The mission to hunt the Black Fiend Bears ended up taking half a month.
It wasn't because their attack method was bad—it was actually too effective.
By the third day, the bears were forced to move to another location. It took them a lot of effort to find them again.
Danielle excitedly popped out from her space storage. "Fifty-one bears—we got one extra. Do you want to eat it yourselves or sell it?"
If it were up to her, she would definitely choose to eat it. But since they were a team, she had to think about everyone.
Fei Yang looked at Leng and bit his lip. "Danielle, I want to eat it."
Danielle's cooking was too good, and with the money they earned from stripping corpses last time and this mission, he could afford to relax for quite a while.
Leng didn't have any objections. She was alone and didn't need much money.
After a quick discussion, they decided to have a feast that night.
But before that, they had to turn in the mission items.
Danielle and the group arrived at the mission hall full of excitement. When they dumped the pile of Black Fiend Bear corpses in the hall, everyone gasped.
The bears were tough and hard to kill. Even though the reward was decent, the task took too much time. Most people didn't take this mission.
No one expected such a young-looking group to finish it so quickly.
"Hi, we're here to turn in the mission."
The staff member was stunned when he saw Danielle. He blurted out, "How did you finish it?"
He immediately corrected himself. "I mean, how did a low-level team like yours complete it so fast?"
Danielle looked at him with a half-smile and leaned forward slightly.
"You were the one who leaked my location, weren't you?"
The sudden shrink in his pupils confirmed she was right.
She smiled and said, "Too bad I didn't die. Go back and tell your master—I've got proof she tried to kill me. If she doesn't want it exposed online, tell her to transfer me ten million. I'll destroy the evidence if she does. Otherwise… heh."
The staff member's hands trembled as he avoided her intense gaze.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Here's your reward. Take it and go. There are others waiting."
Danielle's wristband lit up with a new transaction—fifty thousand credits. Not bad.
She grinned at the staff member. "Don't forget."
He looked like he was about to cry.
As Danielle turned and walked away, he couldn't hold it in anymore and bolted to the back.
"What's going on?"
Zachary glanced at the fleeing staffer, his eyes flickering.
"Nothing. Just said a few words."
Danielle waved the transfer screen at the group, full of energy. "Let's go. Dinner party at my place tonight!"
Leng agreed right away.
Fei Yang hesitated. "Um… Danielle, can I bring my little sister? I want her to have something nice to eat too."
"Sure."
Danielle was generous, especially when it came to kids—as long as they weren't like Tie Xin.
The group laughed and chatted as they walked out of the mission hall. But just as they stepped outside, someone appeared and made all their smiles freeze.
Lu Yi looked exhausted. He probably hadn't been doing well lately.
One of his sleeves hung loose. He glanced at Fei Yang and Leng with complicated eyes, then lowered his head and walked the other way.
Fei Yang opened his mouth to call out, but Leng pulled him back.
"That was his choice. Leave him be."
To be honest, Leng was still a bit upset with Lu Yi.
Danielle was curious, but when it came to outsiders, she didn't care enough to ask what happened between him and Leng.
Back home, Danielle started cleaning up the Black Fiend Bears.
Their hides were incredibly thick.
She was the most eager to start—but also the first to give up.
Now, Danielle and Leng lay comfortably on rocking chairs, pointing and giving orders to Zachary.
Danielle said, "Zachary, be careful. Don't ruin the bear hide—I want to make a fur coat out of it."
Leng said, "Zachary, um…"
"Shut it."
"Okay then. I didn't say anything."
Leng pouted. Clearly, this guy only spoiled Danielle.
Hmph.
Danielle had been giving orders for a while, and he didn't say a word. But the moment she spoke, he barked at her. Total favoritism.
Leng waved at the little boy nearby. "Come here, Rain. Auntie Leng will buy you candy with some crystals. Okay?"
"Wow, really? Auntie Leng, I love you so much!"
Danielle rolled her eyes. "Nope. Kids shouldn't eat too much candy."
Rain's little face instantly fell, looking all pitiful.
Leng picked him up and walked off. "Oh come on, once in a while won't hurt."
Danielle pouted. Another one who spoils kids.
The front door opened, and Danielle frowned slightly, thinking Leng had come back.
"What? Did you forget something? Huh? Chef Jin? What are you doing here?"
Jin Shan's eyes were red. When he saw Danielle, he gave a deep bow at a full ninety degrees.
"Miss Danielle."
Whoa.
Danielle quickly ran to the side.
"Just talk! Why such a big bow?"
Jin Shan lifted his head anxiously. Before he could say anything, he saw a bloody kitchen knife.
He…
Quietly took two steps back.
"Easy, both of you. I just came to ask Miss Danielle for a small favor. Really, just a small one."
Zachary, wearing a bloodstained apron, gave him a slow once-over, then tilted his chin slightly.
"Come inside and talk."
Jin Shan glanced at the dripping knife and forced his voice to stay calm.
"Uh… maybe it's not the best time?"
Zachary didn't respond—he just stared at him.
Danielle chuckled. "Relax. Come in. He's just butchering a bear."
Jin Shan stayed serious. "I didn't say anything else."
Once inside, he saw the huge Black Fiend Bear corpse on the floor but didn't react.
Well, he was the heir to the Jin Family restaurant chain. He'd probably handled plenty of beasts already. Nothing new.
Danielle blinked. Wasn't he here to talk? Why was he staring at Zachary like that?
"Chef Jin, so what brings you here today?"
Jin Shan thought about the mess his family was in, and a vein on his forehead twitched.
He handed Danielle a black card. Danielle blinked. What was this about?
Didn't he already give her a gold card? Why was he giving her a black one now?
Gasping sounds came from the doorway.
It was Fei Yang and a little girl.
Fei Yang's eyes looked like they were glued to that black card.
Danielle cleared her throat. "Why are you standing there? Bring your sister in already!"
She gave the girl a friendly smile, then looked back at Jin Shan.
"Chef Jin, please don't mind. We have guests today. I already have your gold card, so I don't really need another one."
Right as she finished speaking, Zachary grabbed her hand, and Fei Yang kept winking at her.
Danielle…