[In the repeated plundering of humans, you have reached level 5]
[Among ratmen, this level is already considered second only to the Rat Mother]
[Recently, the frequency of ratman raids has increased, to the point where there aren’t even enough caravans to pillage]
[Even though the adventurers and soldiers in the city have intervened repeatedly, they cannot completely resolve the rat problem]
Another frenzied plundering began.
“Move aside, she’s mine!”
“Get lost, I clearly found her first.”
Lai En walked forward and discovered a human girl clutching a little girl, cowering inside the wreckage of a carriage.
The Poisoned Dagger stabbed into the backs of two ratmen one after another. They turned around, showing no surprise.
Their faces filled with unwillingness. They only felt that they were too weak, which allowed Lai En to snatch their prey.
The rat brothers turned into warm experience.
The girl picked up a piece of wood from beside her and mustered the courage to point it at Lai En.
Lai En sighed and pointed out an escape route for them.
The girl couldn’t understand why a ratman would spare her, but she knew that if not for him, she would have been torn in half by the other two ratmen.
“Thank you… thank you.”
She suddenly noticed that this somewhat large ratman in front of her was staring at her chest.
Inside her tattered clothes, white cloth wrapped around that generous swell.
She swallowed hard and reached a hand toward her chest.
“This, take it.”
The girl untied a pendant from her chest and handed it to Lai En.
Lai En felt a little disappointed; he thought he might have seen something nice.
Lai En watched them flee, then turned and walked toward the rat pack.
……
[The Blood Milk Mother dragged her bloated body as usual and turned to look at you]
[She was delighted by the pendant you gave her]
“Recently, our Filthy Blood Tribe has grown stronger. Not only have the tributes to me increased, but their quality has also become more refined. You managed to obtain a gem of this quality.”
“Speak, what reward do you want?”
[This was the first time the Blood Milk Mother mentioned the word ‘reward’]
Lai En thought she would just take everything for granted.
“You look surprised.”
The Blood Milk Mother shared similarities with ordinary ratmen, such as her rat head, but her body was completely different—a veritable small mountain of flesh.
“How about this: I’ll give you a chance to bear offspring with me…”
Before Lai En could react, the Blood Milk Mother turned her back.
Perhaps other ratmen would have given in to temptation, but inside, Lai En was human!
He never expected the reward to be that—it was no different from torture for Lai En.
“What? Could it be that you…”
“No wonder. Among ratmen, many are naturally incapable of reproduction. Don’t be too upset about it.”
Lai En’s eyes twitched twice.
But if he tried to explain with another excuse, it would probably cause more trouble. It was better to go along with her.
“My children are all greedy. In fact, every ratman is greedy.”
“Go to the treasury and pick something to take.”
The Blood Milk Mother rarely moved so much. Behind her, a small hole was revealed.
Lai En immediately understood that the hole was where the Blood Milk Mother kept her usual loot.
The Filthy Blood Tribe had existed for at least several decades; there must be good things inside!
Lai En suppressed his excitement, thanked the Blood Milk Mother, and quickly walked over to crawl into the small hole.
……
[Myriad Foot Gold Bar (Green)]
[Gold is the afterglow of ancient stars, a medium for many types of magic. Of course, it is most commonly used for trade. A gold bar this large is something most people cannot obtain in a lifetime.]
As soon as Lai En entered the hole, he saw this conspicuous gold bar.
“This is only a Green quality item?”
Lai En looked at the gold bar and suddenly thought of his mother in the real world, Ailuo Wen.
She didn’t even have a personal maid; while pregnant, she still had to clean the yard and cook.
When she finally got a maid to bring her food, it was only to deliver a death sentence.
If he had this gold bar, her daily life would improve tremendously.
Thinking this, Lai En decided to take it.
[King’s Crossbow Bolt (White)]
[To be precise, it’s called the King’s Crossbow Bolt, a favorite of ordinary soldiers.]
[Noble’s Iron Helmet (White)]
The remaining items truly had nothing above Green quality.
Lai En stuffed the gold bar into his safe, then took a plate armor for protection and walked out.
The Poisoned Dagger was kept close to his body.
“Oh, you didn’t take that gold bar after all.”
The Blood Milk Mother said in surprise.
“Many ratmen have taken that gold bar, but unfortunately they all ended up dead, and the gold bar was brought back by someone else.”
The Blood Milk Mother didn’t know that Lai En had already put the gold bar into his safe; even if he died, it could be brought back to reality.
She only looked at Lai En with an approving gaze.
“As expected of a ratman elite who has lived so long. Your character ensures you will survive, just like I once did…”
The Blood Milk Mother fell into thought, and Lai En thanked her and left.
With the plate armor, Lai En’s survival ability improved significantly.
Except for a few close calls with magic blasts, he was truly in no life-threatening danger.
After reaching level 6, there was no sign of further evolution; it seemed the ratman gene lock ended here.
……
[Human adventurers are growing stronger, and there are even adventurers who directly launch raids on ratman nests]
[Ratmen also reproduce without pause, using plundered human equipment to rearm veterans with battle experience]
[However, you understand that one day the ratmen will be completely wiped out by humans, so you have conceived the idea of leaving this place]
[But ratmen are a race that can only survive by sticking together. If you leave the pack, you will be weak and alone, and no race will welcome a ratman]
[After some thought, you realize that all this can only be answered by the Blood Milk Mother]
[From the Blood Milk Mother’s mouth, you learned that far away, the Ratman Empire exists within the Death Pit]
[Among them, some use plague machinery, others use lightning magic, and some are even known for deception]
[“When I was young, I was a little female rat bullied by other Rat Mothers every day.”]
[“I escaped from there, breaking my teeth over a dozen times while digging through the sunless underground before I arrived here…”]
[“Only later did I learn that all the little female rats unwilling to endure oppression in the Empire came here. I was just one of them.”]
[“In these filthy sewers, we have fully tasted the flavor of freedom.”]
[You asked her how to reach the Empire]
[“You are an impure-blooded ratman. The moment you return to the Empire, other ratmen will recognize you, and then you’ll be turned into dried rat meat and fed to the Mutant Giant Rats.”]
[The Blood Milk Mother’s answer left you deeply disappointed]
[Time passed quickly, and you have become one of the most powerful ratmen in the tribe]
[Unfortunately, humans have raised the bounty to a level where even S-Rank adventurers are willing to come and hunt]