Lin Yue frowned, looking at the numerous horned monsters as they displayed their unique submissive posture to him. He couldnât help but have many thoughts in his mind.
Why not take in these seemingly mighty creatures for his own use?
At that moment, the three-horned leader began talking to Bai non-stop, and Baiâs expression appeared quite excited.
"Master, they arenât living well in this place, itâs all rocks and valleys. The original homeland of the Divine Horn Race was a vast grassland and forest. Theyâve been living here for an unknown length of time, which is really too harsh. This leader says they want to leave, but the previous leader was unwilling, and since you took him out, well, it just so happens."
Lin Yue felt like he was being stuck with them.
Well, since the so-called unwilling-to-move leader has been taken out and canât speak, now you can say anything.
Moreover, this seems to imply that they want him to take them away?
Lin Yue pondered: "Bai, what do they mean? Does this mean they want to go with us?"
"Master, Bai thinks we can use them as your private troops. They donât seem to need much, just food and whatnot, and Bai and Meng can manage these Divine Horn Race, keeping them obedient and from wandering off," Bai suddenly said.
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow. Goodness, Bai, you already have your own ideas?
However, these over twenty thousand horned monsters... the food costs arenât too much.
Moreover, they should be able to catch something to eat themselves.
If they can fight, then itâs naturally best. They seem even simpler than the Wolf-headed Men, able to become combat-ready straight away.
If they canât fight...
Then it saves him the trouble of taking them out, like the leader he dealt with only provided a Silver Treasure Chest.
As for living quarters, anywhere near the Shelter in the desert can be used, right?
That large Shelter, Lin Yue felt, making a few dozen or even a hundred shouldnât be a problem.
Besides, these creatures should be able to find a place themselves, right?
However, Lin Yue didnât want to bring everyone to the desert all at once; he had some ideas of his own.
"Bai, ask them, is this all the Divine Horn Race, or like the Wolf-headed Men, are there many?"
Bai nodded, turned to ask the three-horned leader, and immediately gave Lin Yue a reply: "Master, they only know their own group. As for other tribes, supposedly, they were all wiped out long ago in battles with other races, leaving nothing behind."
"Long ago... all wiped out?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yue suddenly remembered something.
Old Sun, Sun Shuyi once mentioned that during their first experience in this survival game, they encountered bizarre creatures with "red skin, looking like demons."
However, when he saw them, those creatures were already dead.
But Old Sun never detailed precisely how those creatures looked.
Yet, standing before him, this red-skinned, muscular creature with horns on its head, two arms, and four legs, did seem somewhat like a "demon."
If these Divine Horn Race were indeed the demons Sun mentioned, then what the leader said about "being wiped out long ago in battles with other races" does seem to align.
Moreover, itâs not just that.
The chronology of the Wolf-headed Men includes such a record.
Also, a hundred years prior, they encountered many human-like or other race creatures, fought them, and were eventually forced into the enclosed giant valley, where they finally settled down.
So, the event the Divine Horn Race mentioned should be an earlier round of survival stories.
However, Lin Yue now felt that it was very likely the previously mentioned scale of "one billion people" included these humanoid creatures, as they all seemed to describe the same event.
Given the number of humans participating at the time, it shouldnât have been too many.
"Yes, Master, the Divine Horn Race lacks the concept of time; their civilization mainly progressed in combat. Due to the lack of food, they basically canât do much else," Bai diligently continued translating.
Lin Yue nodded, looking at the weapons of the horned monsters.
They had swords, spears, bows, crossbows, and even some oddly shaped weapons.
The armor they wore had evolved to metal, indicating some level of civilization in this area.
"Bai, letâs do this. Weâll take a thousand back first, let the rest stay put. Once weâve settled these thousand, decided on their use, weâll come back again; what do you think?"
Lin Yue contemplated, finally deciding to test them out.
If they work, thatâs best.
If not, then experimenting this way doesnât really cost much.
"Master, they say no problem, willing to follow your orders, loyal and obedient," Bai replied after conversing with the leader.
"Thatâs good, then letâs hurry back. Bai, thereâs much to be done. Weâll take these thousand and leave; let the others wait here, and once weâre done there, weâll come back for more," Lin Yue concluded.
After Bai translated this to them, the three-horned leader agreed and selected a thousand lucky ones to follow Lin Yue away.
"Who wouldâve thought... weâd bring so many exotic species this time..."
Lin Yue originally thought of "those not of our race, their hearts must be different."
Yet before the terrifyingly massive difference in strength, these exotic species seemed no more than ants in his eyes.
If he wanted, a single grenade could turn these horned-headed exotics into treasure chests with no chance of resistance.
But how strong they truly were, Lin Yue thought might be worth verifying.
If strong enough, they could be planned out in the desert, sent against Lizardmen or Secret Realm Beasts, or as the outermost city walls, taking out the invading enemies one by one.
Thus, Lin Yue decided to bring a thousand first, settle them in the desert, and then...
"Master, are you thinking of using them as weapons?" Bai suddenly asked.
"Thatâs the plan. Bai, what are your thoughts?"
"Master, Bai too, actually thinks that. Their weapons are more advanced than the Lizardmenâs, though unsure about their combat ability. Bai thinks we could try stationing them by the Petroleum River Sub-Base to see how their combat effectiveness is."
Bai glanced back at the more than a thousand selected by the Divine Horn Race, almost all males, each appearing to be of high battle prowess.
"The Petroleum River Sub-Base... Although the Lizardmen were mostly taken out, they definitely wonât give up. They will surely return to dig out the huge statue at the main altar in the base... That works well."
Lin Yue thought it over, concluding it was feasible.
If these horned monsters were at the Petroleum River Base, it would be worthwhile to anticipate their battles. The Wolf-headed Men canât be relied upon immediately; if the horned monsters prove effective, they might be just right.
"If the Master thinks itâs feasible, then give it a try. Bai thinks itâs time to leave,"
Lin Yue nodded.
Indeed, a lot of time was wasted here; the intention was just to take a minor stroll before leaving, unexpectedly lingering longer.
But it wasnât without gain.
"Bai, you go and inform Meng about whatâs happening here, let them evacuate first, then take the thousand back to the shelter while I head back to the Petroleum River Base to make a larger settlement for them."
"Master, please be assured, Bai will arrange it."
Receiving Baiâs response, Lin Yue immediately initiated the Super Alloy Flying Armor, heading first to the Gate of Exploration, then swiftly moving towards the Petroleum River Sub-Base.
However.
As approaching the sub-base, the dense sound of machine guns from there could already be heard!