“I’m sorry, what?!” Alastor voice echoed. “You let them borrow Liber?!”

“It’s just a Comodo. If something happens to that Comodo, I’m going to compensate it. Name the price.” Rod confidently said.

“One hundred and twenty.”

“Deal.”

“What about me?” Cid said.

“What about you?”

“I waste one hundred thousand Haz for these kids to pull their stunt.”

“One hundred thousand Haz?!” He furiously stood and glared to them. “On what earth are you thinking wasting a huge amount of money?!”

Cid’s dead eyes fell upon Alastor and Ken. They shivered as they felt chill ran to their spine.

“We got desperate, so we give it all.” Cid coldly said.

Rod’s restless eyes covered by his hands. “Where did I go wrong? You were supposed to be better than this.”

“Yeah, I know that you expected more of us but we faced a not-so-human enemy, a sly demonic existence that manage to build an enterprise as we all know an Arbiter. So, please, give us some slack.” Alastor said.

“Please, let us stop this argument.” Linda interjected. “Tell us, what kind of emergence that you summoned us immediately?”

Rod sighed. “As you all know, we lacked food supplies here, hence, I request the former trainees here to gather some supply out in forest. They’ve been hunting animals and collecting herbs, but they’ve reported that there’s an anomaly that exist and they’re not willing to investigate it, because no one truly knows what’s out there and frankly, I don’t think there’s anything I can do step in, given that we lacked manpower here, so I can’t take the risk.”

“So, what now?”

“A student from the outpost saw a red-light flash across the sky. Something must have happened to them and that is why you’re all going to search and rescue.”

“How much?”

“You’re asking that now?”

“We’re professionals.”

“Damn kids. You have no sense of responsibility at all.”

“You’re the one who gave Liber.”

“Fine. I’m going to add ten percent on your accounts… except for you Cid.”

“Why?!”

“Because you failed to do your assignment.”

“I did not. Actually, I have a lead.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, but these kids blew up my cover so blame them too.”

“Well, whatever. That’s not my problem. You better start immediately looking for their traces.”

Fast forward. The four of them ran on top speed inside the forest. Since they have no carrier, they used their foot to travel. They went to the location of the red-flash. It was not easy. It took them 4 hours to get into the location and must fight monsters along the way.

Surprisingly, there were only few of the monsters within the area. Some of them were low in threat level. Such as buggy beetle, a beetle that is size was about 8 feet in width and 5 feet in length. Its chestnut shell can produce some sort of sticky white liquid and should anything attach to it will be stuck while it’s parasitic pores will slowly get inside the victim’s body. It may deadly but it’s easy to counter in certain distance with the use of magic.

Ken was gazing at the surrounding. “Are you sure this is the way, Linda?”

“Pretty much.”

“Pretty much? That doesn’t sound good.” Alastor said.

“Well, the watchguard in the outpost said that the flare came from this direction.”

Alastor sighed and slightly closed his eyes for a second. “So, are you saying we are basing on the direction not the specific location?”

“You expect that we’d do a locator spell?” Linda asked.

“My point exactly.”

“We can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because the very rare people who can do it was killed during the insurgence.”

“Damn it. It would be convenient if we have one.”

Cid who was least passionate to their search sat down on a trunk of the cut off tree drinking whatsoever beverage on his hipflask. “Well, it’s 10 in the morning. We have still had time to find them. I suggest you should all chill the eff out and get some rest.”

Ken too brought some foods for himself and started ate the potato chips.

“You want some?” Ken offered a bagful of junk foods.

“Err, no. Why would you bring useless things to eat?”

“Because, they’re tasty (?) as long as they’re filling my empty stomach, I’m good with it.”

Alastor went to scout the area to check the vicinity whether there’s any monster or not. It’s his instincts dictated him to do it. He is relentless when it comes guarding their rear. The fact that they’re still accepting missions decline his thoughts of any possibility of vacation. Even though he’s a topnotch hard worker, Alastor has his limits as well as others.

“The coast is clear.” Alastor reported to Linda.

“Man, I don’t get it.” Ken tiredly said. “I thought at long last we’re going to have a vacation.”

“Can’t say I can’t relate to you.” Cid said. “I was imagining I’m on beach within the weeks after my mission, but turns out the Glade has been compromised by some old doodles.”

“We clearly need a break.” Ken said.

“Yep.”

“I don’t know but we don’t have the right to complain honestly, since we’re still bound to contract to the Glade and our affiliation is somewhat makes enemies. So, I think it would be convenient that being part of the glade benefits us as a back us up if we’re in crisis.” Linda said.

“Very inspiring words, Linda, Very inspiring.” Ken said.

“Sometimes, I wonder where did god put your brain. In your ass or on your butt? Hmm, even I couldn’t tell.”

“Look guys.” Alastor interrupted. “We don’t have time for roasting each other. There’s three missing persons and no one knows what they’d ended up to. So, please, focus.”

“Easy for you to say boy scout.” Cid said. “Most of the time you’re busy hitting that the new recruit, literally.”

“Cid, you will have your time on hitting girls once we’re done helping to rebuild the Glade and for your information, I’m well invested to become an instructor and it’s not an easy task.” Alastor replied.

“Well invested? What does that even mean?”

Cid’s questions left hanging in the air as the others followed Alastor through the forest. He poured his hipflask to his mouth once more before prepping up and followed them with a sudden motion.