Make money by hiding in the interstellar battlefield!

The sound of rain pattering against the door panel, and cold, damp air seeped in through the cracks, seeping into the bedding.

Jian Sheng suddenly woke up with a start, a chill running down his spine.

He instinctively touched his chest, feeling a warm sensation. Little Baisheng was sleeping peacefully inside his clothes, his small body radiating the warmth of life.

"Oh no!"

Jian Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly sobered up.

He was so busy procuring supplies that he completely forgot about the most crucial rain gear!

Looking out the window at the relentless, drizzling rain, he felt a bitter smile. Seventh Ring City has a humid climate with frequent rainfall; by the end of the night, his clothes were probably soaked through.

Even worse, his last seven blue crystal coins were completely wiped out in order to buy a simple raincoat that could barely protect Bai Sheng, leaving him utterly penniless.

"Forget it, we'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Jian Sheng took a deep breath to suppress his anxiety. He quickly got up, tucked Bai Sheng's clothes into his arms, carefully wrapped the raincoat he had bought last night around his backpack, then slung his bag over his shoulder and pushed open the door to go out.

The rain was still falling, and the cold raindrops hitting his face instantly woke him up.

This rain was his first test.

[Setting off on a rainy night, an underdog newcomer]

On the third day, before dawn, the leaden-gray clouds hung extremely low.

With his backpack on, Jiansheng trudged through the muddy road, heading towards the south of the city.

Standing on high ground and looking out, he finally saw the entire city clearly.

The Seven Rings City is not a perfect circle, but rather an irregular fan shape. The north-south city walls are wide and long, while the east and west sides taper inward along the mountains, like a lurking giant beast guarding this sanctuary of humanity surrounded by intelligent beasts.

At 7:30 a.m., the city gate of the South Sixth Ring Road was already bustling with activity.

The flow of people and vehicles leaving the city was endless, and soldiers at the security checkpoints were busy shuttling back and forth.

Jian Sheng quickly searched through the crowd, his eyes soon locking onto his target.

An electric truck with the "Star Beast Daddy" logo was parked on the side of the road. Next to the truck, a burly man was pacing back and forth impatiently. It was Jerry.

He was clearly waiting for Jiansheng as well, his face filled with anxiety and unease.

When Jerry saw the thin figure waving at him at the city gate, his expression changed instantly—first, he was delighted, thinking that the kid hadn't broken his promise; then, he turned to worry and helplessness, as if he were looking at a troublemaker who had delivered himself to his doorstep.

"Get on the bus!"

Jerry practically dragged Jian Sheng by the arm and pulled him into the back of the truck.

As soon as I sat down, more than a dozen strange gazes shot over to me.

These gazes were filled with scrutiny, disdain, and contempt.

"This is the sniper Jerry found? He looks like a little dumpling, can he even hunt?"

"Exactly! We paid a full million! Even if we're a second-rate expedition team, we can't just hire newbies of this caliber to fill the ranks, can we?"

"Once we're out of town, I have to have a serious talk with my father. This money was wasted!"

The murmurs were neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone on the bus to hear.

Jian Sheng ignored the taunts as if he hadn't heard them. He found a corner to sit down, closed his eyes, and began to rest.

Strength is the best form of retaliation.

Jerry was caught in the middle, his face turning red and white in turns, his heart pounding with anxiety.

He forced a smile and retorted, "Don't talk nonsense! This kid's marksmanship is phenomenal, that shot on the black market..."

"Ha, what's a gun on the black market?"

A sweet, feminine voice interrupted him. It belonged to a tall, beautiful woman dressed in a sharp combat uniform, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "We'll see what you're really capable of later. If you mess up, you'll be in big trouble!"

She is Caitlin, the C-rank mech pilot in the team.

She was the woman who made the bet with Jerry at the black market that night.

The truck slowly started and drove out of the area of ​​the Seventh Ring Road.

The wheels rolled over the cement road, which quickly turned into a gravel road, then a muddy dirt road, and finally a bumpy dirt road. The car slowed down more and more, and the bumps became more and more intense.

About ten minutes later, the truck stopped in a clearing next to a grove of trees.

Everyone got off the bus.

Three people got out of the driver's seat.

The first one was an elderly man nearing fifty, bald with a graying beard. He was robust, but his eyes were gentle and kind. After getting off the bus, he consciously moved aside, keeping his distance—clearly, he was not the core of this mission.

The second man, who got out of the passenger seat, had a pipe in his mouth and a neatly trimmed stubble, exuding a rugged charm of a mature man. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and when he swept over the crowd, he did so with the scrutiny of someone in a superior position.

He is Elon, the captain of the Star Beast Daddy Expedition Team.

The third person was a middle-aged man of slightly smaller stature, who appeared somewhat inconspicuous among the generally tall Mother Nesters.

Elon walked up to the crowd, his gaze calmly sweeping over each person.

Pete, who had been yelling about wanting to be replaced in the car, immediately leaned over, his tone slightly complaining, but his voice loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Dad, this team's quality is way too low! This kid looks so weak and frail, and we paid a million for him! Should we switch teams?"

Elon wasn't angry; he simply turned his gaze to Jian Sheng and spoke calmly:

"I'll give you a chance; leave your reasons."

His gaze, though not angry, exuded an imposing aura that chilled the surrounding air.

Jian Sheng slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and walked to the front of the group. Without a word, he pointed to the woods a hundred meters ahead:

"Jerry, do you still have the gun from that night?"

Jerry was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and quickly nodded:

"Yes! Yes! I'll go get it right away!"

He knew in his heart that this was Jian Sheng's only chance, and Jerry's only lifeline. If Jian Sheng could demonstrate his strength, he could save face; if not, his father would skin him alive.

Jerry quickly retrieved the SVD-like sniper rifle from the car, handed it to Jian Sheng, and pleaded in a low voice:

"Little brother, please, show me what you've got! Otherwise, I'll lose my job!"

Jiansheng took the gun and smoothly checked the gun body, magazine, and ballistics. After confirming that everything was in order, he released the safety and switched to semi-automatic mode.

Instead of aiming at distant trees or rocks, he raised his hand and aimed it into the depths of the woods.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out.

Immediately afterwards, a large flock of birds took flight from the woods. These birds were a size larger than the magpies on Blue Star, with grayish-black feathers, and they fluttered warily among the trees.

But Jian Sheng did not stop.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

He fired nine shots in quick succession, emptying the magazine. The entire process was swift and seamless, taking only ten seconds.

The gunshots fell silent, and the forest returned to deathly stillness.

A moment later, the nine birds, like kites with broken strings, fell one by one from the tree and plummeted straight into the woods.

The people on the bus were stunned.

A hint of approval flashed in Elon's eyes, but he still said calmly:

"Your marksmanship is alright, so-so. But you're too skinny, you don't look like you can take a beating, you're unreliable."

"Believe me."

Jian Sheng raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at Elon. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

"For me now, killing you is enough."

The room fell silent after those words were spoken.

Elon paused for a moment, then burst into laughter:

"Great! That's got a ruthless edge! I like it!"

The middle-aged man next to him nodded, his gaze towards Jiansheng showing more approval.

Just then, the old guide dog who had gone to the woods returned carrying seven birds. His eyes were fixed on Jiansheng, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Elon found it strange:

"Old Dog, what's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"See for yourself."

The old dog placed the bird on the ground, gesturing for everyone to come forward.

When everyone gathered around to take a look, they gasped in shock.

All seven birds were hit in the head with a single, precise shot—the bullet entered through their eyes, shattering their brains, but leaving their bodies below the neck intact.

This is the standard procedure for instantly killing intelligent beasts!

Pete's disdain vanished instantly, and he scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"I...I thought a regular headshot would be enough..."

Jerry, standing to the side, couldn't help but proudly raise his chin and explain:

"Why are intelligent beasts so difficult to kill? Besides their incredibly tough biological armor, the most important reason is that they have evolved multiple hearts! Only by precisely shattering the crystal core in their heads can they be completely killed!"

He looked at Jiansheng, his tone filled with pride.

"You don't even know this basic common sense? This is a fundamental course in the inner city schools!"

Now, everyone on the bus had no more doubts about Jian Sheng's "qualification to receive money".

Even Pete, who had always been so superior, withdrew his previous disdain and his eyes became serious.

[Getting to know your teammates, the daily life of a weirdo]

After a brief exchange, the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Old Man Elon cleared his throat and began to formally announce the mission rules and reward distribution:

"Before we officially set off, since there were three new members in the team, I made sure to explain the rules and conditions clearly."

First, my name is Elon, you can call me Dad. This mission is to escort two researchers into Sector 49 of the Southern Valley for mineral exploration. The estimated duration is two months. Any overtime will be compensated separately.

Second, the total reward for this mission is 100 million Blue Crystals. 40 will go to the team and be used for equipment, supplies, and operational expenses. The remaining 60 will be distributed according to position:

Four mech pilots, 8 each;

Doctor 5;

Guide 5;

Mechanical repairman: 5;

Spotter/Sniper, 10.

You are a new employee, and your salary is tentatively set at 3.

But if you die, your family will receive a settlement allowance of 10 yuan.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and emphasized his tone:

"Third, if either of the two researchers we are protecting dies during the mission, the mission will fail immediately, and the entire team will receive no reward."

If a team member dies during the mission, an additional settlement allowance of 10 yuan will be provided.

But there is one absolute prerequisite—the mission must not fail!

After explaining the rules, Elon waited fifteen seconds, and seeing that no one asked any questions, he announced:

"State your names and get your gear ready. We'll officially set off in one hour."

The group began to introduce themselves in turn:

- Pete: The researcher in charge of leading the team, an inner-city native, whose tone carried a natural air of superiority.

Peter: Peter's student, young and reserved, who accompanied his teacher.

- Da Jiba: D-class mecha pilot, over 2.1 meters tall, with a muscular build. Although he has a rugged appearance, he is excessively clean-cut, and his eyes occasionally glance at other men—Jiansheng saw through his orientation at a glance.

Jerry: A D-class mech pilot, less than 1.8 meters tall, considered short among the tall Mother Nesters, hence the nickname.

- Caitlin: A C-rank mecha pilot, the muscular woman from the black market that night, over 1.9 meters tall. She is actually a D-rank mecha pilot, but because of her exceptional talent, she couldn't afford a C-rank mecha and had to settle for second best.

- KING: A young mecha pilot with blond hair and an appearance closer to that of a purebred white person. In the complex racial hierarchy of Seven Rings City, his status is not low.

- Kroos: A taciturn young mechanic.

- Rhodes: A doctor who looks refined and gentle, with an air that belies his combative nature.

Emma: A "special member" of the team, responsible for housekeeping and physiological needs. She smiled and winked at everyone, even making Caitlin raise her eyebrows.

Finally, it was Jian Sheng's turn.

He calmly gave his name:

"Sniper, Jian Sheng."

The name carried a hint of Eastern charm, making it stand out among the group full of mixed-race names. The group paused for a moment, then quickly accepted it.

After a brief introduction, Elon began distributing weapons and equipment.

There are five Class D exoskeletons on board. Elon has one for himself, and the mechanic Cross has already begun to skillfully assemble them.

"Jiansheng, here's your equipment. Do it yourself."

Elon pointed to a box that was 1 meter by 1.5 meters in size.

Jian Sheng opened the box, inside was a heavy sniper rifle case called "Reaper," with all the parts scattered around, requiring assembly. Next to it were night vision goggles, a tactical sniper rack, ammunition, tactical clothing, a military backpack, and everything else you needed.

He carefully placed the little white boy in his arms into the inner layer of his chest pouch, making sure he was warm and comfortable, and then began to concentrate on assembling the gun.

This heavy sniper rifle is a copy of the TAC-50 caliber, with a caliber of 12.7×99mm. It features a bolt-action mechanism and is renowned for its extremely high accuracy. On Earth, it is a legendary weapon among snipers.

Jerry brought Jian Sheng into the team under immense pressure. If it weren't for Elon giving him a chance because he was considered reliable, he wouldn't have been qualified for this job at all.

This is why every expedition team must be equipped with a sniper—to deal with those highly defensive intelligent beasts. When mech warriors cannot break through their defenses, the sniper's precise shots are the only hope for instantly eliminating the enemy.

After witnessing this amazing skill, everyone on the bus had no more doubts about Jian Sheng's abilities.

Even Pete, who always exuded a sense of superiority, cast a friendly glance his way.

An hour later, everything was ready.

The group sat quietly on either side of the truck bed, and the atmosphere was much more harmonious than when they set off.

Just then, a faint humming sound came from Jian Sheng's chest pouch.

Xiao Baisheng woke up.

It rubbed nervously inside the bag, making soft whimpering noises.

Jian Sheng habitually leaned close to the edge of the bag and quietly dripped a few drops of blood to replenish its energy.

After the little one had drunk his fill, he fell asleep peacefully again.

This scene was witnessed by everyone on the bus.

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.

This kid not only has great marksmanship, but he also raises these little creatures? And he even feeds them blood?

A unified assessment formed in everyone's minds—

Freak.

[Arrival at the front lines, final preparations]

The truck bumped along the road, heading deeper into the southern valley.

As the vehicle moved forward, the road conditions worsened.

What started as a smooth cement road turned into a bumpy stone road, and then into a muddy and difficult dirt road. The vehicle slowed down more and more, and the bumps became more and more intense, making it feel like your internal organs were being shaken out.

As evening approached, the truck finally came to a stop.

Before them stood the gate of a small military fortress.

Old Man Elon got out of the truck and negotiated with the fortress guards, showing them his credentials. A moment later, the truck slowly drove into a fully enclosed fortress that was fifteen meters high and about fifty meters in diameter.

This is already the very edge of the human-developed zone.

From here to the target district 49, there are less than 30 kilometers left.

But this thirty-kilometer stretch is a vast, boundless primeval forest.

As human development expands, the intelligent beasts that originally inhabited the valleys have been squeezed out and are now concentrated in this core area. Although several rounds of large-scale extermination by S-class and Celestial-class mechs have almost wiped out the King-class and General-class intelligent beasts, the danger here should not be underestimated.

Inside the fortress, the facilities were complete but rudimentary.

The rooms were assigned to everyone, with two people left to guard the vehicles while the others took turns washing up.

An hour later, everyone gathered in the fortress's mess hall for a meal.

All ingredients and water are handled by the team members themselves to ensure that there are no intelligent beast viruses or contamination.

The atmosphere eased further during the meal.

Old Man Elon began to lay out the detailed action plan for tomorrow:

"1. We will depart promptly at 6:00 AM tomorrow. Fortress 49 will rent a Star Horse Beast for us to help transport some of the heavy supplies."

2. My guide, Old Dog, and I will set off first to scout the route, clear obstacles, and confirm safety. The team will be divided into two groups, with us in front and the main force behind, maintaining a distance of three kilometers.

3. Caitlin, you're in charge of bringing up the rear and ensuring safety.

4. The team's only three walkie-talkies were carried by me, Caitlin, and Jiansheng respectively. The snipers had to maintain real-time communication with the front lines and be ready to provide fire support and reconnaissance at any time.

Did you understand?

"clear!"

The crowd responded in unison.

After the meal, everyone dispersed to begin final preparations for departure.

Jiansheng sat on the edge of the bed and carefully wiped Xiaobaisheng's body. The little guy twisted and turned unwillingly, making protesting whimpering noises.

"Little one, we're going into the forest tomorrow, we have to survive together."

Jiansheng gently poked its little head, his tone gentle yet firm.

He looked up at the window. The night was deep, and the distant forest resembled a silent giant beast, lurking in the darkness.

Southern Valley, District 49.

This is where he earned his first pot of gold in this world.

That was also the starting point for him to truly establish himself.

Jian Sheng gripped the sniper rifle tightly; the cold metallic touch calmed his mind.

His gaze became sharp and resolute.

This rain won't break me.

This forest will not confine me.