The words Fang Senyan spoke instantly and mercilessly struck at the raw nerves of Hedikuli and Aziza, causing their facial muscles to contort simultaneously, yet rendering them speechless.

Because what Fang Senyan had stated was the unvarnished truth; being struck by facts always engendered a sense of shame, indignation, and irrefutability.

The others present were also deeply stunned. Under such adverse environmental conditions, for Fang Senyan to dare stand up and so **blatantly slap the faces of the two MTs meant he wasn't merely haggling; he genuinely intended to sever ties if necessary! Quick-witted individuals immediately considered a crucial point: What was his leverage?

After delivering his verbal blow, Fang Senyan remained standing where he was, clearly not finished, his hands spread slightly open. At this moment, he exuded an aura that commanded the attention of the entire assembly, saying coolly, "It seems neither of you objects to what I just said. Since we are in a relationship of completely fair cooperation, why should I be the one to suffer this disadvantage?"

In the charged atmosphere, Ronnie suddenly stood up, his hand concealed behind his back gripping a dagger, his eyes flashing with sinister hatred. Hedikuli slowly rose, his face ashen, his fists slowly clenching. Aziza remained seated by the fire, her expression blank, but her supporter, Vasili, appeared somewhat hesitant, taking a few steps back.

Fang Senyan observed all of this with clear insight, smiling dismissively. "What? Didn't you want to talk? Now that talking has failed, you want to resort to force? Ronnie, if I hadn't taken the lead scouting ahead this afternoon, you'd currently be fertilizer for the plains' grass, watered by the excrement of wild beasts. You wouldn't even have the chance to turn around and bite the hand that helped you! Paul, Bocan, remember this—this is the reward for saving lives."

Aldaris’s figure appeared somewhat translucent. Those familiar with him recognized instantly that his true body had likely already slipped away, leaving only an illusion behind. A cold smile touched the corner of his lips as he sneered, "Sailor, these idiots are just posturing—Aziza's two arms are still crippled, hardly a threat. That fool Ronnie got his backside kicked by a mere Raging Wolf Badger; why worry about such dregs? Hedikuli is just a clumsy bear, and his eyes are currently half-blind. Vasili is skilled at defense, but unfortunately, we are already inside the core of his defensive perimeter. As for the others, I doubt they’ll risk mutually assured destruction just to pick a fight with us."

Beneath Aldaris’s sharp and biting rhetoric lay powerful confidence. His ability to escape being pursued by seven Unicorn Flying Ants alone gave him ample justification for such pronouncements.

Fang Senyan, meanwhile, looked toward Bocan, with whom he had traveled previously, and stated plainly, "Are we going to continue the battle from that day right here?"

Bocan immediately scoffed, "Dream on! Fight you at this range? Do I look like an idiot who would make that choice? I believe that if it's a negotiation, we should act like we're negotiating. If we can't agree, we can sit down and talk again later. In short, I didn't come to this planet for a bloody mission; I'm here to raise my rank! I don't support violence, so I'm remaining neutral."

Although Aldaris had snatched Daldariyang's Disintegration Unit, Fang Senyan had previously performed surgery to save him. Daldariyang remained silent for a moment before stating, "I also remain neutral."

Paul studied Fang Senyan for a few moments. This guy was the most calculating and deeply layered among them; one could see that just from the massive profit he made modifying the aircraft.

He surmised that the real reason Fang Senyan was so confident and unafraid to defy the MTs was likely because he possessed an overwhelmingly powerful summoned creature.

Paul's misjudgment stemmed from his high regard for Lametas, the creature Fang Senyan had summoned and cultivated. Because he was unaware that Fang Senyan's greatest hidden trump card was his status as an MT, he concluded Fang Senyan possessed superb tactical deployment skills, making his speculation understandable.

Furthermore, his thoughts were more intricate; he had already considered the scenario where Fang Senyan and Aldaris might be killed or driven away.

Undoubtedly, if that situation materialized, the two MTs and their supporters would immediately become the dominant faction. Paul’s previous modifications had already netted him a huge windfall, guaranteeing envy. In that case, the fate of Fang Senyan and Aldaris at that time might easily be reenacted upon him!

Consequently, Paul unexpectedly sided with Fang Senyan and his group, shrugging his shoulders, "My apologies, but I think what the Sailor says makes a lot of sense."

Undoubtedly, Paul’s sudden support was something Fang Senyan had not anticipated. After all, the human heart is the most complex thing in this world; even those skilled in strategy and plotting cannot fathom every single person's thoughts.

As a result, Hedikuli and Aziza’s expressions shifted too. Fang Senyan's words had struck a painful chord, but they now recognized the root of their disastrous predicament: four words—"insufficient manpower"!

If the team fractured here, with the remaining ten members losing three more, it was only a matter of time before they repeated their mistakes! If a fight broke out, eliminating Fang Senyan and his two allies would not result in a clean victory; losing two more members meant they might as well pack up and return to the Forward Base via the Wasp aircraft.

At this moment, as both sides felt trapped between a rock and a hard place, a contractor who had remained silent and uncommitted finally stepped forward. "I suggest this: MTs have a high-risk profession requiring them to stand on the front lines and bear the greatest danger. Therefore, the team should indeed concentrate resources to provide them subsidies, perhaps covering the consumption of Lizard Serums and shared costs for various medications. Then, the MTs get priority in selecting loot, and everything else remains the same. After mixing in the Space for so long, don't you people even understand the principle of priority in benefits?"

This contractor was named William. He usually kept a low profile but was actually a highly skilled sniper. In the previous battle, at least six of the Unicorn Flying Ants were taken down by him. Among those Fang Senyan had met, in terms of pure offensive power, even that MCDH couldn't match him; he was likely on par with Aziz.

His speech at this juncture was reasonable and fair. It saved face for both Hedikuli and Aziza while simultaneously vetoing the terms that had clearly disadvantaged Fang Senyan and his group. It was comprehensive, offering both sides a graceful way out.

In reality, neither Fang Senyan’s group nor Hedikuli’s faction truly wished to part ways. It was simply that Hedikuli and Aziza, accustomed to their domineering ways, had not anticipated Fang Senyan’s reaction would be so forceful, leaving them stuck without an easy retreat.

Therefore, upon hearing William’s proposal, Hedikuli, keen to avoid team disintegration, immediately agreed with a single word: "Fine, I think this plan is excellent."

Fang Senyan also smiled faintly upon hearing this. All eyes focused on his face. Fang Senyan smiled slightly and said, "All I ever asked for was fairness. Since that is the case, I am not someone who pushes his luck. Naturally, I have nothing further to say."

Thus, the team narrowly averted a potential collapse, though undercurrents continued to surge beneath the surface. The forceful Fang Senyan had encountered these two powerful MTs. This was their first exchange, but assuredly not their last.

After this meeting, Paul naturally gravitated toward Fang Senyan and his companions. The aggressive dominance displayed earlier by the two MTs united had made everyone feel threatened. Consequently, the three neutral parties—William, Daldariyang, and Bocan—smoothly banded together.

The night on the plain was anything but silent. Although the Unicorn Flying Ants had claimed this area as their territory, this only deterred powerful, large-scale creatures. Smaller organisms like the Cockatrice Beasts that Fang Senyan’s group encountered behaved as they pleased.

Fortunately, the automated defense system set up by Vasili was formidable. Those machine gun turrets occasionally spat out blinding muzzle flashes and the sound of sweeping fire, driving away or killing any approaching creatures. His defensive capability was truly remarkable; having him around felt like having several turrets protecting one's base in Warcraft, allowing one to rest easy.

After the three had rested for an hour, Fang Senyan suddenly coughed, "Actually, I think tonight presents an excellent opportunity."

Aldaris asked, puzzled, "What opportunity?"

Paul, however, pondered for a moment and then suggested, "You mean the Mushroom Rock?"

Fang Senyan sat up and slapped his thigh decisively. "Exactly! Though the Unicorn Flying Ants are a mutated species, their habits shouldn't differ much from ordinary ants. That means, within their colony, there might be reproductive castes like an Ant Queen. More importantly, the loss sustained by the ant swarm must be far more devastating than we imagine, otherwise, Hedikuli and the other two couldn't possibly have survived... Think about the consequences of kicking a hornet's nest."

"The reason I say tonight is the best opportunity is that if another night passes, news of the ant swarm's decline will likely spread. This might attract powerful creatures looking to pick at a wounded dog and seize territory. Moreover, the Mushroom Rock area has peculiar terrain. It’s possible those Starfleet officials told us to gather here with the hidden intention of having us achieve an immediate success by discovering high-purity Lian Ore right here."