Chapter 154: No, You've Arrived at Just the Right Time
Of the four poachers, Cheng Tian left three: one was forcibly converted by the Ten Commandments, one was backstabbed by a living corpse teammate, and one was hit in the calf by a Vulcan Minigun.
This made Cheng Tian realize that while his frontal firepower was strong, he lacked skills to keep opponents from fleeing. If an enemy was determined to escape, he might not be able to stop them.
However, Cheng Tian quickly adjusted his mindset and used this skirmish to confirm the influence of the dungeon's special attributes on himself.
Theoretically, the Blazing Sun Mask Cheng Tian wore was a mystical item, but it didn't reduce the protective effect on his Primal Shell, which was a pleasant discovery.
The activation of the Ten Commandments also showed no reduced effect. Strictly speaking, Cheng Tian's Ten Commandments skill was another manifestation of the Martians' biotechnology research, highly compatible with the skewed biotechnology tree of 'Cadillacs and Dinosaurs'. The real concern was whether it would be restricted in a sword-and-magic dungeon.
However, one escaping meant that subsequent human poacher reinforcements or other complications might appear.
But in Cheng Tian's view, it was an opportunity to accelerate the completion of his mission.
"Whose subordinate are you?"
Cheng Tian asked from above, looking down at the poacher whose calf had been torn away by the Vulcan Minigun, rendering him unable to escape, and who had promptly surrendered.
These poachers were just mercenaries who risked their lives for money, not truly heinous anti-social individuals. Thus, when their lives were in danger, they surrendered the fastest.
"Butcher! Our boss is Butcher!"
The poacher, named Joe, suppressed his fear and tried to steady his trembling voice as he replied to Cheng Tian.
As a retired soldier, Joe was not timid; even if he was, he should have become braver. What truly terrified him was his former colleague beside him, whose face was ashen, no longer resembling a living person, yet still moving like one.
Although human civilization's development was forcibly interrupted for several centuries, some fascinating subcultures were preserved, such as zombies.
Joe wasn't afraid of death, but he was terrified of being inexplicably turned into a zombie!
So, even before Cheng Tian could ask for more details, he had already voluntarily revealed all sorts of information about his boss.
Butcher, real name unknown, is the boss of the Butcher Family. Their main business is poaching and selling dinosaur carcasses. Currently, the entire family is employed by the "Fessenden Genetic Laboratory".
Because all dinosaurs seemingly gained superpowers overnight a while ago, the genetic laboratory's demand for dinosaur samples surged. They wanted not only carcasses but also live specimens. Willing to pay handsomely and having already made a large down payment, the Butcher Family mobilized all their forces, even bringing unfamiliar cages for capturing live specimens. They rushed into this swamp forest, teeming with dinosaurs, hoping to make a fortune.
Their large-scale operation naturally couldn't escape the notice of the 'Dinosaur Protection Agency'. Of course, they were aware of this, so they had arranged some poachers like Joe on the outskirts of the swamp jungle to ambush what they considered to be fanatical dinosaur lovers.
However... Joe cautiously looked at Cheng Mouren, who had fully absorbed his revelations. Although the mask hid his facial expressions and psychological state, Joe had a strong feeling that Cheng Tian was probably not on the same side as those dinosaur lovers.
Being able to raise an elephant, which was larger than an ordinary dinosaur, suspected of genetic modification, and confirmed extinct, and then immediately ganging up to beat a Triceratops—how could that be the action of a dinosaur lover?
Soon, he confirmed his guess from Cheng Tian's words.
"Do you know of any dinosaur nests or places where dinosaurs collectively drink water in this forest?"
"I know! I know!"
The poacher frantically nodded, but after a slight pause, he belatedly realized and said with a pained expression,
"...Can I get bandaged first?"
Cheng Tian nodded.
Just as Joe the poacher was sweating profusely and bandaging himself with his portable first-aid kit, a roaring engine approached from afar.
In that instant, Joe's sweat glands burst open like a dam, spraying water wildly. Whether the newcomers were from the Dinosaur Protection Agency or the Butcher Family, it meant he might not live.
Fortunately, it was neither. The newcomer was a Lightning Rhythm motorcycle with a double sidecar—
The female archer, Eileen, with her single ponytail fluttering in the wind, made a dashing entrance!
"Looks like I missed something."
Eileen said, pushing her goggles onto her forehead as she looked at the human and dinosaur corpses on the ground.
"No, you've arrived at just the right time."
However, hearing Cheng Tian's reply, Eileen, who had shifted her gaze to his face, couldn't help but be stunned.
The Blazing Sun Mask—this was her first time seeing it. Its ancient yet somewhat eerie special patterns were indeed striking, but that wasn't the key to her daze.
She was stunned because the wind was telling her that Cheng Tian in front of her was not human, but a bright yet warm, small sun, subtly hinting at some danger.
While Eileen was dazed, Cheng Tian's gray contract team invitation had already been sent.
"I'll pay this time."
As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity. Cheng Mouren, who was previously sponsored for the contract fee by the rich woman Eileen, generously covered the cost of this contract.
As Eileen accepted the team invitation, she curiously reached out and lightly touched Cheng Tian's mask. Immediately, a burning sensation, as if touching a charcoal stove, came back from her fingertips. She quickly withdrew her finger and instinctively put it in her mouth to cool it down physically.
As a non-holder of the Sun God Gem Shard, merely touching the Blazing Sun Mask would cause repulsion. Moreover, it was currently embedded in Cheng Tian's forehead and being charged by the shard, so anyone who touched it would get burned.
If Cheng Tian wished, he could even lie down with the mask facing up, place a frying pan on his face, and act as an induction cooker... In fact, if he knew, he might really play around like that.
The poacher finished bandaging and was now wrapped around the war elephant's trunk, obediently guiding the way. Cheng Tian personally drove the drill battle car, forcefully clearing a path through the jungle, while Eileen slowly followed, carrying the orangutan and the living corpse poacher in her sidecar.
Their target was several dinosaur nests confirmed by the poachers. Cheng Tian was going to collect eggs.
Just over ten minutes after Cheng Tian and his group ventured deeper into the jungle, an old model Cadillac and a van arrived at the initial spawn point where Cheng Tian had first appeared.
The true protagonists of 'Cadillacs and Dinosaurs' had appeared, accompanied by a player squad engaged in a main quest activity.
The protagonist group looked at the dead Triceratops with grim faces, filled with indignation.
But then, their expressions gradually became strange, because the tracks discovered during the on-site investigation left them utterly baffled.
Jack, who owned his own modification shop, took one look and found fresh tire marks from a motorcycle and tracks from a light armored vehicle.
But at the same time, he also saw Triceratops footprints, rolling marks with three scratches, and... elephant footprints, confirmed to be extinct since the Great Cataclysm!?
"It must be that old bastard Fessenden again, experimenting to resurrect extinct creatures!"
Jack said with certainty to his companions.
Meanwhile, the players who emerged from the van also had question marks over their heads as they looked at the traces left by Cheng Tian's group... The data didn't say there would be war chariots and elephants at this stage, did it?