A crisp notification chime broke the relaxed atmosphere.
Piao Zhi Yong took out his phone. The screen showed an urgent notice from the Hunter Association.
Energy fluctuations from a D-class Dungeon had just been detected in the outskirts of Z City, and its location had been roughly pinpointed.
After reading the notice, he glanced over the team members, lingering on Xu Feng for a moment as he considered what to do.
Getting a newcomer into a relatively controlled real battle as soon as possible was the fastest way to help him fit in with the team.
"Guys, we've got a job." Piao Zhi Yong put away his phone, his voice steady. "A D-class Dungeon has just appeared in the outskirts, and the Association has assigned us the preliminary exploration and stabilization mission.
"Get ready, everyone. We're heading out tonight."
He turned specifically to Xu Feng and gave him a warm, encouraging smile. "This is perfect. It'll give Xiao Feng a chance to get some practice and get used to how we work together."
At that, Jin Shan and the others didn't immediately respond with excitement. Instead, they all lowered their heads slightly in unison, exchanging an extremely discreet glance.
Li Ze Yuan and Luna met each other's eyes, the corners of their mouths lifting in nearly imperceptible smiles.
Kuang Lei saw this and, with a helpless look, raised a hand to rub his forehead and sighed softly.
Mai Xiao Wen simply rolled her eyes, looking like she was thinking, Here we go again.
"Ahem." Jin Shan cleared his throat, his face instantly taking on an almost guileless, earnest expression. He turned to Xu Feng and said,
"Don't worry, Xiao Feng. Our team's strength is top-notch, and we work together like a dream. We've never had any major trouble!
"It's just a D-class Dungeon this time. A piece of cake. There's absolutely no chance anything will go wrong!"
He thumped his chest, then abruptly changed the subject. His gaze wandered into the distance, tinged with longing. "Come to think of it, once we finish this mission and get paid, I'm going to propose to my girlfriend.
"I've even secretly picked out the ring..."
"Heh, what a coincidence!" Luna chimed in at once, her eyes crinkling with a smile as if lost in a sweet daydream. "My partner's birthday is tomorrow, and I've already got her a present. It's hidden at the very bottom of my wardrobe.
"Once we wrap up this Dungeon tonight, I'll go home and surprise her! She'll be over the moon!"
Li Ze Yuan pushed up his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses as he spoke with barely contained excitement. "I've been saving my private money for three years, and I'm just short of the bonus from this mission.
"Once I've got enough, I can finally buy the Brilliant Stone Resonance Staff I've had my eye on for ages. It'll increase the power of my Earth magic by at least thirty percent!"
Xu Feng: "..."
The smile on his face slowly froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched.
As he listened to his senior teammates take turns describing the hopeful plans they had for after the mission, he felt a chill—the kind known as a "flag"—creep up his spine.
Stop...
Bro, sis, please stop talking!
We haven't even set out yet, and there are already more flags planted behind us than the banners on a stage general's back!
Piao Zhi Yong watched his teammates put on their little performance in silence for a few seconds. Then he turned to Xu Feng, who was looking rather dazed, and gave him a slight smile. In a calm, reassuring voice, he said, "Xiao Feng, don't worry.
"With me there, our raiding team will definitely come back safe and sound, every last one of us."
"Gulp—"
Xu Feng couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath. That chill seemed to shoot straight through the top of his head.
Kids.
What can I say?
Will we win?
Everyone watching at home, do you think anything will go wrong on this Dungeon raid?
He managed to twitch his lips into a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I-I'll take your word for it."
"Pfft—hahaha! He believed us! Xiao Feng actually believed us! Look at his face!"
Jin Shan's guilelessly earnest expression collapsed in an instant. Pointing at Xu Feng, he burst into unrestrained laughter.
The others couldn't hold it in either. They all dropped their hopeful daydreams about the future and laughed until they were bent over.
Mai Xiao Wen looked at her band of goofball teammates and shook her head helplessly. Turning to Xu Feng, who was still a little stunned, she explained, "Ignore them. It's a long-standing team tradition. Whenever a newcomer joins us, before their first mission, they put on a little show like this and plant a bunch of flags to scare them.
"When I first joined last year, they fooled me just as badly."
But when she saw how shaken Xu Feng still looked, she couldn't help smiling too. Her eyes curved into two adorable crescents, revealing a playful little canine tooth.
She cheerfully crossed her long, pale legs and teased him in a coquettish tone. "But, Xu Feng, little brother, your big sister here is a fragile Light mage. My close-combat defense is practically zero.
"When we get to the Dungeon, I'll really have to count on you to protect me~"
"I'll definitely protect you, Sister Wen."
Only then did Xu Feng fully realize that the seniors had just been teasing him. He let out a breath of relief, his smile growing more natural, and nodded solemnly as he promised her.
"Actually, it's not entirely a pointless joke."
Piao Zhi Yong's smile faded. He stepped forward and patted Xu Feng on the shoulder, his tone turning more serious.
"Being a hunter is a privilege that gives us power, but it also means carrying a heavy responsibility."
His gaze swept over each member of the team, and his voice grew quieter. "Everyone longs to awaken as a hunter, but the life hunters lead is far more dangerous and brutal than most people imagine.
"Over the years, four teammates from our team have been lost down there for one reason or another.
"Xiao Wen, Luna, Jin Shan, and the others all joined later, as new blood."
"If you're going to do this job, you have to be prepared to brush shoulders with death at any moment."
Piao Zhi Yong looked Xu Feng straight in the eyes, his gaze deep. "Remember to respect danger, but don't let it scare you.
"Be cautious, but don't be timid."
Xu Feng met his captain's gaze and understood the unspoken meaning behind his serious words.
He set aside all distractions and nodded earnestly. "I understand, Captain."
"Oh, come on, Captain! Why get so serious all of a sudden?"
Mai Xiao Wen spoke up at just the right moment, playfully breaking the somber mood.
"Didn't we become hunters to make life better and give our families more peace and happiness? Let's talk about something cheerful!"
"She's right." Piao Zhi Yong smiled too, his warm expression returning. He turned to Xu Feng and said, "Here's what I'll do. I'll make some arrangements for you.
"Your father and your second uncle used to handle scraps and transport goods on the front lines, right?
"I'll transfer them to the team's own department for processing and selling monster materials. The pay will definitely be better than what they get now, and the working conditions will be safer and more stable.
"Consider it a little benefit for the family of a new team member."
Xu Feng's eyes lit up at once.
This would not only improve his family's financial situation but also keep his father and second uncle away from the potential dangers of the front-line processing site.
He thanked him sincerely. "Thank you, Captain!"
"We're family. No need for thanks." Piao Zhi Yong waved a hand. "All right, don't stand around here. Luna, take Xiao Feng to the equipment storage and outfit him with suitable gear for a D-Rank front-line strength fighter. Put the cost on the team's shared account.
"Everyone else, check your gear and get ready. Before we head out tonight, we'll have a good meal and get some rest!"
"Yes, Captain!"5
The group answered in unison, their voices full of energy.
Luna grinned and walked over, slinging an arm around Xu Feng's shoulders.
"Come on, handsome. Big sis will help you pick out some gear you can handle. Don't worry. Most people are scared the first time they enter a Dungeon. When Xiao Wen first saw a monster, she was so frightened she could barely channel her magic.
"You look so shy, so if you get scared later, you can come hide with me!"
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