Chapter 037: "Let Everyone Judge"

Tang Mubai, “…”

He was truly astonished!

No matter how he tried to reason, Tang Mubai never imagined that when Lin Huafeng left earlier, it was to fetch money—and not just a little, but a whole million Federation credits!

It must be known that the Madman Mercenary Group is even smaller than the Miracle Mercenary Group. The total number of fighters is less than fifty. Although mercenary groups make money fast, they spend it just as quickly. To accumulate a million Federation credits, even when Tang Mubai’s father was around, would take several months.

But Lin Huafeng? He simply handed it over without hesitation!

“Uh, Uncle Lin, my family has money—not much, but enough to keep the restaurant running and for daily expenses, with some left over.”

Tang Mubai, stunned for a long moment, quickly stood up and explained in a low voice, “Don’t think that just because I didn’t offer a signing bonus, I’m broke. Actually, it’s because I don’t want to! Old Zhou and the others leaving taught me a lesson: a mercenary group doesn’t get stronger just by adding more people. What really matters is reliability!”

“That’s why, when I came to recruit today, I wanted to see if anyone would join ‘Miracle’ without a signing bonus. Those are the people I truly want!”

Lin Huafeng, “…”

His face tightened, his expression shifting rapidly as he looked at Tang Mubai speechlessly.

After a moment, he sighed, “If that’s your standard, I’m afraid you won’t recruit anyone.”

“No matter,” Tang Mubai lifted his chin calmly, “If no one joins, so be it. There’s no rule that says a mercenary group must have a certain number of people. As for venturing beyond the city, I can just collaborate with other groups. For example, Uncle Lin, would you mind adding me to your ‘Madman’ group when the time comes?”

As he spoke, Tang Mubai winked at Lin Huafeng.

Lin Huafeng was torn between laughter and exasperation, pointing at Tang Mubai, “You’re still as lazy as ever!”

He took a deep breath, then said seriously, “Don’t worry. My ‘Madman’ group always welcomes your ‘Miracle’ group. We’ll hunt together, just like your father and I used to when we ventured out to the wilds to slay fierce beasts!”

“Then I must thank you in advance, Uncle Lin.” Tang Mubai grinned, picked up the bank card, and handed it back to Lin Huafeng. “About this card…”

“Keep it!” Lin Huafeng interrupted. “You may not need money right now, but it’s best to keep it close—you never know when you’ll need it. Don’t refuse, or I’ll have to teach you a lesson!”

Lin Huafeng widened his eyes, raising fists the size of sandbags.

Tang Mubai, “…”

“Alright, I’ll accept it—but consider it a loan,” Tang Mubai retreated two steps, quickly adding, “Uncle Lin, if you don’t agree, I won’t take it even if you hit me. To be blunt, Uncle Lin, you might not even be able to catch me now!”

Lin Huafeng laughed in disbelief, “I never realized you could brag like this! I can’t catch you? What, have you mastered ‘Swift Step’ to perfection?”

‘Swift Step,’ though only a first-tier martial skill, when mastered, allowed one to run as fast as a car at full speed.

Of course, provided the practitioner possessed enough vitality!

“Not only mastered, I’ve reached the ‘Transcendent’ level!” Tang Mubai threw out a warning in advance, feigning pride, “I’m not boasting—before, I wasn’t serious about training, but the truth is, I’m a genius! Maybe not once in a millennium, but certainly once in a century!”

Lin Huafeng, “…”

“Alright, you’re a once-in-a-century genius. You’re amazing!” Lin Huafeng looked at Tang Mubai speechlessly, gave a thumbs-up in mock praise, “Keep being a ‘genius.’ I’ll go check on my side, see if those rascals have recruited anyone.”

He waved to Tang Mubai and turned to leave.

“Uncle Lin, if you don’t believe me, I’ll demonstrate for you!” Tang Mubai called after him.

Lin Huafeng didn’t look back, striding quickly into the crowd and vanishing.

Tang Mubai chuckled, settling back in his chair. “What a crime! Uncle Lin must be cursing me in his heart now; I boasted so outrageously. Thankfully he didn’t actually hit me—if he had, I’d have to endure it.”

He felt secretly grateful.

Boasting in front of Lin Huafeng was deliberate—so that, when venturing out with the Madman Mercenary Group, he wouldn’t have to hide his abilities too much.

Now, since he’d confessed in advance, Lin Huafeng would at least be mentally prepared—even if he took it mostly as a joke!

After all, Tang Mubai had branded himself as a genius.

He’d remain quiet until the moment he stunned everyone.

And as a genius, one naturally shouldn’t be measured by ordinary standards.

The bank card Lin Huafeng left was just right for buying a larger slaughterhouse.

…

He sat at his stall all morning.

With the rule of no signing bonus, Tang Mubai didn’t recruit a single person.

Fortunately, he was prepared—if there were no recruits, he’d simply represent ‘Miracle’ alone and cooperate with ‘Madman,’ which was even less effort!

Checking the time, he left the stall to have lunch nearby.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a neighboring stall in the adjacent aisle.

Curious, Tang Mubai rounded the corner to see what was happening.

At the front of a mercenary group’s stall, two men wearing badges identifying their group pointed at a young man with long hair and a handsome face, explaining to the crowd, amused,

“Folks, judge for yourselves—this young man doesn’t want a signing bonus, but he insists on bringing his whole family into the mercenary group. We refused. Did we do wrong?”

“You’re not aware—his family numbers over thirty! And among them, it’s all elders and children!”

“It’s not that we look down on the old, young, or women—if it were three or five, they’d be considered dependents, no problem. But thirty? Our mercenary group isn’t an orphanage—where would we find the money to support them all?”

“It’s not that we’re heartless. Frankly, is there any mercenary group here willing to accept so many freeloaders?”

…

The two men laid out the facts and reasoned, shouting at the crowd with frustration.

The onlookers had varied reactions—some mocked, some were speechless, some scorned.

The long-haired young man kept his head down, his face flushed—whether with anger or shame, it was unclear, but he trembled slightly.

He endured in silence for a moment, then turned to leave.

“Wait!” Tang Mubai raised his hand high, squeezed through the crowd, and called loudly, “Friend, wait! My mercenary group will take you, but there’s no signing bonus. Are you willing to join?”

At once, the whole scene fell silent, and everyone turned in unison to stare at Tang Mubai…