The Place Where Everything Begins

Five minutes ago...

"I think you know her already, this woman is Rachel Ravencrost, and this middle-aged man is Tommy Samson, the renowned newcomer who has just arrived at our camp yesterday. The two of them have requested to join a scouting mission today. Thus, seeing your team only has eighteen people, I've decided to add Rachel and Tommy to your team. If you guys have any objection, raise your hand right now..."

Kahn said as he introduced the two people to team 5 consisting of eighteen people, with twelve men and six women.

Upon seeing no objection from the crowd, Kahn smiled slightly before saying,

"Good, then. Take care of them well."

"Welcome, guys!"

"The goddess of luck sides with us!"

"Yeah!!!"

"Welcome, Miss Rachel!"

"Our mission will be a piece of cake today."

People started talking and joking merrily with one another after seeing the two temporary members in their team.

After all, who wouldn't want a killing machine within their team?

Even though most team 5's members were brave enough to volunteer to be in a scout team willingly, they still valued their own lives greatly. No one here wanted to lose their lives early...

So, having a killing machine, Rachel, added to their team would surely boost their survivability to another level.

As for the middle-aged man, Tommy, who also joined their team the same as Rachel?

Undoubtedly, the man was pretty much overshadowed and skipped over by other people. As there was a bigger fish before them, people ought to focus on the bigger fish first.

Having finished introducing the two people to team 5, Kahn proceeded to another team to do the same thing as there were still four or five more people who had volunteered for a scouting mission.

After seeing Kahn walk away, Jeremy strolled into team 5, intending to blend in with the team, not to stand out too much.

Unexpectedly...

"Eh yo! I'm Gerard Barker. Welcome to our team, Tommy," said a man looking to be in his late 20s as he reached out his hand for a handshake.

"..."

Seeing such an enthusiastic attitude towards him. Jeremy scrutinized the man before him for a few seconds until his eyes stopped at the man's right hand.

'A trouble maker...'

Such thought was the only thing within Jeremy's mind right now as he also reached out his right hand to shake with the man, having a light smile on his face.

"Nice to meet you; I will be in your care from now on," said Jeremy as he suddenly felt something before turning his head to look around him.

Unexpectedly, again...

Having seen the two people shaking hands so merrily, most people looked on towards Jeremy and the man, Gerard, with strange expressions.

Those expressions appeared to be only two things... loathing and indifference...

'A real-deal trouble maker? Well...'

Jeremy thought after seeing other people's reactions after he shook his hand with Gerard's.

Even though Jeremy didn't know what had transpired within this team for them to give Gerard those unpleasant expressions, Jeremy decided not to care so much about such a thing.

"For the two newcomers, Rachel and Tommy, we will introduce our team members to you guys along the way. For now, let us depart for the northern region."

A woman with a muscular body suddenly spoke up, interrupting the introduction session between Rachel and other people.

Having heard the sudden deep voice resounding out from nearby, everyone looked towards the six feet tall woman before walking after her towards the north gate.

Just like that, the group of twenty people walked towards the north gate together...

Flashback ended...

...

Having walked alongside the man, whom tapped his shoulder earlier, Jerem finally recalled his name,

'This guy's name is Gerard...'

Jeremy thought to himself before smiling lightly as a reply towards the lanky man with tattoos on his arms while marching forward.

"You don't have to act shy before me. I know we are the same kind," whispered Gerard after seeing Jeremy's silent response, not intending to stop the conversation.

"..."

"By the way, brother, what did you do for a living before coming here?" said Gerard as his voice got a bit louder than before, attracting some people's attention.

"..."

'Brother? Why did I become this guy's brother?'

Jeremy thought in bewilderment as he only kept quiet after being pestered by the man.

"Do you have any family members? A child? A wife? Parents?"

"..."

Having kept quiet like other times, Jeremy promptly thought inwardly,

'Now that I know why he is bugging me. It appears that this guy, Gerard, isn't friendly or anything of the sort, but he wants to probe me, my behavior, my feelings, and empathy levels...' Jeremy thought amusingly to himself as he felt the slight malicious thoughts within those questions.

Unexpectedly, Jeremy realized Gerard's actual intention from the questions aimed at him alone.

With his long lifespan in his past life, Jeremy had met too many kinds of people to count. He knew who would come expecting benefits in return, who would come with malicious intent towards him, and who would come with a cordial purpose to befriend him.

"C'mon, brother, we can be good friends, you know? Within this kind of place, we ought to stick together." Gerard continued his harassing, not caring about what Jermey was feeling inside at all.

'This guy... What should I do to him? Break his arms? Pluck his head out? Or should I play along with him? After all, I have to act according to the three traits in my Status Window, and if I do something too conspicuous, the cupids...'

'What a dilemma...'

Jeremy thought to himself as he was attacked incessantly with question after question from Gerard.

In the first place, Jeremy felt too bored to entertain the annoying man. He still had many objectives to be done and couldn't afford to be distracted.

However, right now, Jeremy started to have a second thought about the man as the latter kept annoying him nonstop.