Concluding their idle chatter, Ming gestured to the empty space at the labyrinth's center, inquiring of Hawkins, "What is that open area in the middle of the maze for?"
"That space is reserved for you, specifically for a tent," Hawkins replied solemnly.
"Thank you," Ming nodded, sensing he'd become a mere tool in their grand scheme, with every detail meticulously considered.
Had the tables turned, with the exploiter now being exploited?
At 8:50,
"Everyone, prepare!" David seized a homemade megaphone, shouting from the highest point of the fortress. Ming stood at the eastern wall, while Mike, Alan, and Hawkins took their positions at the other three cardinal points.
The inhabitants of Zone 109 stood ready for battle.
"Check your equipment, and ensure sufficient physical and mental elixirs!"
"Activate and enhance all psychic abilities!"
"We've repelled the hordes thrice already; this is merely the fourth!"
"Prepare to face the enemy!"
"..."
At 9:00, dozens of white beams descended, landing within the labyrinth. Humanoid figures emerged, some pierced by the maze's spikes, immobilized, and left to roar in agony.
"Humanoid zombies!"
"At least they can't fly or climb up here!"
"Ha! We'll get through today unscathed!"
"Don't celebrate too soon; attack!"
"..."
"Very well."
A smile crept across Ming's face, sensing that today was the day to reclaim his losses. The numerous humanoid figures were highly valuable. However, they had agreed to dispatch their foes quickly, and Ming knew that individually preparing elixirs would undoubtedly slow them down. He needed a plan.
"Gutmann, are we capturing puppets today?" Hawkins approached Ming, pointing at the zombies within the maze, "Some puppet masters in our zone still lack suitable puppets. They…"
"Leave it to me. But capturing puppets may take some time. Will that affect our negotiations with those from Zone 31?" Ming furrowed his brow, maintaining his priorities.
"We must be efficient. How about capturing only five today?"
"Five is too few. Let's go for ten; I'll find a way to expedite the process!" Ming signaled to Mike and Alan, who nodded in understanding.
"I'll choose the strongest ones to make into puppets. If I don't pick them, order everyone to kill them!"
"Understood!" Hawkins agreed.
Ming then summoned the giant eagle, which swooped down and opened the tent at the labyrinth's center. Alan's eagle transported Mike to Ming's side.
"Big brother, how shall we begin?"
"You'll lure the zombies from the west, and I'll attract those from the east. Remember, bring only the ones that appear wealthy to my tent, got it?"
"Why just the wealthy-looking ones?"
"Do you even need to ask? Those with fine clothes are likely more powerful. Just look at me."
"Got it!"
Mike glanced at the well-dressed Ming and conceded; those who dressed lavishly were indeed formidable.
"What about those who don't seem wealthy?"
"I already told Hawkins, to kill them directly. They're of no use to us." Ming strode eastward without looking back, "Hurry up; we still have important matters to attend to!" With that, he vanished into the eastern labyrinth.
Mike gazed in the direction Ming had disappeared, scratching the back of his head, "Why does Big Brother seem a bit off today?"
"Stop scratching your head! Time is money; haven't you heard this saying?" Ming's impatient voice came from an unknown direction.
"Alright, alright, got it!" Mike sprinted towards the western maze, shouting, "Come on, attack me, quickly, now!"
Atop the city wall, Hawkins took the makeshift megaphone from David, bellowing, "Hold your fire! We need to capture puppets for our puppet masters today. Be patient! Strengthening them strengthens our zone as well!"
"Understood!"
"What should we do, then? We can't just stand idly by!"
"Yeah, I can't contain myself!"
"..."
Hawkins directed, "Ranged fighters, start by killing those impaled on the maze's spikes. Close-combat fighters can practice with ranged weapons. Later, if Gutmann and the others don't choose any, you can kill them directly! Did everyone understand?"
"We got it."
"What's so hard to understand about that?"
"..."
In the eastern part of the maze, Ming jumped along the labyrinth walls, selecting zombies while calculating how to maximize profit in the shortest time possible.
Time was crucial. With a little over 2 minutes to make each potion, he could choose five wealthy zombies and finish in 13 minutes, earning at least 3,000 coins. Adding Mike's share, perhaps he could recover 6,000 gold coins today.
This was just a conservative estimate. If there happened to be a minor tycoon zombie and he was lucky enough to make a critical hit potion, he might earn even more. Most importantly, he needed to arrive back at the tent with the zombies before Mike. As soon as he finished making his potions, Mike could lure the zombies back, completing the relay and saving time.
He also reminded himself to stay alert. He could only collect from each zombie once; otherwise, multiple attempts would leave them exposed and reveal his secret. After carefully considering everything, he felt reassured and continued to select zombies.
"This one looks very wealthy!" Ming spotted a female zombie carrying a Chanel bag.
She was definitely rich. Sure enough, she was the one. He then looked at another one wearing a seemingly high-end watch. This one also seemed wealthy, so he counted it in.
His sharp vision, thanks to the Eagle Eye talent, allowed him to see even a fly's leg clearly within a 100-meter range. This talent was incredibly useful.
"Those leather shoes look handmade. Alright, that's another one."
Ming retracted his gaze and continued to jump along the high walls of the labyrinth. Once he determined his targets, he leaped down into the maze's corridor. He first confronted the Chanel zombie. After dodging her attack, he immediately grabbed her hands, twisted them behind her back, and used a rope to bind her hands and feet. Just as he was about to hoist her up and catch the next zombie, he heard the sound of the rope snapping.
"Careless!" Ming dodged the attack from the Chanel zombie who had broken free from the rope.
Indeed, he had been careless. An ordinary rope could not withstand the strength of a five-star lord-level zombie, so breaking free was quite normal. Quickly, he moved behind the female zombie, grabbed her clothes from the back, and lifted her with one hand.
In this position, she couldn't attack or use any skills against him. At this moment, Ming's strength had surpassed that of a three-star king level.
A five-star lord-level zombie like this had no chance of breaking free from his grasp. Despite the Chanel zombie's struggle in mid-air, Ming proceeded toward the next target – the watch-wearing zombie.
Using the same method, he lifted the zombie and hurried back to the tent, closing the entrance.
On the city wall, everyone was shocked.
"his strength has reached such an incredible level!"
"He's playing with a five-star lord-level zombie as if it's a mere chick."
"Yeah, look how fast he's running. I'm seriously suspecting that the shadow that snatched the supply box in the second chapter was him."
"Don't doubt it, I guarantee it was him."
Inside the tent, Ming handed the potion to the Chanel zombie [Skill activated, collecting 2,000 gold coins from the target].
Ding~ Received 2,000 gold coins.
"Sure enough, she's rich!"
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