A Turtle in a Jar

"You mean... we... rob them?"

Luo Yi's voice trembled slightly, greed and madness intertwined in his eyes.

"That's right! We rob them!" Datou nodded heavily. "Think about it, Young Master Luo. That Gold Sand Mine was ownerless to begin with. Just because the Desert Iron Mercenary Group found it, does that mean we can't take it? Besides, they wanted to use that money against the captain and our Poison Dragon Mercenary Group. We'd be upholding justice and striking first!"

"But... but there are so many of them..." Luo Yi hesitated. At the thought of actually fighting people with real blades, he felt a little frightened.

"So what if they have numbers?" Datou said disdainfully. "Young Master Luo, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group is nothing but an empty shell now. Their elites are long dead or wounded! That Qing Mo is just some handsome pretty boy. What ability could he possibly have? The people he brought are just a bunch of rabble, nothing to fear!"

"And to make absolutely sure, I've already had Xiao Hei secretly follow them! Xiao Hei will leave special marks along the way. When the time comes, all we need to do is follow those marks, and we'll find the Gold Sand Mine!"

"Once we get there, we shouldn't rush into attacking. We'll hide in the dark and watch. After they've worked hard to mine nearly all the ore, when their guard is at its lowest, we'll suddenly strike and catch them off guard, wiping them out along with the Gold Sand Mine!"

Datou's words painted a perfect picture, leaving Luo Yi deeply conflicted.

Seeing that the moment was right, Datou immediately showed his loyalty. "After this succeeds, Xiao Hei and I don't want anything. We only hope that Young Master Luo will put in a good word for us before the captain, so us brothers can officially join the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group! You know this has been our lifelong dream!"

"This..."

Luo Yi frowned. The matter was simply too risky. If it went wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable. He paced back and forth through the hall, considering whether he should go.

Seeing this, Datou inwardly cursed. The excuse he had made up was full of holes. He absolutely could not give Luo Yi time to think. If Luo Yi really figured out something was wrong, everything would be ruined.

With that in mind, Datou immediately put on a disappointed expression and let out a long sigh. "Sigh, since Young Master Luo doesn't trust us brothers, then... then just pretend I never said anything today.

"It seems us brothers will never get the chance to join the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group in this lifetime. Fine, if there's no place for us here, there'll be somewhere else that'll take us. At worst, we'll take this secret and join another mercenary group..."

As he spoke, he turned around and pretended to leave.

"Wait! Don't be hasty!"

The trick worked just as expected! The moment Luo Yi heard that Datou was going to hand such an enormous benefit over to someone else, he panicked and quickly reached out to stop him.

"I... I don't distrust you." Luo Yi said awkwardly. "It's just... I may be a Fighter too, but... but I've never seriously fought anyone before..."

His voice grew quieter and quieter, and his face even turned a little red.

He had the cultivation of a Fighter, but he had barely practiced any combat techniques. Usually, he could only rely on his status to bully ordinary people. If it really came down to fighting, he truly had no confidence.

"Oh, Young Master Luo, I was wondering what you were worried about!" Datou immediately laughed. "What is there to worry about? You're a mighty Fighter!

"When the time comes, all you need to do is release your fighting aura and stand there. The pressure of an expert alone will be enough to scare that mob from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group senseless. They won't even dare think about fighting! Xiao Hei and I can handle the remaining lackeys!"

Seeing that Luo Yi's expression had improved considerably, he subtly added more fuel to the fire. "If you really don't trust us brothers, then... how about you bring a few reliable experts from the group along?

"But... the more people there are, the looser their tongues become. When that time comes, the enormous credit and that Gold Sand Mine worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins won't belong to Young Master Luo alone anymore."

Those words struck Luo Yi's weak spot.

He was eccentric and narrow-minded, and he had no friends in the group whom he truly trusted.

Asking him to share such a huge benefit with others? That was absolutely impossible!

Sure enough, Luo Yi began hesitating again.

"Oh, Young Master Luo! What are you still hesitating for?" Seeing that the fire was hot enough, Datou administered the final dose of medicine. "Opportunity doesn't come twice! They're moving gold coins out right now! If you won't go, I'll go by myself! You can stay here and think it over slowly!"

With that, Datou turned around again, making as if to leave.

"Wait! I'll go! Take me with you!"

This time, Luo Yi did not hesitate at all. He shouted anxiously.

"That's more like it!"

Datou was overjoyed inside and hurriedly ran back, his face piled with fawning smiles. "Young Master Luo is wise! Just wait and see! Once we take that Gold Sand Mine, who in all of Stone Desert City won't respectfully call you Young Master Luo?"

"Enough, enough! Stop talking nonsense! Take me there now!" Luo Yi could no longer wait. His mind was filled with nothing but the Gold Sand Mine.

"Right, right, right! We need to get there quickly!" Datou nodded repeatedly, while reminding him, "But Young Master Luo, to avoid attracting the attention of those people at the front gate, we need to sneak out through the back door. Otherwise, if they discover our intentions and we alert them, it won't be good."

"You're right! Hurry! Hurry!" Luo Yi was now completely led around by the nose by Datou.

Datou sneered inwardly. This idiot had finally taken the bait.

While everyone's attention was focused on the front gate, the two avoided the patrols within the compound and slipped out through the back door without alerting anyone.

The moment they left the compound, Datou pointed at a secluded alley and said, "Young Master Luo, I know a shortcut that can avoid the main street and get us to the city gate quickly, without anyone noticing!"

"Then what are you standing around for? Lead the way already!" Luo Yi urged impatiently.

"Sure! Stay close!"

Datou chuckled inwardly. This fool really was a gift from the heavens!

But it was precisely because he was so stupid that I had this opportunity.

Young Master Luo, don't blame me for being ruthless. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being blinded by greed! Just obediently serve as my token of allegiance for joining the Desert Iron Mercenary Group!

The two passed through the alley and soon arrived at the gates of Stone Desert City.

Datou stopped at the city gate and pretended to look around. Before long, he exchanged glances with a young man in the distance.

That young man was Dan Zai, who had arrived ahead of time and was waiting there. He had previously been assigned to remain behind at the compound, so he had not joined the support operation.

"Datou, what are you dawdling around for?" Seeing him stop, Luo Yi asked impatiently.

"Oh, Young Master Luo, don't be impatient!" Datou hurriedly explained. "I'm looking for the trail Xiao Hei left behind. We can't lose it."

He pretended to search around beneath a corner wall near the city gate, and before long, excitement appeared on his face.

"Found it! Young Master Luo, look! This is the mark! It's this way. They headed north after leaving the city!"

"Then hurry up and chase them!"

"Right away!"

Datou answered happily, then hurried out of the city gate with Luo Yi, whose mind had been utterly blinded by wealth.