Arranged

"So let me get this straight."

Rain stood in his room at the inn. He had chosen a rather cheap one, as he was a bit stingy, but he didn't really care for appearances, so this was fine. In front of him stood a few individuals, all at around Level 4 Practitioner, as they released their auras.

"You want me to join you in your little excursion into the prison?"

Rain was a bit surprised. Not long after he had entered the inn and registered himself, he had heard a knock on his door. Not expecting company, this four-some had come and introduced themselves, saying that they wanted to have a "senior" with them on their journey into the prison.

In reality, this 'journey' was actually just a tour around the prisons' facilities, so nothing feasibly bad would really happen in reality, but it wasn't uncommon for people to ask for someone stronger than themselves to accompany them. The prison was an unknown and could be quite terrifying for people who didn't have a high level of strength.

There weren't many prisoners in Heaven's Asylum, but the ones deemed worthy of entering were all monsters. Even if those monsters occupied higher sections of the prison, which they wouldn't be entering, it gave a sense of security too many to have someone with a higher cultivation with them.

Rain knew this, so he wasn't super surprised by their questions, but he was a bit confused by why they approached him. He knew their cultivation bases due to them releasing their auras, so he naturally also knew that they were also stronger than him.

However, thinking about it, he could see their reasoning. The handsomeness principle was something Rain had read about, so he wasn't surprised by them getting confused. Combine this with the fact that Rain never releases his aura, just out of caution, and the fact that they weren't strong enough to peer into his cultivation, Rain could see the mistakes.

Rain wasn't one to correct them, if they wanted him there, he'd welcome the company. However, he would be going against his principles if he led them on, so he decided to define the relationship.

Rain turned to the four individuals. They were all pale, with varying hair colors and rather ratty clothes. The seeming leader, had bright eyes that sparkled and were open just a little too wide, while the others were all empty eyed and dead inside.

Rain noted these facts down, but did not pay much heed. The fact that they had tried to approach him to ask for his help, despite them thinking he was a stronger cultivator than themselves, showed that they weren't exactly right in the head. If need be, Rain had no worries about escaping from them. Despite their slightly higher cultivation, Rain had a darkness attribute. There was no way they could catch him if he decided to run or hide. Not at this level.

"I don't have a problem working with you, I'd enjoy the company... however... I cannot and will not protect you to the extent that you might hope. I care about my life first and foremost. I am neither guide nor guardian, nor do I care to become one. I'll accompany you, and perhaps I will help you, but don't expect it."

Rain did not mind lying. He saw sense in it. Say you were captured by the enemy, and they asked you if you knew where your allied troops are. What are you gonna do? If you're loyal, you're obviously going to say no. And that is fine in Rain's eyes. He would do that too.

It's false promises that really irk him. It's why he hates heroes and villains alike. Villains lie with manipulation, and often tell people they are going to do something, but in reality don't. Heroes say shit like, 'I'll definitely defeat the demon king!'. Regardless of whether they succeed or not, don't place hope in the minds of others, only to have the possibility of it being ripped away.

Promises are only to be made about permanent things.

So, with this in mind, Rain did not confirm or deny their suspicions, but also told them not to rely on him or put their hopes in him.

"Thank you so much!"

The wide-eyed man stepped forward.

"We just reallyyyyyyy needed the reassurance! You don't have to go out of your way!"

"Okay."

Rain ignored the insanity sparkling in the man's eyes.

The wide eyed man, stepped away.

"We'll see you tomorrow then!"

He called back as he exited. It had already been decided that they would meet tomorrow morning. The 'shells' as Rain decided he would call them, followed behind him.

Tomorrow would be very interesting indeed.

POV switch

Outside, a distance away from Rain's room where the men felt that they were probably safe from his sensing their expressions, the wide eyed man's smile fell.

He took out a communication treasure.

"Reporting in. He's definitely strong. However, everything went as planned. We'll act as fodder, you cause the chaos."

A voice came from the device.

"Good. Are you sure he's not just handsome?"

"Yeah, he didn't even ask us our names, as if we were less than ants. He looked unconcerned about travelling with us, despite not knowing who we are. No person with power would ever travel with those they weren't sure they could kill. No sane person, that is. And considering our organization takes the majority of the insane people, I think we can rest assured that he has strength."

"...Alright. We'll count on you. Have fun dying."

The man's smiled came back and grew into a distortion.

"Trust me. We will."