Tristan's first time joining the group

In the world of Retus, there is a warrior profession known by most people. Actually, this profession isn't only warrior, some countries called it "Esper", "Magician", "Martial Artist", or even "God" in some tribes, but all in all, it's the same essence.

Mostly when people are young, they're trained in physique to have a foundation in fighting, and if they were seen by some scouts that they have talent, they will be invited to some prestigious school in high school. After they get awakening at 16, they must improve their elemental ability to upgrade and also practice their unique ability. After 2 years, they will be tested with the qualification match in high school, if they reach a high rank, they can be accepted as an elite freshmen participant in college. Of course, you can still go to that school even if you were not an elite participant, the only difference was the benefits, or you can also try to join other universities.

And after becoming 18 years old, this is where the prime growth started, until the end of being 22. Once you become 23, the growth will enter the second stage until it reached the age of less than 36. After becoming 36, the growth will become slower compared to the primary and secondary.

These are the result studied by some famous scientists in Retus. It went through a long process of examination to get the conclusion of these.

So after becoming 18, Most universities taught students to invest in cultivating the 'Nature' route, and this was the fact, and even some scientists also suggested that the 'Nature' route was correct, although they also can't deny whether the 'Direction' route was right because there are also some King and Champion who went through the 'Direction' route before the 'Nature' route.

And one of the famous people is the "Fire Magician" Alagos of Artheran. The most talented person in Artheran. He's the strongest champion not only in Retus but in the whole Asul Continent, and he even contended with some great peers in the Eswel, Yotos, and Qrin. But who knows because he already disappeared more than 2 decades had passed.

Alagos was also a great spearman which is the 'Direction' route he took before the 'Nature' route. He was not known at that time because he was already behind others but after becoming Crown Stages, he catch up to his peers and even surpassed others, the reason is that he had a foundation in the 'Direction' route that mostly related to the Physique.

Then after many years, people have known him for being a great Elementalist than being a spearman.

Crown Stages needed to upgrade their 'Direction' route to balance the two routes because there's a saying, although it's not proven scientifically, some Kings or Champions who had been upgraded from being a crown said that only balancing the two power can take a chance to sense the source even only a core of beasts.

Other researchers also believed in some theories of these and universities also take these seriously but for them, practicing the 'Nature' route before the age of 23, is still the right decision than practicing 'Direction' route. Maybe if the person became 23, then he can also try to practice 'Direction' route. Because for them, the primary stage of growth was only a once time of opportunity, and once you take advantage of it, you will regret it later. Upgrading 'Nature' route was the best decision and even some people cannot deny it although there are always some genius monsters who have proven them wrong, it's just a rare case, not all people are genius like them.

Back to the topic of warriors

Most people knew it, but some rejected it. Because this profession is one of the highest mortality rates can be reached more than 2% per year. So, some people might choose logistics or a white-collar profession and other that isn't dangerous.

But seeing the awesome ability of the warrior, how people can't be attracted especially young teenagers. This was always their dream when they were young. But to get a qualification, they must enter the University, or if they can't enter, there's a Hunter Guild.

But not all people can't get what they want. Some people get a chance, and some people became tragic because of this profession.

For the population of Artheran, it reached 20 million, it didn't get lower but also didn't exceed much because of the mortality rate. These populations were already considered high in the world of Retus and there are no countries that have a population that can reach 1 billion like on the Earth, it's impossible.

In the 20 million of population, 48% are living in Green Region, 29% in Blue Region, 20% in Gold Region, and the rest 3% are shared by the remote region. Artheran can be considered one of the strongest countries in the Asul continent, they're in the top 3, sometimes first, sometimes second or third, it always changed. And within the 20 million population there are only more than 20% of the population of warriors.

In the Green Region, there are 9 Cities that can be called the center of population, they're the main center of the region. Remulo, Zetrino, Santag, Serdana, Gatarad, Borogon, Vermin, Merlin, Feram.

Remulo, Zetrino, Santag, and Serdana are located in the Western to North West part of the region, while Gatarad and Borogon are located in South West – Middle of the region. Vermin City is located in the North–Middle North, Merlin City was located in the North East-East part of the region, and lastly, Feram City is located in the Middle East - South East.

The Western Part of the region occupied 4 main cities which is normal because it's the Metropolitan Area and Remulo was the administrative center of the Region.

Remulo, Zetrino, Santag, Serdana, Gatarad, and Vermin are the six cities that were much bigger, more than twice that of the other cities, it's not shocking why there are many universities schools there, whether it's S, A, B, and C class. One university cannot supply the demand of the population there.

In Gold Region, there are 5 main cities which are Draden, Hayqin, Halman, Ukrama, and Singgana. Draden and Ukrama was the administrative center but officially it's Draden.

Draden, Hayqin, and Halman were located in the South-West to Center South, while the Ukrama and Singgana were located in North West to Center North.

In Blue Region, there are 7 main cities which are Tasza, Kemusk, Grimm, Felzon, Arya, Wartek, Josefo. The administrative center was Tasza City. And astonishingly there are 5 main cities in just one part of the region, yeah that's right, Tasza, Kemusk, Grimm, Felzon, and Arya were located in South West and Arya and Wartek, and Josefo were located in the North.

Tasza, Kemusk, and Wartek is the biggest city and had the largest population in Blue Region.

And why mentioned Blue Region last?

Because we will back here.

…

November 3, NE176

Blue Region,

Station 689, Kemusk City

Kemusk Hunter Guild

15 days had passed since that day and Tristan was here together with Fred, Iris, Jade, Paul, Jess, and Alfred. They're in Skyfall Mercenary to accept the mission, it is the mercenary team invested by the SHU. Tristan shouldn't be here but he was forced to because more than a week ago, he almost hurt one media reporter in Kemusk because he was asked if he really molested a girl back then when he was still senior-high, how he managed to get the S-Ticket, did he bribe the school, why he was still an Early Stage, is he worthy?

Hearing what these reporters said, how can a hot-headed like him tolerate it? He was about to fight that bastard if not only for Aaron to stop him.

Other people and some students also appeared to stop the ruckus.

But although it had been stopped, the video was not. It had been uploaded by some news media, and Tristan became popular again in Blue Region, even some news reports from another region also reported it.

SHU was in the state of being a hot seat again in the Blue Region.

And there's an article that asks them if their decision was really right or not.

So, in just a day, there was another protest of people outside the door of SHU, and it became chaos again.

And because of this, instructors want Tristan to stay away from these, so they planned for him to join the Skyfall Mercenary.

At first, he doesn't want to agree, he even said, he doesn't care whether they will tarnish him, just a punch or one sword was enough. Who cares if they reported something bad to him, he doesn't care about his face, hmph, as long as he teaches them a lesson.

Hearing what he said, the instructors couldn't help but sweat a lot, you don't care about your face being tarnished but what about our face? The face of the university? It will damage because of you!

So, he was helpless, he has no strength to defeat them

So, he's here today.

It was already the second day since he joined the team.

He was surprised at first how Alfred can join the team then later he knows. This guy was a pharmacist and can make medicine using herbs which is important in every mission if someone were poisoned, heal wounds and etc. And he's not only a pharmacist but also a blacksmith, and it's obvious how many hidden weapons he had. But this guy was mainly a dagger.

Pharmacists, Mechanics, Blacksmiths, Breeder, Scientists, etc. were some famous professions to the warriors. And this profession has handled the biggest industry not only in Artheran but also in other countries on the continent.

Of course, Alfred's level was not comparable to those in the biggest industry, and it's not rare for the warriors to take some profession, it can make them earn more income, but Alfred's level in these two levels was enough. And this guy can already make a rank 1-3 weapon and beginner pill with 90% + purity. This was a rich guy!

Where did he learn this? From senior high school? He can't recall too much because they're not closed.

Other than that, he was also surprised because this guy also reached the Middle Stage! What the hell! He's already good in two professions. He can manage to study his two professions while didn't leave behind his cultivation level to his peers.

But he was late compared to Frank, Lyda, and Josh.

It seems the competition for the final core members will be hard these days.

And today's mission is to find the base of 'Parasyte' and catch them.

Parasyte is one of the evil organizations here. Parasyte and Scorpio were the two famous evil organizations in Artheran. Tristan even doubted if these two are one of the main culprits for that invasion in the Black Region, but he can't make the right conclusion because Black Region had always been invaded, it was just not devastating as the last one before.

It said on the task that there were a few missing people especially children between the age of 4-12 years old three months ago.

And based on the report they've seen some members wearing a parasite logo or tattoo on their right shoulder.

A few members felt skeptical about this because it already happens three months ago, and they never appeared again. Obviously, they already ran away. Even some mercenaries already took this mission but didn't succeed.

But Iris insisted to take this mission, they're helpless.

Although she rejected the captain position of core member in SHU, in the mercenary team, she was the captain even before she broke through Late Stage, that's because of her extremely keen intuition and observation when it comes to investigating.

Just like now, they just followed her order, they don't know where are they going.

"It's there" Iris pointed in the huge building.

"That is… A bookstore?" Other members were surprised.

"Hey, white-haired girl, are you sure that's the place? You're kidding me, right? Where's the logic? Do you have evidence, otherwise it will be shameful if you guess it wrong" Tristan sneered at her, it was obvious he didn't believe what she was saying, it was full of nonsense.

Although others feel annoyed by the words coming from this guy's mouth, they also wanted to ask her.

"That's why it's out of the logic that makes it more doubtful" Alfred retorted him back.

"This is the reason why we're here, and based on the various reports by investigators, they're reappearing then quickly vanished as if nothing's happened, the carriage that going out to the border of this place was already inspected and there's nothing. They also cannot be seen in slums and black markets… so this was the last remains" Iris explained to them.

"By the way, stop calling me white-haired girl, I have a name, also I'm your captain here. So, stop being disrespectful" Iris coldly looked at Tristan and said.

Tristan just snorted and didn't speak. What's good about being captain here, if not for the instructors, he will not even come here.

"So, what's the plan?" Jess asked.

"We're going to investigate here, but before that, a big weapon like a spear and swords must be hidden to not make them be vigilant. Did you prepare it?" Iris looked at Alfred.

"I have a disguise skin mask here, it can only last 6 hours after that it will loosen out" Alfred took it out and then passed it to them.

"Also, I created a new one here, it's a mini wand. It can replace the weapon, although it's just Grade 2" Alfred put another one.

The other's eye lit up, these were useful.

"Then let's make a plan"

After 30 minutes.

They split into three groups.

The first group is Fred and Paul

The second Group is Iris, Alfred, and Jess

The third Group is Jade and Tristan.

The third group is staying here guarding their weapons.

Jade will guard it and Tristan will protect him. It's double-layer protection. Their other mission is to capture the people who escaped from the hands of the two groups.