Actually, some team members had been complaining about the long journey since the start, and frequently displayed attitudes that suggested they wanted to go back, so the leader already knew that there were some inappropriate thoughts among some people in the squad.

Just as those team members said, he indeed purposefully avoided some high-reward missions when selecting tasks because the people posting the missions weren’t fools; simple tasks wouldn’t offer high rewards.

The missions he chose might not pay very well, but after the mission was completed, the share each person received actually wasn’t too little, especially since the cut he took was ten percent less than other squad leaders.

Besides, they didn’t consider that although other squads’ members had lower share percentages, they still received high payouts because fewer survivors were left at the end of the missions.

What was supposed to be divided among twenty or thirty people ended up being shared by only about a dozen; with fewer people dividing the money, even with smaller shares, the amount each person got was not insignificant.

As for his own squad, each time they went on a mission, there were casualties too, but those who died were usually the reserves, while very few official members perished. Because of the small number of deaths, there were many sharing the bounty, which naturally meant less money for each person.

Reasonable as this was, the leader forgot that the survivors who had the courage to go into the wild with him were all brave. They were all prepared to risk their lives before undertaking these missions, and compared to the risk, they cared more about getting more money at the end of each task.

That’s why the leader had accepted this mission, to see if the members of his team would still follow his command.

When he finally heard someone speak up, the leader asked with a very calm surface how many wished to leave the team, but deep inside he let out a helpless sigh.

Seeing that the leader wasn’t angry, but instead calmly inquired about their thoughts, the atmosphere became somewhat silent.

However, while others could remain silent, the member who had started this had no way back, so he excitedly said to the others, "What are you hesitating for? Didn’t you hear what Zayne said? Inside there are not only weapons and gear but also individual rations, and that’s just from opening two of the three boxes.

The fact that these opened boxes are stored together indicates that the other unopened ones must contain items of similar value.

Never mind what’s inside those boxes for now, just think about it: if the first floor has so many treasures, the second floor must hold even more precious items.

I’ll call you captain one last time. I’m leaving the team now. I don’t want the reward after completing the mission. I’m free now, right?"

Upon hearing what the man said, the leader understood what he meant and went with the flow, "I know what you’re trying to say, and I can give you a clear answer right now.

You’re no longer a member of my team, so you won’t get a share when we distribute the mission rewards afterward.

But from now on, any loot you find in the wild, as long as no team member is involved, will be none of our business."

Hearing the leader’s straightforward response, the man immediately said excitedly, "Did you hear what the captain just said? If you leave the team, any future gains are no longer the team’s concern.

We are taking such big risks out here for what? Isn’t it just to earn a bit more? Now there’s so much stuff inside the building, right before our eyes. I know that getting our hands on it will certainly involve some risk.

But fortune favors the bold, and isn’t there a saying, ’A man will risk his life for wealth as a bird will for food’? Whoever wants to take a chance with me, come over here."

Hearing his passionate pitch, whether the others had already been in contact privately or were simply swayed by the grand promises he made, most of the team of fewer than twenty people actually stood by his side.

The leader, who was once full of confidence, could never have imagined that his own brother would stand against him, and his originally calm expression instantly turned to anger.

"Old Two, what the hell are you doing? I never thought you would join them in pressuring me," the leader said.

Hearing his brother’s scolding, Old Two’s expression also turned ugly, "Always, always, it’s my fault. Since we were kids, whether it was my doing or not, I’d get a long lecture. I’m fed up with this life.

The mission is already complete; the goods are already in hand. It’s time for you to go, I won’t be part of your team anymore."

Seeing his own brother betraying him, and many others standing against him, the leader watched as one after another left his side.

Watching each figure depart, the leader’s originally angry mood surprisingly soothed quite a bit.

At this moment, he truly got it; after all, if even his biological brother could betray him, then he could now accept the defection of other team members.

When everyone clearly took their respective sides, the leader noticed that only Old Three, Old Six, Old Nine, and Zayne stood with him.

At that moment, leader Ryker Leo looked dejected, but still managed to force a joking tone, "They’ve given up their mission rewards just to be free this time.