In addition to hunting demons in the Abyss to obtain materials, you can also kill demons near certain rare resources and then use the Magic Power generated from the demon's disintegration to 'harvest' the rare resources.
If there are no surprises, the Purple Fox Squad probably found a rare resource site, and when Shinkai Katsuyuki asked me to bring a capture bag, I should have realized it then.
Yan Luo silently followed behind Shinkai Katsuyuki, while Qiao Lingzhi and Brandon walked beside him, subtly surrounding him.
"I think by now you should have guessed how we make money, right?"
Shinkai Katsuyuki, holding an automatic rifle, looked back at Yan Luo with a half-smile.
Yan Luo's test scores were exceptional, and he applied for a free hunt in his practical test, which showed that his theoretical knowledge was extensive and he had a sufficient understanding of the Abyss.
"You found a rare resource," Yan Luo replied with an unchanged expression.
Shinkai Katsuyuki's smile widened, and he snapped his fingers, "That's right, you guessed it! We found [Void Stone], a material that can be used to make spatial items and is priceless."
Void Stone is a strategic material that no one can sell privately, but Yan Luo hadn't heard of Void Stone being produced in the Crimson Abyss, indicating that the Purple Fox Squad, after finding this rare resource, didn't report it but mined and sold it privately.
Before Yan Luo could speak again, Shinkai Katsuyuki started talking on his own, endlessly.
"I know what you're thinking, 'Why didn't we report it,' right? This is a thought only newcomers like you would have! You have to understand, if we report it to the United Government, we can only get 30% of the mining profits, but if we mine it ourselves, even though the speed is a bit slow, we can get more money, and the income period can be extended to ten or twenty years!
"We Hunters can't save money, and getting a large amount of money in a short time means we'll spend it all just as quickly, so this income is our guarantee for the second half of our lives."
At this point, Shinkai Katsuyuki glanced at Qiao Lingzhi and Brandon, and said with a peculiar tone, "The three of us have signed a contract that if any of us unfortunately die in the Abyss, and if the code to prevent the information from being sent out isn't retrieved from the deceased, the location of the Void Stone will be released on the seventh day after the person's death. We've used this contract to create an 'unbreakable, never-abandon' steel squad."
Qiao Lingzhi, who was cautiously observing the surroundings, turned back with a grin, "No matter what, our relationship is solid now, isn't it?"
Yan Luo wasn't planning to play these roundabout riddles with them, so he got straight to the point: "So, what do you want to tell me?"
Brandon suddenly spoke: "Are you planning to join us?"
"I've been a law-abiding good person since I was a child, so I can't really understand your actions."
Yan Luo's words gave the trio the confidence.
Just as they expected, Yan Luo agreed to cooperate with them in his next sentence.
"But now we're a team, and if this can make money and support my dreams, then there's nothing wrong with it."
The three of them laughed.
Then, Shinkai Katsuyuki stopped and patted Yan Luo's shoulder, "After this Abyss hunt ends, you should also set up a mechanism to automatically release information after a seven-day delay. That's the only way we can truly trust you. Alright, enough of that. Yan Luo, you know what we're going to do next, right?"
Yan Luo nodded, saying, "Capture harmless-level and normal-level demons."
Although dangerous-level demons can provide more Magic Power after disintegrating, harmless-level and normal-level demons are easier to handle and more numerous.
No wonder all three Hunters of the Purple Fox Squad hadn't fully completed their first Engraving, it turns out they had been doing this all along.
Yan Luo deeply suspected that apart from killing demons to produce some materials for the guild to cover up for the Void Stone, the Purple Fox Squad hadn't absorbed any Magic Power from killing demons.
Just as well, Yan Luo couldn't do Engraving, he didn't need to hunt demons to absorb Magic Power, and his extensive knowledge was especially suitable for the Purple Fox Squad.
Otherwise, the Purple Fox Squad wouldn't have recruited a newcomer.
Having figured it out, Yan Luo asked, "Do you want me to help you find harmless-level and normal-level demons?"
"You're quite sharp!"
Qiao Lingzhi elbowed Yan Luo's arm, smiling, "You applied for a free hunt in your practical test and completed it, if you could find dangerous-level demons, finding harmless-level and normal-level ones shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Not hard at all."
Saying this, Yan Luo pointed toward a bush in the distance, "There's one there, judging by its size and behavior, it should be harmless-level."
Shinkai Katsuyuki and the others turned their heads to look, unable to see any demon hidden within the bush.
Brandon put away his firearm, slipped protective gloves on his hands, then dashed like an arrow, diving into the bush.
Just as he moved, the bush snapped alive with movement, but Brandon was faster, and in a blink, he thrust his hand into the bush, capturing the demon trying to escape.
Once Brandon pulled it from the bush, the white rabbit in his hand struggled fiercely.
Yan Luo glanced at it and introduced, "Swift Rabbit, possessing strong short-distance burst speed, the harmless-level Swift Rabbit measures approximately 35 to 50 centimeters. Although small, it can leap five meters in an instant and needs just three seconds to recover before bursting again, but can't do so more than three times within three minutes."
Shinkai Katsuyuki, working with Brandon to bag the Swift Rabbit, turned to look at Yan Luo, and Qiao Lingzhi and Brandon paused, somewhat astonished.
They knew Yan Luo was knowledgeable, but didn't expect his knowledge to run this deep.
As a result, the trio exchanged glances, smiles curling at their lips.
None of them could track down demons as swiftly as Yan Luo, with his help, they could capture a sufficient number of demons in a short amount of time to harvest Void Stone.
Moreover, Yan Luo could help them avoid dangerous-level and lethal-level demons, allowing them to move more freely in the Abyss.
It was precisely because of Yan Luo's capabilities that they accepted his joining, sharing in the profit.
With Yan Luo's help, the Purple Fox Squad's efficiency in capturing demons soared, and by midday, they had caught fifty demons.
The Purple Fox Squad had never realized there were so many demons within the Abyss.
In the past, they could only catch up to thirty demons in a morning, sometimes fewer than twenty.
Indeed, letting Yan Luo join the team was the right choice.
Lunch was gelatinous energy bars, replenishing both nutrients and hydration.
Everything in the Abyss exists in a state between illusion and reality, and even water is the same; though it can be touched, it needs Magic Power to form and become a consumable solid.
To obtain food from the Abyss, you must kill demons.
Moreover, not all Abyss foods are edible; without understanding what is safe and what isn't, it's better to eat provisions brought from outside.
The Purple Fox Squad was only in the Abyss for a three-day short-term hunt. For a long-term hunt, the team needed at least one spatial gear, or they would've driven a vehicle inside.
After lunch, the Purple Fox Squad rested briefly at a spot Yan Luo selected, then resumed their busy work.
Each carried twenty capture bags, totaling eighty altogether.
Having surpassed half their task in the morning, it took less than two hours in the afternoon to fill all the bags.
The capture bags were equipped with tranquilizers to sedate captured demons, easing transport.
"Perhaps we'll return sooner this time!"
Observing the demons filling several collapsible carts, Shinkai Katsuyuki beamed.
No sooner had he spoken than Yan Luo advised, "I suggest not doing so."
The three turned to Yan Luo, curious about his reasoning.
"Going back early with the same amount of bounty looks too purposeful. This time, not only do we gather more materials for cover, but we should also slightly extend our return timeframe."
Hearing Yan Luo's explanation, the trio realized the sense in his advice.
Immediately, they felt a bit more at ease with Yan Luo.
After all, Yan Luo's suggestion aligned with the Purple Fox Squad's perspective, and precisely the one engaged in 'the private sale of valuable resources'!