Fang Hong nodded, clearly regarding the other with fresh eyes. Judging by their performance alone, he had thought they were someone with a fierce temper.

"Do you know that man?" he asked, pointing to the shifty-looking individual.

"The Blood Oath Alliance member?" Sophie shook her head, "Why would I know such a minor character? What's up, are you angry? Do you want me to have my people teach him a lesson?"

"No need."

Fang Hong shook his head.

How could he let others do this sort of thing for him?

Moreover, while they were reciprocating each other's gestures, the Captain of the Free Adventure Group clearly wasn't buying their pretense, his face twisted in mockery, "But after all that's been said, that woman poses the greatest threat to you. After all, our goal isn't the lowest level. That monster woman surely wouldn't stoop to contesting with us minor characters on this level, right?"

With a clap of his hands, he said, "So no matter how you dress up your words, such good fortune is best left not even considered. At worst, we part ways here, and everyone has a tough time."

The shifty-looking fellow was clearly grinding his teeth in frustration but was helpless against the other party. After all, should a fight break out at this juncture, there would be no need to think about anything that followed.

The Dwarf also glanced at the man before opening his mouth to say, "Do you really think so? But that's hardly your true feelings, friend. That woman drove you into the Dead Silence Zone; do you really think she has any good intentions?"

His words instantly provoked a buzz of conversation among the crowd.

Clearly, he had touched on the very concerns that troubled them.

Seeing things going south, the Captain of the Free Adventure Group quickly spoke up to steady the crowd, "Don't listen to his nonsense. If it comes to it, we can just drop out of the competition and leave this place. We might even pick up some benefits watching them compete with that monster woman—"

"That's a nice thought, but it's unrealistic," the Dwarf shook his head, "That stone bridge was already cracking when we crossed it. If you are not afraid of dying, you could try going back over it. Or use a spell, try to fly over that abyss—maybe you'll make it. But don't say I didn't warn you, here, everyone only gets one chance."

This silenced the Captain of the Free Adventure Group, as this was a fact known to all.

In reality, this was exactly what he was most worried about; otherwise, he would have left this place long ago.

Fang Hong also furrowed his brows, realizing that perhaps the stone bridge and cliff were not as simple as he had imagined.

Meanwhile, Elisa, who had walked past and stood aside, finally spoke up, "I think everyone should give a little. Mr. Stirling, given that it was Jiefulite who first suggested we discuss this together, we can't deny others any room to negotiate, right? I believe what the Captain just said is correct; your goal is the thirteenth layer, while the rest of us aim only to gain some benefits for self-preservation, which doesn't conflict, does it?"

Fang Hong, from a distance, was taken aback when he heard this.

Sophie also smiled and said to him, "Looks like your sweetheart is siding with the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, Mr. Ade."

Fang Hong gave her an annoyed look but also had some doubts in his mind. Elisa's words seemed to be speaking for others, but in reality, she was facilitating an alliance between the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and these small guilds and the Free Adventure Group.

If she did not want to see the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team benefit from the situation, she could have simply stayed silent, but that didn't rule out the possibility of a private deal between the Rain Listeners and the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team. Relationships within the Grand Guild were never that simple.

He glanced at both sides, wondering if the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Blood Oath Alliance had already relented?

Sure enough, upon Elisa's remark, the Dwarf tactfully nodded and responded, "Alright, we can tentatively agree to share some of the rewards for this level with everyone. If you don't trust the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, we can form an agreement here and have the Lord Goddess bear witness."

This statement set the crowd astir.

This was clearly one of the outcomes they had been hoping for. Of course, they did not expect the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Blood Oath Alliance to make concessions with the twelfth and thirteenth-layer disputes. But what of it?

Together, these remaining people, along with the Rain Listeners, might well pose a challenge to both the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Blood Oath Alliance.

After all, no one believed that the interests of the Rain Listeners would completely align with those of the Blood Oath Alliance or the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team.

But rather, it was a mutual use of each other.

So the previously hesitant small guilds and Free Adventure Groups began to be swayed, reaching an agreement and starting to draft the covenant.

Only Fang Hong, with a furrowed brow, scanned the crowd, then turned to ask the Dual Swordsman of the Rain Listeners, "Are all the members of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team and the Blood Oath Alliance here?"

"I don't think so," the Dual Swordsman replied without suspicion, shaking his head, "There should still be a few Scouts out there, but not many."

Fang Hong nodded in noncommittal acknowledgment.

"What do you want to ask him?" But Sophie, who had been observing from the side, perceived that this wasn't the answer he wanted and asked, "Did you think of something?"

After a moment of thought, Fang Hong entered a line of text in a private channel:

"The Night Lizard People are not here."

Sophie was taken aback, then a realization dawned on her, "This is getting interesting. The Jiefulite Red Cloak Team is aiming for more than just a small gain. Those people might have sold themselves out without even realizing it. However, what's strange is, by all accounts, the Rain Listeners should be aware of this, didn't you remind them?"

Fang Hong shook his head, offering no reply.

But Sophie, looking at him, asked further, "And as for that woman they mentioned, you know her, don't you?"

Fang Hong was slightly startled, then he raised his head to look at her.

...

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