When this mutated fungus exploded, the progeny it ejected possessed an adhesive power hundreds of times stronger than that of a burr; one could only imagine the sensation of being smeared with them... It would take strenuous effort to remove them, as the fungus’s sole purpose was to maximize the dispersal of its seeds via this extreme adhesiveness.

Of course, the most troublesome antagonists for Fang Senyan and his comrades remained the Slithers they had encountered before. These creatures, living near the Omaticaya (Miy) tribe, seemed to have mutated, becoming even more formidable. Lying in ambush within the jungle, their sudden strikes posed a significant threat to any Contractor!

The fine, poisonous barbs these creatures ejected were often perfectly concealed by the surrounding environment, accurately flying toward the Contractors' vital points.

This was, in fact, the habitual ambush method of the Slithers in the primeval jungle. That blowgun dart was actually a mutated venomous tooth, secreting a venom far more lethal than that of the Black Mamba! According to analysis reports from the RD, the venom on that tooth was potent enough to kill a blue whale within one minute!

In actual combat, even Reef, after being struck, had to swiftly excise the affected area, otherwise the persistent damage would be difficult for even him to withstand.

That night, as soon as the clock struck midnight, Fang Senyan and the other two secretly slipped out of the base, while the remaining Contractors waited a full twenty-four hours before cautiously venturing out again.

Securing such a head start, coupled with detailed intelligence, undoubtedly put the trio of Fang Senyan far ahead of the others in terms of accumulating reputation with RD. Of course, they skillfully concealed this fact.

It must also be acknowledged that the Exterminators under Stallo had done one good thing before leaving: their elimination of those few Summoners had greatly aided Fang Senyan and his companions.

However, while Fang Senyan was prepared, the other Contractors also possessed unique skills. The woman named Zi had managed to cultivate an excellent relationship with Professor Grace, which undoubtedly afforded her many intrinsic advantages. Although the Professor was upright and unwilling to bend the rules, she would certainly find time to address any difficult questions Zi raised.

Among the remaining Contractors, those who had survived were inevitably hidden dragons and crouching tigers; anyone who could persist and remain could not be underestimated. In the contest for reputation, this certainly did not mean Fang Senyan and his group could relax without a care.

As time wore on, with the pressure from external foes dissipating, the competitive vigilance among the Contractors gradually intensified once more.

Fortunately, Fang Senyan had only sought out Supervisor Parker once, and he had done so decisively, making his movements quite inconspicuous. Thus, his efforts at secrecy were exemplary, allowing Zi to completely steal his spotlight. By this time, only about forty Contractors remained, and the Illuminati accounted for nearly one-third of that number.

As the saying goes, past experience informs future conduct. Since the previous "clearing out" conducted by Stallo's group, the remaining Contractors were naturally wary of the Illuminati, trying to avoid a repeat tragedy. The primary conflict remained squarely between the Illuminati and the rest of the Contractors, leaving Fang Senyan to calmly avoid the greatest pressures.

Time rapidly slipped away amidst the intense and busy work of all the Contractors, and soon the three-day deadline arrived. The work Fang Senyan and his group had undertaken yielded meager rewards in terms of General Points and Potential Points; their cumulative effort was mainly focused on steadily raising their reputation within the RD corporation. As the countdown began, prompts started arriving in the Nightmare Mark:

"You have completed the follow-up battlefield side mission: Trust of the Hellgate."

"Mission Objective: Raise your reputation within the RD Base to Respected within seventy-two hours."

"Your current reputation is: (1471/6000) Respected."

"You have been awarded 5 Merit Points." (Base reward 2 Merit Points, Silver Team Leader bonus +2 points, Legendary Status bonus +1)

"Contractors who fail to raise their reputation to Respected will be forcibly returned to the Nightmare World in ten minutes."

"Hint: The first three Contractors to complete this mission ahead of schedule are Contractor No. 1018, Contractor No. 2703, and Contractor No. 15711!"

"Hint: Contractor No. 1018, you are the first to complete this mission ahead of schedule."

"Bonus reward calculation in progress..."

"Please select one of the following rewards as your bonus."

"Reward A: You are awarded an additional 5 Merit Points."

"Reward B: You are awarded an additional 20,000 General Points."

"Reward C: You are awarded an additional 10 Potential Points."

"Reward D: Your stay time in this world can be extended by an additional 5 days."

Faced with this choice of four options, despite the extremely tempting rewards, Fang Senyan decisively chose Option D, a decision he had anticipated for a very long time.

However, upon reading the line, "Hint: The first three Contractors to complete this mission ahead of schedule are Contractor No. 1018...," a chill immediately ran down his spine. He couldn't help but sigh internally:

"Truly worthy of being a battlefield side mission... Announcing this will surely light the fuse for internal conflict! And the competition is just too fierce."

To be honest, it was unexpected even for Fang Senyan that while Mogansa and Reef had completed the side mission, neither of them ranked in the top three. The three of them had secured a massive advantage and a head start, aided by the "Excellent Employee" title, yet only Fang Senyan among them ranked first!

At this point, the importance of the +1 Legendary Status bonus became evident. While this seemed insignificant in normal times, at a critical juncture, it truly held a decisive, powerful effect!

At this moment, Reef spoke up in the team channel:

"Zi is second, No. 12703. We don't know who 15711 is. Boss, your identity might be exposed."

Fang Senyan replied calmly:

"No, my perception is no worse than anyone else's, and I have the helmet's built-in priority RASS pulse jammer. They cannot detect my space ID."

Mogansa, however, stated seriously:

"Boss, sometimes, the very fact that no information can be found is what proves something."

Fang Senyan smiled and reasoned:

"If the Illuminati dare to investigate, it'll only be if they are prepared for mutual destruction. If I haven't guessed wrong, that No. 15711 likely came with a very strong agenda. Several teammates probably prioritized ensuring he reached the top three, even at the cost of failing their own side mission and losing 10 Merit Points. Someone who has hidden themselves until now must have immense ambitions. Think about it, would he compromise with the Illuminati at this point?"

As the situation grew exceedingly delicate, resembling the calm before a massive storm, a broadcast suddenly sounded from the Hellgate Base, summoning the new recruits who had passed the trials to the Command Center's second basement level for a meeting. By this time, nearly half of the Contractors eliminated by the battlefield side mission were gone, leaving about twenty individuals. The Illuminati still had seven remaining, making up almost one-third of the total.

As they filed into the conference hall, they found Colonel Miles Quaritch and Dr. Grace Augustine, the two giants, seated prominently, while Supervisor Parker Sevrich stood at the rostrum. Once everyone was settled, Supervisor Parker began to speak:

"Brave soldiers, we have just received communication from a scouting team. In their last transmission before going silent, they claimed to have discovered the location of the Na'vi spiritual sanctuary: the Tree of Souls. Professor Grace confirms that these blue-skinned apes who favor living in trees likely share a common faith. Therefore, if we can understand this matter, we might very well placate these difficult fellows and perhaps even persuade them to assist us with mining."

"And what you need to do is very simple: confirm the veracity of this claim, and bring back a branch from the so-called Tree of Souls. I will have champagne, flowers, women, and of course, a blank check waiting for you back at the base."

Fang Senyan and his team also received the following notification:

"Battlefield Side Mission (Final Step) Issued: Branch of the Tree of Souls"

"Mission Objective: Obtain a drooping calyx from the Na'vi Tree of Souls within five days."

"Description: Through your tireless efforts over this period, you have successfully gained the recognition of the personnel at the RD Base. Therefore, they are now entrusting you with a crucial task. New information received from the latest dispatch suggests they may have located the Na'vi spiritual sanctuary: the Tree of Souls. Verify this news and bring back a piece of the Tree of Souls' calyx!"

"Hint: Only the first three individuals to return with the calyx of the Tree of Souls will receive a reward!"

"Warning: If you refuse this mission, you will be granted a four-day period of free stay / or return immediately after receiving certain rewards."

"Do you accept this mission: Yes/No?"

Upon seeing this mission, numerous thoughts flashed through Fang Senyan's mind. He suddenly stood up and stated very seriously to Supervisor Parker:

"I am very sorry, sir, I believe my abilities are limited, and I cannot undertake such a strenuous mission."

He then shot Parker a look that conveyed understanding. Parker, being an old hand, grasped the meaning instantly, yet maintained an impassive face:

", RD never forces any employee to do anything. Your past accomplishments will not be forgotten."