68 [BONUS] Trust is just a Word

BONUS Chapter 3/5

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"So this is Ren that you've talked about?" Robert asked Silvia the moment she introduced Ren and Nikolai into the group.

"Yes." Silvia began the rounds of introductions while Ren just studied everyone and the team's composition.

In Silvia's team, there were three White Mages being the healers in the group, Pamela, Rosie, and Rafaela. A Blue Mage named Alicia and a Red Mage named Lucia. And the last was a girl named Ruru, who took up the form of a green raccoon. She was about sixteen years old, and her big fluffy ears and bushy tail were adorable that the ladies couldn't help but pinch it all the time.

Ren deducted that she was the Animist in the group. The one who will be in charge of traps and mapping the place.

While on Robert's side, he had Jack the swordsman and Vida the Healer.

On Ren's side, he had Nikolai the Monk.

All in all, a group composed of twelve members would attempt Vulcan's cave with their main ATP's nearing +30.

Not bad of a number. Ren thought before he was disturbed from his thoughts with Robert's question.

"If you don't mind me asking. What exactly is your class?"

"Mage," Ren answered simply and ignored the stares directed at Pii that was sleeping on his neck.

"What subclass?" Jack inquired with a frown.

"Classless," Ren answered again with a neutral tone. It was better if he didn't give anything away regarding his class so he wouldn't be associated with his other identity as Ren the Arcanist.

"Oh. So you're aiming for those rare classes?" Robert's lower lip puckered out. He was aware of it since others were already doing it. Not assigning any subclass in the hope of getting the rarer class later on.

While Jack scoffed. "Good luck with that. I heard that those rare subclass associated with your class is hard to find. You could be stuck without a subclass the entire game if your luck is shitty. It's a risk that you might want to reconsider."

"I'm fine," Ren answered as short as possible, and Jack was starting to get annoyed that he couldn't make Ren jump on his toes.

"Anyway, I can't believe you guys are more curious about his class than his face and that cute little pet on his neck?" Rossi chuckled. Her red hair swayed with her movement, and her dimple smile lightened her face.

"Silvia said that it's some kind of an item? Where did you get it? I want one too! And a pet!"

"Me too."

"Me too."

The ladies swarmed at Ren, and he took a step back.

In all his life, this was the first time that Ren couldn't form any words with all the beautiful faces dominating his view.

He wouldn't have lost his composure if there were only one or two beauties shoving their faces on his, but five of them at the same time was too much even for a cold guy like him.

Unconsciously, Ren took a glance in Silvia's way. Good thing that the latter caught his intention.

"Everyone, stop it. We're here to raid a dungeon and not pry on people's lives. What did I tell you guys? Don't ask for his APT, his pet, and stop prying for his item and face."

At Silvia's words, everyone left Ren alone and got back to their positions.

"Bummer." Alicia stuck out her tongue in a cute way. Her wavy golden hair was braided at her back, keeping her fringe from getting on her face.

"But I'm really curious," Rosie whined and flipped her red curls. She was the oldest of the group but acted like a young soul.

"Now. Now. Don't overwhelm our guests too much. He might not want to work with us in the future." Pamela reprimanded like an older sister though she was second to the youngest.

And Ruru just stayed at the side with a closed mouth, clutching her hands together and avoiding any eye contact. Apparently a shy soul.

"What do you mean don't ask for his ATP?" Robert let out a laugh. "I'm sorry, but . . . since I'm the leader, I needed to know. Your ATP. Your list of skills and spells so I can take command better on the battlefield."

Robert then looked at everyone. "We already showed each other our stats. It would be unfair to the rest of us that you get to keep yours."

The ladies looked at each other. Silvia said that Ren was a powerful player but warned them not to ask questions about him. They trusted Silvia's words but still, they couldn't help but be curious too.

While Jack and Vida simply pressed their lips tight and looked away like they were pondering something.

Ren was no stranger to the feeling that they were blatantly slapping on his face. A feeling of distrust. When he came across such feelings in his past life, he was pitiful enough to put that person's name on his enemy list.

However, now . . . it was a pointless matter that he didn't even care anymore.

"It's true that as a leader, you have to know your members ATP. However, I'm just a player temporarily employed in your group. Something like ATP and a list of skills and spells are considered secret, and I plan to keep them that way for my sake."

Ren tilted his head. "It's the basic of the basic."

Robert's smile fell off right his face. Ren indeed was correct. In this game, where PvP and PKing would be common in the future, players had to protect their stats from everyone.

Robert knew that, but he still took advantage of the noobs (ladies) who just played the game to learn about their stats since it was important for his plans later on.

"You don't have to be concerned about my ATP," Ren said without revealing any emotion on his face. "As for my spells, I only have fire and water."

Which was true. He didn't lie. It was just he didn't reveal everything on his cards.

Robert muffled a condescending smile. "Then I guess you're out of the group if you can't obey your leader."

"You're not my leader," Ren answered straight away. "Silvia is."

". . ."

". . ."

A heavy silence descended, and the ladies all looked with a face of a gawker between Robert and Ren. The only thing that was missing was the popcorn.

Men were so dramatic over a simple game. The ladies thought.

While Nikolai was beginning to get scared at the seriousness of the situation that he didn't know what to do. Wasn't this just a game? Shouldn't they just get along?

"Enough of this." Silvia broke the tense atmosphere and went between Ren and Robert. "Sorry, Robert, but my deal with Ren doesn't involve his ATP, pet, and face. I hope you understand."

The underlying meaning behind Silvia's words was very apparent. Robert had to leave if he still insisted on giving Ren a hard time.

". . ." Robert didn't want to back down, but Silvia was adamantly defending the guy, which got to his nerves. He was supposed to be the start in the group, and he thought that Silvia was willing to prostrate before him, seeing that she agreed to his terms.

He was a pro player with ten years of experience as a tank in the pro gaming world. He was very sought after in COVENANT because of his experience and class.

But right now, he felt like Ren was challenging his position. What made him so special that Silvia employed and defended him like so?

Was it because he got an item that hid his face? Or was it because he got a pet that only a Hunter or Animist could have. Or maybe he had rare equipment?

Robert raised his hands in surrender when he realized that he couldn't get Ren to agree to his terms. Not with Silvia around.

"Alright. But at least share your GS (Gear Score) with everyone. This will put our mind at ease, right?"

Jack and Vida nodded while the ladies just shrugged. Couldn't be bothered. As long as their name was on the stones and leaderboard forever as the one who got firstbloods, they didn't care about the specifics.

If they were putting up a guild, having at least one firstblood on a dungeon was only right.

They only wish that the men could be this attentive to details in real life too.

"Robert–" Silvia was about to say something when Ren cut her.

"It's fine. Add me to the group."

"You sure?" Silvia looked at Ren up and down. Gear Score was the overall number of Equipment. And Ren was still wearing the newbie clothes and a long staff as his weapon.

Ren just nodded.

[Player Silvia asked you to join her group, GOLDEN PHOENIX]

[JOIN]

[DECLINE]

Ren pressed join, and he immediately sent his GS over to everyone in the group.

"Only fourteen?!" Vida exclaimed, surprised.

Jack snickered. "Man. I felt sorry for you. Did you really enter the game at the opening? How come your GS is only this much? A newbie player who just entered the game had much more GS than you."

Ren ignored Jack's taunt. He was aware that his Equipment was crap.

"That's why I'm here," Ren answered simply, not one bit embarrassed about his low GS. Even without any equipment, he could PK Jack and the condescending smile on his face.