New Teammate

Bang bang bang bang bang...

A series of gunshots echoed through Rhodes Island's firearms training range. When the gunfire ceased, Roy set the training pistol in his hand down on a nearby table.

At that moment, his gaze fell upon the target roughly fifty meters away. This was the first time he had practiced target shooting since leaving the Lungmen Guard Department. Compared to the Guard Department's range, this one brought back memories of the past.

Compared to his time in the Lungmen Guard Department, Roy's shooting skills had improved tremendously. This time, he fired a total of ten rounds, and every single one struck the bullseye.

In the past, this had been something Roy could hardly have imagined. After all, people always made mistakes. But now, with his improved physical abilities, Roy could reduce such errors to a minimum. When shooting stationary targets, he could even achieve zero mistakes!

"I truly do not understand, my master..."

When Roy turned around, Lemuenia's figure appeared at his side, her words already reaching his ears.

"Why are you so fond of such a low-powered weapon? Is my strength insufficient to satisfy you?"

"No, do not doubt your own strength, Lemuenia. But..."

Roy paused slightly after turning around, his gaze shifting toward the exit some distance away. He sensed someone watching him from there, though the owner of that gaze did not seem malicious.

Ignoring that gaze, Roy continued.

"Learning more things is never a bad thing."

Nearly a week had passed since the previous battle. That day's fighting had almost wiped out most of the mercenaries employed by Babel Tower. However, because Babel Tower and the Sarkaz princess had entered the battle in time, some mercenaries had survived.

Theresa gave those people a choice: remain and join Babel Tower, or leave. Those who stayed were assigned to various combat squads, while those who left received the payment that had rightfully belonged to them in advance.

However, Babel Tower's ties with those mercenaries had not ended. Whenever it issued mercenary contracts, Babel Tower would give priority to those mercenary groups.

Up to this point, neither Doctor, who claimed to be Roy's kind, nor the Sarkaz princess, nor the Feline named Kal'tsit had assigned Roy to any combat group or arranged any teammates for him.

As a result, Roy was still operating alone for the moment, though he was quite satisfied with his current situation.

"Roy, please report to the control core as soon as possible."

At that moment, a voice sounded through Roy's communicator, which resembled an earpiece. Just moments before that, the watching gaze had vanished.

"This is Roy. I am proceeding to the control core."

As soon as he finished speaking, Roy accelerated.

A few minutes later, at Rhodes Island's control core, besides the usual trio of Theresa, Doctor, and Kal'tsit, there were two additional people: a Cautus girl who looked to be around eleven years old, with a pair of rabbit ears, and... W, wearing a cheeky grin.

When Roy entered the control center, she even waved at him, as though the two of them were quite familiar with each other.

"What is it, everyone?"

Not hiding his confusion, he asked without hesitation.

"There is a mission that needs you to carry out. Additionally, there is something else we need to announce."

As he spoke, Doctor pointed toward a map hanging on one wall of the control core. The map bore countless markers, each representing a mission, with the marker's location indicating where that mission was taking place.

Just like in an MMO game, mission markers disappeared from the map every day, while new ones appeared. Among the markers within Roy's sight, most missions had already been assigned to Babel Tower's other combat personnel or mercenary groups cooperating with Babel Tower. The remaining ones were either extremely difficult or involved certain secrets. Clearly, these missions were not suitable for mercenaries, or even some of Babel Tower's lower-ranking combat personnel.

As for why they had called him here...

Clearly, they intended to assign one of these missions to him. As for the matter that had yet to be announced... the moment Roy saw W, he knew what they intended to announce.

On W, Roy saw an identification card, one bearing the number "B214" and the name "W," much like an ID card. It was the mark of a Babel Tower member. W had also changed out of the clothes she wore during her days as a mercenary, replacing them with a new outfit that was primarily gray, accented with the same red as the horns on her head. However, the only things that remained unchanged were the heavily modified Originium grenade launcher and firearm she carried. As for where she kept her explosives... Roy did not care.

"What mission?"

"At the border between Kazdel and Yan, certain forces within Kazdel are plotting to obtain something from Yan."

At this point, Doctor paused. Though separated by his helmet, Roy could still sense his gaze. Hidden within it was an inexplicable emotion, as if something about Yan had touched his heart.

However, that emotion existed for only an instant before vanishing, as though it had never appeared at all.

"Although we currently have no alliance with Yan, if this matter is not handled properly, it will inevitably cause a diplomatic incident..."

"So, you want me to handle this, and this woman will be my teammate?"

"Correct."

Doctor was not surprised that Roy had seen through what he had yet to state outright. After all, to him, matters that had little to do with his plans did not matter even if they were pointed out. He was happy to see it. He had no desire to waste a great deal of time on such things; his precious time should be spent on other matters.

"Looking at all of you, I suppose I have no way of refusing this mission..."

After glancing around at everyone present, Roy spoke. As he accepted the document Kal'tsit handed him, he continued.

"When do we leave?"

"Hm?... Whenever."

W clearly had not expected Roy's sudden question. She had thought he would refuse or argue about something, so she was briefly stunned. But she quickly recovered and gave her answer...