Dimi and the several squad members around him exchanged glances. Their eyes on Lai Li Tou were filled with sympathy.
Wilson, meanwhile, had cursed Rupert countless times in his head.
Ever since the guy had gotten hooked on some kind of card game, he'd been nowhere to be seen for days at a time, and he'd made a complete mess of recruiting new members.
If it weren't for the fact that he'd helped dig up some dirt on that kid Galen...
Ah, forget it.
Wilson rubbed his temples, deciding to personally give these greenhorns a crash course. Otherwise, sooner or later, they'd get themselves into serious trouble.
But then he thought better of it. He couldn't scare them half to death right from the start. They needed to hold on to some hope of "making something of themselves."
Thinking of how that kid Galen liked to call himself a mage, Wilson turned around and swept his gaze over the new faces behind him, still looking bewildered but eager to prove themselves.
"You new guys, listen up!"
"Our Shadowless Squad isn't some soft touch that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can walk all over here in Rose Town!"
He pointed toward the training grounds. "That kid who's about to come out? He's a mage!"
At that, Wilson deliberately paused, narrowing his eyes as he watched the newcomers' reactions.
"What's a mage?"
"I know! We had a mage in our village once! I heard he's married three wives in the city now!"
"Whoa! That impressive?"
"Of course! I heard that anyone who can become a mage is—"
"Hmph!" Wilson let out a timely snort of disdain, cutting off their daydreams. "A mage? In my eyes, they're not worth a damn!"
With a swift motion, he drew the Curved Saber at his