Night has fallen, and luckily, the rain has subsided for Dean and the five divers accompanying him.
An hour ago, they pulled over to the edge of the road and took camp behind their carriage; the horses were trained, so they casually freed them in the farm.
"Come closer to the fire all of you. We need to warm ourselves and get to know the newcomer."
Without waiting for their response, the young woman turned around and walked away. After hesitating for a few moments, the other divers followed.
A bit of time later, the six of them were seated around the bonfire, soaking up pleasant heat. Blank and Kerin were close to each other, maintaining a safe distance from Dean.
A young man called Alex who was also a bona-fide diver of the adventure rank sat apart from everyone — not because he had a specific reason to distrust one more than the others, but simply because he didn't like people in general.
The chaos world made him automatically wary of other people, and even though he trusted them, that instinct was still etched in his bones.
On the other hand, Dean had no problem speaking with everyone around him; as a matter of fact, he was looking forward to having conversations with them, it's just that in the last few days, Kerin made it hard for him to communicate with them.
Which is why he is feeling a bit suspicious.
Dean literally did nothing to him. On the other hand, it was Kerin and the other divers who were trying to kill him. Yet, instead of apologizing and changing the approach, Kerin was acting like Dean killed his brother.
Subsequently, Dean didn't mind the safe distance Blank and Kerin sat away from him, and ate the roasted meat in front of him.
It was a sheep meat, and Dean felt nostalgic with every bite. In the past couple of days, he also ate the same meat, but the memories of his past life still came back to him each time he chewed on it.
' I chose this new life, plus I was going to die anyway. Kitty and all my family are things of the past now; I shouldn't cling any longer to those memories.'
Dean was harsh on himself on that matter, but he knew that any distracting thoughts would get him killed.
To make matters even more believable, if not for the gift card of the Supreme Master he received, Dean wouldn't be around these people right now.
After a few minutes, the young woman's voice who had earlier called them over finally broke the silence.
" Tell us about yourself Dean, how did you become a diver? Don't you miss your family? Aren't you looking for revenge on Blank for ordering the annihilation of your family?"
She bombarded him with questions, ignoring the threatening gaze of Blank and Kerin. While Alex and the other guy didn't pay her any attention, simply eating their own pieces of meat in peace.
" Lexi, watch your mouth." Kerin coldly said, his aura intensifying in an attempt to suppress her.
Lexi on the other hand kept speaking. Kerin's aura, gaze, and words didn't seem to effect her in the slightest.
" Stop your act old man. You have already tested Dean's mental for two days; isn't that enough already? it's obvious that he understands what's best for him and won't hinder us later on."
Lexi then shifted her green eyes to face Dean and spoke, from time to time, her green hair flowing with the breeze of wind blowing in their direction," Don't mind him Dean, he has been only testing your mental and train of thoughts the past days, he is in fact a soft old man that cares about everyone around him, hope you didn't hate him for his actions."
Dean didn't immediately answer Lexi; he only looked at the middle-aged man sitting a few meters in front of him and asked," Is what she said true? Your rude behavior the last couple of nights was just to prob me?"
In annoyance, Kerin chewed on a piece of meat and said," Hmph, kids with weak minds will always die the first on the other side; we don't have much time to waste on walking corpses."
He then darted his gaze to face Lexi," You shouldn't have done that girl; you should have first let me finish my last test. What if he is an idiot?"
Lexi only rolled her eyes at the old man's words, helpless about this soft-hearted man who hates parting with people on a whim," We have already seen enough Kerin; if he were dumb, he would have never accepted to join us and officially become a diver, he would have instead chosen to fight us in an attempt to kill us, dying in the process for his stupidity."
Alex opened his mouth, planning to say something, but then thought better of it and remained silent. Kerin cursed, seemingly convinced by Lexi's rational and wise words.
Blank next to them had no reaction whatsoever to what was happening; she was acting as if none of the things transpiring around her were of her business.
Dean noted her behavior, finding it a little odd but also understandable.
It's odd because it didn't make sense why she would be treating her team with a cold shoulder. While understandable because of her past experiences.
Dean deduced that Blank had gone through a lot and decided to distance herself from other people, lest she get hurt in the process.
Will Dean choose to talk with her and get closer, making friends out of her?
Absolutely not!
He had no need of friends; what he needed was power, and to achieve such power, he needed cards.
To obtain cards, he needed to enter the gates and to enter the gates, he needed these divers.
Alas, if Dean will continue staying with them or if this group of five will accept him it is uncertain, and everyone is still probing the other party.
Some people might wonder why would Dean deduce that these people wanted him in.
Well, that's rather a simple answer to give.
Diver Blank invited him to join them after she saw his strength.
Did she mean to accompany us to meet the higher-ups and then go on your own?
Dean doubted it.
Blank lost four members of her group on this mission, and she probably phrased her words like that, trying to rope Dean with her. The message wasn't sent clearly only because her communication skills were lacking.
At the end of the day, however, these thoughts were only dean speculations, if they were true or not that is to be seen later. His decision was also to be seen on this matter.
As Dean was having a conversation with Kerin and Lexi, Blank finally spoke, taking everyone's attention to her alluring figure.
" Dean, have you ever entered the gates before?"
Dean was puzzled by her sudden question,' Can't she tell that I never entered the gates? Or maybe her question has a deeper meaning?'
Various thoughts went wild inside of his mind, but after a second, he chose to give an honest answer.
' No need to play mind games; her question is most likely natural.'
" No, the card I used back then in the adventure guild was a gift my father gave me; he also gave me a few others but you already know that don't you? However, I only know how to summon and use the cards; other than that I'm ignorant about the world of Divers and what's on the other side."
His habit from past life and mixed with Dean's original owner's body, that of a cunning assassin had to interfere and mix the lies with the truth, just in case Blank turned into an enemy in the distant future.
Dean, for someone new to this world, will look like a paranoid little kid who thought of everything with malicious intent.
However, after you have lived for 92 years and experienced many scenarios with different people and situations, you always think negatively when you meet with new people, especially in a world where the powerful ruled over the weak.
Dean refused to believe that everyone was nice; the memories of the original body portrayed that much at least.
' Plus, those novels I read are something I can't easily forget. What if everyone here was someone who would sacrifice the other for benefits and more power, doesn't it mean I'm walking on a thin rope at this moment?' Dean inwardly sighed as he awaited her reaction.
' Am I maybe too cautious?' Dean thought.