A second later, all the items in the inventory were transferred to Xu Zhiheng's storage space.
Seeing this, Zhou Yi let out a sigh of relief.
At least the items weren't lost. Perhaps he might even get a share of some good loot.
Su Xiaoman stared at Han Jin's corpse, her expression a complex mix of emotions.
“Brother Xu, Han Jin's things...”
“I'll keep them safe for now.”
Xu Zhiheng stood up, his voice growing serious.
“Han Jin was one of ours. He died in the line of duty, so his belongings naturally fall to our team to handle.”
Damon watched him with a cold gaze.
“No one's looking to rob a dead man.”
“Good.”
Xu Zhiheng adjusted his cuffs, looking as though he had finally disposed of a troublesome chore.
He was clearly far more concerned with the upcoming subjugation mission than he was with Han Jin's death.
“However, we need to renegotiate the original loot distribution.”
Damon's face darkened.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Our team has already lost a member.”
Xu Zhiheng turned his gaze to Rena.
“Han Jin was killed while following you to the treant nest. The danger of this mission is far greater than we anticipated, and continuing to cooperate means we're taking on a much higher risk.”
Ryan saw right through him. “So because you have fewer people, you want a larger share?”
Xu Zhiheng's expression remained unchanged.
“Though Han Jin is dead, he was still a member of our team. His share should be preserved and distributed among the remaining members.”
“Bullshit,”
Damon spat, showing absolutely no courtesy.
“We haven't even seen a hair of a treant, and he ran off into the woods to get himself killed. What share does he deserve?”
Zhou Yi flared up immediately. “He died on the way to the mission!”
Rena finally spoke. “He died because of his own stupidity.”
“We haven't even spotted the treants yet. Why should he get a share of the mission?”
Silence fell over the group.
Isolde didn't actually care about the shares, but since she was currently acting as a mercenary, she had to stand by her group to maintain her position.
She looked at Xu Zhiheng, her tone chilly.
“I warned him. Milo heard it too.”
Xu Zhiheng turned to Milo, who looked pale but could only nod, his lips trembling.
“...She did warn him.”
Rena continued, “You agreed to the rules. Now that he's dead, you want the living to pay for his stupidity? I've been a mercenary for years, and I've never heard of such a thing.”
A dark look flashed in Xu Zhiheng's eyes.
“Miss Rena, rules are rigid, but people are flexible...”
“If you don't like it, you can leave right now.”
Rena raised her hand and pointed toward the mist behind her.
“Han Jin's inventory is already in your pocket. If you head back to Grey Oak Village now, you won't be empty-handed.”
Xu Zhiheng remained silent.
He certainly wasn't going to turn back.
A unicorn had appeared, and Han Jin's death was highly suspicious.
More importantly, the treant mission likely held much higher-tier drops than they had anticipated.
Walking away now would be the real loss.
After a brief silence, Xu Zhiheng forced a gentle smile, acting as if the argument had never occurred.
“My apologies, I didn't think it through. Since Han Jin didn't formally participate in the subjugation, we won't count his share.”
Damon snorted, thoroughly disgusted by his spineless, opportunistic attitude.
Xu Zhiheng ignored him and continued.
“But we can't calculate the distribution on an individual basis anymore. From now on, we will record contributions based on our two respective teams.”
“The treant core, skill scrolls, and high-tier items will be distributed based on the overall contribution of each team. Common materials can be split internally within each team.”
Severn, who had remained silent until now, narrowed his eyes.
“Are you worried your people won't secure the final blow and will miss out on the loot?”
Xu Zhiheng's smile remained polite.
“I only want to ensure the distribution process is transparent.”
Rena pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Fine. The treant drops will be divided based on actual contribution.”
“But if anyone hoards mission-related loot, their entire team will forfeit their share if caught.”
Xu Zhiheng's eyes flickered slightly.
“The entire team?”
“If you can't manage your own people, you shouldn't be leading them.”
Rena stared back, refusing to yield an inch.
The smile on Xu Zhiheng's face stiffened slightly, but he ultimately nodded.
“Deal.”
The two sides had established a new set of rules.
Yet everyone knew such words only bound those who actually intended to play by the rules.
Isolde knew exactly what Xu Zhiheng actually intended to do.
He wouldn't follow them.
But that was even better.
Once he had filled his pockets, it would be far easier for her to sweep up everything the Descenders had collected.
Isolde's gaze drifted past the crowd, landing on Han Jin's corpse.
To the others, there were only pale bones and tangled vines.
But to her, a dark red Sinful Soul was floating right above the body.
With the matter temporarily settled, Damon looked up at the sky.
The night mist was still thick, and there wasn't the slightest hint of dawn breaking through the canopy.
“Let's head back to camp first.”
He slung his iron shield over his shoulder.
“What happened tonight is too bizarre. If we stay here, more of us might end up dead. We'll search for the treants after daybreak.”
Ryan nodded.
“Reece is still guarding the camp, and our supplies are all there.”
Zhou Yi, who had been desperate to get away from the corpse, immediately took a few steps back upon hearing this.
Xu Zhiheng raised no objections.
Han Jin was already dead.
Even if he wanted to investigate further, there was no need to keep the survivors exposed to the night mist.
Just as the group turned to leave, Rena spoke up.
“We need to handle the corpse.”
Xu Zhiheng stopped in his tracks.
“Why?”
Rena looked up at the blood dripping from the tree.
“Leaving such a strong scent of blood here will attract scrawny wolves, carrion crows, or other flesh-eating beasts before dawn.”
“If they follow the scent straight to our camp, are you going to be the one to feed them?”
Zhou Yi turned even paler, asking nervously, “Then what do we do?”
Rena pointed at Kolo. “You stay and help.”
Kolo was startled. “Me?”
“You're the strongest one here.”
Rena glanced up at the corpse hanging from the vines.
“Get him down, bury him in the black mud, and weigh him down with roots. If we're quick, we can clean this up before anything else arrives.”
Zhou Yi frowned immediately.
“Why does she have to be the one to stay?”
Rena shot him a cold look.
“Would you prefer to stay instead?”
Zhou Yi shut his mouth instantly.
The corpse hung just a short distance away, its pale bones gleaming under the moonlight.
Just looking at it made his stomach churn; there was no way he would touch it with his own hands.
Xu Zhiheng's gaze flickered between Rena and Kolo.
Kolo had just been suspected. If she were left here alone, she might indeed destroy the crime scene.
However, Han Jin's inventory was already in his possession.
He had already examined the wounds and the vines on the body as well.
Besides, Rena would be staying behind to keep an eye on her.
Xu Zhiheng finally nodded. “Then I'll leave it to you two.”
With that, he turned and walked away with Zhou Yi and Su Xiaoman, as if the deceased were not their teammate but an utter stranger.
Milo remained standing where he was, muttering under his breath.
“She didn't leave...”
“But someone is dead.”
“She didn't leave...”
These thoughts seemed stuck in his mind, colliding repeatedly.
Damon frowned and grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Let's go.”
Milo struggled violently.
“I can't leave! I have to watch her!”
“If you don't get some sleep, you won't even be able to walk tomorrow!”
Damon didn't waste any more words and simply dragged him away.
The voices faded into the distance, leaving only Rena and Kolo in the woods.
Along with the mangled corpse on the tree.
Kolo gripped her weapon, her eyes fixed on Rena.
“Are you really going to bury him in the black mud?”
“No rush.”
Rena walked up to the corpse, where the dark red soul was floating in front of Han Jin's chest.
Isolde raised her hand and gave a gentle wave.
The dark red soul flew right into her palm.
【Obtained: Sinful Soul × 1】
The notification flashed before her eyes. Isolde closed her fingers, acting as if nothing had happened.
But Kolo suddenly tensed.
She couldn't see the Sinful Soul, but her 【Beast Instinct】 allowed her to clearly sense that something around the corpse had vanished.
Kolo placed a hand on the hilt of her weapon, staring at Rena through her mask.
“What did you just take from him?”
Rena tilted her head, acting as if she didn't understand.
“What are you talking about?”
Kolo stared at her through the slits of her mask.
“Ever since we were at the tavern, everything about you has been fake. I can smell it.”
A flicker of interest appeared in Rena's eyes.
“And?”
Kolo's fingers slowly tightened, the air suddenly thick with tension.
“Who on earth are you?”
Rena pointed to her own face.
“Is that even a question?”
“Rena the mercenary.”
Kolo did not look away.
“No.”
“You aren't her.”
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