When the main troops openly left with the "wealth" accumulated over the years by the Evil Dog Team.
This previously oblivious faction finally had a reaction.
Upon hearing that they were gathering people and rushing to the two mines outside the town at the fastest speed, it seemed there were quite a number of them.
But to be honest.
Baimu looked at the large mine gradually being emptied and felt that those dilly-dallying people wouldn't make it in time. By the time they arrived, what would be left in the mine?
Not a single hair.
It's just unknown if the other mine would go as smoothly as it did here.
"Baimu! Time to go!"
Flop's shout brought him back to his senses, "The main force is almost gone. Only those of us covering the retreat are left. The demolition team is ready to blow up all the mine entrances and houses."
"Eh..."
"To make the other side truly realize that this mine will only be a burden to them, this must be done, even if it's troublesome for us to clean up afterward."
Flop shrugged.
After he spoke, a loud explosion sounded from the mine area.
Baimu thought of those hundred or so miners and once again felt the stark contrast of Liu Ge's mercy compared to the other leaders.
As the last wave of people withdrew.
The next "battlefield" would shift to the Quicksand Team's mine, where a defensive battle would be fought.
The Evil Dog Team would surely launch one or two attacks. Doing nothing would mean losing face in Pyrite Town for a lifetime, whether it's a split or welcoming a new leader. The loss in reputation and wealth would be immeasurable.
And as long as all miners were completely transferred through secret tunnels to the Quicksand Team's territory in the town, it would be almost equivalent to a victory.
Even if there's a desire not to retreat, the Evil Dog Team members, instigated by the Crystal Team, would find ways to make them retreat.
The next step would be negotiations.
Of course.
When cornered, the Evil Dog Team could do anything, including launching an attack on the Quicksand Team's other three mines, so Cang Zhilang had already dispatched the remaining teams to the other three mines early on.
He himself was stationed at one of the mines.
With layers of insurance, the Evil Dog Team could only swallow this bitter pill silently—
In theory.
But nothing is certain.
Fate may have been on their side, but only with one foot, which could step back at any moment.
When Baimu arrived safely at the mine he needed to guard, not-so-good news came from within Pyrite Town—the Evil Dog Team's highest-ranking officer had mobilized with seven squads!
Subtracting the teams sent to the other three mines, this was pretty much an all-out deployment from their side.
Moreover, they didn't split into two groups to intercept the teams heading to two mines; instead, they concentrated their forces to break through one place.
At the same time.
The action team at the other mine was experiencing numerous issues, making the sweep tactics unsmooth, with a high chance of clashing with the large force of the Evil Dog Team rushing in.
The most important thing was the mobilization of the highest-ranking officer of the Evil Dog Team.
It looked like the matter of the mine had really provoked the other side, to the point that they were willing to abandon the chaotic internal disputes of the Evil Dog Team and even risk being targeted by the remaining two highest-ranking officers joining forces against them, just to retaliate against the Quicksand Team first.
This impulsive action surprised many,
Did the Crystal Team make any efforts to stop him from deploying?
Who knows.
"Attacking two mines at once is indeed overconfident."
Flop's tone was not without a sigh, "Big Brother originally didn't support taking two at once. While it's easy for three squads to take a mine, defending it is hard."
Baimu asked, "So was it the decision of the highest-ranking officers to take two mines at once?"
"Of course, the objective was set by the bosses and agreed upon in their meeting, while we subordinates could only comply and plan accordingly."
Flop shook his head, "The achievements of the subordinates are credited to the superiors, but the responsibilities of the superiors are blamed on the subordinates—this is the current reality within the upper levels of the Quicksand Team."
Baimu was silently speechless.
He suddenly realized that although Flop called everyone 'boss' repeatedly, he actually held little reverence for either of them, unlike the genuineness when addressing Liu Ge as 'big brother.'
"So what are the implications for the direction of the battle?"
"Implications? Of course, we will separate some men from here to rush to aid another mine. We can't just sit back and let the other side successfully crush another team or even 'swap homes,' can we?"
Flop sighed, "Who knows, if the other side recaptured one mine, took another, they might be advancing towards us, singing all the way forward."
If the Evil Dog Team managed to take two mines back?
If such a thing actually happened, some forces in Pyrite Town would be laughing their heads off.
"Shouldn't the battle plan have anticipated such a scenario?" Baimu was very curious about how the original plan intended to address such a situation.
Flop laughed, "Chester, the leader of the Crystal Team, said that if such a situation arose, he would take care of it. But do you guess whether the highest-ranking officer deploying might have had his subtle encouragement?"
"...Uh, forgive me for being blunt, but how come it feels like you're a bit gleeful about this..."
"Of course, I'm gleeful. Once this rush ends, the little skirmishes between the Sand Group and Crystal Team will cease, and some people's unrealistic fantasies will be completely over."
Despite the looming crisis, Flop bore the air of someone who foresaw and even anticipated such an event.
At first glance.
It seemed that the real force pushing for the Evil Dog Team's highest-ranking officer's deployment was Flop and Liu Ge.
Reflecting on a certain suspicion he had about the two, Baimu felt more convinced that this assumption had a certain validity.
——
Ten minutes later.
Liu Ge's orders arrived.
Nearly all of his men were to rush to another mine for support, along with some of the Sanghe Team, but this did not include Baimu and his squad.
"Although you're staying behind, it doesn't mean you're at a safe rear. Nobody knows if the Evil Dog Team might launch a surprise attack. Your task is also critical."
Before leaving, Flop earnestly warned, "But remember, as long as the green hills are there, there's no need to worry about firewood. If the mine is lost, we can find a way to take it back, but if your life is gone, it's truly gone. If you have to run, run without any hesitations towards anyone or anything."
"...Mm."
Baimu nodded, asking worriedly, "Will Elder Cang Zhilang go to support the other mine?"
"Of course, kings face kings, generals face generals; this is the basic rule of Pyrite Town." After Flop finished speaking, he left with the main force.
And the temporary command of Baimu and his squad was handed over to a familiar face, Ayana.
"Lord Ayana!"
He hurried over to report.
Ayana, still with her mocha skin and towering at six feet, neither warmly nor coldly greeted him when she saw him, "What kind of dumb luck did you hit that Liu Ge's feeding you achievement and keeping you away from the front lines? Are you his love child? Or perhaps his half-brother?"
"Uh... I don't think so..."
Baimu awkwardly chuckled twice. Indeed, Liu Ge and Flop had been a bit too accommodating, sharing credit with him without a care.
"Hah."
Ayana casually shook her head, "I've already set the duty roster. Your squad is responsible for the evening shift. Any issues?"
Baimu saluted and shouted, "None! Thank you, big sis, for the care!"
"Cut it out. I just think your squad is useless, that the critical night and late night can't be entrusted to your squad. If you want, though, I don't mind if you want to take more shifts..."
"It's not impossible..."
"Just saying offhand, don't take it seriously."
"Okay..."