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墨書 Inktalez
After a long search for a similar monster species, Exertion's hopes were dashed.
After thorough consideration among the team, they ultimately decided on a Bounty Mission that was very suitable for a Soldier-Level Team. These missions appeared to be appropriate for their early-stage development, which was characterized by low investment and gradual growth.
The mission involved reconnaissance. Deep within the Devil's Jungle, there was a large mushroom that needed to be observed and its cells collected. Numerous insects inhabited the depths of the mushroom; they were its enemies. The hunters were reminded that their goal was not to engage in battle with these insects and to ensure that the mushroom remained unharmed. This mushroom was a Bug-Killing Mushroom, a rare specimen that appeared only once every hundred years. They were tasked with bringing back images of it, and if any insects dared to approach, they should also eliminate them by destroying their tendrils.
This was the main content of the Survey Mission, aimed at an area near the Black Forest, which was located northwest of Slyland City. It seemed quite remote, inaccessible even by vehicle, necessitating that they hide their car as they had done last time.
As a precaution, they might need to gather some Insect Repellent Tents before departure. Even harmless insects like mosquitoes could pose a risk if their numbers swelled, leading to infections from bites. They needed to bring ample equipment for safe entry and exit.
Although they were hunters, once engaged in combat with forest insects, they would find themselves at a disadvantage.
This time, they made sure to prepare thoroughly before setting out. After selecting their mission, they returned the tablet and received ten Bounty Missions in exchange. They also obtained a Survey Gem. This gem required Elemental Power to activate; it recorded events for two hours before shutting off automatically and could be reused as long as it had Elemental Power. This was not an issue since hunters typically had plenty of Elemental Power on hand—only a small amount was needed to activate this gem modified by an Alchemical Array.
Once they secured it, they stored it carefully in a ring. They climbed into the modified off-road vehicle, which had undergone extensive upgrades and was equipped with many high-tech weapons. Although these were outdated military arms from a century ago, the machine gun's power could easily shatter bone; those insects likely wouldn't be as tough as bone. In fact, they knew that higher-level insects did not appear frequently; instead, these lower-level insects served as Advance Troops and were often used as expendable tools in battle, making them the most numerous casualties.
Even ordinary humans could take down many aimless insects with proper weaponry and tactical guidance.
Freyr drove the off-road vehicle, comparable to a Military Tank, out of the factory.
The Soldier-Level Hunter Team gathered around.
Ross gazed at the war machine with its massive Mountain Cannon mounted on the back and couldn't help but drool. "I'll claim this cannon first; no one better try to take it from me." With that, he jumped onto the vehicle and settled next to the Mountain Cannon.
Relock, carrying his Barrett rifle, also climbed aboard while others took their places in the vehicle. Each member of the team had their designated spot except for Maggie. It seemed Maggie hadn't exchanged for any weapons; he only took a bundle of explosives without requesting anything else. This made him appear somewhat out of place in the team where everyone else was ready for combat. Despite his popularity among teammates, this was likely why he often got expelled from other teams. Freyr knew that those explosives amounted to 10 kilograms of n explosives—extremely powerful.
His backpack was specially reinforced; having n explosives inside posed no danger at all. Even when confronting high temperatures, there would be no issues thanks to that backpack.
In addition to receiving n explosives, he also got that backpack as part of his exchange. Thus, it seemed each person in the team had their own unique mission based on their equipment choices.
Not only is killing enemies head-on not the only way to prove oneself, but what is truly lacking are high achievers in other fields, such as those with developed minds who can write programs across multiple modules.
However, although every team desires such talents to join them, even if they are just handling logistical work, it is still visually appealing. At critical moments, they can also showcase their strengths within the team.
But who knows if such individuals would be willing to join a rookie camp in the future?
It seems unlikely, after all, there’s no sense of security at all.
Freyr looked at the five people in front of him and continued, “Everyone's here, so let’s set off. The earlier we go, the earlier we return.”
The others didn’t need to respond; this was obviously just small talk. They had been together for so long that they had developed a mutual understanding. Freyr didn’t need to shout out during crucial moments; that would make him seem lacking in grace as a Commander.
This was his way of handling things. Everyone could be casual during normal times, but when it came to critical moments, even casualness had to coalesce into a true team.
This approach was meant to reduce friction and enhance their familiarity with one another. Regarding inquiries about professional knowledge, he would visit each person individually because every member of this team possessed invaluable knowledge.
He wrote two words next to each name in his notebook: Teacher. This was to learn as much as possible from their strengths and help them overcome their weaknesses.
After accepting the mission and driving away from the association, they officially hit the road.
At this time of day, there weren’t many people around; choosing to set off now was indeed the right decision. The morning rush hour was clearly a peak period when civilians were leaving home for work and hunters needed to drive out of the city for clear roads. Choosing this route was the best option.
As expected, once they drove out, they immediately encountered a traffic jam. Changing direction made the road ahead much wider.
“What terrible road conditions,” Freyr remarked lightly as he exited the overpass.
Ross chuckled, “Why don’t we fire a couple of shots to blow them all away? Just kidding! I honked the horn; I think they’ll steer clear of us when they see our vehicle.”
“Can you be a bit more reasonable? You can’t judge everyone’s thoughts by your own standards. If everyone thought like you, society would be in chaos. We’ve changed routes and everything’s fine now; look how much wider the road is down there,” Parker Parkinson chimed in.
"Alright, everyone, stop arguing. It's pointless to fight over this matter. Let's take the opportunity to rest a bit. Don't forget that our mission is quite challenging, with a short time frame and a long journey ahead. To avoid any mishaps along the way, we need to keep ourselves in good shape. This is the most leisurely time we have right now; if we don't take advantage of it to rest, we might not have time later," Freyr responded.
"Heh, just like I was thinking! Look at me, I'm lying down!" Ross said with satisfaction as he gazed at the sky, using an ammunition box as a makeshift bed. He looked quite comfortable lying there. It truly was a treasure spot; despite others sitting around looking tired, lying down was far more comfortable than sitting and suffering from back pain.
Seeing Ross so relaxed, Xiong Tai couldn't help but chuckle darkly. "Freyr, give him a sudden brake and see if he still dares to be so cocky! This guy always acts like this; it really annoys me. How about I take the wheel? You know my driving skills are reliable."
Noticing Xiong Tai's displeased demeanor, Freyr laughed and replied, "Oh come on, don't joke around. Driving like that is dangerous. Hey, Ross in the back there, I advise you not to do that. It's best if you sit up; it's too risky. If I have to brake suddenly, you'll end up crashing right into Cannon! What if your face gets smashed?"
"Hahaha! Commander still thinks highly of me! I'm one of the best-looking in this team!" Ross burst into laughter as soon as looks were mentioned, completely losing himself in pride. All the words that could express his delight seemed inadequate for his current state.
"Hahaha! In terms of looks, I can't compare to Commander; I'll just consider myself second best," he quickly added, which made everyone else laugh even harder. He immediately shut his mouth, wondering if he had said something wrong as he looked at the others in confusion.
Xiong Tai laughed the loudest and suddenly exclaimed, "Haha! You do look like a second-rate character!"
"What second-rate? I don't understand," Ross replied, feeling bewildered. Seeing everyone else laughing uncontrollably made him suspect there was something more going on here. Compared to their earlier attitudes, they seemed much friendlier now.
Some common phrases felt inappropriate to many people. Ross was one such example; he considered himself a civilized person who used beautiful and refined language. This earned him the nickname "White Dragon of the Night," which wasn't just for show—many women were drawn to him because of his eloquence. However, being good with words alone didn't elevate his status among women.
He had a strong opinion of himself and believed that his flirtatious nature wouldn't hurt women; thus, he dismissed any physical needs. He was openly a playboy but couldn't escape his inner loneliness. His loneliness was undoubtedly tied to some past event that made him crave lively environments—especially bustling places—but it didn't mean he feared death or loss since then.
In summary, Freyr found Ross's existence to be a riddle. Understanding him through casual conversation seemed impossible; he could easily deflect with jokes and various tricks. To truly grasp his values and past experiences would require being on missions together where those traits could be revealed. If Ross always acted fearful of loss or possession issues, Freyr couldn't continually invest in him without reciprocity; after all, team building must be based on fairness and mutual support to create a cohesive unit.
Such a team was what Freyr envisioned as ideal; he didn't want to abandon any member but sometimes had to consider others' needs over one individual’s comfort for the greater good—sacrificing one tree for the benefit of an entire forest in the future.
Freyr held onto this thought regarding Ross, hoping he could lead during missions—not as a death wish but as an opportunity for him to confront himself and his companions since he was no longer fighting alone.
"Wow, you jerk! How dare you make fun of me!" Ross suddenly realized something and exploded with rage, grabbing Xiong Tai by the neck and shaking him vigorously while shouting back.
Xiong Tai clearly wasn't amused either; they immediately began wrestling with each other. "I didn’t do anything; it’s all on you! Don’t blame others!" However, their antics in the vehicle soon became unbearable for everyone else—especially with Patrol officers riding behind them who quickly pursued in their police car upon witnessing the scene unfold.
It was clear that their actions had already affected the prosperous social order. After all, although they were hunters, they existed to maintain the security of the borders; nothing should disrupt the development of human order, right? When Freyr saw the police approaching, he sensed something was off. Instead of fleeing, he slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road, making it easier for the police to have a place to address them when they arrived.
Clearly, a scolding and a warning were unavoidable. They had become too complacent, but even they could not escape the fate of being fined.
On the other side, the police did not expect them to obediently stop and accept inspection.
Each person in the SUV looked tough to deal with. Two of them remained standing on the vehicle, evidently unaware of the punishment that awaited them, still shouting about why they should stop driving.
"Drive faster!" Ross yelled.
"What do you mean drive faster? Do you realize what situation we're in? The police are following us; we need to accept inspection. The road conditions have been recorded. I told you not to get carried away, so now just behave," Freyr said, rubbing his forehead and tapping the steering wheel to express his frustration.
After saying this, Xiong Tai and Ross finally settled down, returning to their seats to straighten their clothes in preparation for the impending punishment.
By this point, the police car had arrived beside them, and two officers appeared experienced.
They pulled down their sunglasses and removed their gloves, already aware of what kind of people were in front of them.
"It's you guys, causing a ruckus on a busy road. What a bunch of road maniacs."
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