Chapter 95

"Nice to meet you, my name is Xika."

Xika extended his hand.

"I'm the captain of this team, and my profession is Shield Bearer."

He appeared friendly, but his slightly narrowed eyes still made Luolin feel a certain sense of pressure.

Then, Xika also proactively displayed his attributes using his attribute card.

Xika

Level: 24

Strength: 380

Agility: 70

Burst: 100

Profession: Shield Bearer (High strength value, sacrifices agility and burst, attack power is not strong, can learn various skills to protect teammates)

....

After a brief self-introduction, Xika stepped aside, exposing his two companions to the view of Luolin and his group.

"This is Aoge, his profession is Fighter."

Similarly, Aoge also displayed his attributes.

Xika

Level: 22

Strength: 330

Intelligence: 120

Agility: 370

Burst: 350

Profession: Fighter (A fighter with a strong body, every part of the body can become a deadly weapon at any time, high agility and burst)

....

The last remaining member was the only female in their team.

"Kafurin, she's a Mage."

Kafurin

Level: 23

Strength: 80

Intelligence: 400

Agility: 120

Burst: 300

Profession: Mage (Advantage lies in being able to perform long-range attacks and large-area attacks, high intelligence and burst)

....

At this point, this three-person team had finished introducing themselves before Luolin and his group.

Luolin nodded slightly, then also told them about his side's situation. Similarly, Luolin followed their earlier approach and showed them his attribute values.

This is a friendly gesture between mercenaries. For a mercenary, their attributes are akin to personal privacy, as they can reveal a person's strengths and weaknesses to some extent.

Although if one doesn't employ concealment methods, others can still see through them via the attribute card, being willing to proactively show them to the other party is naturally a form of goodwill.

"Captain Luolin, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation this time."

Xika said.

Since the other party was so easy to talk to, Luolin naturally couldn't have any other opinions or thoughts. Luolin nodded, but his gaze lingered on Kafurin.

To be precise, it lingered on her ears. She had a pair of pointed ears just like Shirna's.

"Um, if I may ask presumptuously, could it be that Miss Kafurin is actually..."

Luolin couldn't help but ask.

"Hehe, that's right. Kafurin is actually from the elf race."

Xika didn't hide it and said with a chuckle.

"As for this point, don't you also have one on your side?"

Xika seemed to cast his gaze toward Shirna, but quickly withdrew it.

"I believe there must be some story behind this, right?"

"Hehe, likewise."

Luolin also smiled bitterly. It seemed that having someone different in the team must involve some special experience, but seeing that the other party had no intention of explaining, Luolin gave up on the idea.

"But speaking of which, the combination of our two teams is really peculiar."

Xika said again.

"I wonder if Miss Luna did this intentionally..."

Not to mention the two elf girls, even Ailuka—Xika could tell she was special.

Especially her extraordinarily high strength value. She was only level 20, but her strength was already close to breaking into four digits. It was truly terrifying.

Luolin also made Xika feel somewhat inscrutable. Although he was only level 15, Xika had just seen that this person's four attributes were all consistent. Xika had never seen such a balanced person before.

He felt there must be something hidden in this.

But Xika didn't ask further.

"So, Captain Luolin, when do you plan to set out?"

Xika brought up the main business. This question also made Luolin ponder in silence for a while.

"As for timing, the sooner the better, right?"

"That's for certain."

Xika nodded.

"Not to mention whether the demon beast will harm people during this period, we also don't know if it will relocate. Being able to arrive as early as possible is naturally better."

Xika very much agreed with this statement, but then he smiled again.

"We can set out at any time on our side, so it's up to you, Captain Luolin."

It seemed he had given the initiative to Luolin. Luolin smiled bitterly.

He glanced at Ailuka. Ailuka's face was full of determination, and she didn't seem to have any problems. The problem was with another person.

That is, Shirna.

Previously, Luolin had indeed agreed to bring Shirna along, but the current development of events had clearly exceeded Luolin's original expectations.

Such a dangerous commission—should he really bring Shirna along?

Luolin sighed and walked in front of Shirna.

"Shirna, you know what I'm going to say, don't you?"

Luolin took the initiative to speak. Shirna also lowered her head.

"Master, are you not planning... to take me out anymore?"

Shirna's expression was clearly somewhat disappointed. Originally, everything had been prepared, and she had been happy for so long, but just before departure, this kind of thing happened again.

Luolin was also helpless. If possible, he certainly didn't want to break his promise either.

"It's not that I don't want to take you along, but this commission is really too dangerous."

Luolin frowned, speaking in as calm a tone as possible. Even so, Shirna's low spirits still weren't relieved.

"I understand."

But Shirna said.

"Master's orders, Shirna cannot disobey."

Shirna lowered her head. Of course she had to obey what Luolin said, but Luolin shook his head again.

"You don't understand what I mean."

Luolin said.

"I'm not asking you to obey, but asking you whether you can understand my approach."

Just making Shirna obey - that kind of thing was obviously not what Luolin hoped to do. Making Shirna obey, wasn't that simple?

As long as Luolin commanded her in his capacity as master, then she would definitely have to obey.

But if he used that approach, would it be effective?

Obviously Luolin didn't think so, which is why Luolin wanted Shirna to be able to understand.

"Understand?"

Shirna tilted her head.

"Yes, that's right, understand. I'm asking you whether you can understand my approach. If you can understand, then wait here for me to return. If you can't understand..."

Speaking to this point, Luolin also fell silent for a moment.

"If you can't understand, I will fulfill my previous promise and take you along, and will use all my strength to protect you."

Luolin had said everything he needed to say.

"Alright, the rest is for you to decide yourself."

Luolin gave Shirna some time to consider, then looked at her again.

"Now, give me your answer."

Luolin looked at Shirna, Shirna looked at Luolin, Luolin continued looking at Shirna, Shirna continued looking at Luolin...

"No, don't just stare blankly at me, quickly tell me your answer."

Seeing Luolin's anxious appearance, Shirna suddenly smiled.

"Master, I understand what you mean. Shirna won't go out with you."

"That's right."

Seeing that Shirna seemed to truly understand, Luolin also showed a smile.

"Then, go back to your room by yourself. Remember, no matter who it is, don't casually open the door. Wait for us to return."

"Mm."

Shirna nodded obediently again, and only left the room after Luolin patted her head.

When Luolin came back to his senses, he discovered that Ailuka had been staring at him the whole time, seemingly like this from earlier on.

"I say, you could also help me say a few words instead of just staring at me in a daze, okay?"

Luolin said helplessly. Ailuka came back to her senses and gave a light snort.

"Hmph, who was looking at you? I was just spacing out, not staring at you in a daze!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Luolin was too lazy to argue with Ailuka. Ailuka seemed to be the same way. The two of them stubbornly turned their heads away from each other.

Only then did Luolin finally face Xika again.

"I'm sorry, Shirna isn't suited for combat. This mission is dangerous, so the two of us will go with you."

Luolin said apologetically. Xika shook his head, not particularly concerned.

"Well then, Captain Luolin, let's prepare and set off."

Xika was quite a straightforward person. Seeing there were no other issues, he spoke up, and Luolin nodded in agreement with his suggestion.

The two teams prepared to depart, but before that, they needed to make careful preparations.

When the two sides temporarily separated, Kafurin seemed somewhat strange.

Xika noticed this.

"Kafurin, what's wrong?"

Xika had already noticed that her gaze had been fixed on Luolin for quite some time.

"Kafurin, don't tell me you've taken a fancy to him? Why do you keep staring at him?"

Even Aoge, the burly fighter, chimed in.

Kafurin shot him a look.

"What are you talking about? Of course it's not that kind of thing."

Kafurin said.

"Didn't you hear just now? How that elf girl addressed him."

"Address? What about the address?"

Aoge was stunned. He really hadn't paid attention to that.

"She called that guy 'Master.' You know what I mean, right?"

"You're saying..."

Aoge was slightly taken aback, then finally caught on.

"Some people capture elf girls and keep them as slaves. Don't you think they seem like that kind of people?"

"No way, I saw that Captain Luolin was quite concerned about that girl..."

"That's just how he acts in front of outsiders. Who knows what he does to that girl when no one's around in private? Maybe he uses her as a tool to vent his desires?"

Kafurin looked deeply suspicious.

"If I find out it's really like that, I'll definitely punish that guy! Hit him hard with an explosion spell!"

Kafurin had already put Luolin on her priority list.

"Captain, you better not stop me when the time comes."

"Hehe, if that time really comes, I won't interfere."

Xika said with narrowed eyes and a smile, seemingly truly not planning to intervene at that time. Kafurin felt reassured, deciding that when the time came, she would definitely give Luolin a proper 'welcome' if he really was that kind of person.