Risk and Fear

"Isn't this too suspicious?" Ivy crossed her arms and looked at the big red dot on the map.

It screamed 'Notice me!'

"Yeah. This must be a trap. This isn't some sort of game where you clear easy maps to unlock the main map!" Crimson also voiced his concerns.

"I trust captain." Luca shrugged and returned to gazing into the distance in a dramatic pose.

"Captain, we all want to raid the headquarters. But only if we managed to surprise them. We snatched away the communication devices from the guards and no one sent any signs for help. But all of a sudden, this appeared. It's like…" Olivia bit her lip and struggled to finish.

"It's like they're watching us." Sarah kicked a pebble and muttered.

The scene fell silent.

Varian observed from the sidelines and didn't interfere. The team was bullish about finding the headquarters, but now it was clear the headquarters found them.

This made his teammates feel like they've lost the initiative. They went from being a predator to prey.

'Even though no one will admit it, they're afraid of the assassination again.' Varian plucked the crescent like petals of a flower and lost himself in thought.

'To be honest, they would've all died. If I were the Abyssal, then my main goal would be to ensure every level 5 dies. Sarah… without Level 6, killing Sarah is half-effort and half-luck.' Varian didn't know his thoughts were on the spot.

"If we go, we'll be going straight into their trap." Ivy shook her head.

"There is likely going to be a second assassination trap." Crimson muttered under his breath, but everyone heard him clearly.

'Assasination!'

They couldn't forget how they laid in front of the death's door a few hours ago.

The team's morale was hit.

Even Luca, who initially supported Sarah, was unsettled.

"If they really can observe our movements in their hideouts, then we'll be in great danger." Olivia tried to persuade.

Sarah looked at the team and sighed.

'If only her… perhaps she'd be able to convince everyone, right? I might spend all my life chasing her footsteps.'

"Team Siarah." Sarah said slowly, her voice extremely stern.

"Yes, captain." Everyone stiffened up and the next moment, stood in a standard military posture.

"You are not afraid of dying." Sarah started.

'Let an opinion sound like a statement.'

The four young men and women felt understood.

"You just think this move is too risky. If you step back now and secure your life, the contributions you'll make in the future will be far more than this measly mission. Am I right?" She looked at each of them in the eye.

They all nodded.

Truth be told, they already finished the mission. They raided several Abyss hideouts. Found the bracelets. Now, they even found the location of main hide out.

They could return. Grow stronger. Then one day, contribute much more. Risking life for this one mission was short sighted.

Of course, this reasoning seemed logical at first glance. But it was the direct consequence of wanting to avoid death.

"But you're backing off too early. We'll face even more risky and important missions once we are enlisted. Many a time, our lives will be in danger." She said in a deep tone.

"Then, can use the same reason or should I call excuse? 'I will back off now, wait till I am stronger. Then I can contribute more.' This excuse will always work. Because it assumes you'll continue to grow stronger, that you won't die." Sarah's voice raised at the end.

Everyone was dead silent. Ivy was trembling slightly and Crimson was sweating without meaning to. Olivia was pale, and Luca's body stiffened.

All their fears were out in the open. They felt naked.

Indeed, if they ran away every time, then when would they risk? Would they keep growing stronger forever? Was their life so secure to not risk today's mission for tomorrow's mission?

Sarah's tone softened. "Of course, we shouldn't charge in recklessly. But we shouldn't back away from risks. If this is a mission of certain death, I would be the first to stop you."

"Because of your excuse, you're unable to see the truth." She smiled confidently.

"Huh?" Everyone was confused. What truth? Wasn't this an excessively dangerous mission?

They all subconsciously regarded this as a mission with a death rate of 99%.

Except Varian.

He sighed inwardly. 'She will be General one day if she doesn't die. If she was not a dual awakener, she might even aim for a Sovereign...alas.'

"What truth?" Olivia asked.

"We checked the entire hideout and cut off the only source of communication between hideout and head quarter."

"Yes?"

"So if Abyssals were to know, then they must be monitoring the hideouts or they must be having a link to each hideout."

The team was still perplexed.

Sarah groaned in frustration and saw Varian plucking flowers in the distance.

This fellow said his strength doesn't matter and was enjoying himself!

She felt itchy and called him. "Varian, answer."

Varian was surprised by the sudden limelight, but replied with composure.

"Since we can agree Abyssals are indeed watching the hideouts, then, according to them, around 5 hideouts were taken down every few minutes.

The distance between each hideout is significant. So the Abyssals will know you guys were spread out. If they have a better surveillance, they will also know which person is raiding which hideout and thus, their potential next target."

Ahh!

They finally knew why Sarah was confident.

"Even if they don't have a clear surveillance, they'll be able to tell captain apart from the speed at which she takes down hideouts." Varian sighed.

"Then the best bet would be to concentrate their forces, take you down one by one. As simple as that." He smiled naturally.

But his four teammates felt the chills. Then immediately, they realized something and Varian continued.

"They didn't do it. If they had enough forces, they certainly would." He took a breath.

"Another possibility was that they weren't sure of taking down the captain that way. If any of you dies, the captain would go into a rage and destroy all hideouts much quickly."

Sarah looked at him in appreciation. 'He can stay calm headed now. A rare quality.'

She was about to persuade the team, but Varian still continued—

"However, since they revealed their location, they must be confident. It's risky nonetheless, but not as bad as you thought."

The corner of Sarah's mouth twitched. 'Let me finish at least.'

Varian nodded at the grateful Sarah and went back to plucking flower petals.

He'd do this after grueling practice in the past. What a weird habit.

"I believe they're also taking risks. If we leave now, they might even move the headquarters and even tamper with the bracelets. That way, we'll lose all hideouts." Sarah laid out the losses.

"They might as well be faking it, expecting us to back down. We'll just probe. If the situation is unfavorable. We'll return." She announced.

"Besides, they had no level 6 in the assassins. If we proceed with caution, we can defeat or escape in case there is a Level 6 in the headquarters." She smirked.

"If there are only Level 5s…" Sarah's eyes turned cold. "This dungeon will be freed from Abyssals."

As they were about to take off, Sarah turned to Varian. "You stay as far away as possible."

Varian gave her a thumbs up. "I won't join even if you ask me to."

Poor him, fate had something else in plan.