It was already noon when everyone gathered inside Jay's room for their strategy meeting. While almost everyone was still sleepy, Erik and Jay seemed fully rested.
"I think I've already said it, but everyone did a good job last night." Erik remarked, his compliment directed at Luna and the other beginners. Although it was Scarlet who took care of the intruders, for Erik, it was enough to know that they were genuinely trying their best to help Jay.
The party of four felt ashamed after hearing Erik's honest compliment. From their perspective, it seemed like Erik was trying to console them as they felt useless last night. Even just trying their best was not enough to make them feel proud.
"And now, the second night is approaching. We have only a few hours left until the sun sets, so let's use this opportunity to change a few things." Erik added, his gaze turning stern.
"Wouldn't it be fine to continue what we did last night? I mean, almost nobody was able to get past you, Erik." Luna chimed in.
"And that's exactly why we should change it." Erik responded.
"Because barely anyone could enter the hospital due to me, the enemies will surely think up ways to enter the hospital through other means. Without a doubt, they will still storm the entrance again, but their main force will be focused somewhere else." he elaborated.
During the first night, Erik declared through his sheer strength that nobody could enter the hospital through the main entrance. Therefore, the enemies had to come up with different ways to get inside; however, Erik came up with a counter.
"In a few hours, there will be another wave of enemies charging the main entrance, and like last night, I assume that they will mainly consist of beginners like you. So let's switch positions." Erik suggested, swirling his index finger in the air.
"W-wait... You mean that we have to fight on the front line...?" Luna stuttered as her face gradually paled.
"That's correct, Luna." Erik responded, giving her a thumbs-up.
"The more dangerous opponents will sneak their way into the hospital, so I will deal with them once they come here. In the meantime, you five will hold back the others at the entrance." he added.
If someone managed to get past the surveillance of Scarlet and her subordinates, then they had to be very skilled. Erik brooded over that decision, but in the end, it was for the best to leave the larger crowd of enemies to Luna and the rest. Even if they were also just beginners, Luna's magic skills should be enough to scare the enemies off for a while.
"C-can we really do this...?" Nina murmured, smiling self-deprecatingly. Just like her other teammates, she understood very well that they were just some average rookies. Being clearly outnumbered, she highly doubted that they could do their job well.
"Understood! Leave them to us!" Neil shouted, albeit nervously. His legs were shaking, but his eyes were resolute. At first glance, it might have been arrogant of him to state they could take on the enemies, but Neil did not care as he just wanted to make up for his uselessness the previous night. He just wanted to be helpful to Jay.
"Good. I will leave the formation and the strategy to you, Luna." Erik said with a reassuring smile.
"And you, Jay..."
Erik took out a bag about the size of a small child and tossed it over to Jay.
"Uff!" Jay groaned. Due to his current state, he could not react in time and had to take the full impact of the heavy bag landing on his stomach.
"C-couldn't you be gentler...?" he reprimanded Erik with a strained voice.
"Just take a look inside. You will know what your task for this night is." Erik answered, shrugging his shoulders in amusement.
Annoyed by Erik's gesture, Jay opened the bag. His eyes widened in surprise, and he shifted his gaze to Erik.
"How much did you spend...?" he asked, completely baffled.
"If it's for our goal, I won't shy away from anything." Erik huffed before he faced everyone once more.
"Even if we still have a few hours left, use the time wisely and prepare yourselves! And if you have any questions, ask away!" Erik announced, raising his voice but also maintaining his smile.
Every member in the room firmly nodded. And just like intended, Luna joined Neil and the others to discuss their matters, whereas Erik plopped on Jay's bed. He looked over at Jay, who was still staring at the bag's contents in puzzlement.
"There's a lot more where that came from, so don't hold back." Erik chuckled.
"That's not the issue... Rather, what do you intend to make me do...?" Jay asked, confused and vigilant.
"If everything goes according to plan, I want you to deal with that person as our ace." Erik replied, his grin turning sly.
While [The Jay Family] and those around them were planning for the incoming night, the opposing side was also about to finish their planning session.
People in dark robes, who were hiding their whole bodies, were standing in dark alleys and observing the patrolling police officers near them. The shady-looking group consisted of seven members, each of them possessing a malicious grin on their faces.
"Do you think the boss will participate tonight?"
"Are you stupid? As if he would get his hands dirty for such a trivial thing!"
"Then, what about the other guy? The one who appeared out of nowhere?"
"Ah, you mean that weird guy whom the boss warned us not to approach carelessly?"
"Yeah, him! Despite barging into today's meeting between all the parties involved with the quest, the boss clearly gave him special treatment!"
"I wonder if it's because the boss knows him..."
"Guys, focus!"
When the whole group started to stray from their actual task, the seventh member set them straight. That member's gaze did not get distracted and followed the police officers closely.
"They are about to make contact with them, so prepare yourselves!"
The air around them shifted as each member got ready to jump out of the alley. They observed the officers approaching two young women who appeared beaten up. And while shedding tears, the women clung to the officers.
"Now!"
As if it were a signal, the shady group appeared behind the officers. But the officers did not get startled and calmly reached for the sheathed swords. However, before they could draw their swords, the two officers were unexpectedly stabbed in the throat with a knife.
"What...?" one of the two officers groaned in shock, shifting their gaze to the two women.
The women, who seemed like they were in need of help, had nasty grins on their twisted faces as both of them stabbed the officers.
"Good job!" the leader of the suspicious group remarked with an eerie-sounding laugh.
The police officers might have been stationed in the Tutorial Section, but that did not mean that they were at the same level as other beginners. Rather, they were all strong individuals, with each of them having reached the middle sections or beyond.
However, even strong individuals like them could meet a bad end in the Tutorial Section if they let down their guard or were tricked.
"Don't ruin their uniforms, guys! Target their faces!" the leader ordered, flashing their grin at the officers who were unable to act accordingly.
Numerous blades pierced them from the neck upwards until they were finally beheaded by the leader.
And since that incident happened in a park that was barely visited at that hour, the two officers' deaths was only reported later—but not in time for the start of the second night of the quest to claim [The Jay Family]'s territory.