Universal Shelter: I have a gold entry at each level! - Chapter 10

Chapter 010: Wealth Comes from Unexpected Fortune

“A’Gu.”

The camp leader called out toward the hall entrance.

“Here.”

A plain-looking young man stepped inside.

The leader’s expression was grim as he asked, “How did the task I gave you go?”

“Leader, I never saw Bloodbeard’s men.”

A’Gu clenched his teeth in frustration. “I waited all day at the designated hill, but they never showed up.”

“Impossible! I personally made the deal with Bloodbeard!”

The leader abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as a knife.

His killing intent surged as he stared A’Gu down. “You’re telling me you really didn’t see them at the hill?”

“Leader, I wouldn’t dare lie to you.”

A’Gu forced himself to stand firm and not back away.

“Hmph! Maybe something delayed them.”

The leader narrowed his eyes at A’Gu before calming down and giving new orders.

**”Go to the hill again tomorrow. Tell them the plan has changed—the attack will happen the day after tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

A’Gu nodded respectfully.

“You may go.”

“Yes.”

A’Gu bowed and left the hall.

“Bang!”

The leader suddenly flipped the table, letting out a beast-like roar of rage.

“Those damn traitors think they can slip out of my grasp?”

His hoarse voice dripped with malice. “They want to run off to Moonlake Tribe? Fine. They can all just die.”

Ever since the underground well dried up, some of his hunters had been talking about defecting to Moonlake Tribe.

The three men who had eaten with him earlier?

They were all hunting squad captains.

During dinner, they had been testing his reaction—feeling out his stance.

Loyal dogs that had once obeyed without question were now thinking of running away.

“I had planned to bring them into Bloodbeard’s ranks.”

The leader leaned back in his chair, lips curling into a mocking smile.

“But it seems some of them are no longer worth keeping around.”

This so-called search for water?

Just an excuse.

The real plan—which he had arranged with Bloodbeard—was simple:

1. The bandits would attack the outer camp, killing a number of residents.
2. The leader would pretend to be forced into submission, leading his hunting squad to “join” Bloodbeard’s gang.
3. With dozens of trained hunters, he would gain authority within the bandit crew.
4. Bloodbeard would expand his forces and get women, while the camp leader secured power as one of Bloodbeard’s top men.

Mu Liang’s cold black eyes flashed with murderous intent.

It took everything in him to hold back the urge to slice this man’s throat right now.

The irony was almost laughable—

Bloodbeard wasn’t invading this camp by chance.

He had been invited.

Mu Liang had originally planned to warn the camp about the incoming raid.

But now?

After hearing this disgusting scheme?

The fate awaiting the weak—especially women and children—under the hands of ruthless bandits was too horrible to imagine.

And if Mino had never met those four bandit scouts…

If she had chosen to stay in the camp instead of leaving with him…

Mu Liang shook his head, brushing away unnecessary thoughts.

His mind flashed back to Mino’s dirt-streaked but bright smile.

Then, he looked at the scheming, muttering camp leader in front of him.

His decision was made.

This scum was already dead.

Moving like a shadow, Mu Liang silently stepped forward, his footsteps ghost-like and soundless.

He stayed close to the walls, avoiding the flickering firelight to keep his shadow from being seen.

Finally, he stood directly behind the camp leader.

“Damn traitors… Why can’t they just be obedient dogs?”

The leader leaned back in his chair, fuming with anger.

Mu Liang glanced at the cloth draped over the chair’s armrest, picked it up, and twisted it into a rope-like strip.

“Those captains… Their daughters aren’t bad either. Maybe I should—”

“Mmph!!”

Before he could finish, Mu Liang’s cloth gag wrapped around his mouth, cutting off his words.

“Mmph! Mmm!!”

Panic-stricken, the leader struggled to rise, but Mu Liang had already wrapped his arm around his throat, locking him in place.

“Welcome to hell.”

Mu Liang’s voice was calm, emotionless.

The leader’s eyes widened in terror, his hands clawing desperately at the iron grip around his neck.

He was a Strengthened Human.

And yet, no matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t even budge Mu Liang’s arm.

“Goodbye.”

“Crack!”

Mu Liang tightened his hold—

And snapped the leader’s neck with ease.

The man’s body went limp, his lifeless head slumping against the chair’s armrest.

Even in death, his eyes remained wide open, staring blankly at the hall’s entrance.

“Was it worth it?”

Mu Liang shook out the cloth, tossing it casually over the leader’s head.

With that done, he calmly began looting the hall, picking up several iron dining knives from the floor.

He wasn’t picky—if it was metal, it was worth taking.

It didn’t matter if someone else had used it.

He could melt it down and reforge it later.

“Not bad. Plenty of good stuff here.”

Mu Liang unhooked several long knives and swords from the walls, wrapped them in cloth, and secured them to his back.

After thoroughly searching the hall, he moved on to the leader’s personal quarters.

“Tsk. This bastard really lived in luxury.”

Mu Liang raised an eyebrow.

This room was even more lavish—

A thick fur-covered bed, three mounted wolf heads on the walls, and a beautifully crafted long knife resting on the bedside table.

Mu Liang shrugged, slinging the ornate knife onto his back before opening the nightstand’s drawer.

Inside was a wooden box.

Lifting the lid, he saw seven Beast Cores of varying sizes.

“Jackpot.”

Mu Liang’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he scooped up the Beast Cores.

The moment they touched his palm—

“Ding! Energy source detected. Convert into Evolution Points?”

“Convert.”

Finding Beast Cores had been one of his main reasons for coming here.

“Ding! Conversion successful. Gained 340 Evolution Points.”

Mu Liang shook his head, amused.

“Wealth comes from unexpected fortune.”

With his previous 80 Evolution Points, his total now sat at 420.

That was enough to evolve three tamed beasts to Level 3.

The night was still young, but for Mu Liang—

The real game was just beginning.