Chapter 65: First Encounter with the Giant Serpent (3)

The Shur tribe’s village was extremely primitive, with human skulls and bonfires scattered everywhere; their only eating utensil was a simple rack holding a single pot—this also proved they had contact with the outside world, otherwise they wouldn’t have an iron pot.

Ye Nan’s mercenary team scattered individually, patrolling in loops, as if ready to strike at anything threatening their protectors—whether the giant serpent or outsiders from the Shur tribe.

“Looks like we’ll have snake meat tonight—this giant serpent’s flesh must be incredibly nourishing,” one mercenary said, nudging another as he walked.

“What’s so tasty about snake meat? It’s disgusting, and no one’s even bothered to process it yet. Besides, Bruce, do you really think you’ll get to eat it? Don’t you see our boss right over there?” The mercenary immediately grinned and mocked Bruce.

“No matter how strong your boss is, he’s still just one man—he can’t eat much, Rael. You’re clueless,” Bruce whispered, sneering at Rael.

“You don’t know—our boss is terrifying. Not just a giant serpent—even a car, he could swallow whole,” Rael muttered lowly: “You don’t know—he ate three whole cows last time, and still said he wasn’t full.”

“Three cows? Is your boss a glutton reborn? Eating that much,” Bruce said, then eyed Rael suspiciously: “You’re not lying, are you? We’ve partnered with your Satan Mercenary Team so many times—we’re practically old friends. Don’t lie to me.”

“Why would I lie to you?” Rael glanced around, saw no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice: “Did you see how our boss acted this morning?”

“I saw it—it wasn’t human. It was divine power. So strange. No wonder your mercenary team grew so fast—we can’t match you,” Bruce said enviously. Having a powerful boss was indeed a stroke of luck.

In the mercenary world, death was common, but a powerful boss drastically reduced mortality—after all, not every mission was a death trap; some could be completed without a single casualty if the boss was strong enough.

“That’s what I saw—but you don’t know the worst part yet. Our boss…,” Rael glanced around again, confirmed no one was watching, then whispered quickly: “He eats a lot. At least thirty bowls of rice per meal.”

“Thirty bowls?!” Bruce gasped, then cracked a joke: “Doesn’t your mercenary team go bankrupt from feeding him?”

Hiss! In the jungle, unseen by the two mercenaries, a serpent as thick as four adult arms coiled around a tree, flicking its tongue continuously.

Its dark green body blended perfectly with the surroundings; its slightly extended tongue sensed the light and heat ahead.

Its senses told it the two men were delicious prey—eating just one would satisfy it. With its simple mind, it pondered how to kill one without letting the other escape.

But its intelligence was too low—it thought for a long time before arriving at an answer: it would wait here until the two separated, then strike.

Both were prey, but it only needed to eat one now; it wanted to save the other for when it grew hungry again later. So it lay hidden, like a hunter, motionless in the jungle.

Ye Nan sat beside the fire, with Kenneth in front of him, turning logs over the flames; a string of snake meat glistened golden, releasing rich, mouthwatering aromas.

“Can we have some of that snake meat later?” Kerr approached, staring at the meat, swallowing hard. They’d received some rations from Ye Nan, but how could dry rations compare to this fragrant snake meat? So he boldly stepped forward to beg for some.

Kenneth glanced at Kerr but said nothing, quietly roasting the meat. Yet his silence didn’t mean others stayed quiet—Ed marched over, face grim, muscles in his arms bulging as if ready to explode.

“Kid, you dare lay hands on my food?”

“No!” Kerr flinched as Ed approached—Ed’s display that morning had shaken him deeply.

“I just thought you had so much, you couldn’t finish it all.”

“Who told you I couldn’t finish it?” Ed slapped Kerr across the face, leaving him dazed. Since his last mission, exposed to radiation, he needed massive amounts of food daily—otherwise the hunger and emptiness would kill him. For Kerr to even think of stealing his food was asking for death.

“How can you be like this?” Before anyone else spoke, Ellie stood up, voice righteous: “If you won’t share, just say no. Why hit someone?”

Seeing Ellie stand up, Ed instantly deflated. He stammered: “I was just a little impatient.”

Ye Nan ignored the commotion, instead wearing his headset and speaking with William Douglas.

“Dear Ye Nan, it’s so late—what brings you to me? Only you would dare call this late. Anyone else, I’d have screamed at them already.”

From the phone came William Douglas’s slightly weary voice. For an elderly man, especially one desperate to extend his lifespan, sleep was vital. Only a handful of people could call him at night—and Ye Nan was one. Though this favor was temporary.

Ye Nan heard the voice, showing no expression of pleasure at Douglas’s praise. He frowned and delivered bad news: “Respected Mr. Douglas, our expedition has encountered a problem. Just now, we discovered a massive creature. We can’t confirm what it is, but it filled me with danger.”

“You know—the Blood Orchid—we must obtain it at all costs. No room for error. That’s why I’m reporting to you.”

“You did right to call,” William Douglas rubbed his temples, considering how this unknown giant creature altered the mission. “I’ll send another mercenary team—with a tank or other heavy weapons. Is that acceptable?”

“If all else fails, abandon your mercenaries. Bring me the Blood Orchid. I know your little Godzilla is with you—order it to kill every single mercenary.”