63: Chapter 63 Gratitude and Honor? Right-hand Man.

"Uh... can we talk business now? Eagle King, what is it you are looking for me for? As long as it is something I, Rat King, can do, I am willing to serve."

Rat King's tone was fawning. Eagles are the natural predators of rats, and with Bai Xuan's aura being so powerful, even the noble Rat King could only feel awe and fear, trying his best to please Bai Xuan to avoid an unprovoked disaster.

"You are quite sensible." Bai Xuan's tone softened significantly.

"Many thanks for the praise, Eagle King."

Rat King wanted to cry but had no tears. You're so strong, how could I not be sensible? If it weren't for the situation forcing my hand, who would want to be like this? He also wanted to maintain the dignity of the Rat King, but his strength didn't allow it.

"Hand over 40% of your resources and work for me. That is what I want."

"This..." Isn't this asking too much of a rat?

He was the dignified Rat King; to have to compromise and hand over 40% of his resources, and even work for him, was too overbearing! How would he have the face to face his rat colony in the future? Where would his dignity be? This was bullying a rat too much!

"Why, are you unwilling?" Bai Xuan released his pressure. In an instant, the already dilapidated building gained many more cracks and began to sway precariously.

The rat colony hiding in the shadows was too scared to even breathe.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, but I also need to save face. Eagle King, if you do this, how can I establish prestige among my colony in the future?" Rat King hesitated, wanting to say more, but eventually bit the bullet and spoke out.

"Choose between your face or your life." Bai Xuan intensified his pressure.

"My life." After hesitating for a moment, Rat King sighed helplessly.

This is really a life-or-death situation. Why is my luck so bad? Why did I end up with such an unreasonable ancestor?

"That's all it takes, isn't it? Rest assured, I only recruited you because I saw that you are a rat of great potential; others don't even catch my eye. As long as you work for me honestly, I will never treat you unfairly in the future. You aren't the first colony to work for me, so you don't need to feel so embarrassed. You should feel proud, shouldn't you?" Upon hearing this, Bai Xuan withdrew his pressure, his attitude softening considerably as he began to counsel him.

"So that's my honor, then?" Rat King couldn't help but complain.

"Isn't it? Don't push your luck." Bai Xuan looked at Rat King with a half-smile.

In Rat King's eyes, this smile was extremely chilling, a naked threat.

"Being able to work for you, Eagle King, is my honor. I feel incredibly proud and touched by this. You were able to see my talent among the masses of fierce beasts, Eagle King, and I am deeply grateful. At the same time, you truly have a discerning eye for rats, Eagle King." Rat King hurriedly praised him, saying insincere words while feeling stifled to death inside. If I didn't have any talent, could I have become the Rat King? Do you need to tell me that?

"As long as you are this grateful and honored, then my painstaking efforts haven't been in vain. Alright, go and take out 40% of the resources. I'll only give you five minutes." Bai Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

"Why aren't you going to get it yet!" Rat King vented his inner anger at the rat colony in the building. This stupid eagle is really bullying rats too much! Sob sob sob.

"Right, I want high-quality ones, don't get them mixed up." Bai Xuan didn't forget to add.

"Yes, get the high-quality ones for the Eagle King, hurry up, don't dawdle." Rat King wanted to cry but had no tears, his heart aching. This was something he had spent a huge amount of rat-effort to save up, and just like that, 40% was taken away, and it had to be high-quality. Only he could endure this bullying from a bird.

"Not bad, you've entered the state very quickly. With your intelligence and talent, you might become my right-hand man in the future. Rat King, work hard in this direction. When I make it big, I will never treat you unfairly." Bai Xuan praised him.

Rat King was so angry his teeth itched. Isn't this clearly just making empty promises? Who would believe you! But on the surface, he still said insincere words: "Many thanks for the praise, Eagle King." At least I'm not dead, that's good. When I make a comeback, I will definitely change this stifling situation, though it's hard to say if I can wait until that day.

After a while, the rat colony brought spirit stones one by one to Bai Xuan, piling them on the ground, then retreated back into the building, poking their heads out from the windows, watching Bai Xuan with fear and trepidation, waiting to see what he would do next.

"Eagle King, the spirit stones have been brought for you, please check them." Rat King looked at such a large pile of spirit stones, his heart aching to death.

"Very good." Bai Xuan absorbed them into his stomach.

"Then, Eagle King, is there anything else you need to instruct?" Rat King wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible, not wanting to stay for even a moment longer.

"I will come every month, or send a giant bear named Xiong Yan to collect 40% of the resources. You must also do your best to collect resources. Also, keep watch over the southern border line for me. If humans have any major movements, report to me immediately." Bai Xuan instructed.

"What is a border line? And where do you live, Eagle King? Where should we go to report to you?" Rat King voiced his confusion. It was important to get things clear so as not to make any muddled mistakes.

Afterwards, Bai Xuan told him some things about the border line, then plucked a feather with his eagle beak and gave it to Rat King, then roughly told him the location, telling him to inject spirit energy into the feather when he arrived, and Bai Xuan would rush over.

"Oh, okay. This is quite convenient." Rat King nodded gently. This giant eagle has quite a lot of tricks. If he can keep his word, not treat us unfairly, and treat my colony well, then following him might actually be quite good.

"Likewise, if you encounter threats, you can come to me for help. For fierce beasts, I can solve it 100%, for humans, I have a 50% chance of solving it." Bai Xuan naturally offered him some benefits. For fierce beasts, Bai Xuan could solve it with just a little effort, but humans were a bit troublesome, though if he couldn't solve it, he could at least retreat, depending on the situation.

"Many thanks, Eagle King. We truly haven't followed the wrong eagle. You are so considerate of us. From now on, we will do our best to work for you, and will go through fire and water without hesitation!" Rat King spoke, feigning being moved. This is all nonsense, isn't it? My rat colony in this area can easily match rivals when facing fierce beasts, and can also go fifty-fifty against humans, or at least that's what I think. In this case, what use is Bai Xuan? It's better to say it's paying protection money, protection money so you don't bully us.

"You have a heart." Bai Xuan nodded gently. After talking for a while longer, Bai Xuan said his goodbyes. Then he left to go check other places. The harvest this time was not bad. Bai Xuan needed these fierce beasts, and they also needed to become stronger to better serve him. Spirit stone resources were naturally indispensable, and by having them hand over resources on time, he wouldn't have to search the whole map. He could also provide them with protection; it could be considered mutually beneficial.

"This plague has finally left. My luck is truly bad." Only after seeing Bai Xuan leave did Rat King dare to speak his true thoughts.