Qin Yu remained silent, unsure whether to comfort Sister Liya or something else.
The words of comfort were because it wasn't something Sister Liya had done on purpose, and she hadn't known this would happen.
The reason for not offering comfort is that the problems caused by this failure are indeed quite significant.
This method is clearly one of the few, perhaps even the only, ways they could safely escape under the current circumstances.
But now...
No one spoke; everyone remained silent.
Inside the mine tunnel, only the aggrieved voice of Night Spirit Liya Norandil could be heard for a moment.
She did feel a little wronged and apologetic.
What was originally a perfectly good road has become unusable because of her.
Under normal circumstances, it would be fine, but now...
"Forget it, if this method doesn't work, let's try other methods."
The sound came from inside.
There was a hint of helplessness, tinged with a sigh, but...
Liya Nolandir abruptly raised her gaze to the figure standing to the side.
"Uh, are there any other methods?"
Qin Yu, too, looked at the captain with some confusion.
Shen Heng gazed at the Gray Stone Snake with two souls within it, and let out a soft breath.
"Well, that method isn't as reliable as this one, so I'm not really keen on using it..."
"... No, are you kidding me?" The Two-Horned Lizard turned its head, looking at the 'human' in front of it with some disbelief.
This is because the other party, who said yesterday that they had no plan, suddenly said today that they did.
And because of the content of that plan, they went to find... those Black Rat?!
"Hmm," Shen Heng nodded, his gaze turning stern as he looked at the Two-Horned Lizard.
"We know our own situation; we can't get out on our own."
"As you know, the other Calamity Beast in this world are almost certainly not going to cause another uprising under the current circumstances."
"Right now, within Black Stone Valley, aside from us and the other Calamity Beast, the only ones who might still be useful are those Black Rat!"
"I know that, but why should they lead us out? How could they possibly lead us out?!" the Two-Horned Lizard grumbled.
"I didn't say I wanted them to lead us out. What we want is for them to do things that are beneficial to our escape, including but not limited to making wrong policies, expending their own energy, or even going out into the forest at night," Shen Heng said.
Upon hearing this, the Two-Horned Lizard paused for a moment, then began to think seriously.
It's hard to say about the first part, but the second part, if it really allows those Black Rat to go into the forest... then it's quite possible that it could help them get out.
only...
"Are you sure this method will work? If it doesn't, then there might not be time to try another method!" The Two-Horned Lizard looked at the human in front of it with some worry.
There was no immediate reply; Shen Heng looked at the Two-Horned Lizard.
After a long pause, he said:
Yes!
Despite knowing that the human's words contained an element of reassurance, the Two-Horned Lizard still smiled and asked:
"So what should we do?"
"First, we need to make them aware of our existence and raise their perception of us as a threat," Shen Heng said quickly.
"Raise the assessment of our threat level?" the Two-Horned Lizard repeated, frowning.
"Yes, only in this way will it be easier to mobilize them later." Shen Heng nodded.
The Two-Horned Lizard nodded slowly, seemingly understanding.
In short, only when they pose a high enough threat will the Black Rat mobilize as much of their forces as possible to deal with them when they take certain actions.
"And specifically?" it continued to ask.
Shen Heng looked at the Two-Horned Lizard and said:
"For those Black Rat, there are really only two things that matter most: their own people and their several mines..."
"Alright, all you beasts, get inside!"
"Remember, you have to collect enough ore before sunset, understand?!"
In front of the mine, a huge Black Rat started to shout.
Upon hearing its words, the distracted Calamity Beast below refocused its attention and responded haltingly:
"Okay, I understand."
"Alright, let's go in!" Black Rat Rift Claw called out habitually, and then saw one after another of the Calamity Beast stepping into the mine.
Time flies by.
Soon, it was evening.
Black Rat Rift Claw stood on the small mound, looking down at the Calamity Beast below, some resting, some eating.
After a while, a Black Rat approached.
"Finished ordering?" Black Rat Rift Claw asked.
"Okay, all ordered," the Black Rat replied.
"Is the number of beasts correct?" Black Rat Rift Claw asked habitually, turning around to leave when he heard the hesitant voice beside him.
"Well..."
It stopped, turned its stern gaze, and said in a deep voice,
"Incorrect quantity?"
"Yes, three are missing!" the Black Rat quickly nodded.
Despite having a premonition, Black Rat Rift Claw's expression immediately darkened upon hearing these words.
It glanced at the Calamity Beast below, then turned and flew swiftly towards the mine.
The figure continued forward into the narrow mine tunnel.
At some point, a faint smell of blood wafted towards my nose.
Rift Claw's expression darkened, and he flew over even faster.
Soon, it stopped in front of a mine wall, its gaze fixed on the distance with a somber expression.
There, piles of rubble obscured everything.
But the smell of blood was coming from there.
"Boom--"
The rubble was scattered.
Black Rat Rift Claw stared at the corpse hidden among them, its body missing parts, faceless, and limbs torn apart, and his expression turned completely grim.
The Origin Power, carrying and dragging the corpses, propelled them rapidly upwards.
Soon, it flew out of the mine again.
Outside, the Calamity Beast, clearly aware of what had happened due to its delay and the recent departure of Rift Claw, waited anxiously.
As soon as it came out, everyone turned to look at it.
Then, one after another, the Calamity Beast shrank in size.
"These three Calamity Beast were killed today. Does any beast know who killed them and when?" Black Rat Rift Claw asked, manipulating the corpses that were barely pieced together.
There was no reply, which is normal. The face wasn't visible, and the corpse was missing a lot; it's not something a typical Calamity Beast could recognize.
Black Rat Rift Claw's expression darkened further as he asked,
"In that case, look around and see if there are any familiar Calamity Beast that came to this mine today that haven't come out!"