The Author's POV

"This place is fine"

Entering one of the abandoned buildings with Zack, I made sure to scan the perimeter to see if anybody was there before setting up camp.

After settling down, still standing, Zack looked at me in confusion as he asked.

"What do we do now?"

In all honesty, if not for everyone following his orders, Zack would've never have let someone like Ren order him around.

...he really was tempted to just leave and do as he wished, but since it would incur the wrath of the other team members, he decided against doing so.

Glancing at Zack from the corner of my eye and reading his thoughts, I briefly responded to him before turning my attention back towards the distance.

"Nothing yet, our turn has yet to come"

From the very beginning, I could tell he was dissatisfied with me. However, unfortunately for him, I really didn't care.

...in the first place, who told him that he had to do as I said?

Inwardly shaking my head and turning my attention back towards the city, I carefully observed the city from the building I was on. For now, everything was calm and quiet, however, I knew that things would soon change...

Placing my hand on my chin, squinting my eyes as I stared into the distance, I fell into deep thought.

According to my deduction, whoever was going to target Jin was not definitely not going to be the code holder.

With how skilled Jin was, sending their code holder to fight against him would be suicide and may prove to be fruitless.

Thus it was safe to assume that whoever was going to target Jin was definitely not going to be the code holder.

Preferably, I would hope that they send more than one person to pursue him as that would cut off a lot of possibilities, but even one was enough. Couldn't be too greedy.

...now, with that set, I needed to figure something out.

Was the code holder going to hide or was he/she going to blend with the rest just like what I had done with Arnold?

Thinking thus far, glancing at my watch, I immediately dialed a number.

Fortunately, we were allowed to communicate with each other during the game as both teams were given access to a communication device in the form of a watch. It couldn't do anything else apart from that, but it saved a lot of time.

"Jin can you hear me?"

...

-Swooosh!

Stealthily moving around the abandoned houses, Jin quietly scanned the perimeter. Thereafter, like a cat, Jin kept moving forward without making any sound. Fast and stealthily.

you hear

on top of one

slight frown appeared on Jin's face before

screen of

-Yes

to expose yourself so that the other group is aware

understanding the intent behind Ren's words, Jin

-Understood

[Alright perf-]

-Click!

off the watch, without giving a chance for Ren to respond, Jin quickly jumped higher until he was at the roof of the buildings. Thereafter, he jumped from one building to the other. As

acted according to how others thought he would, chances that

that he was following Ren's plan, Jin would've

others match him in a fight? He was

-Swoosh! -Swoosh!

other, he suddenly felt an extremely repulsive feeling well inside of his body. His mind couldn't help but start drifting away

he was following someone else's

of the Horton

"How repulsive"

that subconsciously came out

Never. If not for the fact that the person he

as his thoughts paused there, Ren's face appeared in Jin's mind. More specifically, the cold and emotionless

forgot that moment. Nor will he ever forget

where he truly felt powerless for the first time

moment back in Hollberg had taught him a

never be too conceited as there was always someone better than

pride that

a

Pathetic.

wasn't as weak-willed

"huuuu..."

mouth, Jin accelerated as he quickly

that fateful day in Hollberg, Jin

Kevin, Amanda, Melissa...or

longer

on the idea of comparing himself

currently holding back and working with the others, something that he would've never done

"...How disgusting"

get this over with. The feeling of working with other people rather than just himself repulsed him to the max. The only reason he was doing this was because he believed

bait help him in anyway shape

"Damn it"

his pace even more as he overbearingly moved around the infrastructures around him.

is to attract the attention of the others, that's just