Bai Feng quietly approached first, observing the Ruined Beast species with the naked eye.
"It's an Ironclad Beetle. This thing isn't very lethal, but its defense is high, with a weak point on the abdomen close to the ground. Now that it's hidden in a dirt pit, it's hard for us to attack the weak spot. To forcefully attack, we'd need armor-piercing bullets, which are costly and would damage the most valuable part, the shell."
"Ten meters away from its hiding place, there's a visual obstruction. Ou Youning, you can set a directional shock bomb here, and then Bai Feng will lure the Ironclad Beetle over, causing fatal damage by shaking its abdomen. When you detonate the bomb, Bai Feng, you must retreat quickly. Wen Lei and I will cover the flanks, Mr. Ren, you and Hanyu remain on standby in the vehicle. Does anyone have any objections?"
Zheng Tian contemplated for a moment, then started organizing the plan.
The whole process was exactly as Ren Zhong remembered.
It seemed flawless at first glance, but in reality, it was utterly ineffective, merely going through the motions.
"Hold on, I have some suggestions."
To everyone's surprise, just as they were about to execute the plan, Ren Zhong spoke up suddenly.
Zheng Tian was slightly taken aback, unsure of his intent, "Mr. Ren, do you have anything to add?"
Ren Zhong opened his equipment bag, which contained four training armor batteries, as well as a Magnetic Storm Dust Hand Grenade worth 50 Contribution Points.
He handed the grenade to Ou Youning.
Ou Youning, who knew its worth, accepted the Third Level grenade with a puzzled look, "Mr. Ren, what is this for?"
Ren Zhong smiled, "Just hold onto it."
Ou Youning: "There's no need for that, it's just an Ironclad Beetle. The Ironclad Beetle, even with its crystal chip, is only worth 3 Contribution Points at most. Using this precious grenade on it is like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. My mini directional shock bomb only costs a fraction, that's the profitable way."
Ren Zhong didn't want to waste time explaining.
Before things happened, he couldn't say much.
Considering that these people seemed to overly respect him, Ren Zhong decided to use this to his advantage, simply saying with a stern face, "Just keep it on you, you might not even need to use it. It's just a precaution."
Ou Youning: "Alright... okay."
Then Ren Zhong looked at Zheng Tian again, speaking in a negotiating tone, "I have some thoughts. I wonder if I could supplement and arrange the details for this ambush operation?"
Zheng Tian was momentarily stunned.
Frankly, Ren Zhong's suggestion didn't align with the Scavenger Team's code of conduct.
He wasn't a formal team member, nor did he have convincing strength.
This was also his first time participating in a team action, and he hadn't even passed the initial period of acclimation.
Though today seemed to go smoothly, the Scavenger Team walked on the perilous wilderness daily, constantly dancing with death. A slight negligence could lead to total annihilation.
The Scavenger Team must adhere to strict codes of conduct to minimize risks.
After all, mistakes mean deaths.
Currently, Zheng Tian was the team's sole commander, and letting a person they met less than a day ago take over was like putting the team and herself in danger.
Zheng Tian still cheerfully agreed, "Sure."
Ren Zhong rearranged the positions for the ambush team.
Like setting up a chessboard, Ren Zhong positioned Wen Lei where the Blade Mantis would appear.
Last time, Wen Lei died easily because he turned his back on the Blade Mantis.
If facing forward, Wen Lei's heavy mecha could withstand at least one strike.
Moreover, Ren Zhong didn't plan to be completely hands-off this time, as he would pre-aim at the Blade Mantis's advancing path to unleash firepower.
Shooting accurately was not his strength.
And with the Blade Mantis's agility, even a slight change in direction was beyond Ren Zhong's dynamic vision, making aiming nearly impossible.
But that didn't matter. He only sought to empty a magazine as quickly as possible upon the Blade Mantis's appearance, creating a covering fire effect to provide some minimal protection for Wen Lei.
This could lock in one potential redirection path for the Blade Mantis.
The Blade Mantis had an 80% chance of going towards the guided position he wanted.
If it moved in a straight line, then with Ou Youning's Magnetic Storm Dust Hand Grenade planted in advance, there was more than a 50% likelihood of it detonating within the Blade Mantis's two-meter radius.
Ren Zhong also repositioned Bai Feng's spot.
Although a First Level Professional was no match against a Third Level Ruined Beast like the Blade Mantis on the surface, with proper utilization and sensible organization, there were opportunities to guide the Blade Mantis's movement patterns.
Additionally, Ren Zhong adjusted Zheng Tian's position.
If the Blade Mantis were to be blasted and then guided in a way that led it torwards the most likely attacked Bai Feng, then Zheng Tian, an experienced gunsmith, would have a chance to target its brain's soft tissue.
That would be a counter-kill opportunity that Ren Zhong created out of thin air.
During the whole process, except for Chen Hanyu, he maximized everyone's roles, including his own.
He didn't explain the purpose of his arrangements to everyone.
Thankfully, there was the all-scenario filler Zheng Tian to support him, which led the team to execute strictly, albeit with doubts in their hearts.
The Ironclad Beetle, lured by Bai Feng, was about to crawl over the ambush site.
Ou Youning's finger hovered over the remote trigger.
In two seconds, once the Ironclad Beetle passed above the directional shock bomb, he'd detonate it.
Everyone had their focus on the Ironclad Beetle, except for Ren Zhong, who rolled down the car window and aimed the dark muzzle of the machine gun at the position behind Wen Lei.
Ou Youning's finger pressed down, detonate!
A tremendous shock came from beneath the Ironclad Beetle, sending sand and mud flying.
The Ironclad Beetle was overturned on the spot, lying flat on its back.
The others, seeing their objective achieved, unconsciously relaxed a bit.
Ren Zhong's heart, however, jumped to his throat.
Life and death, victory or defeat, were at stake!
The red warning light inside the car suddenly lit up, the alarm blaring loudly.
Chen Hanyu glanced quickly at the electronic map, her expression changing dramatically.
The others' communicators started ringing with audio warnings, making everyone's hearts sink.
Energy Level Index 370 to 650!
Third Level Ruined Beast!
Super High-Speed Reaction!
It's the Blade Mantis!
Everyone was chilled to the bone, their hearts filled with dread.
Ren Zhong, however, did not look at the sensor's Energy Level Index reading showing the Ruined Beast, only shouted in the communicator, "The Blade Mantis is here! Don't panic! Don't flee! Running means certain death! Wen Lei, turn around and raise your shield! Ou Youning! Quickly pull the pin of the Magnetic Storm Dust Hand Grenade! Throw it to the bush downhill where you are!"
Almost entirely overwhelmed by massive fear, wanting to flee in all directions, everyone was taken aback by Ren Zhong's calm and methodical orders.
Zheng Tian's team members unknowingly found some reassurance.
In a flash, everyone recalled that Magnetic Storm Dust Hand Grenade, and the seemingly pointless arrangements Ren Zhong had made before the action.
Anyway, encountering the Blade Mantis meant death if they ran, so fight!
In the next instant, from a hundred meters away, a faint green figure sliced through the air like lightning, rushing directly at Wen Lei, who had already raised his shield.
Exactly as Ren Zhong remembered.
Sitting in the car, Ren Zhong gripped the machine gun, pouring a barrage of bullets into the pre-set location.
The Blade Mantis was too fast.
He couldn't possibly aim accurately.
But that was alright.
The dense bullets fell like a cascading waterfall, forming a dispersed bullet rain on the inevitable path of the Blade Mantis's pounce on Wen Lei.
It was as if the Blade Mantis willingly met these bullets.
Clanking noises, sparks flying.
[Ranked poorly on the new book chart, please everyone support more! The new book period chart is critically important! I'm begging...]