"Hey, what are you doing! Are you crazy?"
"I-I don't know either!"
The man stared blankly at his own hand. His face stung faintly, a bright red handprint especially obvious.
Just now… I slapped myself?
What a surreal thing.
"I clearly meant to hit this little bastard—how did I hit myself?!"
Hook looked at the burly man in front of her in confusion and asked:
"What were you trying to do to Hook just now? Are you challenging the pitch-black Lord Hook?"
"Shut up! I'll make you taste my power!"
With that, the burly man raised his right hand again and swung hard at Hook's tender cheek.
Smack—!!
Another crisp sound.
This time, another handprint appeared on his own cheek, and his hand went numb from the impact.
"I… how did I hit myself again? Impossible… why?!"
This abnormal phenomenon left the people behind equally baffled.
They clearly saw the guy raise his hand and slap himself twice—each time with full force. The crisp sounds even made the kids hiding under blankets poke their heads out, cautiously watching.
"Do you have a self-harm kink? I'm honestly baffled." A tall, thin man from behind didn't understand and stepped forward quickly.
After pushing the burly man aside, he raised his hand directly at the small figure in front and swung hard at her face.
Smack—!!
Another crisp sound.
This time it wasn't the tall thin man hitting himself—it was the burly man who slapped the tall thin man across the face.
"Ah…?"
For his sudden action, the burly man was also confused and hurriedly pulled his hand back:
"I didn't mean to hit you! I didn't even have the thought of hitting anyone just now!"
"Tch… you think I believe that?"
The tall thin man rubbed his reddened face and narrowed his eyes.
This guy must've seen me push him earlier, so he deliberately slapped me back!
What a grudge-holder!
"What the hell is your deal? You can hit me but not her? You into lolis or something?"
Nearby, Hook rubbed her nose, looking strangely at the two of them and asked puzzled:
"Could this be… our discharge trial? Then… Hook understands!"
"?"
While the two were stunned, a small figure quickly approached and leaped up.
Everyone only heard two smack smack sounds before Hook landed steadily.
Each of the two men now had a small palm print on their faces.
"Sir, Hook's mission complete!" The small figure stood up, saluted the uniformed man solemnly, eyes wide like copper bells.
"What the hell! Who told you to hit them—don't frame me!" the uniformed man shouted quickly.
…
On the rooftop.
A gray-haired figure sat quietly, head tilted back, staring blankly at the pitch-black sky above.
Completely ignoring the chaos below.
[Stellaron Level: Emanator Rank 5…]
[Combat Skills: Kiana Kaslana-style Spear Arts, Taixu Mountain Secret Arts, Assist Summon…]
[Bound Equipment: Divine Key - Judgment of Shamash, Divine Key - Abyss Flower, Divine Key - Cosmic Juggernaut (under repair), Divine Key - Fenghuang Down…]
During this time, a certain someone had basically been idling around.
Before he came to Jarilo-VI, the Aeon of Elation had pulled him straight to Emanator Rank 4 like a Bodhisattva. Idling here had already pushed him to Rank 5.
There was originally no ranking concept, but the system divided Emanator strength roughly into ten levels for Zeig's convenience.
Zeig considered himself mid-tier at best right now.
During this period, he'd also picked up Kiana Kaslana-style Spear Arts and Fenghuang Down.
The former didn't seem particularly useful, but the latter…
…
"Fuck, are you insane—why are you shooting at me?!"
"Asshole, you swung your knife at me first!"
"I didn't mean to! My body wasn't listening!"
In the dim abandoned dormitory.
The guys who originally planned to take Hook and the other kids to a new holding spot had suddenly started attacking each other!
Their mental states seemed extremely unstable!
"Lord Hook, let's hide quick—sir and the others are fighting!"
"No way—as a veteran, I should shoulder the responsibility!"
"…"
"Lord Hook, sorry about this."
"Ow ow ow… what are you doing."
Amid the sounds of blades, guns, and clubs clashing, Hook was dragged under a bed by a group of kids and silently watched the scene.
"Ah, sir got stabbed in the butt."
"Sir also shot someone else in the butt."
"Look, that guy's eating spicy strips."
"He just got stabbed in the butt too."
"There's one outside the window—he's watching us!"
"He's holding a roll of paper—probably just wiped his butt."
"…"
…
By the time the reporting Silvermane Guards finally arrived late and kicked open the riddled dormitory door, the scene inside stunned them.
The terrorists who once fought them were now fighting each other!
A group of kids nearby were cheering them on.
"Sir, go! Victory belongs to our squad!"
"Ooooh—!!"
"Oei, oi—!"
Pela furrowed her brows slightly. While ordering the Silvermane Guards to separate the fighters, she walked inside and asked the group of little kids softly:
"You're not hurt, right? What are they doing?"
"Huh? You're… oh, you're here for an inspection!"
Seeing Pela arrive with people, Hook immediately realized what was happening.
Back when she was in class, adults would often come to visit. At those times, the old witch Natasha would tell them to behave.
Afterward, every kid got extra snacks.
In the military, this seemed to be called an inspection.
"Report!" Hook immediately puffed out her chest and addressed Pela in her childish voice, eyes wide like copper bells:
"Our sir is actively conducting drills! There is absolutely no sign of fake showmanship!"
"Drills? Terrorists are doing drills too?"
"Report! This is our squad's business. For more intelligence, please request from superiors or ask our sir directly!"
"…"
Pela's eyes widened. She couldn't help but look at Hook a few more times.
This kid… how did she become so obsessed? She acts like she actually went through military training.
Wait… sir?
Military training?
"???"
Pela couldn't help but look at the kids' clothes and asked in confusion:
"You guys… are in summer camp?"
"No, we are now proper enlisted Silvermane Guards—ah no… we'll be discharged soon."
"…"
"You should go back and do your homework." Pela said heavily.
The little kids' faces immediately darkened.
They looked at Pela warily!