While the summer camp activities continued at the abandoned orphanage.
A large group of disguised miners rushed over from all directions in a flurry.
Seeing these organization members arriving aggressively in front of him one by one, the uniformed man scratched his head in confusion and asked:
"What's up with you guys? Something happen? Or… am I finally getting liberated from these little beasts?"
"Shut up first! I'm asking you—where did those brats go?" one organization member shouted.
When they arrived earlier, it was dead silent—no sign of the kids at all.
Could it really be like what that red-haired broomhead said—this guy betrayed them and took the kids away?
"?"
The uniformed man narrowed his eyes, tilted his head in puzzlement:
"Come on, it's the middle of the night. What else would those little beasts be doing besides sleeping? Don't tell me they've got the energy to do what I do—find a quiet spot for a first charge?"
"First charge?"
Several people narrowed their eyes, silently staring at the wads of crumpled tissue on the ground, and asked suspiciously:
"Who were you charging at?"
The uniformed man pursed his lips and nodded toward a Rift Creature he'd killed in the distance, saying matter-of-factly:
"That thing, obviously. What else?"
Everyone followed his gaze to the remains of the Rift Creature over there.
"…"
"Honestly, even if you were into guys, I wouldn't look down on you this much."
"What kind of mentality does it take to get off on those monsters?"
"…That's so gross."
Hearing the comments, the uniformed man's face darkened. He said unhappily:
"So, aside from interrupting my first charge, you guys have nothing else to do?"
"Nope."
"…"
"You guys sick or something?"
The atmosphere was awkward for a few seconds before someone spoke:
"Fine, actually we came to check on the situation here. We got word that because you took pity on these kids, you personally took them and ran!"
"Huh?"
Hearing this accusation, the uniformed man was instantly dumbfounded. Then, uncontrollable anger rose in his eyes!
"Me? Them? Took pity?"
"Yeah!"
"Are you sure it's not those brats who should pity me? Who in the organization is speculating about me like this? And speculating so disgustingly? Tell me the name—I want to challenge him to an imperial duel!"
"Calm down! Anyway, cut the crap—where are those kids now? You keep running your mouth—are you stalling for time, huh?"
"Stalling? Fuck your mom… You guys are the ones who derailed the topic to attack my sexual orientation."
"Correction: that's not a sexual orientation. That's a fetish."
"…"
To reassure them, the uniformed man still led them to the crude dormitory building.
It was a renovated abandoned house used as living quarters—sleeping wasn't an issue.
Looking in through the windows, rows of bunk beds were lined up.
A few kids were now lighting dim candle flames, secretly having some "white stuff" (drinking milk).
"…"
Some were chatting, some were crying, some were persuading others to drink—everyone was extremely excited, completely unaware that a group of people outside was silently watching them through the windows.
"Damn it, they really aren't sleeping—what the hell, they've gone rogue!"
Seeing this scene, the uniformed man clasped his hands behind his back, his face gloomy.
He pushed the door open directly!
The kids heard the door being pushed and immediately scattered in panic, scrambling back to their beds.
Under the uniformed man's sweeping gaze, only a few stubborn ones remained sitting quietly on the ground, drinking that cheap dairy product—and one even let out a burp.
"Burp~~~"
"…"
Facing these troublemakers, the uniformed man clasped his hands behind his back, eyebrows raised in anger:
"Damn it, why didn't you guys run?"
Hearing the sir's question, Hook suddenly stood ramrod straight like an old pine tree! Her eyes bulged like copper bells:
"Report! Because we're not afraid!"
"Tch, why aren't you afraid?"
"Not afraid means not afraid!"
"…I swear to god."
"Sir, as a qualified Silvermane Guard, you said we must dare to act and take responsibility! Shoulder the burden!"
"…"
After glancing at the people peeking in from outside, the uniformed man continued sternly:
"Then tell me—why are you violating Silvermane Guard regulations by not sleeping at night?! And who approved you to drink those Happy Milks? I told you—you can only drink water, only water! Are you deaf?!"
The organization's funding was already low to begin with; he originally planned to just let these brats drink water.
Those Happy Milks were his personal stash!
But at some point, these kids discovered the Happy Milks existed and kept stealing them from his office!
"Report sir, this was all my idea—punish me if you're going to punish anyone!"
"?"
At these words, the uniformed man couldn't help but look at Hook twice more, his pupils dilating:
"What? Don't you love passing the buck? Why are you stepping up today?"
"Lord Hook handles her business with integrity—she dares to act and dares to take responsibility!"
"No calling yourself 'Lord'…! How many times do I have to say it? You're just ordinary rookie recruits right now, got it?!"
"Huh? Sir, you're finally admitting we're real military?" Hook was overjoyed and said with relief:
"So everything sir said to us before was just a test! We've actually all passed, right? We're already veterans!"
"Get lost…!!"
The people peeking through the windows saw this and exchanged glances, frowning.
"…"
These little brats really deserve a beating.
Especially that one called Hook—why is she such a thorn?
She was pretty obedient when they first grabbed her—how did she suddenly mutate?
After discussing for a long time, several men also pushed the door open and said to the uniformed man:
"Their Silvermane Guard career ends here. Things are unstable lately—send them straight back to the cave and lock them up with Natasha! Better safe than sorry!"
They'd dumped these brats here earlier because they were too noisy and disturbed the other members' rest.
But now the situation was critical—members were getting captured one after another. They couldn't afford to spread their attention anymore.
Let them be noisy—whoever makes noise gets beaten.
As long as they're left breathing, no matter how badly beaten, it doesn't matter.
As long as the kids are alive, Natasha remains under control and can still be threatened into healing the organization members!
"What lock up…? Sir, what are these comrades talking about? Hook doesn't understand." Hook scratched her head, completely confused by what they just said.
"Hmph, it means treating you like animals!"
"You're just tools to control Natasha—nothing more!"
"…What?" Hook's pupils suddenly widened. She asked uncertainly:
"Then… can we go through the discharge and get our discharge pay?"
"…Discharge pay my ass—you really think you're Silvermane Guards? I'll make you sober up right now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the man swung a fierce slap at Hook's face!
Smack—!!
With a crisp sound, the entire dormitory fell silent.
Everyone's pupils dilated in disbelief at the scene before them.
…