Why is my territory in a 2D anime art style?

Chapter 96 Development Strategies for Level 3 Territories (Third Update, Please Follow for Final Updates)

"That shield is pretty good!"

Erhu fiddled with last night's spoils; most of the items were either worthless or had been burned by the Flame Sword.

This blue shield was one of the best spoils of war. After the erhu was infused with source energy, a layer of cyan light shone on the shield, and he sensed it slightly.

"The active trait increases shield defense by 100% for one minute upon activation, with a one-hour cooldown. This is suitable for Tiger, as the shield can withstand a lot of damage, making it suitable for physical or earth-attribute classes."

"I was wondering why such a big shield wasn't burned yesterday. So that's its property. You really can't get one of these for less than a thousand Originium."

"After all, it's a level 4 blue shield~" Sui An smiled broadly. Although last night was for the purpose of eliminating the enemy, he would still feel a little uncomfortable if he didn't gain anything.

"Keep this. You might need it someday. Whoever needs it can take it."

"Hey, that works too. But you can't do it like this when your territory gets bigger and you have more people."

Erhu leaned the shield aside and continued rummaging through a pile of things on the ground, but most of them were already damaged.

Then he touched a cylindrical object: "This telescope isn't broken, which is a pleasant surprise. It's a good thing, a must-have for hunting parties. I was planning to get one last time, but I don't need it now."

Sui An reached out and took it, then tried looking at it with his eyes. He found that the effect was indeed good, and the clarity was also very good. He could clearly see the stone bridge in the distance within his territory.

"You guys can keep this for later; you might find it useful in the secret realm."

"That's okay, that's okay!"

While the two were engrossed in their work, Zhao Feng stood aside teaching Wang Hu swordsmanship. This swordsmanship wasn't some martial arts manual, but rather some basic routines and methods of exerting force.

Before becoming a professional, Wang Hu had also studied martial arts, but his physical strength had greatly increased, and he could now use some inhuman moves, so Zhao Feng was teaching him again.

"Beep~ Beep~ Beep~"

The sound of a transport truck horn could be heard in the distance, but the detection station did not sound any warning. It must be Wang Zhen who had arrived.

Sure enough, a moment later Wang Zhen pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in, asking the question as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Are you all alright last night?"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to him. Wang Zhen paused slightly, realizing that everyone was looking at him with strange eyes.

Seeing that all four of them were alright, Wang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.

"This morning, the black market was buzzing with rumors that four hunting parties came under cover of darkness yesterday to attack you. I was so worried that I rushed over here."

"You're worrying unnecessarily. The territory has already been upgraded, why would we be afraid of a few level four professionals?"

Erhu glanced at Wang Zhen, grinned and said something, then continued to lower his head to pick up scraps.

Sui An, however, seemed thoughtful: "Do you know which hunting groups they are?"

Wang Zhen was stunned for a moment, then remembered everything: "A level 5 squad from the level 6 hunting group Dark Assassin, and three level 4 hunting groups: Yellow Sand, Golden Rainbow, and Gun Shield. The one you wiped out was Gun Shield, and the only one left who was guarding the vehicle drove back."

Upon hearing this, Erhu immediately started cursing, "I knew the car was gone! We lost hundreds of source stones!"

Wang Zhen rolled his eyes at Erhu with annoyance, then turned to look at Sui An.

"However, there is some good news. Before I left, the bounty on the black market was paid out, and the He family was willing to spend the money—three thousand source stones!"

Sui An was stunned: "A bounty has been placed? Do they think we don't know their identities?"

"Pretty much. Right now, everyone in Xicheng is saying that some big shot is investing in you. Maybe someone will even take Line 7 to observe you today."

"A big shot~ that's not bad either, having a tiger skin for me to piss off for a while makes things a bit easier for me."

Sui An smiled broadly, not expecting such an unexpected surprise. If this conversation were to be misled and steered towards the secret treasure, that would be a real headache.

As for whether the bounty is high or low, I already have a target. I just need to accumulate strength and take revenge later.

Wang Zhen nodded, stood in the courtyard and looked around the territory, but found that there were not many changes.

"Your territory is now at level three. Relying solely on Erhu and Huzi probably won't be enough to trigger the rift for you. What are your plans for development from here on out?"

Sui An turned to look at the erhu that was still being picked and chosen, and then looked at Aunt Zhao who was still teaching Hu Zi to practice swordsmanship in the distance.

"It's perfect that you're here. I was just planning to discuss this with you and offer some guidance."

Erhu stood up, straightened his back, and looked over with a smile.

"Sure, we'd like to hear about your career path, but with the three of us, there's not much we can do to help you right now. Be prepared."

Sui An turned around and went back into the house, took out his notebook, and the group sat on the stage in a circle.

"Let me introduce something new to you first. I have a blueprint for an alchemy workshop. This is its basic function. Take a look."

Sui An handed over the notebook, and all four of them immediately crowded around. After only a few glances, they gasped in surprise.

"This is great stuff! With this, plus the source beast materials you can harvest in your territory, your income can increase even further!"

"Excellent, even a mid-level alchemist would be tempted by this!"

Erhu and Wang Zhen each sighed, clearly very optimistic about the alchemy workshop's results.

Sui An turned to Zhao Feng and said, "Aunt Zhao, there's something I want to ask you. What's Cui Mingming like? If possible, could you please pass on a message to him asking if he'd be willing to come and discuss things in exchange for the alchemy workshop?"

Zhao Feng frowned slightly, seemingly not very optimistic about Sui An's choice.

"Cui Mingming, he's a complacent person, with no bad habits except for being afraid of death. But why did you choose him? Even a mid-level alchemist might be willing to take on this task, right?"

"I don't necessarily have to choose Cui Mingming. The main problem is that I don't have any connections, and I don't want to announce this information on a large scale before Level 4. So reliability is my first requirement. Besides, he's been around for so many years, so Level 4 shouldn't be too far away."

Zhao Feng nodded: "Okay, I'll go ask."

"Hiss~"

Sui An tore the page from the notebook that showed the effect of the drawing and handed it to Zhao Feng.

"Then I'll have to trouble Aunt Zhao. There's something I need to explain in advance: I can't finish building the workshop until the wall is expanded, because the workshop is a size larger than the wooden house."

"good!"

Sui An turned the notebook to the second page, which was a plan sketch with various architectural drawings.

"I've done the calculations, and I'm not going to build my territory's walls at level three. For me, a level three wall is a bit of an extravagance, especially since the quality of this wall has already reached its limit. At level four, even using a level four wall blueprint of white quality would be better."

"Even within the second-level territory, my current funding gap is at least two thousand source stones. Before the rift opens, I'll barely have enough for a month, so I need to find some more partners to join me."

Wang Zhen asked instinctively, "You want Aunt Zhao and me to join too?"

Sui An first turned his gaze to Wang Zhen and said directly, "Brother Zhen, I think you shouldn't give up the team in the short term. With me around, your profits are still guaranteed. Before I set up my own transportation team or trading company, this route is still necessary."

"I would certainly welcome Aunt Zhao if she wanted to come, but I doubt she would give up the hunting party."

Zhao Feng pondered for a moment, then nodded: "I'm still in the hunting team. We've worked together for so many years, and unless there's a special reason, I'm unlikely to leave the hunting team. I should be able to help out for a day or two if needed."

Seeing Zhao Feng's polite refusal, Sui An was not surprised. After so many years of hunting together, there must be some camaraderie between them. He turned his gaze to the erhu.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Erhu was taken aback. "I'm not good at anything except fighting."

Yes, yes!

"How come I didn't know?"

Sui An opened the notebook to a new page, this time showing details about salary and benefits. He tore off the page and handed it over.

"I don't have high requirements for the combat strength of new partners right now. I only have one requirement: whether the person has any problems with their character, and whether they have any family members. I don't dare to take someone who is all alone right now."

"Brother Hu, you've been out there for so many years, do you know anyone you can contact during this time? We don't need much in the early stages, just someone who can reliably trigger the rift."

"These people are all under your responsibility. Their salaries will be based on the standards listed above. Although it will be less than what you and Hu Zi earn, I will be making a few more of these stages, so they have already been incorporated into the territory's compensation system."

"Please take a look at this offer and see if there are any issues. It's negotiable, including yours."

"You calling me 'brother' always means trouble."

Erhu was quite troubled. He reached out and took the note, glanced at it a few times, but didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

"I'll do my best, but these things depend a lot on fate."

Upon hearing Sui An's arrangement, Wang Zhen suddenly clapped his hands, as if he had thought of something.

"Speaking of people, I actually found some information about Fang Si, the one you asked me to investigate last time."

Sui An was taken aback for a moment, then remembered who Fang Si was: "What's her background?"

Wang Zhen replied, "He lives in apartment building number 54 near us. If it weren't for the fact that he once served as He Chong's bodyguard, I really wouldn't have been able to find him."

"This person is a year older than me. There are four people in his family. His parents are ordinary people, and he has a seventeen-year-old sister who has not yet awakened, but her awakening time is approaching. His family is indeed very simple."

"He doesn't have a fixed team; he's more of a freelancer. He takes on missions on hunting platforms on his own, and his mission completion rate is pretty good. I've heard he has a good reputation."

"Last month, when Xu Rong was recruiting bodyguards for He Chong, he fought his way out from a group of level 4 combat professionals. His combat skills are quite impressive."

"By the way, one of Xu Rong's job requirements is that applicants must arrange for their closest relatives to work in her workshop. It's like a form of compensation, or a kind of hostage."

"Although I don't know the specific reason why he left He Chong, I think there must have been a conflict. After all, Xu Rong's treatment was quite good, five hundred yuan a month."

After listening, Sui An slowly said, "That seems like a good idea, if he's also willing to bring his family to come and stay with me."

"That's something you'll have to think about yourself." Wang Zhen turned his gaze to Zhao Feng: "Aunt Zhao, are you coming back with me today?"

Zhao Feng nodded: "Yes, I'll take one later."

"Then let's get ready to go. Xiao An, is there anything else?"

"No more for now."

"Okay~"

Just as Zhao Feng was about to leave with Wang Zhen, she saw a transport truck parked on Line 7 and waved to it from afar.

"Zhao Feng!"

"Commander Ning!"

Sui An stood aside, looking at the people in the distance, and suddenly frowned.

Zhao Feng subconsciously turned around and glanced at Sui An. Sui An forced a smile at Zhao Feng, which made Zhao Feng's face darken.

"Aunt Zhao, you go ahead and do your work. I'm going to take a rest too."

"Xiao An—okay."

Watching Sui An turn and walk into the house, Zhao Feng sighed slightly. She knew that Sui An was dissatisfied with the Gale Hunting Group.

After all, the mission eight years ago failed and two people died, and those two people just happened to be Sui Ping and Chen Yuan.

The Gale Hunting Group had two level 4 professionals at the time, and everyone else was unharmed, without a single injury, but Sui Ping and his wife, both level 3 professionals, died.

Even ordinary people would find something wrong with it, let alone the precocious Sui An.

But that time it was really an accident. The hunting party found a secret place, and the two level 4 professionals each led 4 members to explore separately. As a result, Sui Ping and his wife were caught in the trap and died on the spot. There was no way to save them.

She had been recuperating at home due to her serious injuries and had not entered that secret place. Although she only heard about it from the deputy commander afterward, she felt helpless, thinking that it was her fate to suffer a calamity, and neither she nor her husband could escape it.

"Xiao Zhen, I'm traveling with the group, so I won't hitch a ride with you."

Wang Zhen didn't mind: "Okay."

After glancing at those people, Wang Zhen got into his car and drove towards the stone bridge.

Zhao Feng arrived at Line 7. There were six people on the train, one of whom was Ning Pan, the deputy regimental commander who had led the team at the time.

Ning Pan was tall, half a head taller than Zhao Feng and about the same height as Wang Hu, but his frame was not as broad as Wang Hu's, and he looked thinner.

He turned his gaze away from the territory, his voice slightly magnetic: "Feng-ge'er, what are you doing here?"

Zhao Feng replied softly, "This is Xiao An's territory. I came to take a look."

"Is it Sui Ping's child?"

"Yes."

Ning Pan's pupils contracted slightly: "So what happened last night is true?"

Zhao Feng nodded: "It's true."

"How is this possible!" came an exclamation from the truck bed, clearly finding it hard to believe what Zhao Feng said. Was this Sui An the protagonist of last night's news?

"How could an orphan like him have such terrifying architectural blueprints?"

Zhao Fengying's eyes narrowed with anger as she looked at the person in the truck bed, about to reprimand him.

"Qian Hui, shut up!"

However, Ning Pan spoke first, his face dark and he glared fiercely at the person who spoke.

"Sui An is the son of one of our comrades-in-arms, why are you speaking so recklessly!"