Chapter 21 : AFK And Meeting Another 5-Stars 

Having foreseen the potential risks and consequences of taking immediate action, Aaron had sent a text message to Garry, seeking his advice and opinion on how to proceed in this precarious situation. While a part of him yearned to confront the group head-on and eliminate the threat, he understood the importance of considering all possible outcomes.

The last thing he wanted was to recklessly endanger others who might inadvertently become caught in the crossfire due to his impulsive decision.

Maintaining his composure, Aaron anxiously awaited Garry's response, hoping for a wise and strategic course of action that would ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Aaron had instructed Garry not to call him earlier, but to be extra cautious, he silenced his phone to prevent any inadvertent ringing that could give away his presence while eavesdropping on their secret meeting.

A few minutes later, Garry replied with a long message, but he had already compiled a list of options to make it easier for Aaron to decide:

1. Observe and gather as much information as possible without intervening.

2. Take immediate action and knock them out.

3. Disrupt the meeting when it's nearly concluded, focusing primarily on Edward.

4. Inform the mercenary HQ about the situation, as they may have a quest or task to capture members of the evil organization.

5. Choose not to take any action and let things unfold as they are.

"Ugh... That's quite a range of options to consider... Just let them be?? Hmm.. What if they start massacring the entire town? I mean, anything is possible, right?" Aaron contemplated anxiously as he observed the group, still waiting for Edward and the emissary who remained inside the car.

"Are they going to conduct the meeting inside the car? Oh no... Edward has arrived," Aaron murmured with concern as he witnessed Edward's car pull up and skillfully park alongside the other vehicle within the orphanage premises.

As Aaron was preparing to teleport closer to their location to listen in on their conversation, his attention was captured by several individuals dressed in military attire who were covertly positioned just outside the orphanage. Initially resembling military personnel, he quickly realized that they donned the standard attire provided by the mercenary HQ.

"So Edward has been followed, huh?" Aaron muttered to himself, observing the scene from a distance.

Aaron quickly replied to Garry, updating him on the unfolding situation. He sought guidance on whether it would be permissible to intervene and disrupt the ongoing mercenary operation. As the lurkers outside stealthily closed in on the meeting spot, Aaron observed Edward exiting his car and entering the emissary's sports car.

Suddenly, Aaron's second phone, the one provided by the mercenary HQ, vibrated.

"Huh?? It's a message from HQ. Garry must have informed them then," Aaron thought as he opened the message. The message was quite lengthy, filled with formalities, but he quickly grasped the main points.

The HQ advised him not to directly intervene in the ongoing operation, as another highly ranked 5-star mercenary was already leading the mission. However, they encouraged Aaron to closely observe and be prepared to assist if any issues arose during the operation.

He had never intended to be present at the meeting in the first place, as he believed he was the only one aware of it. However, now that he knew another mercenary was already taking charge of handling the evil organization's meeting, he felt a sense of relief.

"Not gonna lie... I'm genuinely curious about what they're discussing, but sometimes it's not a bad thing to be AFK in real life," Aaron muttered, deciding to relax and take a seat on the rooftop. From there, he could observe everything without actively intervening, at least for the time being.

After 10 minutes, Edward emerged from the emissary's car, his mouth and ears bleeding. He appeared extremely pale and drained, as if all his energy had been sapped away. The lurking figures, who had been waiting behind the nearby building, began to approach the cars.

"Do not move! Do not resist or you will die!" bellowed the 5-star mercenary, seemingly the leader of the operation, standing before the three bodyguards.

The 5-star mercenary wore a hawk full-face mask, resembling the ones he had seen in anime. It had a rather comical or hilarious appearance, contrasting with his imposing physique. His muscular body exuded strength and power. A rifle was slung across his back, and he held a gun pointed firmly at the bodyguards. Adorning his belt were additional guns and a couple of grenades, ready for action.

Surprisingly, the bodyguards remained unresponsive, showing no signs of reaction. It wasn't until the car door of the emissary opened that they finally stirred.

The emissary, a young man in his early twenties with blonde hair and a slender build, stepped out from the car. His appearance alone gave off an eerie and maniacal vibe, and his smile sent a chilling sensation through anyone who gazed upon it.

Locking eyes with the 5-star mercenary for a moment, he maintained his unnerving smile before erupting into a fit of loud laughter. The other three guards joined in, their laughter echoing through the air.

"Wow... Even surrounded by ten mercenaries, he can still laugh like that. Sheesh.. What a maniac," Aaron remarked as he observed the intense situation unfolding before his eyes.

The 5-star mercenary then fired warning shots into the air, but the laughter from the emissary and his bodyguards continued unabated. The bodyguards swiftly rushed forward, engaging the surrounding mercenaries. Their speed and agility caught the mercenaries off guard, rendering their guns and rifles useless in close combat.

Through Aaron's keen observation, he noticed that the physique of the three bodyguards seemed to be lightly enhanced, giving them a clear advantage. It became evident that the nine mercenaries were struggling to match their opponents in close combat.

From Aaron's perspective, he believed that the remaining mercenaries wouldn't last more than five minutes before collapsing or dying. The bodyguards displayed an eerie resistance to pain, unaffected by the electric shocks of tasers or the tranquilizer darts piercing their bodies. Blood dripped from their wounds, yet they continued to move with effortless grace.

The emissary abruptly ceased his laughter and began mocking with a chilling tone.

"It's quite amusing to see pathetic worms like all of you believe that you have the ability to capture us. Come on little hawk, stop keeping your artifact. Use them before its too late.. Hoho"

The 5-star mercenary maintained his composure despite the provocation, but the situation for the other mercenaries grew dire as they gradually collapsed onto the ground, one by one, until none were left standing. The three bodyguards swiftly closed in on the 5-star mercenary, forming a tight circle around him.

"It's becoming more and more ominous down there," thought Aaron, who rose to his feet, ready to intervene should the situation worsen.

"Puny devils!" the 5-star retorted, and in a sudden display of power, all the weapons began hovering around him, their pointed ends aimed at each of the bodyguards, including the emissary.

Even the weapons scattered on the ground started to levitate, aligning themselves in the air and pointing menacingly towards their targets.

"Eh, the glove emitted a blue light for a moment just now. A rare artifact, huh?" Aaron pondered for awhile before he teleported behind the nearby building, positioning himself for a better view.

The hovering weapons unleashed a barrage of bullets, with countless projectiles hurtling towards their enemies. The emissary, however, swiftly retreated into his car, which appeared to be bulletproof. Meanwhile, the bodyguards, despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, remained standing, their bodies oozing blood and riddled with bullet holes.

Eventually, only the 5-star mercenary remained standing on the ground, surrounded by the eerie sound of echoing laughter. To Aaron's astonishment, the lifeless bodies strewn across the battlefield suddenly began to move, as if they were mere puppets being manipulated by invisible strings.

Observing from his vantage point, Aaron noticed a thin, red thread emerging from the emissary's car and snaking its way towards the controlled bodies. It became clear that this mysterious thread was the source of their involuntary movements, stripping them of their free will.

The remaining mercenaries stood steadfastly before the bodyguards and the emissary, forming a protective barrier around them. The hawk guy, felt a surge of frustration. Engaging the emissary would mean having to fire upon his own comrades, an impossible feat given the circumstances.

"AHAHAHA! DO YOU SEE NOW? YOU INSIGNIFICANT INSECTS ARE NO MATCH FOR US! NOW, TELL ME! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF MY YOUNGER BROTHER?" the emissary's voice boomed with a mix of madness and anger.

"F*ck... That should be me right.."

Aaron muttered under his breath upon hearing the furious proclamation of the emissary.