Make money by hiding in the interstellar battlefield!

He gripped the tree trunk tightly, his knuckles turning white, not daring to move an inch.

The daytime sunlight pierced through the tree canopy, casting unobstructed rays into the forest. Although the tree where he was hiding was dense with leaves, any slight movement would easily reveal his presence. Climbing down now would be tantamount to suicide. Since the intelligent beast intended to capture him alive, it must have laid an inescapable trap around him, even concealing his infrared tracks. This showed how meticulous the commander was.

He knew in his heart that if his guess was correct, the orcs wanted prisoners alive. Even if Old Man Elon and his group were captured alive, they would most likely be taken back to this camp to lure out the other survivors. This was his only chance to glimpse a turning point and find a way to survive, and even if it meant enduring extreme torment, he had to wait.

It remained motionless on the tree for three days and three nights.

He hadn't eaten a single bite; his throat was parched and burning. He only dared to tilt his head back slightly to catch a few drops of rainwater to moisten his throat during a downpour, daring not to drink more than that. He feared that drinking too much water would cause him to need to excrete, and even the slightest trace of human scent could be a death sentence, rendering his three days of forbearance futile. Faced with life and death, hunger, thirst, and the aching, stiff body were all insignificant; survival was his only obsession.

For the next three days, he dared not relax for a moment, continuously activating the system's information storage function, his eyes fixed on the camp below, repeatedly recording the appearance, figure, and every move of the three humans, engraving all their characteristics into his mind. The view from the treetop was limited, making it difficult to see details, so he patiently captured and refined the information bit by bit.

This was the only way out he could find after exhausting all his thoughts.

Heading east would mean returning to Fortress 49 via the same route, but the path would be fraught with ambushes by intelligent beasts, a certain death trap. Heading west would mean venturing alone into the boundless primeval rainforest, and after three days, not only would you fail to catch up with the main force, but you would also likely run into pursuing intelligent beasts, ultimately leading to certain death.

There is only a third way—to cross this mountain, head to the mountaintop watchtower set up in Seven Rings City, send out a distress signal, and pray that the city will send out an S-class Celestial Mech with flight capabilities for rescue.

But words alone are not enough; no one will believe his one-sided account. To secure rescue, he needs substantial leverage. The human tracks he repeatedly recorded are the core of that leverage—a human traitor colluding with the beastmen, harboring a hidden scheme. This intelligence is enough to make the city's higher-ups take it seriously, gambling that humanity's internal corruption is not yet complete.

On the fourth day, Xiao Baisheng rubbed against his skin repeatedly in the chest bag, his little nose twitching incessantly. Only after confirming that there was no star beast aura within a hundred meters around did Jiansheng dare to move down the tree trunk little by little.

The moment his feet touched the ground, his legs were already numb and sore that he could barely stand. He leaned against a tree trunk for a long time before he could see the ground clearly—it was covered with the transparent shells of arthropods. These herbivorous creatures, resembling blue centipedes and reaching lengths of twenty meters, had shells that could block infrared signals. No wonder his night vision devices hadn't detected them. The intelligent beast's calculations were far more comprehensive than he had imagined.

He immediately crawled on the ground, using the bushes for cover, and silently made his way to the abandoned camp. To cross the high mountain, he needed to replenish his supplies, even just a little bit, which would increase his chances of survival.

But the sight before him sank his heart. The camp had been completely looted; all human belongings—equipment, food, tools—had been swept away by the intelligent beasts, as if these ferocious creatures were filled with curiosity and covetousness towards everything human. He could only cut a tattered piece of cloth from the broken, fallen tent to wrap himself in, and rummage through the corners to find a few pieces of compressed dry rations that the intelligent beasts would disdain. Not daring to linger, he immediately set off into the depths of the mountains, following the route Old Dog had previously mentioned.

As the saying goes, "Looking at a mountain makes you feel like you're going to die from its appearance." The mountain peaks may seem close at hand, but once you start climbing, they seem endless. The mountain paths are rugged and difficult to traverse, the dense forests block out the sun, and the mountains are filled with colorless and odorless miasma, lurking with countless poisonous insects and beasts. Every step is fraught with danger.

However, the climb went more smoothly than expected. The abundant energy within his body provided a steady supply, preventing him from experiencing excessive fatigue even after several days without proper food intake. His physical recovery speed far exceeded that of ordinary people. During the climb, he even regretted abandoning a lot of crucial equipment to lighten his load; now, he realized he had worried too much.

The nights in the mountains were still unbearable. He dared not light a single fire, for fear of attracting ferocious and intelligent beasts. Every night, he could only climb tall trees and curl up on the branches to rest. Fortunately, Little White was there to keep watch. The little guy was extremely vigilant at night, and would let out a soft cry as a warning at the slightest sound, allowing him to sleep peacefully for a few hours. During the day, he would snuggle in his chest bag and sleep soundly to replenish his energy. The man and the beast had formed a silent understanding.

As he continued to climb, the surrounding vegetation gradually thinned out, and Jian Sheng knew that he was approaching the snow line at the summit. The southern valley of Seven Rings City was located in the low latitude region of Mother Nest Star, and there was no snow on the summit, but the change in vegetation already indicated that the end was near.

After another three days, he finally reached the mountaintop area. Looking up, he saw a solitary watchtower standing prominently in the distance.

The fatigue, torment, and fear of the past few days vanished at this moment. Jian Sheng couldn't help but smile, and gently patted Xiao Bai Sheng's head. His tense mind finally relaxed a little, and he set off to walk along the mountain path toward the watchtower.

But the next second, Little White suddenly stood up from his shoulder, its fine fur standing on end, its long nose frantically sniffing the air, emitting urgent and uneasy whispers, its little body trembling incessantly, conveying extreme vigilance.

Jian Sheng's heart tightened instantly, and alarm bells rang. The previous two warnings from Xiao Baisheng had saved his life each time, and now the little guy's senses were even more acute, so he would never act agitated without reason.

He immediately ducked down and hid in the grass behind the hillside, not daring to be careless in the slightest. He quickly set up the Reaper sniper rifle and stared intently at the watchtower through the scope.

The next moment, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The 8x scope firmly locked onto the two figures below the tower. His heart pounded like a drum in his chest, but his fingertips gripped the sniper trigger, remaining as steady as a rock, without the slightest tremor.

It was them—the three strangely behaving "humans" from the camp—who had now appeared in the mountaintop watchtower. Their steps were stiff and rigid, the curve of their necks lacked any natural human movement, and beneath their bare wrists, bluish-black veins writhed eerily under their skin, clearly indicating that they were traitors who had been corrupted by the intelligent beasts and had completely betrayed humanity.

A murderous intent surged in his eyes, but he suppressed it fiercely. He did not fire rashly, but instead embedded the sniper rifle deep into the cracks in the rocks, lying in wait among the weeds like a hunter in ambush, remaining prone for three whole days.

He meticulously ascertained their routines: the tall, thin traitor was responsible for adjusting the signal equipment, patrolling the tower every hour; the short, stocky traitor stood guard at the foot of the tower, never leaving their side. Occasionally, the two would look up and emit strange hisses towards the dense forest, communicating with the intelligent beasts lurking in the shadows. Jian Sheng watched all this expressionlessly, his heart devoid of any emotion, only cold calculation. He would never show the slightest mercy to traitors; his heart was filled with extreme cruelty and ruthlessness.

On the morning of the fourth day, as dawn broke, the short, stocky traitor finally turned and crawled into the shack to get warm clothes. The tall, thin traitor stood with his back to him, fiddling with the signal device, completely unsuspecting.

Right now.

Jian Sheng's breathing stopped abruptly, his eyes suddenly sharpened like knives, and he slowly exerted force with his fingertips.

boom--

The muffled sniper shot shattered the silence of the mountaintop. A specially made armor-piercing bullet shot out and accurately pierced the heart of the tall, thin traitor. The man didn't even utter a groan before falling straight to the ground. A thick, dark green fluid gushed from the wound, stinking and pungent, and he was no longer alive.

Hearing the commotion, the short, stocky traitor rushed out. Seeing his comrade dead, he immediately reached for his signal device, attempting to call for help. Jian Sheng, already armed, charged down the slope, his movements as swift as a ghost. In an instant, he was upon the traitor, the butt of his rifle slamming into the traitor's wrist with a sharp crack. The traitor screamed and tried to bite, but Jian Sheng grabbed his neck with one hand, slammed him to the ground, and pressed his knee firmly into his chest, the force almost crushing his ribs.

"Contact Seven Ring City, specifically the Windsor family, Percival. If you dare to play tricks, I'll make you wish you were dead."

His voice was devoid of any warmth, and the coldness in his eyes instantly chilled the traitor to the bone. It was a ruthless indifference to life, without the slightest hesitation. The traitor trembled, daring not to disobey in the face of absolute violence and murderous intent. Trembling, he activated his communication bracelet and sent out a top-secret distress signal.

The roars of intelligent beasts soon echoed outside the tower, the sound of their claws scratching at the tower was deafening. The horde arrived in an instant, surrounding the watchtower. Jian Sheng leaned against the iron gate, calmly checking his ammunition, his eyes remaining steadfast. He was gambling, gambling on the strength and ambition of the Windsor family; this was his only way out.

Just as the iron gate was about to be breached, a deafening roar came from the sky, and golden light pierced through the clouds, crushing all other sounds.

A mecha, its entire body gleaming gold, swooped down like a god and landed steadily on the mountaintop, sending countless intelligent beasts flying in the air.

This is an S-class gilded mecha, forged entirely from flowing, active gilded metal. The golden metallic liquid on the mecha's surface seems alive, slowly flowing and shimmering with light and shadow, exuding an aura of noble authority. The mecha's lines are smooth and sharp, with the Windsor family's signature golden lion emblem engraved on the shoulder armor, its lines surrounded by a pale golden energy halo. The core energy chamber shimmers with brilliant golden light, and every angle exudes ultimate power and aristocratic refinement, far surpassing ordinary mechas. The active metal moves slightly with the mecha's posture, possessing an invisible energy barrier that instantly reduces any attacks from surrounding intelligent beasts to ashes upon contact.

The mech's cockpit slowly opened, and a figure stepped out.

Percival Windsor, his golden hair as dazzling as the sun, was meticulously combed back. His deep blue eyes, like a cold pool, held an arrogant and disdainful gaze, exuding the innate nobility and aloofness of an aristocrat. He wore a well-tailored black combat uniform, with a gilded cape draped over his shoulders. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, radiating an aura of superiority, as if looking down upon the ants of the world. Even a glance at the intelligent beasts scattered on the ground was filled with undisguised contempt.

He didn't even use a weapon; he simply raised his hand and waved it lightly, a golden beam of energy gathering in his palm. With a casual sweep, the horde of intelligent beasts that had been attacking him exploded into ashes. The terrifying combat power of the S-class mech and the top-tier strength of the Windsor family were on full display at this moment.

Percival's gaze fell on Jian Sheng, his expression aristocratic scrutiny and arrogance, his tone indifferent yet authoritative: "You, are you the one who sent out the distress signal?"

Jian Sheng stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and showed no sign of panic on his face. He simply pulled the trembling traitor over and met the arrogant gaze with composure.

He won this all-or-nothing gamble.

The beast tide outside the watchtower was wiped out in an instant. The ground was littered with the stench of the intelligent beast carcasses. Percival didn't even glance at them. With a flick of his fingertips, the gilded mecha transformed into a flowing golden light and retracted into the miniature storage device on his wrist, showcasing the extraordinary sophistication of the S-class mecha.

He swept his blue eyes indifferently over Jian Sheng, then glanced at the traitor slumped on the ground. He parted his thin lips slightly, his tone condescending and condescending: "Come with me. The Windsor family will take over the aftermath. As for you, we'll talk about it when we get back to Seven Rings City."

Before Jian Sheng could respond, two Windsor family warriors dressed in black and gold uniforms stepped forward. Their auras were calm and composed, both possessing combat strength of at least C-rank. They flanked him, leaving him no room to resist. Percival turned and stepped onto his private aircraft. The gilded patterns flowing across the fuselage perfectly matched his demeanor, showcasing the grandeur of a top-tier nobleman.

The aircraft soared into the sky, heading straight for the core area of ​​Seven Rings City—the Windsor family's private residence. This top-tier noble family, which had dominated Seven Rings City for hundreds of years, possessed a vast private residence with towering walls and strict security; ordinary people were not even allowed to approach it. However, Jian Sheng was not taken to the above-ground mansion but directly to the family's underground base, the Windsor family's exclusive secret interrogation facility and the location of the family's core secrets.

The base was brightly lit, yet eerily silent. The walls were forged from a dark gold alloy that blocked all energy and signals. Expressionless guards stood on both sides of the corridor, and the floor beneath one's feet gleamed with a cold, hard metallic sheen, leading all the way to the interrogation rooms deep within. The air was thick with the faint scent of disinfectant and residual energy, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. This was the Windsor family's forbidden ground for dealing with traitors and conducting confidential interrogations; once you stepped into this place, your life or death was no longer in your own hands.

Jian Sheng was pressed onto the cold interrogation chair, his wrists and ankles firmly secured by specially made energy locks. The locks were surrounded by a pale blue suppressive aura, completely sealing off the faint crystalline energy within his body, rendering him immobile. Directly in front of him, behind a one-way transparent glass wall, Percival leaned lazily against a gilded armchair, his blond hair cascading over his shoulders, his blue eyes holding a cold, scrutinizing gaze. His aristocratic air remained undiminished, but his eyes revealed a sharp, all-seeing insight.

Several family researchers in white lab coats, holding sophisticated instruments, scanned Jian Sheng back and forth, checking whether he was infested with intelligent beasts or mentally corrupted. The faint light from the instruments flickered on his face. No one spoke throughout the process; only the subtle sounds of the instruments operating could be heard.

A moment later, a researcher bowed and reported to Percival behind the glass wall: "Young Master, there are no signs of parasitic beasts in his body, his mental energy is pure, there are no signs of being controlled, his physical data is abnormal, and his brain activity is far beyond that of ordinary people."

Percival slowly rose and strode into the interrogation room. His leather shoes clicked rhythmically on the metal floor, each step carrying an air of pressure. He stood before Jian Sheng, looking down at him with a detached yet undeniably authoritative tone: "Speak. Who are you? How did you manage to accurately snipe the Hydra? How did you uncover the human traitor? What is your purpose?"

Jian Sheng raised his eyes to meet his arrogant gaze. Without the slightest panic or deliberate pleading, he calmly stated the facts: "My name is Jian Sheng. I am just an ordinary person from the Sixth Ring. I hunted down intelligent beasts and uncovered the traitor, all for the sake of survival."

He didn't hide his experiences in the jungle, from joining the expedition team, fighting the intelligent beast at night, being abandoned by his teammates, to discovering the traitor on the mountaintop, and desperately calling for help. Every word was clear and logical, and his expression remained calm throughout. Even in dire straits, he showed no sign of humility. As for the system within him, he remained silent, attributing it only to his own observation skills and marksmanship.

Percival narrowed his blue eyes, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest, clearly judging the truthfulness of his words. Jian Sheng's calmness, ruthlessness, and extraordinary sniping talent, as well as his survival instincts, made him highly value him—such a person, who was alone, powerful, ruthless, and possessed intelligence about the incestuous relationship between the intelligent beasts, was exactly the kind of person the Windsor family needed.

After a long silence, Percival stopped what he was doing and stated the Windsor family's conditions in a cold, uncompromising voice:

"You possess crucial intelligence regarding the collusion between the intelligent beasts and human traitors, which is useful to the clan. My rescue of you this time is not without reason."

"The Windsor family can give you identity, resources, cultivation paths, and protection, allowing you to escape the fate of being at the bottom of the sixth ring, and providing you with everything you need to survive and become stronger."

"But from this day forward, you shall serve the Windsor family for the rest of your life and never betray them. The family has given you an order, and you must obey it unconditionally and become the sharpest blade in the family's hands."

He paused, a sharp glint in his blue eyes, and added, "Either agree to this contract, stay with the Windsor family, and get everything you want; or stay in this interrogation base, never to see the light of day again. The choice is yours."

Jian Sheng, observing the arrogance and domineering nature of the top nobleman before him, understood that this was a deal he couldn't refuse, and his only way out. Without the slightest hesitation, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and his voice was steady and clear:

"I agree."

To survive, to avoid being abandoned again, and to possess sufficient power, he had no choice but to willingly accept this contract of service.

Percival's lips curled into a faint, controlling smile. He raised his hand, and the energy lock that had imprisoned Jian Sheng instantly unlocked.

"Very well. From this day forward, you will be under my direct command. Remember your choice; the price of betraying the Windsor family is one you cannot afford."

Chapter Ten: Interrogation and Contract

The beast tide outside the watchtower was wiped out in an instant. The remains of the intelligent beasts scattered on the ground emitted a pungent stench. Percival didn't even spare a glance. With a flick of his fingertips, the S-class mech, made entirely of flowing, active, gilded metal, transformed into a dazzling golden light and retracted into the miniature storage device on his wrist. This demonstrated the extraordinary sophistication of the top-tier mech and showcased the unparalleled strength of the Windsor family.

He swept his blue eyes indifferently over Jian Sheng, then glanced at the traitor who was slumped on the ground, trembling. He parted his thin lips slightly, his tone condescending and brooking no argument: "Come with me. The Windsor family will take over the aftermath. Your matter will be discussed when we return to Seven Rings City."

Before Jian Sheng could respond, two Windsor family warriors in black and gold uniforms swiftly stepped forward. Their auras were calm and restrained, both possessing combat strength above C-rank. They lightly flanked him, their movements swift yet carrying absolute dominance, leaving him no room to resist. Percival turned and boarded his personal aircraft, its fuselage engraved with the Windsor family's golden lion crest. The gilded patterns flowed slowly with the movement of energy, perfectly complementing his aristocratic bearing. The aircraft soared into the sky, heading straight for the core area of ​​Seven Rings City.

As one of the top noble families in Seven Rings City, the Windsor family's private residence is surrounded by high walls and heavily guarded, and ordinary people are not even allowed to approach it. However, Jian Sheng was not taken to the magnificent mansion above ground, but was directly taken to the depths of the family's underground base—the Windsor family's top-secret interrogation base.

This is a forbidden area where the family deals with traitors and interrogates those holding core secrets. The entire base is forged from a dark gold alloy that isolates all energy and signals. The corridors are dimly lit, with expressionless, fully armed guards standing by. Every step you take echoes with cold metal. The air is filled with the chilling scent of disinfectant and residual energy. The oppressive atmosphere makes your heart clench, as if you have stepped into a prison isolated from the world.

Jian Sheng was roughly pressed onto the interrogation chair in the center, his wrists and ankles instantly locked in place by a specially made energy lock, rendering him unable to move. Directly in front of him, behind a one-way transparent glass wall, Percival leaned lazily against a gilded, carved armchair, his blond hair meticulously combed back, his deep blue eyes cold and piercing, carrying the innate scrutiny and arrogance of a nobleman, as if overlooking a caged beast, quietly awaiting the interrogation results.

Several family-owned researchers, dressed in white lab coats, scanned Jian Sheng back and forth with sophisticated mental detectors and physical analyzers. The faint light from the instruments cast shadows on his face. No one spoke throughout the process; only the subtle hum of the instruments could be heard. Every piece of data was transmitted in real time to a terminal behind the glass wall without any omissions.

A moment later, a researcher bowed and quickly walked to the glass wall, reporting in a low voice: "Young master, this person shows no signs of being parasitized by intelligent beasts, his mental energy is pure and untainted, his physical data is abnormal, his brain activity is far beyond that of ordinary people, and his sniping talent rating is extremely high."

Percival slowly rose, his leather shoes clicking crisply and authoritatively on the cold metal floor as he walked into the interrogation room. He stood tall and straight, dressed in a black family suit trimmed with gold, exuding the aura of a top-tier nobleman. His gaze, fixed on Jian Sheng, showed no emotion, yet possessed a sharp, all-seeing insight.

"State your identity. Snipe Hydra in the jungle and uncover the traitor on the mountaintop. These are not things that an ordinary civilian of the sixth ring could do. What is your purpose?"

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. There was no interrogation or intimidation, but his superior aura was enough to crush most people.

Jian Sheng raised his eyes to meet his haughty gaze, showing no sign of panic, his expression remaining calm. He didn't conceal his experiences in the jungle, from joining the expedition penniless, to sniping the commanding intelligent beast in the night with the six-legged dog, to being ruthlessly abandoned by his teammates, to lying in wait on the mountaintop to uncover the traitor, and finally making a desperate plea for help. Every word was clear and logical, his tone calm throughout, showing no trace of humility or cowardice even when in dire straits and under someone else's control. Regarding the secrets of the system within him, he attributed them calmly to his own observation skills and marksmanship, uttering not a word more.

Percival narrowed his blue eyes, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest of his chair as he silently scrutinized him. Jian Sheng's calmness, ruthlessness, composure in dire straits, extraordinary sniping talent, and his destitute, lowly background perfectly matched the Windsor family's needs—such a free, sharp, and obedient blade was exactly the kind of strength the family required.

After a long silence, he stopped moving, his cold voice echoing in the empty interrogation room, each word clear and unambiguous:

"You possess crucial intelligence about the collusion between the intelligent beasts and human traitors, which is useful to the Windsor family. My rescue of you is not without reason."

"The Windsor family can give you everything you want: a formal city identity, top-tier training resources, training in mechs and firearms, and sufficient protection to completely free you from the fate of an ant at the bottom of the sixth ring."

"But the price is—from this day forward, you will serve the Windsor family for life. The family has decreed that you must obey unconditionally and never betray them, becoming the family's exclusive weapon."

He paused, a sharp, oppressive glint flashing in his emerald eyes, and said in a more forceful tone, "Agree, and you will be able to leave this place and gain the right to become stronger; refuse, and you will be trapped here underground forever, never to see the light of day again."

Jian Sheng looked at the domineering and arrogant man before him, but felt no emotion whatsoever. He knew very well that this was not a negotiation, but the only way to survive. To avoid being abandoned again, to have the power to control his own destiny, and to live, he had no other choice.

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he met Percival's gaze, his voice steady and clear, without the slightest hesitation:

"I agree."

Percival's lips curled into a faint smile, one that conveyed absolute control. He raised his hand and waved it lightly, instantly dispelling the energy lock that had imprisoned Jian Sheng.

"Very well. From this day forward, you will be under my direct command. Remember this contract: the consequences of betraying the Windsor family are beyond your reach."