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?"

a smile. Completely unconvinced

and patting him on the shoulder, I urged

to believe me now, you'll know when the time is right. Now have a seat,

was no need for me to convince him about the strength of the

he'll realize that he was sitting with a bunch

"...Okay."

hesitantly nodded his bead before taking a

moving towards the front of the car and fastening my seat belt, I pressed on the gas pedal and drove towards my next

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

poured down from the

short auburn

the next five minutes, neither one of them spoke as the only sound that could be heard

continued for a little bit more time, until finally, unable to bear

"Fuck!"

Emma continued to swear. Seemingly wanting

you repay my father for not kicking you out of

"..."

deep breath and quietly listened to Emma's hysteric

had a brief idea of what was going

what was going on with Emma as she never talked about

him. From how her uncle was suppressing her, to

where he was trying to get her to drop out of the Lock. Something

"Piece of scum!"

vent all of her frustrations towards the rain, unable to bear it anymore, Kevin finally

you have any idea of where your father could

"Hm?"

Kevin's voice, Emma turned

are you talking

this happening because your father isn't

"...Yeah."

if he came back, the problem would be

back, her uncle would stand no chance. There was a

have any way to

"No."

dejectedly shook

mission is top secret, and so he can't come into

enough to not even contact his own daughter for

"...Yeah."

her head and staring at the rain that was falling

Kevin. I don't

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

to her,

worry, I'll help

***

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

towards the window, Ryan

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

said as I stared

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

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

"Damn."

was enveloping the city, I couldn't

city was the fact that Dromeda city directly bordered the

to erect massive walls and invest tons of

the barrier around the city was astronomical, and if not for the constant threat of

of my

Ren, aren't we going to

I shook my

sorry, maybe next

really wanted to check the

he leaned back

the car towards the other side of

activating at any time, I didn't want to risk the chance of meeting trouble this early on

had already wasted too

now and a massive manhunt for my

fact, the manhunt had probably already started, but with the tracking device not working, and my

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

car, I didn't enter the city. That was because my priority right now was to leave the place, and not waste any time in

and arriving before a massive gate that led towards the outsides of the city, I was somewhat stunned to see tens of fully armed soldiers at the city's entrance. They stood at

wheel of the van, I patiently waited for my turn. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait

my window, the soldier sternly

state why you want

"Here."

card that signified that I was a part of

here to bring my members to hunt beasts and look for

"Cores?"