Life didn't get easier, even in another world.

"What do you mean by that."

Glenn scratched his head with a troubled face.

"We started receiving weird signals from the devices and magic circles installed in that place from around 30 minutes ago until we finally lost contact with them around 3 minutes ago. "

He paused and looked at Serria.

"You and Elsie were the ones who installed those magic circles. Can you still-"

"No."

Serria answered him before he even finished his words.

"Most of the spells were redirected to the devices and were connected to the office, we had no control on the data from the beginning."

She sent a sideways glance to Kairen while talking.

"Also, the spells we installed in Alan's house weren't like the ones that Kairen uses on his targets. We can't get reconnected to them as he does and can't get information using them." 

She then sighed.

"Plus, what I did was mostly supporting Elsie's spells so if there is anyone who could possibly get connected to the spells, it would be Elsie, who is still unconscious."

The more she talked, the graver Glenn's expression became. 

"Did anyone visit that place?"

"According to the cameras, yes. The last pictures we received from the cameras before they went out of touch were pictures of a few men breaking into the house."

Team leader Dains heaved a deep breath and brushed his face with both hands.

While listening to all of those, Kairen glanced at Alan. 

Even though everyone was talking about the devices that they had secretly installed in his house, he didn't seem surprised at all. 

Kairen expected him to get mad at them and start yelling 'What the hell did you do in my house? Who the fuck gave you permission to install those fucking devices in my house!? You motherfucking bastards!', but he didn't do so. That was surprising, really surprising.

Alan actually looked angry, but his anger didn't seem to be directed at them, but at the ones who had entered his house.

For some reason, Kairen was reminded of his conversation with Alan.

- And what makes you think that I didn't?

'Oh man, did he really turn back time after we captured him? What did he do after turning back the time? No wait, did we capture him at first, or after he turned back the time?'

Kairen couldn't stop thinking about that. After his conversation with Alan, not only didn't his questions end but he was instead left with even more questions.

Did he persuade the team leader to release him by showing him his power? But again, that wouldn't be enough to persuade team leader Dains. Did he do a trick by turning back the time? 

'Argh damn! Whatever. I will only know after asking the team leader about it.'

Kairen decided to stop thinking about that issue and instead focus on the matter at hand.

"Is it philomns?"

"We noticed their symbol in the intruders' clothes so, yes."

The atmosphere in the room turned cold. Not caring about it at all, Glenn continued his words.

"What I can assume is that either the devices were found out and removed, or the whole place was destroyed."

SLAM

"Those bastards! How dare they destroy my house?"

Alan finally couldn't hold himself back and yelled out loud.

"I'll kill them all! Those scumbags!"

SLAM SLAM SLAM

He angrily slammed the table, venting his anger on the poor thing.

"Stop it!"

Only after receiving the furious glare of the team leader did he finally stop slamming and clenched his fists instead. 

"They struck while we were busy dealing with the monsters' attack and The Fifth."

The deputy team leader covered her mouth with a hand and mumbled those under her lips.

"You think they intended to keep us busy with The Fifth and do whatever they wanted in the meantime?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."

"How is it that they are always one step ahead of us?"

"Argh damn! And I finally thought we could strike them for once!"

"Why are we the only unit who has to deal with all of this shitty stuff?"

Anger and annoyance were visible in the unit members' faces. 

Kairen had been dealing with these kinds of stuff for less than a month, but he too felt annoyed. These people had been fighting against Philomns for years. Kairen couldn't imagine how angry they might be feeling right now.

"What should we do now, team leader?"

Team leader Dains took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"We don't have much choice."

He opened his eyes and leaned back.

"Today, we couldn't capture The Fifth, the culprit behind the monster attack. We failed the mission."

The unit members lowered their heads, too ashamed to look at the team leader's face.

"But still, there were things that we gained from the mission."

Team leader Dains gestured at Glenn.

"There is no need for people to know that the monster breakout was done by Philomns, but make sure that the news about SMF occupying one of Philomns' hideouts is the title of today's news. It should be the boldest title in the newspapers and the first news shown on the TV for a few days. Also, send the detailed reports of the mission to the commander."

Glenn looked at the team leader with a tired face but nodded his head nonetheless.

"Yes, sir."

"Also, inform Bordkly that we have found the potential mascry thieves and are after them. The documents and the captured Philomns members' confesses must be enough to persuade Bordkly for now."

Glenn looked at his cruel team leader who was mercilessly making him do what he himself was supposed to do with an even more tired face.

"...Yes, sir."

"Thea!"

"Yes?!"

"Take a small team and go check the condition in the village. I will ask the Monster Hunting Division to give you some of their members. Remember, you are only going to check, not to fight. Stay hidden and observe the situation unless they make a move first."

"Yes, sir."

Deputy team leader Bray answered without a second of hesitation. 

"Darren, you too take a small number of people and check the first ruin. I will ask unit 6 again to lend us some agents. The rest of us will go to Alan's house. Kairen, you come with me. That way we can also keep track of that man."

"Yes, sir."

The unit members responded in unison and stood up, hurrying to complete the tasks assigned to them.

"Um... team leader..."

Before the team leader could leave the place, Carlson called out his name and hurriedly walked to him.

"What's it?"

"Um..."

He secretly peeked at the light-blonde-haired man on the other side of the room. He opened his mouth and whispered while eyeing Alan.

"Is he... Is that man going to stay with us?"

The hall turned silent as soon as those words left his mouth. Carlson visibly flinched after seeing Alan glaring at him and turned away. 

It was for a moment but Kairen saw the team leader's lips twitch slightly as if he was about to laugh.

'... Is he... having fun while watching these people be scared like shit from Alan?'

Not to lie, Kairen also thought it was funny to see that always brave Carlson is scared of someone like this. And it wasn't only him, even Darren was scared of Alan. He didn't express it as Carlson did, but he always flinched each time Alan moved. 

Kairen was really curious to know what had happened between them.

The team leader's face soon returned to normal. He looked at his subordinates and commented nonchalantly.

"For now, yes."

"...."

Ding

Those words were the last words of the team leader before he entered the elevator.

. . . . . .

"So the team will consist of me, Rai, and Asa."

Deputy team leader Bray pointed at Rai and Asa. The other two people walked towards the deputy team leader as soon as they were called. There were other people in the room beside them. There were a bunch of hunters and agents who were going to accompany the groups on their missions.

The group of three agents joined five hunters and they all walked towards the teleportation circle. They stood still one step away from the circle, waiting for the team leader's orders.

"Uh..."

Darren looked around with a dumbfounded face. He was told to choose a team for himself, but he wasn't sure of who he was supposed to take.

"I don't know. Whoever wants to join me come and stay here!"

Almost immediately, Carlson ran towards him. He was mumbling something under his lips while hastily walking, but the others could hear him clearly.

"Whoever is okay. Just not that man!"

It wasn't hard for them to understand that his only intention in joining Darren was to run away from Alan.

"Ah, man. I really want to know what happened between them and Alan!"

Saying those words in a low but mischievous voice, Serria ran towards Darren and Carlson. The group of three then left the others and joined the 3 unit 6 agents who were waiting for them.

"You, follow me."

The remaining ones, that means Alan, Kairen, and Reyan followed the team leader to another teleportation circle. 

"Don't forget what I told you before and make sure to keep in contact."

"Yes, sir."