Shortly after, the system notifies me:
[Terrifying Mission: Complete]
[You have obtained: Terrifying Reward ×2]
-Come on, Watson. I say to him after reading the system notification.
We walk to the trucks and see only survivors from the "Black Star" guild; apparently, they used the rest of the applicants as bait.
We get into the truck where other members of Squad Z arrived with the bait. We wait and wait in silence until a recruit dressed in the Black Star guild's black military uniform approaches us and says:
-Unless you have 10 two-skull cores, you won't be traveling.
I have some cores in my backpack, so I show disappointment on my face and hand him the 10 cores he asked for.
-That's how it should be, losers. -he said after taking the cores and leaving.
We remain silent, and after a few minutes, the truck starts its engines.
Once again, Lila the hunter did not show up. Since there were fewer survivors this time, it's just the two of us in our truck.
I lean against the wall of the truck body, as I wanted to sleep a little longer.
When we arrived at Rodem City, it was so satisfying. We headed straight for Squadron Z.
At the squadron reception desk, there is a young woman with white skin, short black hair at neck length, dark brown eyes, a slender figure, wearing a simple dark green dress.
I place the backpack Watson had brought with him on the reception desk.
The young woman at the reception desk opens her eyes in surprise and then begins to count the cores and classify them.
Several minutes later, she hands me a receipt for 1,078 black tokens after the 30 percent discount.
I still have the Smiling One's core in my possession, so I am satisfied with the profit.
I go to the office of the hunter Lizand, and when I enter, she looks at us with an inquisitive gaze.
-You know you left without permission and failed to complete your punishment mission?
-Yes, I know. But it was a good opportunity to earn some money. I hope you'll excuse me. -I say as I place the receipt on her desk.
She looks it over, sighs, and then puts the receipt in one of her desk drawers. After that, she uses her metal card to give me the 1,078 black tokens I'm owed.
I take 800 tokens and put them in my backpack. "Now I have a total of just over 1,180 black tokens.
-Watson, take the rest. If anyone on the squad tries to take your tokens, let me know. I need more friends to play with. -I tell Watson as I turn to leave, but the hunter Lizand stops me and says:
-Your punishment has been extended by a week. And James, you will also receive a one-week punishment of cleaning duty.
-I understand, Hunter Lizand. -I say and leave the office to head to the hotel associated with the "Red Flowers" brothel.
I leave the Z squad building. I carry my backpack on my shoulder, we stink, and I am being considerate.
I walk to the clothing store. I see the black clothes. The cunning old man raised all the black clothes to 2 black tokens. And the clothes I still have in my backpack stink too.
I look at the clothes and take seven black long-sleeved shirts, seven pairs of pants, and some sleepwear.
I walk to the reception desk and the old man charges me 38 black tokens, gives me a bag, and I head to the hotel after buying a few bottles of water and some packs of cookies.
I enter the hotel, pay for the room with two tokens, and don't hesitate to throw my backpack on the side of the bed. I undress and go into the bathroom.
I turn on the shower, take one of the bars of soap, and lather myself completely. The murky water slides down the bathroom drain.
It was very satisfying. I sit on the edge of the bed, slowly eat two packets of cookies, then drink water until I hear a knock on my door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
I get up, walk to the door, and open it. The guy from the brothel catalogs is standing outside.
-Mr. Dan. Would you like to see Anne today?
-Of course, but I want her to wear a low-cut black dress today. I hope that's possible. -I reply as I give him a tip of three black chips.
-I'll do my best to meet your expectations. Take the catalog. There's something new that you might like. If you don't hurry, they'll take her away. -He says as he hands me the catalog and then leaves.
I sit on the edge of the bed and open the catalog, as I'm a little curious.
"It says they might take her away, but there are still some women here from the last time I saw the catalog," I think to myself until I reach the last page and see the image of a blonde woman with long, straight hair, fair skin with a slight cream tone, a beautiful, gentle face, honey-colored eyes, and two luscious breasts.
"Wow, if she's available, when Anne arrives, I'll have them bring her. Otherwise, she wasn't meant for me," I think, and I go to bed dressed in my bathrobe.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
I open the door and Anee throws herself at me and wraps her delicate arms around my neck. Outside is the guy from the catalog.
-Come in! -I say to Anne.
She quickly enters.
I hand the guy the catalog and say:
-If she's available, have her come right away.
I gave him two black tokens and he practically ran off.
"He must be getting some kind of commission," I think to myself as I go back into the room and close the door.
"System, is she healthy?" I asked in my mind. I pay, but it's always better to be safe.