CHAPTER 515: CHAPTER 196: UNLEASHING TALENT, TIME THIEF

The Demon Infant is dead; its death was not humble, but rather triumphant and remarkable, a spectacle fully displayed.

In the previous timeline, Ren Zhong invested a total of twenty million points to deal with the Demon Infant.

This time, his cost increased rather than decreased, reaching thirty million.

He showed the Demon Infant plenty of respect.

Spending more money equates to fewer deaths.

In the previous timeline, Ren Zhong had already been well-prepared to that extent, yet there were still casualties.

This time, due to the urgency and accelerated progress, the training time for the Starfire Town Scavengers was reduced from half a month to just four days.

Even though Zheng Tian was rushing and pushing the pace, the Starfire Hunting Team’s grasp of the "Three-three System" tactical framework was still not as good as on the 82nd day of the last time, and their overall combat power declined.

In light of this, Ren Zhong made two compensatory moves.

He offered equipment leasing services to the scavengers through Starfire Resources, investing eight million points to rent equipment to lower-level scavengers at a minimal cost.

Purely considering rent and depreciation, this was a cost price, with minimal profit.

But considering the complete loss after a fatal battle damage, this leasing service was essentially charity, though barely a business.

As long as he could use equipment to make up for people’s shortcomings, he felt losing money was worth it.

Additionally, Ren Zhong spent two million to hire a professional team of five hundred scavengers from another town, with an average expenditure of four thousand points per person.

This team, a veteran hunting group with over a decade of history, was worth such an investment to him.

The team contained five Fourth Level professionals, fifty Third Level professionals, and four hundred and fifty Second Level professionals.

In a certain sense, this team ranked among the top in Source Star’s scavenger armed groups.

Of course, the team was backed by a Fourth Level Citizen born from a prestigious family.

With the protection of this Fourth Level Citizen, the team had the prerequisite condition to exist; otherwise, the hunting group would be illegal weapons.

The one who negotiated business with Ren Zhong was that very citizen.

During the battle with the Demon Infant, this hired troop, who took people’s money to resolve their disasters, undertook relatively difficult tasks.

Their Third and Fourth Level professionals had to face the Demon Infant directly.

The team of Second Level professionals was positioned on the outermost layer of the circular battle zone to withstand the impact of the Demon Infant’s onslaught.

The risks they faced were immense.

The team leader initially had some complaints, wanted more money before the battle, determined that if Ren Zhong didn’t offer more money, they’d slack off.

But unexpectedly, as soon as the Demon Infant appeared, Boss Ren charged first with the Ice Flame Giant Blade in hand.

The team leader could only exclaim a silent "Whoa!" in his heart.

He was convinced.

Turns out, the greatest risk was borne personally by this boss.

Although Boss Ren was only a Second Level Citizen, he was still a citizen!

While being citizens, his family’s boss, with a life-cherishing preciousness compared to Boss Ren, was like night and day, incomparable.

The team leader gritted his teeth harshly and barked orders within his team: "Execute Mr. Ren’s plan! No delays! No hesitation! Today we follow Mr. Ren to kill the Demon Infant, and after this, we are a professional team that has slain Level Six Ruined Beast!"

...

This battle earned Ren Zhong great fame.

He gained two titles in one battle—Genius Mecha Warrior and Genius Commander.

Mecha Warrior aside, what was even more terrifying was his command talent.

Who would have thought what his brain was capable of; the Descending Demon Infant, a rare Ruined Beast with almost no historical records, was manipulated by him the whole time.

Regardless of the special ability, he had countermeasures ready on his side.

The biggest change this time compared to the last timeline was Ren Zhong opened his first-person perspective holographic recording.

To improve the audience’s experience, he even installed a five-senses simulation recorder.

Last time, he wanted to keep things low-key, to quietly get rich.

This time he changed his mindset; under the surveillance of the "net", he wouldn’t escape forever anyway, so he might as well be more open and shine brighter.

I just show it to you, see how much of the mystery you can figure out.

Just after the battle ended, Ren Zhong uploaded the holographic recording to the daily headline video section.

Fourth Level fights against Level Six, a total victory!

More Sid Meier than Sid Meier!

Only a few scavengers died, not worth mentioning.

This, was the hook of Ren Zhong’s video.

Although when he saw the casualty list, he still felt a bit low, in the eyes of the citizens, this level of loss was essentially negligible, making him undoubtedly a complete victor.