{Rel''s POV}


    [Pinnacle Academy, Main Library - Central]


    [Thursday, 4:15 PM]


    haah...


    I sighed as I walked out of the library. That session was so boring. But who knew Alice struggled so much to ask for help?


    Seriously... when I was observing her with Perceptive Mind, her thoughts were just about...


    "He''s here?", "How can I ask him...", and "Why is he so close?!".


    Really, she might actually hate me after trying to exin things.


    It was my bad, though. She has a habit of leaning in when she can''t understand things, so I just thought it was better if I inched closer to show her.


    And especially with those tiny fonts...with these sses, I can feel them wearing out.


    I couldn''t see a thing looking at her screen, so I tried leaning closer to see the problem.


    I probably gave Alice the wrong impression on our first study session.


    Now I''m feeling guilty...


    Well, life goes on, I suppose.


    Right now, I need to get to the mercenary corps as soon as possible.


    I stopped by my dorm room, quickly packing my robe, codes, sword, and the pistol I''d bought.


    The reason for the pistol was that I could remain a sharpshooter, but in a different way.


    I''d prefer Gerrard not to be watching me too closely, so it was best for him to assume I was still an archer in the mercenary corps.


    And the perks of being a mercenary? Your identity is basically hidden from the world itself, so I knew Gerrard would have a hard time figuring out who I was.


    so I made sure to go through the process of dressing up elsewhere before I headed towards Eldoria.


    [Eldoria:]


    It''s awless country, unimed by the world, inevitably bing a haven for many of this novel''s viins.


    It was a ce born for destruction; eventually, after the towers copse, Eldoria will disappear.


    This is because the country thrives off the energy the towers emit, stabilizing thend until the end of the novel...


    Inside Eldoria, there are two main notable locations: first, the Mercenary Headquarters, and second, Morwen''s Headquarters for the Syndicate.


    Though fights rarely break out between the Syndicate and Mercenaries, when they do, it''s all-out war over territory.


    It''s also known that before Eldoria became a country, the entire ind was originally called Novara.


    Novara appeared one night after the four towers emerged during the Second Massive Dungeon Outbreak, which took many lives.


    Thend holds five specifdmarks: areas swarming with monsters, mountains, dungeons, and massive plots ofnd.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    [Pinnacle Academy, Main IDS Station - South Side]


    Arriving at the main IDS station, I checked in, allowing the A.I to scan my belongings.


    zuuuu...


    — Code detected... SMCJCC


    — epted...


    Immediately, they detected the codes within my bag I was worried about an rm going off.


    But Jaxon Cain was right – the codes helped the weapons bypass their scanners.


    — Wee to the IDS Station: Student Rel Laurence. Please state your destination.


    "South Korea''s Main IDS Station," I replied, scanning my student ID at the terminal.


    BEEP!


    — Checking status... distance confirmed! South Korea''s Main IDS Station is within range... Directing link now...


    Within a few moments, the AI directed me towards the South Korea station in Seoul.


    A worker opened the gates, and I stepped outside, searching for an alley where I could quickly change my clothes.


    I ducked into an alleyway, spotting a massive dumpster that could stink up an entire building, and hid behind it.


    Unzipping the duffle bag, I quickly put on the ck robe and the white mask.


    My sword was sheathed on my left hip, and my handgun, or pistol, was on my right.


    Checking my robe, I realized the mercenary logo was disyed on my upper left pocket.


    This likely meant I could move freely by showing the logo since the Mercenary Cooperation is well-known worldwide.


    As I returned to the station, I approached the worker at the front desk.


    "Wee, Sir! Where are you headed today?"


    As expected, the disguise worked. But shouldn''t they be at least a little suspicious?


    What happens if a fake mercenary...could get away with it so easily?


    Whatever. I didn''t need to dwell on it, but still... there had to be precautions right?


    I handed him a card directing the IDS to Eldoria.


    A flicker of understanding crossed his face, and he quickly set up a station for me.


    "Thank you, sir! Have a great day," he said, nodding as he returned my card.


    I headed towards the tform. Standing on it.


    SWANG!...


    I watched the beam of light wash over me, and in the blink of an eye, I arrived in Eldoria''s main IDS station.


    ***


    [Location: Eldoria, Main IDS Station - Main City]


    Stepping out, the scene waspletely different from the usual safe atmosphere of IDS stations. Of course, what else could I expect from awless ce like this?


    I surveyed the terminal and I could see the patches of metal on the broken walls, evidence of countless raids had happened on this very building.


    And not only that but there were stacks of Mercenaries patrolling the area, a constant reminder of the brutal reputation this ce held.


    Yet, amidst the chaos, IDS workers went about their duties.


    At least I wouldn''t be questioned when heading back, as most mercenaries likely slept at the mercenary''s base.


    Observing their uniforms, it seemed there was a clear hierarchy based on clothing.


    I wasn''t familiar with the system, since this was also an addon from A.T.


    But I knew the more polished a mercenary''s attire was, the higher their rank would be…like Jaxon Cain the big boss.


    High-ranking mercenaries wore suits and coats – symbols of power.


    Middle and lower ss wore robes marked with the Mercenary Corps logo.


    "...!"


    ncing down at my watch I knew it was almost time for the meeting with Jaxon Cain.


    "Map."


    [FWANG!]


    [Disying map...]


    Damn. The Eldoria map was still fogged over, meaning I''d have to explore to uncover it.


    Not ideal when I was on a tight schedule for my first mercenary trial.


    I pushed through the crowd of arrogant, rough-looking mercenaries, searching for someone approachable.


    My usual hesitation kicked in, but I forced myself to act. The entrance guard would have to do.


    "Excuse me?" I approached the mercenary wielding an axe.


    "Wha''d ya want?" His Aussie ent was thick. Standard robe, but those extra badges...this guy had seen some action.


    "I''m new here. Could you point me towards the mercenary HQ?"


    He eyed me suspiciously, leaning in slightly behind his mask. "Sure, mate. See that terminal?"


    He gestured towards the throng of mercenaries.


    "Go through there, you''ll find a map to the HQ base."


    "Thanks." I turned towards the terminal.


    Onlyter did I realize the HQ was too far for a walk - I''d need a vehicle.


    This-is-a-NovelBin-special


    In the terminal I scanned the area for mercenaries with vehicles and spotted a bus marked for transporting troops to their base – that would likely take me near the HQ.


    Boarding the bus, I took a seat among the novel''s ''extras''.


    As I listened in on their conversations around me – they talked about the missions that they hadpleted and missions that were about to begin.


    Each person here had a life beyond this story.


    And me? What wasmypurpose? For myself?


    Was this really all for the sake of this novel?


    It was overwhelming, but these thoughts had a way of creeping in.


    "Haah...best to enjoy the life I have now," I muttered.


    I leaned against the window, watching the afternoon sunlight fade. The view from the IDS station to the city had been stunning, and even now, there was a strange beauty to the chaos.


    Fights erupted through the streets – petty squabbles over stolen goods, mages hurling junkyard cars at each other and buildings getting destroyed for no good reason.


    kchup!


    — We''ve arrived at Mercenary Base #5. Next destination: the main Headquarters.


    I surveyed the base – a single, unremarkable bunker on the surface, but likely a sprawlingplex underground.


    - Finally... home sweet home, a voice muttered.


    - Time for the usual nap.


    - Tonight''s sleep is going to feel good!


    Thankfully, as the bus emptied of mercenaries, I''d secured a smooth ride to HQ with minimal chance of trouble.


    A few minutester, I was the only one left.


    The driver''s asional nces made me squirm, so I focused on the view instead.


    ***


    [Eldoria, Mercenaries Headquarters]


    Then, right on time, it loomed ahead: a massive, luxurious, ck tower that screamed Jaxon Cain''s aesthetic.


    Even the front doors bore his logo – an angry skull ring from the centre of the gleaming ss panes.


    "Well...here goes nothing."


    I stepped forward, entering the building.


    ____________


    To be continued...


    ____________


    Authors Notes:


    - Jaxon Cain isn''t as heartless as he seems he provides housing to members of his cooperation for most missions.


    - Rel''s mask alters his voice. This exins why the IDS employee didn''t recognize him during their interaction.