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

my head and patting him on the shoulder, I urged for him

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

me to convince him about the strength of the

due time he'll realize that he was sitting with a bunch

"...Okay."

bead before taking

he sat down, moving towards the front of the car and fastening my

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

poured down

a beautiful girl with short auburn hair sat who

as the only sound that could be heard was from the rain

finally, unable

"Fuck!"

Emma continued to swear. Seemingly wanting to

this to me you piece of scum! Is this how you repay my father for not kicking you out of the household! How dare you! How dare you!

"..."

the bench, Kevin took a deep breath and quietly listened

a brief idea of what was

Emma as she never talked about her personal life, but now, things were

revealed everything to him. From how her uncle

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

"Piece of scum!"

Emma vent all of her frustrations towards the rain, unable to

idea of where your father could

"Hm?"

voice, Emma

are you

this happening because your father

"...Yeah."

if he came back, the

her dad come back, her uncle would stand no

have any way to

"No."

dejectedly shook

secret, and so

secret? Secret enough to not even contact

"...Yeah."

her head and staring at the rain that was falling from the sky, Emma

I don't know what

fragile figure in the distance, Kevin bit his lips as he suddenly felt a surge of anger well up from deep

her, he

worry, I'll

***

from Ironia city, I could already see the outline

towards the window, Ryan cried

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

softly said as I stared

top of the wall was a beacon that shot a light ray towards the sky that joined with different

light rays joined together, a massive barrier that enveloped the

"Damn."

that was enveloping the city,

city was the fact that Dromeda city directly bordered the Elven

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

maintaining the barrier around the city was astronomical, and if not for the

me out of my thoughts, Leopold

going to take a quick

back, I shook my

maybe

pity, I really wanted to

in disappointment as he leaned

I drove the car towards the other

I didn't want to risk the

had already wasted too much

and a massive manhunt for my head would

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

that it was only a matter of time before

my priority right now was to leave the place, and not waste any time in the

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 the two

didn't have to

my window, the

why you want to

"Here."

that I was a part of

to hunt beasts

"Cores?"