Starting Cultivation in Wasteland-Chapter 387 - 265: Fishing in Troubled Waters

Once Qu Jianlei sets his mind on something, he is very patient.

For the next two days, he persistently followed the three, until he watched them take down another supply control point.

The number of people at the dismantled control point was small, including the military station, there were not even forty people, and the supplies were pitifully scarce.

Perhaps due to consecutively losing two bases, the stationed Star Thieves were very vigilant and were on alert halfway through.

They launched a counterattack in an instant, but it was predictable that the counterattack was destined to be futile.

However, even this brief counterattack posed some threat to the three, and affected their attack efficiency a bit.

Even worse, the warehouse even had a preset trap, and the sudden fiery explosion sent the Earth Attribute B-level somersaulting.

Luckily for him, being of the Earth Attribute and having activated his armor in advance, otherwise, he might have suffered some minor injuries.

The three were attacking this supply control point not just to cut off the wings of the Star Thieves, but also because they needed to replenish supplies.

Pan Yifu chose Energy Blocks and some food, while the two B-levels chose fuel and ammunition.

Although the supplies were limited, they couldn’t take everything. As they were scavenging, the alarm sounded through the sky.

The three chose the supplies calmly and unhurriedly, then set a fire, but during this, they didn’t lay a hand on the people at the Settlement.

This shows they are not wanton slaughterers, but they are truly indifferent to the lives of ordinary people.

Shortly after they left, four more B-levels and a large number of Mechas were already in pursuit.

This time, the Star Thieves left only a few people to investigate, while the main force chased right after.

However, with Pan Yifu, an A-level, there, their pursuit was bound to be fruitless.

The two B-level members of the Pioneer Team weren’t very fast, and the pursuers got dangerously close at one point.

But Pan Yifu stopped to hold them off, and with one "Fire Rain," scared off the opposition from continuing the chase.

Qu Jianlei observed the whole process; even when the two B-levels faced danger, he had no interest in intervening.

You can be so cold towards others, of course, I can overlook you too!

The three-man team ran about twenty kilometers, completely shaking off the pursuers.

They then turned and ran another seven or eight kilometers, the Earth Attribute Warrior spoke up, "I want to first send these precious fuel supplies to the Secret Vault."

"Whatever," Pan Yifu replied casually, "I won’t go to Fat Fox’s Secret Vault, let’s meet at the usual place."

These two B-levels... are from the Fat Fox Pioneer Team? Qu Jianlei couldn’t help but sigh, indeed, Profound Level teams have a loftier view than Earth Level.

When he first encountered the Blazing Fire Team, his initial impression wasn’t particularly good, but after getting to know them more, he felt they were at least a normal team.

The members also have the pride of Pioneers, but they maintain considerable restraint towards the Indigenous People.

Gordo is an exception, but that guy always has ulterior motives and keeps up appearances, so can’t be viewed as a normal person.

Fat Fox is a Profound-level Pioneer Team, stationed on Zarif Star with an A-level holding the fort, so it’s understandable they might be a bit more overbearing.

Now that they are going to their own Secret Vault, Qu Jianlei doesn’t mind following to take a look.

He isn’t particularly interested in the Secret Vault of a Profound-level Team—since they are Profound Level, they must have many members and high demands.

He has some reservations about the actions of these two, but it doesn’t make him feel saintly enough to trouble them.

They are all in the Pioneer Team camp, and the Star Thieves are the main enemies, why do things that hurt friends and help foes?

If he were short on supplies, he could completely go to take them from the Star Thieves.

But right now, having nothing to do, there’s no harm in going along to identify the place, right?

Fat Fox’s Secret Vault is halfway up a mountain, covered by a huge rock, which indeed makes it quite hard to find unless observed from the air.

Qu Jianlei didn’t dare follow too closely, maintaining at least a kilometer’s distance.

However, what somewhat surprised him was that there were people in the Secret Vault, and not just three or five, but at least a dozen or so.

This was what he sensed, he couldn’t perceive how many were deep in the cave.

Does Fat Fox intend to help Blazing Fire in harassing the rear of the Star Thieves?

Qu Jianlei thought it over and felt he was being a bit naive. If there really was such news, he should have heard of it by now.

From a strategic perspective, while the Star Thieves besiege Blazing Fire, they also intend to strike at Black Rain, so the rear should be empty at this time.

So Fat Fox is likely planning to seize this opportunity to plunder a wave of Star Thieves, enriching their own reserves.

There’s no help for it; Qu Jianlei doesn’t want to think of people so badly, but... survival of the fittest is nature’s law.

The coldness and ruthlessness of Profound-level Teams, he has already felt, and with those Celestial Level Teams he hasn’t contacted... perhaps it’s better not to.

But the Fat Fox’s Secret Vault didn’t completely satisfy his curiosity, he still wanted to know where "the usual place" was.

The two B-levels rested in the Secret Vault overnight and set out again the next day, clearly meaning to meet up with Pan Yifu.

Qu Jianlei followed again, eventually discovering that their meeting place was beside a small creek over eighty kilometers away.

Continuing to follow for two days, he found that the three had set their sights on yet another supply control point.

This kind of raid also indirectly supported Blazing Fire... Qu Jianlei was too lazy to keep surveilling.

Others have started doing this, so he should also begin his interference actions.

Without even thinking, he knew the three would definitely act at night, so he quietly left and randomly chose a tax management point.

He decided to act at midnight.

He believed that with his spiritual attribute magic, his efficiency in attacking the tax points should be higher than that of the three-person team.

From assassination, resource transport to fire-setting, the entire process took only about two hours in total and went very smoothly.

After setting the fire, Qu Jianlei left but didn’t stop there; he attacked another tax management point.

That night, he single-handedly took down two tax management points, and later he learned that Pan Yifu and his team indeed took down that tax management point.

The Star Pirates, even if they were slow to respond, realized... This was definitely not the work of one team!

After a busy night, Qu Jianlei did not wait to observe the reaction of the Star Pirates but returned to the secret vault where Sullivan was located.

Although he was already an A-level warrior, the night’s turmoil exhausted part of his inner breath, so he needed some rest to recover.

After not seeing him for seven or eight days, Sullivan’s injuries had improved a lot, and upon seeing him, he was eager to express.

"I’ve been holding back enough these days, can we go to find Blazing Fire now?"

Qu Jianlei shook his head and replied very straightforwardly, "You can go yourself, I don’t have time to take you."

Sullivan listened and immediately felt discouraged, knowing well how tightly the Star Pirates were besieging Blazing Fire now.

He was considered tough, but with the other party away for the past few days, he didn’t even dare to leave the secret vault, "Don’t you need to report back?"

Who can make me report back? Qu Jianlei smiled indifferently, "My task is to disrupt the enemy’s rear."

Sullivan, although not very educated, could understand this strategy and thus despondently stated, "Looks like I still have to wait."

"Rest assured, your contributions have been valuable," Qu Jianlei said seriously, "Get well first, Blazing Fire will surely welcome you warmly."

Three days later, Qu Jianlei, feeling rejuvenated, moved out again.

He originally planned to take down two more tax management points but was stunned to find that some tax management points were already deserted.

After eavesdropping for a night, he learned that the Star Pirates were beginning to withdraw their forces.

In the past few days, tax points were continuously attacked, and evidence showed that it wasn’t only him and Pan Yifu who acted.

Some Star Pirates even recognized that one group should be from the Engineer Battalion.

The Engineer Battalion, a Profound-level Team hired by Black Rain, launching raids on Star Pirate territory was not surprising at all.

Because there were too many forces exploiting the chaos, the Star Pirates were unable to defend against them all, and even the rescue forces were stretched thin.

The Star Pirates fell into passiveness, and under such panic-stricken circumstances, they should appropriately adjust their siege strategies.

However, some leaders of the Star Pirates don’t see it that way; they think their siege on Blazing Fire has already started showing results.

Precisely because of this, the Pioneer Teams are initiating raids on their territory to alleviate pressure on Blazing Fire.

So, the Star Pirates decided: no changes to the front-line arrangements, but the rear... could be moderately retracted.

The desertion of tax management points would deal a huge blow to their reputation, adversely affecting their management and control.

But this time, the Star Pirates really didn’t care, determinedly ignoring their reputation to complete the eradication of Blazing Fire.

As long as they can achieve the combat objectives in their plan, what’s short-term reputation loss?

Thus, the personnel from most tax points have been relocated to nearby medium and large military stations to help empower these hubs.

Because of these retreats, the Star Pirates’ original networked management style had now become point-based.

This might imply weakness, but the Star Pirates didn’t care; their focus was on benefits... Can pride put food on the table?

As long as they can slaughter more Pioneer Warriors, eventually, both their pride and substance will be regained.

Qu Jianlei specifically went to a medium-sized military station to observe, only to discover: the strength of a medium-sized station is indeed remarkable.

Each station has a two-digit number of B-level warriors.

Although there are not many stations with over twenty B-level warriors, ten or more are still very formidable.

Plus hundreds of Mechas and various light and heavy weapons, even A-level warriors cannot easily take down in a short time.

There are a total of seventeen medium-sized stations belonging to the Star Pirates, indicating their strength.

Above the medium-sized stations are six large stations, plus a general station and a reserve force.

Qu Jianlei thinks, this cannot be called Star Pirates; it’s practically a massive army.

He believes if he launched a surprise attack to eliminate a medium-sized station instantly, there shouldn’t be much of an issue.

But for now, there’s no necessity for it; why should he alert the enemy?

Given the Star Pirates’ contraction, he should also contract and wait to see the change.

However, he focuses on observing a certain medium-sized station located by the river that belongs to the Star Pirates.

According to Sullivan’s information, the Star Pirates have a large warehouse near the station!

(Three Chapters updated, requesting September base monthly votes.)