Volume One: The Planet of Ten Thousand Beasts Chapter 12: Divergence

“I disagree with dividing it evenly.” Wild Boar’s attitude was resolute.

“What do you mean, Wild Boar?” Cao Gang frowned at him. What was there to disagree about? They had always divided things this way.

“A team has its rules, and I understand that. But I believe this situation is different.” Wild Boar met Cao Gang’s gaze without the slightest hint of retreat.

“How is it different? Explain yourself.” Cao Gang’s brow furrowed even more deeply. He hated being challenged in front of the team.

“Taking on a mission is like going to war. Life and death are matters of fate, and fortune is beyond our control. If someone dies, we can only blame bad luck, not anyone else. But were Monkey and Hound’s deaths really the result of bad luck? I don’t think so. They were killed by their own people.” Wild Boar’s sharp gaze turned toward Wang Xiaoxin. “If it weren’t for your self-righteousness, Monkey and Hound wouldn’t have died. You wanted to play the saint and be the good person, and you got our own people killed. Are you satisfied now?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I only wanted to save them. I never wanted anyone to die.” Wang Xiaoxin had been blaming herself all along. She knew perfectly well that she bore responsibility for what had happened, but being accused so harshly to her face filled her with an inexplicable sense of grievance. Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.

“What are you trying to say, Wild Boar? Xiaoxin is a member of our team. No one wants to see a teammate die. It was an accident. No one wanted what happened today, but it has happened, and there’s no point dwelling on the cause now.” Cao Gang defended his girlfriend without hesitation.

“So you mean that when someone makes a mistake, they don’t have to bear any responsibility at all? We just let it pass without a fuss? Then did Monkey and Hound die for nothing?” Wild Boar demanded angrily.

“That’s not what I mean. They’re already dead. Those of us who are still alive have to carry on properly. We can’t allow this to lead to an even greater mistake,” Cao Gang explained.

“But they shouldn’t have died in the first place. Someone caused their deaths,” Wild Boar shouted.

“Wild Boar, I understand how you feel. Monkey and Hound’s deaths pain me as well. But the dead cannot be brought back to life. All we can do is learn from this and make sure we don’t repeat the same mistake.” Cao Gang naturally knew that Wang Xiaoxin was in the wrong, but she was his girlfriend. If he didn’t stand up for her, who would?

“That sounds very noble, but wrong is wrong. There can’t be no punishment at all.” Wild Boar gave a cold laugh.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Cao Gang was beginning to lose his temper. Deaths among team members were commonplace. As long as no one had deliberately harmed another, they had never pursued the matter further.

“I believe Wang Xiaoxin bears primary responsibility for Monkey and Hound’s deaths. She shouldn’t be included in this distribution, and she should also provide compensation to their families,” Wild Boar said.

“Wild Boar, get your facts straight. Everyone agreed to save those people at the time. You agreed as well. Xiaoxin didn’t act alone.” Cao Gang’s expression darkened.

“Everyone agreed?” Wild Boar sneered. “Ask Night Owl. Ask Rat whether they truly agreed.”

“I really don’t understand what you’re trying to accomplish. We’ve already lost two members. Do you have to tear the team apart before you’ll be satisfied? We’ve all been friends for so many years. Surely a little money isn’t worth this.” Cao Gang naturally wasn’t foolish enough to ask Li Juxu and Rat. He had seen the reluctance on their faces at the time. All he could do was appeal to their feelings.

“I’m seeking justice for my dead brothers. Otherwise, I might be next. Night Owl, Rat, what do you think? Should Wang Xiaoxin be included in the distribution? Should she compensate Monkey and Hound?” Wild Boar was furious, but he had not lost his reason. To deal with the team leader, he needed every member on his side.

Rat was short and timid, and he seldom spoke in daily life. But his hands were exceptionally nimble, and he was skilled at repairing firearms. Whenever anyone’s weapon malfunctioned or needed adjustment, they went to him, saving the team a considerable amount of money. Caught off guard when Wild Boar called on him, Rat looked first at Cao Gang’s unpleasant expression, then at Wild Boar’s furious face. For a moment, he had no idea how to begin.

Li Juxu was cold by nature and sparing with words. He rarely voiced his opinions within the team, and his relationships with the others were distant and ambiguous. While Wild Boar and Cao Gang argued, he sat cleaning the sniper rifle he had just acquired.

The rifle had been manufactured by Heavenly Works under the model name Ravager-002B. Its fine workmanship was secondary; what mattered was its formidable performance. It was at least one tier more powerful than his primary sniper rifle. After obtaining this superior weapon, his former favorite became a backup, while his old backup became a secondary backup.

Most people would probably sell a secondary backup sniper rifle for money. Li Juxu would never do that. He had always made a habit of leaving himself a way out.

No one could guarantee how long he would be able to keep the Ravager-002B. A backup sniper rifle that was never needed in one’s lifetime was a good thing. But if the day ever came when it was needed and there was no backup, that was true despair.

Sniper rifles placed extremely high demands on their users. Unlike pistols and submachine guns, which were readily bought and sold, secondhand sniper rifles generally fetched only half the price of new ones. Once sold, buying one again would cost far too much.

Li Juxu cleaned the Ravager-002B partly for maintenance, but also to familiarize himself with it. He needed to learn the weapon as quickly as possible, until it was as sensitive to him as his own fingers. Only then could he unleash its full power on the battlefield.

When he noticed everyone’s gaze fixed upon him, he paused briefly. Without raising his head, he continued wiping the Ravager-002B and said in a calm voice, “Sister Wang, how do you think the distribution should be handled? Should Monkey and Hound be compensated?”

Wang Xiaoxin was older than him. She had no nickname, and addressing her by her given name would have been impolite, so Li Juxu usually called her Sister Wang.

Rat silently marveled at the brilliance of the move. How had he not thought of deflecting the force this way? By throwing the question to Wang Xiaoxin, Li Juxu avoided offending both Wild Boar and Cao Gang, while still ensuring that the problem would be resolved.

Wang Xiaoxin had no choice but to agree with Wild Boar. Regardless of what she truly thought, she had to show that she was willing to pay for her mistake. Otherwise, she would have no reputation left within the team, and no one would trust her again.

Sure enough, Wang Xiaoxin’s expression shifted several times before she finally said, “I think Wild Boar is right. I never intended for Monkey and Hound to die, but they were sacrificed because I insisted on saving those people. I shouldn’t take any of this money. Even if I did, it would burn my hands. I hope the team leader won’t follow the usual rules this time and will exclude me from the distribution. I also want to say that even if Wild Boar hadn’t brought it up, I would have given all the money to compensate Monkey and Hound’s families.”

After she said that, Cao Gang naturally could no longer insist. The argument came to an end.

With one fewer person sharing the proceeds, Li Juxu and the others would each receive an additional one hundred and sixty thousand copper coins.