(Unedited)
…
It has been 5 days since Curt told everyone what is need to be done. And now the mission to save the city is about to begin.
It was almost dawn and the sun has not gone up yet. The whole land is blanketed in darkness and the only sound that can be heard in this tranquil night is the roaring of some beast deep in the forested land. In this early morning time, around 50 people are gathered together inside a military facility.
Each has a stern look on their faces and everyone is armed to the teeth. In this room, both espers and the special forces of the army are standing waiting for the person-in-charge to appear.
Among these people, Jenny Mae Lee is standing next to a tall and handsome young man. The two are talking as if they are really close to each other.
"Alan, since this is your first time in a mission… just listen to the Captain, okay?" she said with a smile.
"Hehe… I know. Sigh… I never would have known that the junior sister that I always save is already a very strong mercenary. You must have been laughing at me when I told you that my dream is to join the Greenhoundz, right?" Alan Kane said with a chuckle.
"No, I… I didn't laugh at you. I can understand your feeling back then." Jenny Mae said with an awkward expression.
"Anyway, I'll be in your care… Firebraid…" Alan said with a teasing tone.
"What? You're mocking my alias? Unlike you… Thunderboy… Hahaha…"
"Hey, I'm not mocking you… in fact, I never really realized that you are the famous Firebraid. Haha… I never would have expected the one that most of our classmates idolizes is just sitting next to them… Hahaha…" Alan Kane said with a helpless laugh.
The two had a jubilant expression as they talked while having a tranquil feeling. Jenny Mae Lee truly did not expect that their newest member in the Greenhoundz mercenary team is the famous vice-president of the APE fraternity in the Esper College, and her close friend. Or one should say that she has a crush on him for a very long time.
The four of them, Alan Kane, Loo Crystal Noah, Kathy Dee, and she are very close in school. In fact, the three girls have a huge crush on Alan Kane but just kept it in their hearts as they didn't want their friendship to be ruined.
Whenever he would introduce a new girlfriend to the group, the three would be heartbroken but still kept their friendship. Plus, he is the reason why she is trying to develop her personality to be a capable girlfriend. He is the reason why she accepted Curt to be her temporary boyfriend.
Of course, her reason for choosing Curt is because he is a safe bet.
As the two chatted as the time ticks by before the time reaches 5 a.m. the room's door swung open and a couple of officers walk inside the room.
Everyone's attention was directed towards the people at the front as the discussion inside the room immediately quieted down.
"Attention!... At ease men… Good morning everyone! I am Colonel Mathias… we will have a short follow up and additional briefing before you are all going to be deployed. I know that you all received a briefing from your team leaders. As the mission detail said, this is a very dangerous mission and you might lose your lives. However, the future of our city lies now in your hands… So to start…"
Colonel Mathias began giving the mission objective and additional information about the mission. The 50 people will be divided. Most of them will be sent to hunt the snake, while the rest of the special ops will be the one to search for the Violet Dragon Flower plant.
When the briefing ended, a few figures enter the room. One is a beautiful mature woman holding a metal rod that looks like a mage's staff. And the other one is a guy wearing a plain white mask, the only thing on that mask are the two holes in which one can see the eyes of the wearer.
When the two enter the room, gasps of disbelief could be heard from everyone inside.
This is because these two figures have become famous figures in the city. Melissa Monte Mayor or many now knew her as the Tempest Queen is a celebrity now. Since she was formally introduced on national TV, everyone already knew who she is and her fame suddenly skyrocketed not only in Kor City but also around the country.
Plus she was directed to change her mercenary guild and was accepted to the number one guild in Kor City, the Basilisk Head.
And ever since she entered the guild her fame skyrocketed as she and the guild completed tons of quests given by the city hall.
With her fame everyone in the room immediately recognizes her. However, what baffled everyone at this time is the scene in front of them. This is because the famous 2nd most powerful esper in the country is actually fawning over to a man wearing a mask.
Everyone immediately almost recognizes who that man is. It was the mysterious mask man, the one responsible for thwarting the plans of those evil being from the MPMA. It is said that if he could only show himself in public and his power level would be gauge he would be as powerful as the two famous espers.
However, the mysterious mask man would appear and disappear on his own whim and no one knew who he is.
And so when he appears in front of these people he was immediately scrutinized by them.
"Hey, Big Sister Mel, why are they looking at me like this?"
The woman on his side, Melissa Monte Mayor just showed a faint smile on her beautiful face. Melissa and Curt met inside the esper hospital a few days ago, before the mission time. Curt requested that his face will not be shown to everyone, that's why he decided to wear a mask.
Melissa knew that this would happen and that everyone would be really curious about who the masked person is. So she just kept her mouth shut. Behind her are the members of the Basilisk Head who are also trying to stifle their laughter upon seeing the scrutinizing look on everyone towards Curt's figure.
A while ago she and some of the women members of the Basilisk Head were very talkative as they began discussing the Skin Oil that the government has confiscated and returned to the store where Shin Jiao works. They have tried it once and were a bit sad to know that it was suddenly out of stock. When they heard what happened they feel a bit dejected. As women, they really like beauty products, especially those that do not harm their skin.
And when they heard that it is now back at the store, they are trying to ask Curt if they could buy those things in bulk.
However, their discussion ended when they entered the room.
"Everyone, I guess you already recognize our main helper. The Basilisk Head will be leading the group in hunting the snake. And this young man will be the one to help us in locating the flower…"
After the introduction, everyone was sent to their own units and prepares to depart.
Meanwhile, the soldiers are excited as they will be working with a famous figure.
When Curt separates from the Basilisk Head group they all show him a teasing smile. One of the male members even shouted.
"Good Luck, masked man!"
This made everyone laughed and made Curt feel a bit awkward. He knew who that person is, it was the youngest member of the group and was said to be the fastest esper in the city.
Curt just shook his head as he headed towards a group of special-ops soldiers armed to the teeth.
While he was standing there, Curt's gaze suddenly froze on a figure not too far ahead from where he stands.
He was taken aback knowing that she is here.
That figure was Jenny Mae, his girlfriend. However, what he is seeing made him feel a bit complicated. Curt is not a jealous man, but seeing his girlfriend laughing and casually talking with another guy made his heart feels a bit of pain in them.
Now he wanted to approach her, he wanted to talk to her, he wanted to also see her laugh up close and hear her voice, which he has never heard for a long time now. In fact, he misses her too much. But how could he approach her looking like this?
Plus the mission today is really dangerous, how could he let her be in danger?
His mind became muddled as he began thinking of what to do.
However, while his mind is in turmoil, the mission time has already started. Everyone is already starting to board their vehicles. And before he could act, his shoulder was suddenly grabbed by a strong arm and was dragged towards a military truck.
Curt could actually force himself not to follow, but he decided to go with the flow. Although he is afraid and concerned, yet he could not approach her for now. He would just wait for them to reach the military small outpost in the forest. From there he would secretly approach her and maybe give something to protect her.
As his mind began thinking, an idea pops up from his mind.
Curt began taking out pieces of papers as he began writing runes. Those people who are seeing his action had a weird look on their faces. They didn't know what he is doing, but as they saw the runes on the paper they were all more confused.
But Curt didn't mind the gazes. He just continues writing and soon finished around ten or so talismans.
He then looks at the soldiers around him.
"I need only 5 people to come with me. The rest will be backup just in case… choose among yourselves who will come." Shin Jiao said in a cold tone.
When the soldiers heard his words, they were all a bit out of words. This is because the change in the command this time was a bit abrupt. They didn't know who is who that should be going.
Suddenly, someone from the group raised her hand.
"Yes?" Curt said thinking she has some questions.
However, what she said next stunned Curt.