Chapter 122: Familiar Friends
It wasn’t like David actually had a choice.
With that, Jenna led the way while Lion stayed close behind David, making sure he didn’t stray as the three of them made their way through the city streets.
As they walked, David couldn’t stop the countless thoughts racing through his mind.
’What’s this they’re talking about? A Hunter Academy... what the hell are Hunters, anyway? People like me?’
Honestly, though, the thing that satisfied him the most was the notification still flickering at the edge of his vision.
[Criteria has been breached.]
[Lust Bond Gaze has now been deactivated.]
’At least now I can lie,’ he thought inwardly.
As they continued walking, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
’One thing’s for sure. The two of them are above my rank. That’s why I couldn’t use Lust Bond Gazes on them.’
’I couldn’t use my "Rewind" skill back at the alley ’cause ten seconds back wouldn’t have taken me far enough to escape from Jenna’s speed. But if things do get a tad bit too generous here, and we manage to get in a corner or a crowd, I’ll use the skill and during their confusion...I’ll make a run for it.’
With that realization, he obediently followed behind Jenna while Lion remained directly behind him.
’But...shit...I don’t even get to spin my special gift card anymore.’
’What the hell have I even gotten myself into?’
He let out a quiet sigh.
’No. I need to keep my head sharp. Even if they’re stronger than me, I’m not just going to lie down and die. I just need to follow them so I’ll find out exactly what these people are... and what exactly this system is.’
Then another thought crossed his mind.
’But...To think that Lion is an Hunter... atleast now he has something to work up with his uh...issues...hehe!’
David subtly glanced over his shoulder at the towering man following behind him.
Lion walked calmly, his massive frame impossible to ignore. Yet what caught David’s attention wasn’t the man himself, but the people around him. As pedestrians noticed Lion approaching, they instinctively stepped aside, creating a clear path without even realizing why.
David frowned.
’These people don’t even realize that they’re walking in the presence of someone as monstrous as this. When he grabbed me, I was absolutely convinced he was a murderer.’
’But something doesn’t add up. How the hell is a murderer like him working with someone like Jenna?’
Before he could think any further, Jenna abruptly came to a stop. David nearly walked straight into her.
She glanced back at him for a brief moment before silently turning into a nearby alley.
Without saying a word, Lion gave David a firm shove between the shoulders, gesturing for him to keep moving. David grunted from the push before reluctantly stepping into the alley.
The moment he entered, his eyes instinctively swept across the surroundings.
The alley was completely empty. And so, he slowly came to a stop before turning around, already preparing himself to use his skill, "Rewind".
Lion stood at the entrance, blocking the only way out whilst Jenna stood several feet in front of him.
"What is this?"
Jenna met his gaze without the slightest change in expression.
"You don’t need to worry about any of that."
Then she turned toward Lion.
"Lion. Call your friend."
Lion immediately frowned.
"Stop calling her my friend."
Jenna ignored the complaint entirely.
"You’re the one who was making advances towards her... I believe when a guy gets rejected and is still held close to the so called woman, it’s called a ’friend-zone’."
"Shut the fuck up...it’s a working progress."
Without another word, Lion reached into his pocket, pulled out her phone, entered a number, and pressed the call button.
A faint ringtone echoed through the otherwise silent alley.
Then—
Almost as softly as a feather drifting onto the ground...
A figure suddenly descended from above and landed directly behind David.
Instantly, Jenna reacted on pure instinct. Her blade flashed from its sheath and was instantly pointed straight at the newcomer.
But it wasn’t an enemy.
It was a girl.
She smiled brightly, as though nothing about the situation seemed unusual, exclaiming joyously as she muttered.
"Hiya. Look who needs my help again. You know it takes alot to leave my life behind just for y’all."
Then her gaze drifted past Jenna and landed on David, and instantly, a look of astonishment clouded her face.
"Huh? David?"
It was at this point that Daddy finally glanced at the ally who there had just encountered.
’What the fuck...Nicole?’ His eyes widened further in sudden disbelief.
"Mmh?"
Jenna and Lion spoke at the same time, both immediately turning their attention toward the girl before glancing back at David.
"You know him?" Jenna asked.
The girl blinked before giving a small nod.
"Yeah. He’s my neighbor. What the hell are you guys doing with him?"
Jenna answered without the slightest hesitation.
"He’s Awakened. He was able to see me when I entered my dungeon, so we’re taking him to HQ."
The girl’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"That’s not possible. He literally spent the entire night playing games with me and my friends and I couldn’t sense a single trace of magical energy coming from him."
Lion folded his arms across his chest.
"We can’t sense any magical energy from him right now either. But he vividly described how he saw her entering the dungeon. So it’s definitely not a lie."
The girl fell silent for a few moments, her eyes drifting toward David as though trying to make sense of everything, until finally, she let out a quiet sigh.
"Alright. If you guys insist... Then taking him to HQ is probably the best thing to do."
Only then did David finally speak.
"Hold on. I’ve been compliant with the two of you this entire time. So I think I deserve at least a little information myself. If you guys really are going to kidnap me, then the least you can do is answer a few questions."
"I’m already outnumbered. My chances of escaping are basically nonexistent. So at least tell me... Where exactly are we going?"
Lion looked at him with an amused expression.
"Huh? And what if we don’t answer?"
David didn’t hesitate for even a second as he casted a glareful look at Lion.
"Then I’m not going anywhere."
A brief silence settled over the alley.
Then, Jenna slowly raised a hand toward Lion, signaling him to stand down.
"Don’t. There’s no need to shed blood."
Then she turned her attention back to David.
"You want to know where we’re going? Fine....We’re going to the Upper Side, so buckle up peasant. " She muttered as she slapped her palm casually against David’s shoulder.
The moment those words reached David’s ears, his eyes widened in complete shock.
’The Upper Side...are involved in this Hunter shit?’
David stood there in stunned silence, unable to process everything he had just heard.
Little did he know that this was the beginning of the second day that would change his entire life.