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

the shoulder, I urged for him to take a

when the time

for me to convince him about

realize that he was sitting with a bunch

"...Okay."

bead before taking

sat down, moving towards the front of the car and fastening my seat belt, I pressed

Dromeda city.

***

Tk. Tk.

poured down from

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

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

finally, unable to bear with it

"Fuck!"

swear. Seemingly wanting to vent out

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

"..."

a deep breath and quietly listened to

a brief idea of

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

to him. From how her

trying to get her to drop out of the Lock.

"Piece of scum!"

of her frustrations towards the rain, unable to bear it anymore,

you have any idea of where your

"Hm?"

voice, Emma turned

are you talking

this happening because your father isn't

"...Yeah."

back, the problem would be solved,

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

have any way

"No."

dejectedly shook

top secret, and so he can't

even contact

"...Yeah."

head and staring at the rain that was falling from the

don't know what to

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

up to her, he

I'll

***

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

Ryan cried out

"Whaa, that's huge."

"It sure is."

I stared into

humungous wall, where stationed every few kilometers at the top of the wall was a beacon that shot a light ray

massive barrier that enveloped the whole

"Damn."

was enveloping the city, I couldn't help but

and Dromeda city was the fact that Dromeda city directly bordered the Elven

walls and invest tons of money on the barrier

city was astronomical, and if not for the constant threat of the demons, they would've long disposed

of my thoughts, Leopold

Ren, aren't we going to take

I shook

sorry, maybe

pity, I really wanted to check the places

disappointment as he

I drove the car towards the

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

wasted too

day now and a massive manhunt for my head

the tracking device not working,

was only a matter of time before all

That was because my priority right now was to leave the

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 city wall

didn't have to wait for long as within a couple of minutes,

window, the soldier sternly

why you want

"Here."

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

members to hunt

"Cores?"