117. Andre's Little Strategy

The next morning, the Garuda Pioneers set out for their respective islands again. After the discussion the previous night, they were no longer simply trying to gather as many resources as possible. They had begun adjusting their gathering efforts according to the group’s shared needs.

Fajar and Andre chose a three-star Stone Island. They departed in their respective ships and met after reaching the shore.

Andre looked at the expanse of rocks and hills covering the island.

“So what are we looking for first?”

“Coal,” Fajar answered. “Coal is the first target. Going straight for iron would be troublesome.”

“Because of the Kentrosaurus?”

Fajar nodded. “Yeah. There are only two of us.”

Andre looked toward the hills.

“What if we run into other Pioneers?”

“Then we just keep looking. As long as they don't bother us, we don't need to look for trouble either.”

They then began exploring the island.

Several times, the two had to climb rocky hills just to get a wider view. From higher ground, they observed the distant slopes, searching for colors and rock formations that differed from the surrounding terrain.

After moving around several times, Andre finally pointed toward a slope.

“Is that it?”

Fajar narrowed his eyes.

“Looks like a coal deposit.”

They immediately went down and approached it. After confirming that it was indeed a coal deposit, they took out their equipment and began mining.

The sound of mining tools striking rock echoed repeatedly among the stones. Chunks of coal began filling their inventories.

“If we keep going like this, we'll get a decent amount,” Andre said while working.

“Exactly. We find the materials that are most needed first.”

They had been mining for quite some time when footsteps could be heard from behind them.

Fajar stopped working and turned around.

A group of Pioneers emerged from behind the rocks. There were far more of them. Eight people approached, then stopped several meters away from the deposit.

One of them pointed toward the mine.

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“Hey. You guys done there?”

Fajar stood up.

“Why?”

“We want that deposit. Move.”

Andre glanced behind the group and quickly counted. Eight people, while there were only two of them.

Fajar then let out a long breath.

“We got here first.”

“So?”

The Pioneer grinned.

“You're still moving.”

Another one laughed.

“Seriously? Only two people?”

“Garuda only dares to come in pairs now?”

Several members of the group began laughing and Fajar tightened his grip on his mining tool.

“If you want to take it, just ask properly. No need to act tough.”

“What can you even do?”

Fajar fell silent for a moment. He knew the situation wasn't in their favor. Two against eight clearly wasn't a reasonable choice, especially on a three-star island.

“Bastards,” he muttered.

Andre, however, looked relaxed and turned toward the group.

“You guys never learn, do you?”

One of the Pioneers frowned.

“What?”

Andre put away his mining tool.

“Hang on. In that case, I'll call my friend. He's actually on this island.”

Fajar immediately turned sharply toward him.

“Huh?”

Andre had already taken out his communicator. The foreign Pioneers looked at one another. Several seemed uncertain, but one of them still tried to laugh.

“Your friend?”

“Yeah.”

Andre pretended to be busy opening his chat.

“My friend will come here with a dinosaur.”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

“What?”

Andre raised his head casually.

“So you can find out what that feels like.”

Fajar held back a confused expression. He knew perfectly well that the two of them had come alone.

Andre then started typing.

Andre: Boss Rangga, where are you?

The group in front of them didn't say anything else and they exchanged glances.

The name Rangga was certainly not unfamiliar to the Pioneers. Especially after the various incidents broadcast through livestreams, the reputation of Garuda Pioneers being capable of controlling mechanical creatures had become widely known.

For some people, the possibility of facing a mechanical dinosaur controlled by a Pioneer was far more concerning than facing two ordinary people.

One of them eventually cleared his throat.

“Let's just go.”

His companion turned toward him.

“Seriously?”

“There are plenty of other areas on this island.”

They began backing away, but Andre put on a confused expression.

“Huh? Why?”

There was no answer.

“Wait a minute. It'll probably only take five minutes.”

Fajar, who finally understood what Andre was doing, also put on a serious expression.

“Yeah. Just wait. You came all the way here, so why leave immediately? It'll only take a moment.”

One of the Pioneers shook his head.

“No need. We'll find somewhere else.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

The group turned around and began walking away and Andre waved at them.

“All right. Take care.”

They continued walking without looking back.

Once the group was far enough away, Fajar immediately burst out laughing.

“Damn!”

Andre laughed as well.

“What?”

“Is Rangga actually here?”

Fajar was still chuckling when Andre reopened his communicator.

Rangga's reply had already arrived.

Rangga: I'm on Desert Island. What's up?

Fajar stared at the screen, then looked at Andre.

“Huh?”

Andre was still smiling.

“What?”

“Rangga is actually on Desert Island?”

“Yeah.”

Fajar pointed at the screen.

“Then you lied to them!”

Andre immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“Then what?”

Andre put his communicator back into his pocket.

“I didn't lie.”

Fajar stared at him in disbelief.

“I used a strategy.”

Andre raised his chin proudly.

“Mayor Deri said that when the situation isn't in our favor, we should use strategy.”

Fajar was silent for a moment before bursting out laughing again.

“Strategy, my ass.”

Andre laughed along with him, clutching his stomach.

The two of them then turned back toward the coal deposit in front of them.

“So, we continuing?” Andre asked.

“Yep.”

Fajar picked up his mining tool again.

“But what if someone comes again?”

Andre grinned.

“Easy.”

“What?”

“Rangga's name is still available.”

Fajar immediately burst out laughing again.