The Complexities of Chunhe Aluminum

In fact, when the two exploration teams had met up earlier, the people left behind had already reported the situation to them.

The captains of both teams naturally paid no mind to such stinking fish and rotten shrimp. If they dared to overestimate themselves and snatch food from the others' mouths, they would pay the price.

The Avatar recalled the information gathered over the past few days.

Chunhe Aluminum's exploration team had been built around a prospecting team. Its only real fighting force consisted of six amateur archers whom Chunhe Aluminum had recruited through a mixture of bluffs and deception. Five others were members of the group's original prospecting team, while the captain was a leader parachuted in at short notice, with no wilderness survival experience.

They followed the two exploration teams ahead from a great distance. Zhao Huaqiang had originally been the prospecting team's captain, and now he faced the current captain with a fawning expression.

He said worriedly:

"Captain, are we really going to follow them? If they discover us, we can't beat them."

The captain, Zhou Mingyu, was a refined-looking man who wore glasses and carried himself like an elite.

He said disdainfully, "Are you stupid? Why would we fight them?"

"As soon as they deal with that bunch of beasts blocking the way, we'll hurry ahead of them and collect those meteorites first."

"So what if they find us? Would they dare search us? We live in a society governed by law. Our group is no pushover."

At just the right moment, understanding dawned on Zhao Huaqiang's face, and he praised him. "You really are clever, sir. How else could you have become captain? I'd never have thought of such a good plan myself."

A string of rainbow farts followed, leaving Zhou Mingyu feeling thoroughly pleased.

He then deliberately offered a hint. "Old Zhao, you're actually quite capable. If we make a decent haul over the next few trips, I can recommend you to the group and have you promoted to captain of this exploration team."

Hearing the grand promise Zhou Mingyu dangled before him, Zhao Huaqiang looked overwhelmed by the favor.

"I'm only responsible for getting the exploration team established. Once it's running smoothly, I have other work to do."

"So perform well and stick with me. The benefits will be enormous."

"Yes, Captain. You're wise and formidable. I'll follow your lead in everything. If you say east, I'll never go west."

"Hahaha! You know which way the wind blows. I like people like you, unlike certain others."

Of course, Zhao Huaqiang knew who Zhou Mingyu meant.

But that person was their main fighting force now, so he couldn't respond to that remark and merely laughed it off.

When Zhou Mingyu saw that Zhao Huaqiang hadn't taken the bait, he knew the man was an old hand who wouldn't be so easily won over.

Then he recalled some news he had heard earlier: a month ago, someone had told him that using these meteorites that fell from the sky could turn a person into a class holder, granting considerable boosts to abilities in all areas.

As an old hand who had worked his way through the group for more than a decade, he naturally knew how important these class holders were. They could be called a newly risen group of powerful elites, and using a Class Change Stone to become one was the ticket to entry.

But he had already paid a considerable price to attempt an official class change, and evidently he had failed.

The mysterious person, however, had told him that if he collected three Class Change Stones, there was a special method that could help him forcibly change classes.

Though he had some doubts about the method, he was the kind of person who would take a gamble even on a slim chance. How else could he have reached his current position?

So he had used his connections and resources to push the group into forming this exploration team, all to help himself change classes.

Fortunately, after several expeditions in which the team had disregarded casualties, he had already collected two Class Change Stones. Zhou Mingyu had hidden them both in a secret place in the forested mountains.

Only the final stone remained, but when it came to collecting it, the members of the exploration team refused to agree to his previous plan of action, no matter what he said.

With no other choice, he had once again promised substantial compensation for casualties. This time, they would also be following other exploration teams and picking up what they missed. Only then, after much persuasion, did he get them to go on this mission.

So no matter how dissatisfied Zhou Mingyu was with this bunch of peasants, he didn't let it show on his face.

He looked toward the six young people carrying compound bows. They followed the lead of the young man in the middle, who had an outstanding bearing, sword-like brows, and starry eyes.

The other two women and three men all held Ye Xingchen in great esteem. He was the best archer among them and had saved their lives several times.

Because of him, Zhou Mingyu, the exploration team's captain, could no longer command them.

Watching them walk ahead, talking and laughing, Zhou Mingyu felt a flash of jealousy and wariness.

But then he remembered that he was about to successfully change classes and embark on a different path.

Excitement surged through him.

"Once I get back this time, I can contact them and have them help me change classes. Hehe!"

The six walking ahead had naturally heard the people behind them talking about them.

A sweet and lovely woman named Lin Wanxing was furious at their words.

"That Zhou is no good. The last few times, he made us go to places where those mutated creatures were active to collect meteorites, regardless of the danger."

"Now he's making us follow these two exploration teams. He definitely has bad intentions."

"Brother Ye, we have to be careful. Don't let that guy fool us."

A burly man carrying a compound bow chimed in as well.

"Sister Lin is right. Brother Ye, I've heard that both teams ahead are exceptionally strong."

"Take the Chen Martial Arts School. They say every member of its team is a martial arts expert, and its exploration team hasn't suffered a single injury so far."

"And there's the exploration team from that company called Changnan Interstellar. It's newly formed, but I think its captain is very strong. They made a huge haul on their very first mission after arriving. We need to be careful about clashing with them head-on."

Ye Xingchen pondered for a while, then nodded. "Mm."

"Wanxing and Brother Qian are both right. Our main task is to collect those meteorites. We shouldn't get involved in anything else that has nothing to do with us."

Apart from Ye Xingchen, the others had all been lured in by the high pay and generous benefits offered by Chunhe Aluminum Group. Only after boarding the pirate ship did they discover that those promises would slowly be fulfilled only after they brought back a haul.

If they refused to join the exploration team, they would be in breach of contract and have to pay a hefty sum in compensation.

They hadn't run off because they had made a small haul during the first few expeditions, and the group had paid them a generous bonus, confirming that their gains would be rewarded.

But that didn't include Ye Xingchen. He had already been a class holder a month ago, but he lacked Class Change Stones and had no resources to support his own growth.

So after using the last two Class Change Stones to become an Archer, he answered Chunhe Aluminum Group's recruitment and successfully applied thanks to his superb archery.