Having been the leader of Rogel Camp for fifteen years, George naturally had the acumen to maintain it as the most distinguished around Redwood Ridge.
Half a month ago, when Lex and Matthew proposed that he and everyone from the other five camps cooperate and follow their orders, George likely had some suspicions.
The way Lex and Matthew described the Mimicking Monster as terrifying, George didn't doubt it.
After all, having witnessed it firsthand, the monster indeed found joy in killing, and the more it killed, the stronger it became.
But to say that the two stayed to help them because they were asked or out of goodwill for being of the same human race, George absolutely didn't believe that.
He wasn't that naive.
From several encounters, it was clear that engaging with the Wood Puppet Monster posed certain risks for Lex and Matthew, yet they still took those risks to kill the monster.
Thinking it over and over, it's nothing more than for the sake of profit.
George speculated that there should be some significant benefit to hunting down that Wood Puppet Monster; otherwise, they wouldn't be working so hard.
Half a month ago, George gathered the leaders of the four other camps and, after explaining the pros and cons, the four leaders agreed to cooperate with him.
The four leaders were willing to cooperate not just out of respect for George.
The camps of Shenju and Iron Peak, and also the Harper Camp that George mentioned, three camps around Redwood Ridge had already been ravaged by the monster.
Even though the camps didn't interact much regularly, everyone understood that when the lips die, the teeth become cold.
While Lex and Matthew were there, being able to kill the monster was certainly for the best, as they couldn't deal with it on their own.
George had also fought the monster and considered his own strength insufficient to be of help, yet Lex and Matthew still wanted him to notify people from other camps to assist.
George roughly knew what this help entailed.
That Wood Puppet Monster found joy in killing people and strengthened itself through killing, while these people had little strength; what Lex and Matthew needed them for was just to serve as bait, to lure the Wood Puppet Monster out.
And the reality was just as he had thought.
After gathering the Axeheart Realm forces from the other five camps at Rogel Camp, Lex and Matthew were candid about their plan.
Initially, George was hesitant, but considering the monster's strength, he was the first to agree, likely because he'd encountered the monster before.
William was the second to agree.
The remaining four camps hesitated, but under persuasion, they agreed.
The six camps agreed to each send out three Axeheart Realm fighters to Redwood Ridge at night to act as bait to attract the appearance of the monster.
George did not doubt the strength of Lex and Matthew. Otherwise, he wouldn't have persuaded the other five camps to cooperate so earnestly.
But the strength of that monster far exceeded George's expectations.
In the past ten days, they successfully lured the Wood Puppet Monster out three times.
But each time, it managed to escape.
If that were all, it would still be manageable, but the problem was that each time, the bait was killed.
The Wood Puppet Monster was elusive, sometimes killing someone inexplicably, and the most terrifying part was that after a short time, it could control the body of the one it killed, pretending to be alive, approach you, then launch a surprise attack, utterly indefensible.
Many of the deceased had expressions of disbelief on their faces in their final moments.
The first time, seven died; the second, nine; the third, seven.
This fourth time, six died, making it the time with the fewest casualties.
Twenty-nine Axeheart Realm fighters were lost, practically equivalent to the entire stock of two small camps.
Rogel Camp had only forty-seven Axeheart Realm fighters in total.
George counted the twenty-nine lost Axeheart Realm fighters.
His camp accounted for the most, with seven; Banana Camp four; Vegeta Camp five; Brocolli Camp four; Samsung Camp six.
The worst hit was Taylor Camp.
That day on Harper Territory, Taylor Camp had only five survivors.
In these days, acting as bait, they lost another three.
Now, Taylor Camp was left with only the brothers William and Barry.
Even if they killed the Wood Puppet Monster, Taylor Camp would certainly not recover, and relying only on the brothers William, probably meant survival was an issue for the whole camp.
The key was that even after so many died, they hadn't killed the Wood Puppet Monster.
Let alone the five leaders; even George himself began to doubt the strength of Lex and Matthew and wavered in their method of luring the monster.
"I know everyone has their concerns. My Rogel Camp has also lost many people, but please bear with it a little longer. You've seen the monster's strength; once these two leave, none of our camps will have a way to survive!"
George, with no other option, ultimately chose to appease everyone.
William was about to speak when Sam, the leader of Samsung Camp, began first.
"Leader George, let's not beat around the bush. I admire the strength of these two, but you see the reality. The monster is stronger; we failed to kill it three times.
I think this time won't be any different. Instead of sending brothers to their deaths, it would be better to live a few days in peace. If we continue like this, the monster won't die; we might die out first!"
Sam, with a voice as rugged, spoke straightforwardly, filled with a bit of anger due to losing six of his people.
"Leader George, we're not blaming you or the two of them; we don't dare. But the fact is plain to see; if we can't succeed this time, we must leave.
We've been out for half a month, and the provisions left at the camp are running out. If we don't go back, I'm afraid the people at the camp will starve."
Ben, the leader of Banana Camp, also spoke up.
The other two camp leaders, though silent, clearly shared the same sentiment as the previous two.
William then stood out, took a deep breath, and said, "Leader George, I won't say much more. No matter what you say, your foundation is still there, but Taylor Camp really can't hold on anymore.
If my brother and I lose even one more person, over three hundred people in the camp might not survive. Whether we succeed this time or not, I must leave."
George anxiously wanted to continue persuading everyone.
Yet just then, Lex and Matthew came over.
"That beast escaped again, but we chopped off an arm this time, so next time, we'll definitely kill it."
"Don't let your guard down. Haven't you noticed how its strength keeps growing!"
Hearing the two talk, the six leaders, including George, and everyone else, once again showed disappointment on their faces.
When the monster first escaped, although some brothers died, instead of feeling disappointed like now, the group felt thrilled by the monster's retreat, feeling they were just a step away from killing it.
After the second escape, there was some nervousness as more people were dying, and the bait was all brothers who shared life and death daily — it was impossible not to feel heartache.
Until the third escape, real doubts began to arise.
There was suspicion that even though Lex and Matthew were strong, they were still quite a bit away from killing the monster; otherwise, it wouldn't have escaped three times.
Things should not happen in threes; now it was the fourth time, so everyone no longer disguised the disappointment on their faces, but even so, they dared not show a bad attitude toward Lex and Matthew.
George was pondering how to speak to Lex, hoping he would offer some assurance to soothe everyone's emotions.
William and the other four camp leaders were contemplating how to tell the two of them that they wanted to leave with their people.
Meanwhile, as Lex and Matthew approached, they noticed the unusual atmosphere and, seeing the lingering disappointment on everyone's faces, immediately understood what they were thinking.
Matthew's face showed a flash of anger, and he immediately stepped forward.
"I am taking such huge risks to help you worthless lot to deal with the monster, and instead of being grateful to me, you all have no shame in showing such expression. Do you really think I have no temper?"
Matthew's words were not spoken calmly.
His aura was agitated, his face furious, as he stared at the crowd, showing extreme displeasure, clearly genuinely angry.
However, the word "worthless" from his mouth instantly ignited the dissatisfaction that the crowd had been suppressing for many days.
William had already taken two steps forward, ready to retort, but was held back by George in front of him.
Looking at George's slightly pleading eyes, William gritted his teeth and finally held back without speaking.
But Matthew's emotions had not yet calmed.
Especially seeing William's movement, how could he not know that this person was planning to refute him?
George's obstruction did not make him relent; instead, he spoke more harshly:
"What, calling you worthless, and you're not convinced? Do you believe that if the two of us leave, and that Wood Puppet Monster comes, you worthless lot combined wouldn't be its match?"
William could endure, but the other four camp leaders could not.
Sam, Ben, Max, and John all stood up.
But just as they were about to speak, Lex, who had been watching coldly, spoke up.
"Enough, Matthew, stop talking!"
Although he took the initiative to interrupt Matthew and prevent a clash between the two groups, Lex also showed a strong displeasure on his face when looking at the crowd.
"Leader George, it was you who proactively asked us to help before, and all of you agreed to fully cooperate. You've all seen with your own eyes how formidable that Wood Puppet Monster is. I won't say more. If you really don't need our help now, just say it, and Matthew and I will leave at once!"
Hearing Lex's words, George's heart immediately fell into turmoil.
Not just him, even the other four camp leaders, who had already decided to withdraw, including William, who suffered the most losses, all showed hesitant expressions.
Anger is one thing, but Lex's words realistically slapped them in the face.
Without these two people, they truly weren't a match for the Wood Puppet Monster.
If Lex and Matthew were to leave, given the killing nature of the Wood Puppet Monster, the six camps would no doubt face destruction in the end.
"Brother, no matter what you say, they won't understand. Kind words can't persuade a dying ghost. Let these fools fend for themselves, let's go back!"
"Honorable sirs, please calm your anger."
Seeing Matthew pulling Lex to leave, George hurriedly stepped forward, bowing in apology, speaking self-deprecatingly: "In recent days, our camps have lost many Axeheart Realm fighters, the leaders are anxious, and I ask for your understanding, honorable sirs."
George was helpless too.
The camps around Redwood Ridge were indeed too weak.
In addition, being cut off from the outside world, if Lex and Matthew leave, they would truly be isolated with no assistance, and when the Mimicking Monster comes, no one could stop it.
Seeing that Lex and Matthew's expressions were not as resolute as before, George continued:
"Forgive my bluntness, but carrying on like this is not a solution. In the past half month, the combined four camps have lost twenty-nine Axeheart Realm fighters.
It's no secret, and I won't fear your laughter, but apart from Rogel Camp, which is in better condition, everyone in the other five camps relies on those Axeheart Realm fighters to survive.
If they all fall here, even if their respective camp members aren't killed by the Mimicking Monster, they might starve or freeze to death."