As Oasis scanned the area, he spotted a group of rough-looking individuals standing near the gate, their eyes sharp and wary.
They had the hardened demeanor of seasoned adventurers, their gear well-worn but functional.
This was likely the group the man had mentioned—the ones waiting to join the beast-hunting party.
They exchanged quiet words with each other, occasionally glancing toward the gate as if expecting someone.
The guards continued their checks, inspecting each person who passed through, while Oasis approached the group, ready to see what this beast hunt had in store.
Oasis approached the group after being inspected at the gate.
"Kid, scram!" one of the rough-looking individuals growled as Oasis stood near them.
"Easy, he's with us," the man who recruited Oasis interjected, arriving with four other young people around Oasis's age—two girls and two boys.
"Oh, boss," the rough-looking man said, relaxing a bit. "I thought he was one of those annoying brats always begging for coins."
"Anyway, let's introduce ourselves," the man suggested, turning to his group.
He introduced the group that had been waiting outside. There were six of them, each looking like they had seen their fair share of battles.
The leader, who had recruited Oasis, was a burly man in his mid-thirties named Garron.
He had a thick beard, and his eyes were sharp with a mix of experience and weariness.
Beside him was a lean, wiry man named Jarek, with quick hands and a sharp gaze that constantly scanned the surroundings.
There was also a tall woman named Maira, with short-cropped hair and a scar across her left cheek, and a heavyset man named Bronn, who carried a large battle axe strapped to his back.
The last two were twin brothers, Fynn and Rynn, who looked almost identical, with sandy hair and matching smirks, both carrying swords at their hips.
Once Garron introduced his group, the young people he brought along began to introduce themselves.
One of the girls, a petite redhead with freckles named Lila, nervously said her name.
The other girl, taller with raven-black hair and a fierce expression, introduced herself as Kaelith.
The two boys followed suit—Toren, a lanky boy with an easygoing smile, and Ronan, stocky and serious.
As they introduced themselves, Oasis couldn't help but wonder why they were all around his age.
"Why is it only young people? Out of the whole town, why are there only children?" he thought, his curiosity piquing.
"Since we all know each other now, we'll be moving as a group, looking out for one another until the mission is complete," Garron declared.
He then pulled out some gear from his storage bracelet and handed it to Oasis and the other children.
The gear was visibly second-hand and simple—chest armor made of worn leather and basic swords, nothing fancy but functional.
Oasis examined the chest armor, noting the scratches and dents from previous battles.
The swords were standard issue, with plain hilts and slightly dull blades.
"They're just giving us the bare minimum," Oasis thought, as he strapped the armor on and held the sword, feeling its weight.
Without wasting time, the group set out toward the valleys. The transition from the bustling town to the wilds was abrupt.
The cobblestone streets gave way to dirt paths, and the sounds of merchants and townsfolk were replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of wildlife.
As they moved through the dense trees of the valley, Oasis couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversations among the group.
He listened intently, trying to piece together the kind of people he was traveling with.
They mumbled about striking it rich this time and spoke in hushed tones about a mysterious client.
From the way they talked, it was clear this mission was bigger than they were letting on.
The generous payment to recruits like Oasis suggested that there was more at stake here than a simple beast hunt.
Oasis cast a glance at the other young recruits.
"These people aren't even at the Newborn Realm," he thought, concerned. "And yet, they're being sent to face a horde of D-rank mystic beasts?"
A D-rank mystic beast was formidable based on Oasis's experience—strong enough to require a skilled team to take down.
Yet, here was a group of barely trained young people being sent to the front lines. Oasis couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Oasis knew that the recruiter probably saw him as a normal person, not a cultivator, and yet he was still recruited.
"They must think I'm just an ordinary person, not a cultivator," Oasis mused.
"But why would they recruit us for such a dangerous task?"
Oasis also observed the other members of the group.
Excluding the recruited youths, the rest were all in the Tabula-Rasa Realm, cultivators who had tempered their bodies through rigorous training.
Body-tempering cultivators focused on strengthening their physical forms with mana, making them durable and resilient in battle.
Their leader, Garron, was at the 1st layer of the intermediate stage of the Tabula-Rasa Realm, while the others were in the beginner stage.
Their strength was evident, but it still didn't add up.
The group walked steadily through the valleys without rest, their pace determined and unrelenting.
After some time, they entered a forest of tall trees with few branches, the canopy overhead creating a dim, shadowy atmosphere.
"We're about to reach the area, so everyone be prepared," Garron announced, breaking the silence.
"This place is about two hours from Belvan Town," Oasis thought, scanning his surroundings.
The area was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence.
Suddenly, Oasis stopped, speaking out of turn.
"You're wasting my time already," he said, his voice cutting through the tension and his tone cold.
"The rest of you, come out already."
!!!
The group around him immediately leaped back, leaving Oasis in the middle with the other four young recruits.
The scene was tense, with weapons drawn and everyone on edge.
"Who are you, kid?" Garron demanded, his eyes narrowing.
"What are you doing? You're ruining our task!" Kaelith yelled at Oasis, her voice shaking with fear.
"Boss, he's not with us! I understand why you're drawing your weapons—he must be a traitor," Lila spoke up, her voice quivering.
Oasis remained calm, his expression unreadable.
"Fool," he said, his voice steady.
"He and his men are selling you. There's no task here; the only task is to sell us."
!!!
A sinister laugh echoed from the woods.