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 my

and patting him on the shoulder, I urged for

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

me to convince him about the strength of

he'll realize that he was sitting with a bunch of

"...Okay."

nodded his bead before

my seat belt, I pressed on the gas pedal and drove towards my

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

down from

a beautiful girl with short auburn hair sat who currently had an extremely dark look on her

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

unable to bear with it

"Fuck!"

distance, Emma continued to swear. Seemingly wanting to vent out

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

"..."

sitting on the bench, Kevin took a deep breath and quietly

brief idea

was going on with Emma as she never

their relationship closer than ever, she revealed everything to him. From how her uncle was suppressing her, to all the schemes he was

to get her to drop out of the Lock. Something that

"Piece of scum!"

frustrations towards the rain, unable to bear it anymore, Kevin

have any idea of where

"Hm?"

voice,

you

happening

"...Yeah."

came back, the problem would

as her dad come back, her uncle would stand no

you have any

"No."

dejectedly shook her

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

not even contact his own

"...Yeah."

at the rain that was

Kevin. I don't

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

her, he reassured

I'll

***

hour's drive from Ironia

Ryan cried out in

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

I

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

a massive barrier that

"Damn."

that was enveloping the

Ashton city and Dromeda city was the fact

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

cost of maintaining the barrier around the city was astronomical, and

of my thoughts,

we going to take a quick break

I shook

maybe next

I really wanted to check

muttered in disappointment as he leaned back

car towards the other side

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

wasted too much

and a massive manhunt for my

probably already started, but with the tracking device not working, and my face now healed, their

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

That was because my priority right now was to leave the

tens of fully armed soldiers at the city's entrance. They stood at the two sides of the city wall

the wheel of the van, I patiently waited for my turn. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait for long as within a couple of minutes, a soldier appeared by the side

my window, the

state why you want to leave the

"Here."

black card that signified that I was a part of the mercenary group, I

to hunt beasts

"Cores?"