——System prompt: Congratulations! You have slain a powerful demon bug and gained combat experience. You have obtained 1 General Star Fragment, 2 Soldier Soul Fragments, and War General Talisman upgrade progress (2/20)!

Soldier Soul Fragments dropped too! So, will the War Talisman be far behind?

Big Charles was overjoyed: “Did we wipe it out with just one bomb this time?”

Samuel Grant replied, “Oil-fire bombs are even more powerful in enclosed spaces, and they can produce more oily smoke to suffocate and kill!”

So that’s how it is.

Big Charles asked the key question: “We already have two General Star Fragments so quickly. At this rate, we’ll reach 2 stars soon, right?”

Samuel Grant replied, “There are three uncertainties. First, we don’t have enough ammo, so it’s uncertain.”

Big Charles exclaimed, “But can’t we fight to get more oil and replenish as we go?”

“All the replenished oil is crude oil, so its power is uncertain. Second, the timing is also uncertain—you must leave before the You hour. Third, the number of demon bugs is uncertain, and after blasting two, it’s unclear if the others will scatter and hide.”

Big Charles was stunned. Are you an uncertainty repeater? But, it’s precisely this constant uncertainty that makes you seem reliable! It’s those who pat their chests and make big promises that are worrisome.

Alright, after all, we’ve endured for half a year already. Expecting an immediate breakthrough isn’t realistic; it’s better to be steady and cautious. But who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and have a real breakthrough?

The oil pot was boiling, and the first batch of foul-smelling, murky bug oil was only poured into the gourd after being filtered twice through a sieve.

After replenishing a round of ammo, Samuel Grant’s smoke oil continued to sweep through the small bug swarm, but it took quite a while to find the third demon bug.

There was no lucky breakthrough; the worst-case scenario happened!

Then the fourth one appeared on the way back, and it was only because the rooster crowed toward the rear that Big Charles was alerted. Staring at that tire-sized black scorpion, Big Charles was almost scared breathless!

This skirmish consumed two more oil gourds.

In other words, not only do demon bugs run, but they also play hide-and-seek with the “hunter”! At this rate, the War General Talisman’s upgrade progress won’t even reach ten fragments!

This performance isn’t just steady and cautious—it’s downright pathetic! Finally getting the once-a-year Dragon Boat Festival dungeon, with demon bugs that don’t even fight back, and this is the result?

Big Charles got anxious: “At this rate, we’ll run out of ammo. Is there any way to keep the demon bugs from running around?”

Samuel Grant replied, “After the You hour, the demon bugs won’t run. They’ll actively come to attack.”

So that’s it!

In the end, this is a magic realm, and the whole point is this dilemma! If you want big rewards, you have to risk your life and play the high-difficulty stage after the You hour. If you don’t risk your life, you just get a few fragments as a token for newbies.

So what’s Samuel Grant’s intention in assigning me this dungeon? To test my caution and ability to advance and retreat as a commander? Or to keep testing if I’m truly fearless and have the qualities of a warrior?

Obviously the latter. The boss is the commander; fearless employees are the boss’s favorite. I didn’t do well in the interview to begin with—if I chicken out here, I’ll have wasted this opportunity. How could I face her? What can a one-star War General do against Chicken Bro? He already has the cave master and Mark Ford’s two War General Talismans, and with today’s festival, he’ll probably get another one! Honestly, this dungeon is more suited for Chicken Bro, who already has two War General Talismans!

Big Charles asked, “So, are you confident about handling the situation after the You hour?”

Samuel Grant replied, “Uncertain! Only if I can keep leveling up and getting stronger, plus have a terrain advantage, is there a chance.”

Keep leveling up? It takes 20 fragments to reach 2 stars, 30 for 3 stars, 40 for 4 stars… Are there that many demon bugs? Can I even withstand that many?

Big Charles asked again, “What do you mean by terrain advantage?”

“High ground, not being surrounded, good ventilation, and digging multiple trenches to burn oil for defense.”

Big Charles’s heart skipped a beat: “So you actually have a way to defend?”

“Anyone can talk about it, but whoever actually uses it is a fool.”

That’s the blurry line between armchair strategists and real military experts—reliable!

Big Charles steeled himself: “I’ve decided not to leave after the You hour. I’ll fight to the end! So you—”

Honestly, if she were a real person, Big Charles would feel awkward asking her to risk her life together. But the War General Talisman is just a player’s combat unit, so…

Samuel Grant replied, “If you die in battle, I’ll return to my original form as a talisman.”

Uh… Fighting to the end doesn’t mean dying in battle! Fine.

Big Charles said awkwardly, “Then let’s ignore the demon bugs for now, save all our ammo, and hurry to find a favorable terrain and dig some defenses…”

Chapter 6: Yongchang’s Number One

Yongchang City, Tiger Elephant Hall.

Ivory as beams, tiger skins as chairs, rhino horns as cups, python skins as drums.

Matthew Ford, accompanied by his wife Victor Brooks, held a grand banquet for his ministers to celebrate the festival and honor their ancestors. His fierce generals James King, Adam Howard, Douglas Stone, Martin Young, Mark Ford, as well as allied tribal leaders Donald King, Luke King, the cave master, and Franklin Young, all gathered together.

In most Three Kingdoms stories, everyone present would be considered third- or fourth-rate generals—distinctive but not very good at leading troops. But here, just a few words over wine can decide the fate of the entire Southern Region—these are true big shots.

Chicken Bro is the only player attending this feast as a ninth-rank agricultural official, “Livestock Supervisor,” responsible for the behind-the-scenes cooking.