The Author's POV

Once Hein signed the contract, everything was smooth sailing. Briefing him about the upcoming trip and how it was going to be important in his mission to cure his father, Hein promptly agreed to join me on the trip.

"Alright, let me send you the money. I'll let you handle the rest with your family."

"Mhm."

Transferring 5 million U directly to Hein's account, I stood up and left the shop.

Hein would be leaving on a long trip with me and the others, I didn't want to ruin his farewell with his father and siblings.

Fortunately, with the five million I had given him, they should be able to live very comfortably for the next few years. This was probably why he wasn't so against the idea of coming with me once I explained to him the purpose of the trip.

"Hmm, what time is it?"

Standing underneath the sunlight, turning my wrist slightly, I check the time. 9:30 A.M.

"Hm, so almost two hours have already passed..."

From what I recall, we arrived here by 8 in the morning. This meant that one and a half hours had already passed since I talked to Hein.

Taking out my phone, I texted the others.

[Guys, it's time to come back.]

Now that I had dealt with Hein's recruitment, it was now time to leave.

Walking back to the SUV, leaning on my seat I got some shut-eye. Having driven throughout the whole night, I needed to rest a little.

*

"We're back."

Waking me up from my nap was the sound of Ryan's high-pitched voice. Opening the door of the car, he quickly hopped in.

Following him were Ava, and Smallsnake. Leopold followed suit not long after.

Staring towards the back of the car, I looked left and right before asking.

"Hmm, looks like everyone is here. Where is Angelica?"

"She's there."

Smallsnake pointed towards the back seat. Leaning forward a bit, I finally saw Angelica resting in the back of the car.

"Okay, perfect, now all we have to do is wait for Hein."

Right as my words faded, the door of the shop in the distance opened and Hein came out. Looking closely, I could see that the side of his eyes was red, indicating to me that he had been crying.

Lowering the window, I asked.

"Are you done saying your goodbyes?"

"Mhm"

Lifting his head up, Hein softly nodded his head.

Opening the back door of the car, I gestured for him to get in.

"Great, get in."

Upon entering the car, pointing at Hein, I introduced him to the others.

"Guys, this is Hein, our new recruit."

"Hello."

Hein greeted the others who greeted him back. Smiling, I pointed at the others and briefly introduced them to him.

"Hein, these are the other members. This here is Smallsnake, if you want to know anything, ask this guy and he'll probably know. This over here is Ava, she's a monster ta..."

As I introduced Hein to the other members, before long, a weird look appeared on his face. Blinking a couple of times and alternating my gaze between him and the others, I came to a sudden realization.

Patting him on the shoulder, I let out a small laugh.

"Don't be too quick to judge."

Now that I thought about it, everyone looked pretty unreliable.

Smallsnake was lanky, Leopold looked like a drunkard, Ava looked extremely shy and Ryan was a child.

Skipping Angelica who was a demon, and Silug who I had no idea about what he was doing, the group really looked unreliable.

"Although they don't look reliable, don't look down on them. Everyone here is much scarier than you think."

"...Is that so?"

Completely unconvinced by

on the shoulder, I urged for him to take a

don't have to believe me now, you'll know when the

convince him

time he'll realize that he was sitting with a

"...Okay."

bead before taking

car and fastening my seat belt, I pressed on the

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

poured down from the

beautiful girl with short auburn hair sat who currently had an extremely

them spoke as the only sound that could be heard was from the rain hitting

until finally, unable to

"Fuck!"

continued to swear. Seemingly wanting to vent out her

repay my father for not kicking you out of the household! How dare you! How dare you! How

"..."

on the bench, Kevin took a deep breath and

had a brief idea of

Emma as she never talked about her personal life, but

From how her uncle was suppressing her, to all the schemes he was pulling in

where he was trying to get

"Piece of scum!"

rain, unable

idea of where your father

"Hm?"

voice,

you talking

happening because your

"...Yeah."

back, the problem would be

as her dad come back, her uncle would stand no chance. There was a clear difference in power and

have any way to contact

"No."

shook

secret, and so he can't come into contact with me

Secret enough to not even contact his own daughter

"...Yeah."

head and staring at the rain that was falling from

Kevin. I don't

bit his lips as he suddenly felt a surge of anger well up from deep

to her,

I'll

***

smooth. Within an hour's drive from Ironia city, I could already see the outline

Ryan

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

I stared into the

massive city appeared in the distance. Around the city was a humungous wall, where stationed every few kilometers at the top of the wall was a beacon that shot a light ray towards the sky that joined with different light rays that came from the different beacons stationed on the top

the light rays joined together, a massive barrier that enveloped the whole

"Damn."

barrier that was enveloping the city, I couldn't

and Dromeda city was the fact that Dromeda city directly bordered the Elven

they had no choice but to erect massive walls and invest tons of

I wasn't sure, the cost of maintaining the barrier around the city was astronomical, and if not for the constant threat of the

of my thoughts,

to

back, I shook

sorry, maybe

really wanted to check the places around

muttered in disappointment as he

car towards the

didn't want to risk the chance of meeting trouble this early on

wasted

massive manhunt for

but with the tracking device not working, and my face now

I knew that it was only a matter of time before all hell would

enter the city. That was because my priority right now was to leave the

of the city, I was somewhat stunned to see tens of fully armed soldiers at the city's entrance. They stood at the two sides of the city

waited for my turn. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait for

my window, the soldier sternly

why you want to leave

"Here."

that signified that I was a part of the mercenary

to bring my members to hunt beasts and

"Cores?"