009 Captured.

Had this move against Karen occurred before his territory was upgraded, it would have indeed been a crisis. After all, the three Goblin Merchant Guilds had spared no expense, dispatching eight Tier 4 combatants at once.

Unfortunately for them, Karen’s territory had leveled up just before the guilds made their move. The goblins were quite unlucky; the "little lamb" they were at least fifty percent certain they could capture had transformed into a "big bad wolf" the moment the territory upgraded—a wolf in sheep’s clothing, at that. Under these circumstances, the three heavily armed goblin assassins were neutralized before they even came close to the Bone Tower.

The Level 3 Bone Tower could release three targeted Tier 5 Master-grade spells per day. As soon as the three goblins approached, Karen detected them and operated the Bone Tower, casting two Tier 5 spells: Sleep and Dreamscape. The three Tier 4 goblins were pulled into a dream world without a chance to resist. Karen didn't even need to use any coercive tactics; they spilled their secrets and identified the three guilds behind them immediately.

While the process was a bit too easy—depriving the mischievous Karen of the satisfaction of a dramatic confrontation—the outcome was favorable.

"Dorn, Wenge, and Kari? Aren't those the three most powerful merchant guilds in the market? Well, they’re quite cooperative. My strength just increased, and they’ve already sent me a gift. I was just wondering how to establish my prestige; now the stage is set, and three little monkeys have jumped out on their own."

As he spoke, a dangerous glint flickered in Karen's eyes. It was clear that his gaze had already sealed the tragic fate of those three guilds.

...

While Karen was busy using the Bone Tower to easily neutralize the goblins and prepare to make an example of their guilds, the five werewolf brothers were being thoroughly surrounded by his undead legion. Unlike the stubborn goblin assassins who had charged straight into the territory only to be suppressed by the Bone Tower, the werewolves put up a bit of a fight.

The five werewolves consisted of a Tier 4 Elite leader and four Tier 4 common-level subordinates. Being an experienced mercenary crew, they coordinated seamlessly and possessed an array of diverse equipment. Relying on their formidable strength and elite gear, they were quite resilient.

However, "resilient" was all they could be—they couldn't hold out for long. They were facing Karen’s undead legion, armed to the teeth. Although only about three hundred undead cavalry surrounded them, every single one was at least Tier 2, equipped with Bone Armor, Bone Shields, and Bone Spears—a perfect balance of offense and defense. Most terrifying was the sheer ferocity of this undead army; they fought with a "take you down even if I die" mentality. The five werewolves swore that this was the most horrifying army they had ever encountered.

Faced with such a legion, the werewolf leader gritted his teeth and made a difficult decision.

"It’s no use. We can't keep going like this; we’re dead if we do! Brothers, the time has come to use our last resort."

The leader’s words caused the expressions of the other four werewolves to shift.

"Boss, are we really using that move? There’s no turning back once we do!"

"There’s no other way. We were tricked by those damned goblins. This is the only move that gives us a hope of survival. As your leader, I am willing to do anything to ensure you live!" The werewolf leader clutched his heart and spoke with profound solemnity.

"Boss!"

In this grave moment, watching their leader shoulder the burden and stand before them like a towering tree, the remaining four werewolves appeared deeply moved. The second brother covered his eyes, as if shedding tears. The third brother wagged his tail, looking somewhat excited. The fourth brother stood there, holding his spiked club with a blank expression. As for the fifth, well, he couldn't even be bothered to look at these idiots, quietly backing away, ashamed to be associated with them.

"We surrender! We surrender, don't kill us, we surrender!"

Amidst the emotional display of the four wolves, the leader threw his weapon aside, raised his hands, and plopped onto his knees.

The air seemed to freeze. The previously frantic undead legion halted their assault. Little Green, who was in command, was completely bewildered, feeling a sense of urgency—this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. What do you do when an enemy suddenly surrenders mid-battle? Asking online, very urgent!

Not knowing how to handle this, Little Green immediately sent a "Death Wing" back to consult Karen. Karen was quite curious about these werewolves—it was his first encounter with the species—so, after a moment’s hesitation, he decided not to let Little Green kill them.

Ten minutes later, the five werewolves were stripped of their equipment, bound tightly, and sent to Karen's territory.

While the five Tier 4 werewolves were being taken, Karen began to get busy. His undead cavalry deployed once more, though not toward the Dead Market, but to the various mines Karen held in the Goblin Forest. For Karen, this was a perfect opportunity, and he naturally intended to make as much noise as possible.

While Karen was making his preparations, the three guild masters—Dorn, Wenge, and Kari—were also busy at the Dead Market, located about thirty kilometers from Karen’s territory. They were occupied with planning the market's development. In their eyes, Karen had absolutely no capacity for a counterattack, meaning the market was already theirs, and they were planning its future accordingly.

These three guild masters were seasoned businessmen, far more proficient in commercial matters than Karen, or even Flor and Cliff. To them, the current market was poorly managed in every aspect. Beyond everything else, the environment, sanitation, lodging, and catering were all things that could be improved, yet Karen had done none of it. Furthermore, the fee structures and security were inadequate. It didn't matter before, but now that the market was theirs, they intended to make it perfect.

And as these three guild masters fretted over the market, Karen’s massive undead army was sweeping in to surround them.