After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

In the strictest sense, Tasya was not yet a member of his team, and she had to formally terminate her adventurer's contract with the Scarlet Adventure Group.

"—Sorry."

A sudden heavy voice interrupted Lin Da's thoughts.

He was somewhat surprised and looked at the frowning girl in front of him, waiting for her to continue.

Lia, not daring to meet Lin Da's eyes, played with the hilt of the Phoenix Feather Sword and said sheepishly,

"That old problem of mine acted up again, always thinking I can win any battle, making you worry, so... anyway, um, sorry."

Lin Da's expression softened slightly, and he patted Lia on the shoulder. It was not easy for Lia, who could be cooked in a pot by Magical Creatures and still remain tough, to admit this frankly.

He handed her the level 31 orange accessory, [Snake People Chieftain's Fiery Red Bead].

"Although it's only orange, this piece is very suitable for you. I'll make up the difference in equipment cost after we leave the Great Mystery Continent."

How could she accept this...

Lia wanted to decline, but thinking about the Snow Goose Adventure Team's dire financial situation, she blushed and nodded.

Wearing the [Snake People Chieftain's Fiery Red Bead], Lia's Battle Qi became even hotter, sending her spirits soaring: "It feels even better than a regular epic!"

The 15% increase in fire damage was significant.

Lia couldn't see the specific stats of the equipment, but she could approximately feel the powers within the accessory.

"If only I could get a Fire Series Epic Great Sword," Lin Da murmured to himself.

The current version 1.3 of the game still had room for enhancement for Lia.

Having the powerful skill [Energy Charging], Lia especially benefited from Attack enhancements.

The most significant increase in attack came from the main weapon.

Overall, with Tasya completely equipped with level 34 orange gear and wielding an Epic Two-Star [Shell Rush Sand], it was hard to achieve further enhancements.

And Lin Da's own enhancement wouldn't cause a qualitative change.

He would just become tougher, with higher sustained damage.

It was a linear enhancement.

In comparison, Lia had the greatest potential for enhancement.

Starfire Airstream Slash + Energy Charging, combined with an Epic Sword...

The damage would be simply beautiful.

In Lin Da's mind, the image of an orange fox flashed by.

Killing a Moon rank adventurer required burst damage.

Otherwise, the opponent would deploy the Battle Qi Twin Wings and simply fly away before defeat.

Moon ranks could fly.

This was a crushing advantage over most Star Ranks.

Moon ranks could advance or retreat, fight or flee.

They completely controlled the initiative.

Subduing Hu Er, with Lia's talent for burst damage, was one of Lin Da's trump cards.

Lia still thought Lin Da was genuinely considering her interests and showed an embarrassed expression, "We're not even in the same team anymore, and you're still so good to me?"

That coy demeanor, Lin Da saw through it; this guy thought he liked her.

But early impressions are hard to change.

Unless it's dark, or their eyes are covered.

Otherwise, Lin Da found it difficult to see Lia as a potential romantic interest.

He said resignedly, "Even if you get the Epic Great Sword, it will be deducted from your pay; don't think too much about it."

Lia: "Huh?"

On the way back to the Snake-man camp, the two kept bickering.

Tasya remained silent, cautiously on guard around them.

From time to time, she looked at them with a hint of envy on her face.

...

The river water babbled, and the shores were covered in lush grass.

A scene filled with bird songs and the fragrance of flowers.

The only downside was that there were about a dozen injured Snake-man Soldiers lying around.

All of their limbs had been cut off, blood was profusely flowing from the severed parts, and they were screaming while trying to crawl away using their tails on the ground.

An orange fox hummed a tune, its fluffy tail swaying, carrying a small bamboo basket on its left hand, and wiggling its hips.

Like those Black-skinned Orcs picking cotton, enjoying the joy that labor brings.

When Lin Da and his team arrived, ready to pick the Dark Tree Fruits, they ran head-on into the fox.

At noon, the scorching sunlight dispersed the last wisp of mist, even the breeze that blew was hot enough to be bothersome.

Both groups stopped what they were doing.

They stood about twenty meters apart, looking at each other, their expressions frozen on their faces.

Wasn't this too much of a coincidence?
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Rivals meeting definitely made their eyes turn red.

The atmosphere suddenly cooled to freezing point.

The four people had different thoughts running through their heads.

However, they all shared one thing in common, except for Lia, the other three had a flash of murderous intent in their eyes.

For Tasya, Hu Er had almost gotten them eaten by the Forest Dragon, a matter of life and death, and if there was a chance to finish him off, she would not be soft-hearted.

It was the same for Lin Da.

Both publicly and privately, there was no reason to spare Hu Er.

"It's you!"

Lia, who did not fully understand the situation, eased the tense atmosphere.

She pointed at Hu Er and exclaimed, "It's the lady's lapdog!"

Half a month ago, Hu Er had feigned pursuing Lia and was rejected.

Lia often talked about this, and how the Moon rank adventurers were her lapdogs.

Despite the rejection, she still bragged about it afterward.

Seeing Lia standing with Lin Da, their unintentional intimate gestures made Hu Er furious.

When he tried to touch Lia's shoulder and hadn't even made contact, the young girl fiercely warned him, ready to fight at a moment's disagreement.

She'd rather sleep in a tree hole than adventure with him.

Self-considered handsome and skilled, Hu Er thought he was rejected because Lia was a Little Mossy Girl, naturally arrogant.

But now, seeing her with Lin Da, it didn't seem to be entirely the case.

'That Little Mossy Girl said a Moon rank isn't qualified to pursue her, does Lin Da qualify then? In her eyes, am I worse than a level 26 weakling adventurer?!'

Hu Er's face grew colder.

'Hey, wait, Star Rank?'

Suddenly, Hu Er's perception made a discovery.

He blinked in disbelief.

The aura emanating from Lin Da, was it Star Rank?

And not the kind of new Star Rank at level 30!

Hu Er's face greatly changed.

From the last time he met Lin Da to now, only half a month had passed.

During this half month, Lin Da had advanced from a level 26 adventurer by at least 4 levels…

This [Eye of True Knowledge] Lin Da, must not be left alive!

Inside Hu Er, his Battle Qi surged tumultuously.

While their thoughts aligned, their outward demeanor was polite.

Hu Er subtly shifted his body, opened his arms, and chuckled,

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. Didn't expect to meet Captain Lin Da here too, seems we are quite fated, look—we even teamed up to defeat this Snake-man camp.

Since we both contributed, the fruits of our labor should also be shared equally.

Or perhaps, are you planning to offer the fruits to me, a Moon rank, in exchange for protection?

Hahaha, just kidding, miss maid and Miss Lia's looks are quite scary, almost scared me there.

I, Hu Er, am all about fairness, only taking my share of the rewards. I've taken what belonged to me, the rest is yours."

Hu Er sat on a tree branch, rested his chin on his hand, and from a higher position, smiled at Lin Da.

Lin Da, expressionless, pulled out a Signal Flare Scroll from his waist, tore it open, and launched it into the sky.

It depicted the image of a blood-red Slime crying, the smoke lingered in the air for up to a minute, a universally recognized adventurer's distress signal on the continent.

Seeing the flare rise, Hu Er's eyelids twitched.

Who was Lin Da calling for help?

It should be noted, this was the enclosed Great Mystery Continent.

In this forest, there were likely only a few adventurers.

Yet Lin Da's face showed a trace of relief as he steadied his breath while holding his chest.

The only surplus action was using his body to shield a puzzled Lia, fearing she would ruin his plan.

"You took more than half."

Lin Da strode towards Hu Er.

With each step he took, Hu Er felt increasingly hot under the collar.

Hu Er anxiously thought, could Lin Da be calling for help from the White Dove Adventure Group? From the intel he gathered, the Phoenix Tail Flower and the White Dove Adventure Group were closely linked.

That level 39 [Mind's Eye] Abner...

Thinking of the blue-haired long-tailed Swordsman who always kept his eyes closed, a shadow fell across Hu Er's eyes.

As Lin Da continued walking, his tone slow, deliberately languid, he said, "You picked the tree fruit so sparsely, leaving less than 40 pieces, and you call this an equal share?"

The Snake-man Soldiers were the ones they distracted, and the chieftain was the one they defeated.

Hu Er merely lucked out and thought to share equally with them?

If it were an hour ago, Lin Da might still be a bit afraid of Hu Er.

But now, he, Lia, and Tasya, all were in full condition.