Chapter 16: The Fox

This was no longer a matter of a few monsters.

Reva understood well that behind the Rust Tide King lurked a mysterious force.

Judging by its current actions and its earlier audacious raid on the Defense Bureau’s supply station all on its own, Reva realized that the Defense Bureau was truly in trouble—at least here in the Ruined Light, their days would not be easy.

Of course, with OC Corporation looming behind the Defense Bureau—an enormous entity with an iron grip on Prism City—Reva didn’t believe that some unknown power could simply emerge and topple it overnight.

But… this was the Ruined Light, where anything was possible. What if?

If they couldn’t fight OC Corporation in Prism City, why not carve out their own territory here in the Ruined Light?

Deep in thought, Reva wore a pensive expression. Ye Mi watched her in silence, not daring to disturb her.

Amidst this heavy silence, a subordinate behind Reva, his face taut, clearly shaken by the news of the monster alliance, could not help but voice his doubts in a low voice: “Deputy Leader… but these monsters have slaughtered so many! We’re born enemies—how can we trust this? Who knows what schemes they’re hatching?”

His words grew more agitated, his dissent against the Rust Tide King’s proposal clear, his tone edged with a reckless defiance: “Besides! The Defense Bureau has placed a hefty bounty on it… Maybe we could use this chance to mend fences with them… Maybe we could escape the crackdown… Maybe our human camp could even prosper…”

The Rust Tide King, under Ye Mi’s control, swiveled its red-and-white electronic eyes abruptly on the disgruntled subordinate, the lights in its eyes narrowing to pinpoints.

Ye Mi could scarcely believe there was someone so foolish in the Grey Fox Gang, bold enough to say such things right in front of her.

A short, metallic, grating laugh was emitted, unrestrainedly mocking.

Ye Mi spoke bluntly: “Do you really think packaging yourself up and delivering yourself to your enemy will change your fate as their slave? That’s not cooperation—that’s walking right into their trap.”

“And besides,” the Rust Tide King’s voice was icy, its gaze chilling as it leaned in, exuding a heavy, oppressive presence, “before you fantasize about offering me up to curry favor with the Defense Bureau, know this: I could silence you for good right now, and your Deputy Leader wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

Its metal fingers flexed with a faint mechanical noise, a clear warning.

The Rust Tide King’s frigid gaze swept over the subordinate, whose face had drained of color, then returned to Reva. “This is the ruthless Ruined Light, not some playground for sentimental games. The Defense Bureau will only fit you with their custom neural controllers for the Ruined Light when the technology matures. They’ll never let you live freely in the human camp.”

“Idiot, shut your mouth!”

Reva barked, slamming her fist on the table with a resounding bang that echoed through the room.

She turned to glare at the insubordinate subordinate. “Are you out of your mind?! How many times has the Boss said it? The Grey Fox Gang stands proud! Even if we die out there and end up monster food, we’ll never bow and sully ourselves by siding with the Defense Bureau!”

With a brusque sweep of her hand, she pointed to the tightly closed door, her voice unyielding. “Get out! Right now. Go find the one who keeps the membership records and tell them you’re leaving the Grey Fox Gang. The farther you go, the better!”

The subordinate, pale and thoroughly chastised, shot the Rust Tide King a venomous glare, yanked open the heavy door, and stormed out, the door slamming shut with another dull thud.

Only Reva and another subordinate—holding his breath and scarcely daring to move—remained in the room.

Reva stubbed out the last bit of her cigarette on the table, leaving a fresh, smoldering scorch mark, and explained, “He was an orphan. The brother who raised him died at the hands of the Stag-Headed Butcher.”

“Hung up in the church, skinned and drained by the monster—only half a body left.”

That’s why his emotions were so raw; even in front of the Rust Tide King, he couldn’t accept the idea of cooperation.

This was the part Reva left unsaid.

She didn’t expect the Rust Tide King—a monster—to comprehend such feelings, no matter how human it seemed. After all, at its core, it was only a synthetic heart beating inside a machine.

But hidden behind the monster’s shell, Ye Mi understood. She understood why he’d acted so “foolishly”—it was a matter of principle. He would forever stand against the murderer of his kin, even if the choice endangered his own survival.

Otherwise, he could never answer to his dead brother.

Ye Mi fell silent for a moment, then asked, “...How many people like him are there in the human camp?”

It was a problem that could not be ignored.

Reva gave a short laugh. “Plenty.”

That could be trouble, Ye Mi thought.

It would determine whether cooperation could proceed smoothly.

Reva lit a new cigarette and said, “But not everyone would make his choice, nor would I handle it the same way every time.”

“He’s been with me a long time. If it was just about refusing to work with you, I could understand and console him. But he crossed a line—he actually entertained the idea of surrendering to the Defense Bureau.”

Reva said no more, but Ye Mi understood.

Reva paused, then moved on. “So, what’s your plan? Let’s be clear: there’s no way the human camp and monsters can coexist in the same area.”

Ye Mi didn’t hesitate in the slightest. “Of course. We’ll remain in our own stronghold.”

“You provide us with the human technology we need—like those security robot designs. In return, my monster force will become the best fighting strength the human camp has.”

She paused, then added, “We’ll guarantee never to harm anyone from the human camp again. That helps you expand your territory, and the more ground you hold, the more you can shelter ordinary people struggling to survive out there, right? Give them a real haven.”

At that point, the Grey Fox Gang had no real reason to refuse.

Ye Mi’s words pierced right to the heart of why they’d built the camp in the first place—to offer some protection to those at the bottom.

The Boss might have seemed cold, but no one had a warmer heart.

Reva had already made up her mind, but this wasn’t a decision she could make alone.

A holographic image soon flickered to life in the reception room, and a tall, slender woman appeared.

Her ash-grey hair was neatly tied back, exposing a sharply defined, somewhat stern face.

Ye Mi’s gaze was immediately drawn to the woman’s eyes—slightly upturned at the corners, dark and deep, radiating an air of insight and composure, a pair of truly mesmerizing fox-like eyes.

She wore a perfectly fitting, dark grey combat uniform of indeterminable material, unadorned and radiating an unmistakable aura of aloofness.

Reva’s eyes shone briefly with admiration as she introduced the Rust Tide King: “This is our Boss. Fox.”