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.

can you

on top of one of

his steps and hearing Ren's voice, a slight frown appeared

screen of his smartwatch, Jin

-Yes

expose yourself so

his eyes, Jin didn't respond immediately. Thereafter, understanding the intent

-Understood

[Alright perf-]

-Click!

the buildings. Thereafter, he jumped from one building to the other. As he moved, he

he knew about his personality, if he acted according to how others thought he would, chances that they would think he was the bait

for the fact that he was following Ren's plan, Jin would've originally

others match him in a fight? He was

-Swoosh! -Swoosh!

repulsive feeling well inside of his body. His mind couldn't help but start drifting away from the trials as a result. Shortly after, recalling

was following someone else's

the proud son of the Horton family,

"How repulsive"

subconsciously came out of his mouth as he

for the fact that the person he was being ordered by had already beaten him, Jin was never going to follow

appeared in Jin's mind. More specifically, the cold and

Nor will he ever forget

where he truly felt powerless for the first time in his

Ren, that moment back in Hollberg had taught him a

to never be too conceited as there was always someone better than

just because he lost didn't mean he feared Ren. No, that innate pride that had been engraved deeply into his body

over a single

Pathetic.

wasn't as weak-willed as

"huuuu..."

turbid air escaped from his mouth, Jin accelerated as he

day in Hollberg,

it Kevin,

longer cared

idea of comparing himself to others rather than just

others, something that he would've never done before, Jin couldn't help but mutter

"...How disgusting"

reason he was doing this was because he believed that he could learn something from Ren...however as he moved around the buildings, Jin

a bait help him

"Damn it"

around the infrastructures around him.

the attention of the others, that's just