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?"

smile. Completely unconvinced by

and patting him on the shoulder, I urged for him to take

now, you'll know when the time is

convince him about the

he

"...Okay."

his bead before taking a

my seat belt, I pressed on the

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

poured down

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

spoke as the only sound

little bit more time, until finally, unable to bear with it anymore, Emma suddenly

"Fuck!"

continued to swear. Seemingly wanting to vent out her

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

"..."

the bench, Kevin took a deep breath and quietly

idea

the past, he didn't know much about what was going on with Emma as she never talked about her personal

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

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

"Piece of scum!"

vent all of her frustrations towards the rain,

idea of

"Hm?"

voice, Emma turned

you talking

all of this happening because your

"...Yeah."

if he came back, the problem

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

you have any

"No."

shook her

mission is top secret, and so he

even

"...Yeah."

that was falling from the sky, Emma

Kevin. I don't

he suddenly felt a surge of anger well up from deep inside of

her, he

worry, I'll help

***

drive from Ironia city, I could already see the outline of the city in

the window, Ryan cried out in

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

said as I stared into

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

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

"Damn."

was enveloping the city, I couldn't help

the fact

such, they had no choice but to erect massive walls and invest tons of money on the barrier

the city was astronomical, and if not

out of my

Ren, aren't we going to take a quick

I shook

maybe

really wanted to

muttered in disappointment as he leaned back

drove the car towards the other side of the

time, I didn't want to risk the chance

already wasted too

now and a massive manhunt

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

matter of time before

car, I didn't enter the city. That was because my priority right now was to leave the

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 the two sides of the

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

the soldier sternly

why you want to leave the

"Here."

that I was a part

to hunt beasts and

"Cores?"