Rags to Riches: The Rise of a Dual-Talent Prodigy-Chapter 546 - 538: Protect Your Anus

Qian Qi didn’t have much time to complain. Her mind raced, beginning another type of calculation.

Since humans had already exposed themselves as the species with the most numbers and some combat capability, there needed to be another more threatening Magic Beast to temporarily divert the Gilded Black Tiger Beast’s attention away from humans.

But...

Where could she find another Epic Level Magic Beast?

Even if she found one, if the two giants fought, the heavens and earth would be shaken. It wouldn’t just be those A-level Awakened Warriors affected; even she and Su Ang would be spitting blood, losing half their lives.

Is there really no way?

"Damn it!"

Thinking about the possibility that Xi Pingzhe might have already died in the military camp, Qian Qi couldn’t control the surging emotions. The anguish of losing someone she wanted to protect churned inside her, making it difficult to stay calm.

She pounded her fist on the system interface, her voice hoarse, "If I’d known, I should have scolded him away when we first met!"

This gesture was so intense that it caught Su Ang’s attention. He looked at Qian Qi’s frustrated face, thought for a moment, then gently held Qian Qi’s fist, slightly turning to the side.

His voice, as gentle as flowing water, entered Qian Qi’s mind, soothing her agitated feelings, "Take it slow. Don’t think about how to save everyone’s life. At this level, if you can save just one, it’s a victory."

"Even if the one you save is just an ordinary person."

Qian Qi was touched. She looked up at Su Ang. His gaze was soft and full of love, as if he would support any decision she made. There was no hint of forcing her to become the Savior, which helped Qian Qi gradually calm down.

Suddenly being burdened with millions, even tens of millions of lives, coupled with the thought that Xi Pingzhe might already be dead, made Qian Qi a bit agitated. But Su Ang, this human hero’s dedicated user, obviously had more experience in salvation than her. What he said was definitely right.

Qian Qi didn’t consider that there might be personal motives in his words.

So, following Su Ang’s lead, she began to consider who she really wanted to save now.

Xi Pingzhe? The military camp? The people of Qing City or the residents of cities surrounding Qing City?

Based on analysis, she couldn’t save everyone, so she had to consider sacrificing some people.

The military camp was the first choice Qian Qi decided to give up on. After all, they’re too close to the Black Tiger Beast and have recently fired on it. There are probably numerous casualties already. She, being too weak, cannot possibly rescue the entire army alone.

So...

"Bring up the area map and population map of Qing City and adjacent cities."

[Understood!]

Two maps soon emerged on the system interface, then merged together.

Qian Qi lightly tapped on the map with her index finger while her other hand gently tapped her chin, her eyes full of contemplation. If she was wearing a military uniform right now, she would truly resemble a competent executive officer.

She scanned the map.

The Black Tiger Beast’s territory usually spans about 800,000 square kilometers.

Qing City, rich in mineral resources with a dense metal element atmosphere, along with its beautiful landscapes, makes it the perfect choice for the Black Tiger Beast to settle. And Qing City covers 600,000 square kilometers.

The military camp is currently located northeast of Qing City, about 370 kilometers from the city center. If the Black Tiger Beast expands its territory from there, it will definitely affect all cities in the northeast, east, and southeast directions. Once the territory is established, the deaths and injuries will number in the tens of millions.

But if the city center of Qing City towards the west becomes the central area of the territory, the number of cities affected would be negligible, thus minimizing casualties.

It’s not that there wouldn’t be any casualties, but those hit would be in the thousands.

This is similar to the famous "trolley problem": choosing to stay on the existing track and kill those five people, or switching tracks to sacrifice one to save the other five. For a military strategist, the answer would definitely be the latter.

Qian Qi isn’t a strategist, so she holds onto hope, wishing the Seven Great Families can quickly evacuate residents of the southwestern cities before she drives the Gilded Black Tiger Beast westward from the city center.

As for how to drive the Black Tiger Beast away...

Qian Qi’s gaze locked onto the "mortal enemy" section in the Gilded Black Tiger Beast’s data on the system panel.

Titan Golden Armor Bull.

With an Evolution Level of S-Class but a Power Level cap of only A-level Peak, it’s a Metal Element Magic Beast.

They are communal Magic Beasts usually seeking places rich in metal elements to settle, often clashing with Gilded Black Tiger Beasts over territory.

The Titan Golden Armor Bull is particularly vengeful, taking advantage of its thick flesh and strong defensive armor, and possessing a combo defense skill. Thus, it often attacks the Black Tiger Beast’s weak points at night, earning its place on the Black Tiger Beast’s "cohabitation blacklist."

Wherever there are Titan Golden Armor Bulls, the Black Tiger Beast is very reluctant to approach, similar to how a wealthy person wouldn’t choose to live in a mosquito-infested area; it would rather wander elsewhere, picking a new territory.

So, if the Titan Golden Armor Bull can be made to appear here and along Qing City’s eastern defense line, the Black Tiger Beast will abandon expanding eastward and instead turn west.

"System, can we gather some Titan Golden Armor Bulls?" Qian Qi smirked mischievously, "Though we can’t kill the Black Tiger Beast, at least we can irritate it."

When the words "Titan Golden Armor Bull" appeared, the system already guessed her plan. After pausing, it flashed a smile, [30 billion for the Titan Golden Armor Bull’s coordinates^^.]

The meaningful look exchanged between them said it all.

This method is feasible.

"Deal!"

Just as the system sent out the coordinates, Su Xingchen’s call came through.

Seeing that Qian Qi couldn’t hear, Su Xingchen began texting: [You’ve got an S-Class Magic Beast there, can you find a way to push it westward?]

Qian Qi: [Huh? We had the same thought without even discussing! Do you also know its territory is 800,000 square kilometers?]

Su Xingchen: [I didn’t know that, I just knew I wanted to push it to another country.]

Qian Qi: [...]

Indeed, she’s not suited for being a strategist or politician.

She sent him several coordinates, [Have your troops look for the Titan Golden Armor Bulls, they look roughly like this... There’s no need to kill them, just provoke them enough so they keep appearing along Qing City’s eastern defense line.]

After some thought, she kindly reminded: [Protect the weak spots.]

Su Xingchen: [?]

Hanging up the phone, Qian Qi glanced at the nearest coordinates.

"Underneath the military camp?" Qian Qi was somewhat surprised, "An A-level dungeon, could it be that the S-level dungeon the Black Tiger Beast was in previously belonged to the same world?"

The system nodded on the panel, [You’re guessing right.]

"Looks like I have to go back again." Just in time to check on Xi Pingzhe’s situation.

Qian Qi turned, holding Su Ang’s palm in reverse, and wrote:

"Will you come back with me?"

"Of course." His slender fingers wrote stroke by stroke.

Wherever you are, I am.