were dead, two were gravely injured, and the rest had suffered various minor injuries.

Those with minor injuries were busy treating the gravely wounded, so the task of packing everything up fell to Chen Chong and the other two again.

This time, though, at least two squad members came over to help, carrying the bags and loading them onto the cart.

Of course, their main reason was that they didn't want to stay here any longer. Even if two Earth Dragons were probably the limit, it was still best to leave as soon as possible. The Hunting Grounds had been decidedly abnormal today.

At the same time, the squad members no longer dared to look at the three of them—especially Chen Chong—with even a hint of disrespect. Whenever they were caught sneaking a glance at him, they quickly looked away and stood quietly, as docile as could be.

After all, if he could gut an Earth Dragon with a dagger, he could gut them too. He could even gut two of them stacked on top of each other.

"We're running short on supplies. You two, take the cart back to camp, then bring stretchers and medicine."

Once they'd nearly finished packing everything, Liu Xun gave his orders.

"Mission's over. Prepare to withdraw."

Everyone's spirits lifted. Chen Chong and the other two exchanged glances, all looking relieved.

At least their losses hadn't been too great—unless Kong Qingsong objected.

"We've earned a huge merit this time. We'll definitely make a lot when we get back, and there's Earth Dragon Meat too! Long Zhibin's pretty generous about that. Chen Chong, you're probably going to be rolling in it!"

Peng Wei whispered excitedly.

Chen Chong merely nodded. He was three parts happy, but seven parts disappointed.

He'd come out here but hadn't found a suitable chance to escape.

Still, there should be other opportunities.

"You two can go."

Liu Xun suddenly pointed at Pei Li and Peng Wei.

The two exchanged glances, then looked at Chen Chong and clicked their tongues in unison. The hero of the hour deserved special treatment, of course, and neither of them said anything. They pushed the heavily loaded tactical cart away.

Liu Xun looked at Chen Chong, and Chen Chong looked back at him. Both were covered in black blood—the Earth Dragon's blood—so alike they could have been cut from the same mold.

Liu Xun didn't know why Chen Chong had come away with so little harm, suffering only some minor corrosive injuries. But he'd been focused on his own side at the time, so he hadn't asked. Looking at Chen Chong's calm demeanor, his upright bearing, and his comparable record and medal, Liu Xun felt something inexplicable stir in him.

He glanced at his own badly battered men, and his eyes flickered.

"Your name's Chen Chong? Or Kong Qingsong?"

"Chen Chong."

"Chen Chong..."

Liu Xun pondered for a moment, then said coolly,

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

Chen Chong froze.

"Since you had the ability, why didn't you say so sooner? You made me work so hard, and so many of my men got hurt or killed."

Liu Xun's expression turned colder.

"Hmph. When you get right down to it, all of this was your fault!

"First, you disobeyed orders and drew the Earth Dragon into our formation, leaving my men dead and wounded. Second, you ran away in the middle of the fight, refusing to do your share and hoping your teammates would die in your place. Third, you were greedy and reckless. I'd already half-killed that Earth Dragon, but instead of joining the main force to deal with the other one, you tried to steal the credit. That was utterly despicable!

"You barely lifted a finger this time, yet your mistakes caused so many casualties. Fortunately, I turned the tide and killed both Earth Dragons. And now, instead of reflecting on your actions, I hear you're hoping for credit?

"Dream on! Get ready to face the General Manager's disciplinary measures when we get back!"

Looking into Liu Xun's piercing eyes, Chen Chong took a moment to understand what was happening.

Stealing credit?

That wasn't all.

They'd hunted three Earth Dragons this time, but the Security Department had suffered heavy losses.

The Security Department had been personally trained by Long Zhibin. They were practically his personal troops, his pride and joy.

Someone had to take responsibility for such losses.

Even if the situation had been unexpected, Liu Xun would at least be charged with "poor command." Even if Long Zhibin didn't intend to blame him, Liu Xun's rivals in the Security Department certainly wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

After all, as the most important and critical department in Thunder Dragon, it was also a fiercely competitive one, especially at the squad leader level. The next step up was practically a department-level management position.

One of the two dead men had been the deputy squad leader. If the Cannon Fodder Fighter got credit for this as well, Liu Xun would be the only one left to take the blame... He couldn't accept that.

Only moments ago, the three of them had naively thought they'd at least get a share of the credit this time, and maybe even receive Earth Dragon Meat for free. Who would've thought they'd end up with a massive black pot dumped on their heads?

The General Manager's disciplinary measures? There weren't many people in all of Thunder Dragon who could withstand them.

Seeing Chen Chong's expression, Liu Xun realized he'd figured it all out.

Impressed by the fighter's quick mind, Liu Xun nevertheless became even more determined. He glared at him.

"What, you don't accept that? Do you know I could shoot you dead for any one of the things you just did? You got so many of my brothers killed. I could make you pay with your life right here!"

He abruptly raised his gun and pressed it straight against Chen Chong's forehead!