?


    —(Are you stalling as well? What are you stalling for?)


    Splurt was so astonished that his body quivered.


    —(No, that cannot be.)


    Yet, Splurt immediately dismissed this possibility because, in his mind, Oleg was nothing more than a "muscle brain". How could he employ cunning schemes?


    Nheless, Oleg''sposed demeanorpelled Splurt to reevaluate the night''s events, and only then did he btedly recall Nassar being manipted against his will.


    Oleg''s level of strategizing was nowhere near devising such a scheme.


    Splurt understood that someone must have advised Oleg, and this person''s tactics were far from over!


    The pressure on the scene now shifted to Splurt, who had to strike first... but he hesitated, as Oleg might be bluffing.


    "Frightened, Splurt? I am not the same person I was before!"


    Oleg''s fists, like iron hammers, resounded with a nging noise as his expression grew increasingly self-assured.


    "Listen well! I''m giving you onest chance. Surrender now, and I might spare your life!"


    However, Oleg''s attempt at persuading Splurt to surrender backfired.


    Splurt had been considering whether to probe further, but now that was out of the question.


    "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"


    Splurt burst into an insane fit ofughter.


    "Oleg, I would rather die than submit to you!"


    "Oleg! I wager you''re lying!"


    The situation had escted to a point where negotiation was no longer possible between them.


    Having grasped this reality, Splurt decided not to test the waters any longer and spoke with finality.


    .


    In the blink of an eye, the time hade.


    Oleg took a deep breath and bellowed with all his might, "Come forth—! Elites of The Quest Guild—!!"


    His rugged voice reverberated throughout thend, and as Oleg''s call echoed, the sounds of battle suddenly erupted outside the withered grove, with fireballs illuminating the night sky.


    He wasn''t bluffing—his talk of "stalling time" had been true!


    At this moment, Splurt realized that Oleg had been waiting for reinforcements.


    The noise outside the withered grove grew increasingly chaotic as Oleg''s backup forces broke through the encircling carrion rat horde. The screeching of the rat demons was incessant!


    Soon after, with a "thwack," a carrion rat corpse was flung in front of Splurt. The rat''s blood sttered on him, making the tall, thin old man appear somewhat disheveled.


    Only then did Splurt realize he had misjudged a crucial aspect.


    Over the decades, Oleg''s personal power hadn''t increased, but he had formed his own organization.


    The growth of his subordinates was his own growth—he embodied the very concept of The Quest Guild''s Sunny Town Branch.


    —(Alright, I admit I underestimated you… However, this alone won''t determine the oue!)


    Splurt quickly regained hisposure and began assessing the number of reinforcements through the eyes of the carrion rats he controlled.


    —(10 people…)


    —(20 people…)


    —(30 people…)


    Based on the visual feedback from the carrion rats, Splurt learned that there were approximately 37 reinforcements from The Quest Guild—a mere fractionpared to the rat horde.


    As for the quality of these reinforcements, Splurt wasn''t concerned.


    He knew that Oleg''s so-called "elites" were nothing more than twenty-something Tier 2 novices. Considering the numerical disparity, they would, at best, evenly match the carrion rat horde.


    The best evidence supporting Splurt''s judgment was that Oleg still dared not take any reckless action. If he were confident in victory, he would have already attacked.


    Thus, Splurt''s mind raced.


    The uing battle wouldn''t be a one-on-one duel between him and Oleg, but rather a sh between two forces. Whoever could better strategize andmand would ultimately emerge victorious.


    However, after just a few seconds of thought, Splurt spotted an unexpected "acquaintance" through the eyes of a carrion rat.


    —(Hold on… Why is this guy here too?)


    Among the reinforcements, Splurt recognized the young man named Banning.


    In recent days, under the orders of "Earthly Ghost," Splurt had been secretly monitoring Banning in Sunny Town using the rat monsters, then reporting Banning''s location and daily appearance changes to Lord Earthly Ghost.


    —(Thisplicates things… the boy hase seeking death, making it difficult not to kill him…)


    —(However, Lord Earthly Ghost never said he couldn''t be killed.)


    —(Hmph… If responsibility must be assignedter, I''ll just me it on the demons.)


    Splurt quickly made his decision—he wouldn''t give Banning any "special treatment."


    The young man''s life or death would depend on his own fate.


    .


    "Oleg, your ''elites'' aren''t particrly impressive."


    Splurt burst intoughter. Once the initial shock had passed, Oleg''s reinforcements, gained through stalling for time, didn''t seem to put much pressure on Splurt.


    "Allow me to show you what true ''elites'' are!"


    —(Demons Control: Target Switch)


    Under Splurt''smand, the withered grove resounded with even louder squeaks. Second-level monsters, the Giant Carrion Rats, rushed in from afar, joining the chaotic battle!


    The arrival of these "big fellows" boosted the morale of the rat horde. The previously fearful carrion ratsunched their attacks with reckless abandon once again!


    Splurt had it all calcted in his mind. For Level 20-something Tier 2 rookies, the odds of winning a one-on-one battle with a Giant Carrion Rat were about 60-70%.


    If it were one against two, the odds would drop to 20%;


    And if they faced three simultaneously, the vast majority of Tier 2 rookies would meet their demise.


    At this very moment, as the rat horde battled against The Quest Guild''s "elites," there were over 200 carrion rats and over 50 Giant Carrion Rats. The scales of victory had entirely tipped in Splurt''s favor.


    ·


    From the darkness, human screams asionally rang out. Splurt saw Oleg''s face gradually turn ashen white and couldn''t help but feel utterly thrilled.


    "Oleg, it''s my turn to give you a chance now. Hand over the ''Secret Saber: ze Steed'' to me, and I''ll let them live. Otherwise... these young people you''ve nurtured will all die here!"


    Oleg remained silent, his previous determination and confidence now entirely gone.


    Splurt knew that the reason Oleg hadn''t taken action was that he wanted to preserve the opportunity to turn back and support hisrades from The Quest Guild.


    If the two of them were to fight, it would be a do-or-die situation with no room for maneuvering.


    "Or are you capable of eliminating me and turning the tide in a single blow?"


    Splurt even boldly took two steps closer to Oleg, using his safety as bait to entice Oleg into a desperate gamble.


    Finally, Oleg could no longer hold back and roared as he charged at Splurt!


    —(Oleg, you truly are a musclehead.)


    Unfazed, Splurt revealed a sinister grin, his scheme having seeded.