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?"

forced a smile. Completely unconvinced

shoulder, I urged for him

know when the

for me to convince him about

that he was sitting with a bunch of

"...Okay."

hesitantly nodded his bead before

the front of the car and fastening my seat belt, I pressed

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

poured down from the

to a beautiful girl with short auburn

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

time, until finally, unable to bear with it anymore, Emma suddenly stood up and

"Fuck!"

continued to swear. Seemingly wanting to vent out her

how you repay my father

"..."

bench, Kevin took a deep breath and quietly listened to Emma's

had a brief idea of what was going

didn't know much about what was going on with Emma as she never talked about her personal life, but now, things were

everything to him. From how her

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

"Piece of scum!"

the rain, unable to bear

idea of where

"Hm?"

Kevin's voice, Emma turned

you

of this happening

"...Yeah."

he came back, the problem would

uncle would stand no chance. There was a clear difference in power

any way to contact

"No."

shook her

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

Secret enough to not even

"...Yeah."

head and staring at the rain that

Kevin. I don't know

bit his lips as he suddenly felt a surge of anger

up to her, he reassured

I'll help

***

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

the window, Ryan cried out

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

softly said as I

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

a massive barrier that enveloped the whole city

"Damn."

barrier that was enveloping the city, I

Ashton city and Dromeda city was the fact that Dromeda city directly

they had no choice but to erect massive walls and invest tons of money on the barrier that was currently enveloping

I wasn't sure, the cost of maintaining the barrier around the city was astronomical, and

me out of my

Ren, aren't we going to take a

I

sorry, maybe

really wanted to check the places

he

I drove the car towards the

at any time, I didn't want to risk the

already wasted too

day now and a massive manhunt for my

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

it was only a matter of

the city. That was because my priority right

stunned to see tens of fully armed soldiers at the city's entrance. They stood at the two sides of the city wall and their sharp gazes continued to

my turn. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait for long as within a couple of minutes, a soldier appeared by

window, the soldier sternly

why you want

"Here."

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

to bring my members to hunt beasts

"Cores?"