As dawn broke and the red sun slowly rose above the horizon, the mastiffs that had been guarding the cliff all night began to stir.

"Oh no, Captain! These mastiffs refuse to leave. With the strength of our First Adventure Team alone, we probably won't be able to hold out until the Second Adventure Team's reinforcements arrive!"

Jimmy, who was standing on the rock watching from the sidelines, was somewhat worried. Looking at the team members in the camp who were beginning to panic, he couldn't help but step forward and whisper:

"Captain, should we consider abandoning this mission...?"

Vera was also a little scared, but she still hugged the large backpack tightly and glared at Jimmy:

"Do you know that a puppy of a Bear Mastiff is worth tens of thousands of dollars on the black market? Not to mention that Bear Mastiffs have a naturally keen sense of smell. With a Bear Mastiff and proper breeding, we won't have to go through so much trouble searching for precious food in the future. I would rather throw you away than throw it away!"

The creature inside the backpack seemed uncomfortable from being squeezed by her, and shifted restlessly a few times:

"Waaaah... Waaah..."

The cry was rather immature, but it was enough for the bear-mastiffs waiting below the cliff to hear.

"Woof!!!"

"Roar! Roar!!"

"Woof woof woof woof!!!"

The densely packed mastiffs immediately stood up straight, as if to climb up.

Puka's expression turned sinister, and he suddenly drew his long sword from his waist:

"Damn it! The Wolf Head Mercenary Group is about to form a marriage alliance with Baron Karl's mansion. How can we show our sincerity if we don't have a decent dowry?"

His expression was rather unpleasant, and he glared fiercely at Vera:

"Do you really think you can charm a baron with just your pretty face? Capturing the bear-mastiff cubs was Father's order. Are you trying to persuade me to give up?"

The last sentence was clearly addressed to Jimmy.

Jimmy dared not utter a sound, but seeing the increasing number of bear-mastiffs gathering below the cliff, he couldn't help but feel afraid.

"Everyone used up a lot of energy yesterday crossing the Thorn Plains, and Ralph and Jack were injured—now, facing such a large pack of Mastiffs, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on..."

"Then we shouldn't worry about their lives. My good brother is probably hoping I die in the snowy valley, so how could he possibly come to my rescue in time?"

Puka's gaze was gloomy, while Jimmy looked astonished and incredulous.

The captain means!

...

...

"Listen."

Pukadi glanced around at the mercenary squad members, some sitting and some lying down.

He casually untied the money pouch from his waist and tossed it to the ground; the heavy pouch struck the rock with a dull thud.

"Thump!"

The team members all looked over, somewhat puzzled.

"Here are ten platinum coins. You should know that this is enough for all of you to drink rye wine and eat white bread for a lifetime."

Puka used the tip of his knife to pry open the leather money bag, and the gold coins inside rolled out, shimmering alluringly in the sunlight.

"Gulp."

Xu Milu heard someone swallowing.

She had rested all night and was full of energy, but she never expected to see such a scene as soon as she stepped out of the tent.

A chorus of intense gazes fell upon the coins, creating a strange and somber atmosphere.

The roars of the bear-mastiffs below the cliff were so close that they seemed ready to pounce at any moment.

No one spoke.

They all guessed what Puka was about to say. Several heavily wounded mercenaries looked terrified, while Jimmy turned away with a pained expression, clenching his teeth tightly.

“These gold coins are more than you could ever earn in a lifetime, but now an opportunity is presented to you.”

Puka's gaze was calm, but his words were utterly cold:

“As you can see, these mastiffs are biting us relentlessly. If I continue to lead you, we will all die. It would be better for me to take Jimmy and Vera and break through to meet with the Second Adventure Team. Anyone who wants to stay here can take fifty gold coins, and anyone who is willing to cover my breakout can take one hundred gold coins.”

He didn't mention turning back to rescue the people after making contact, because in the current situation, everyone present understood without needing to say more.

How can we break out of this situation?

We have no choice but to fight with all our might.

This is money to buy your life.

Xu Milu was slightly taken aback, because she wasn't afraid of these bear-dogs because of the dimensional jumper.

But these seriously wounded mercenaries had no choice but to retreat.

Just by looking at the ferocious beasts drooling at the bottom of the cliff, it's clear that neither staying behind nor protecting the Puka siblings in their escape will end well for these mercenaries.

"Captain, if we hand over the bear mastiff puppies, maybe the bear mastiffs will leave, and we'll be saved!"

A mercenary with a bandage on his right arm could no longer bear the fear and shouted:

"We can leave as long as you hand over the Mastiff puppies. I don't want your gold coins, I just want to leave alive!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to be on edge. He rushed toward Vera without a care in the world, trying to snatch the large bag from her hand!

Thump—

A dull thud sounded as Puka stomped hard on his right arm, grinding it down with force.

“I won’t let go of my prey once I’ve got it. This is the heart of the Snow Valley, and I’m in charge here—obediently accept these gold coins, and I’ll take good care of your family, otherwise…”

His gaze was sinister, like that of a wolf searching for prey. He slowly surveyed his surroundings and spoke without warning:

"You know my methods. Vera, Jimmy, prepare for the raid, the rest of you cover."

Several wounded soldiers seemed to foresee their fate, silently stepping forward to pick up their share of gold coins, while others, with numb expressions, quietly hid the gold coins close to their bodies and picked up their weapons.

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