Chapter 239: Chapter 239 - Talk
Early the next morning, Theo slowly walked through the already bustling streets.
A tired yawn left his mouth as he rubbed his eyes, followed by his temples.
Despite sleeping for only a couple of hours, staying awake until four in the morning had certainly left its mark.
’Should’ve gone to bed earlier,’ he thought with a helpless smile. ’But alas, I had to do what I had to do.’
Fortunately for him, the meeting place wasn’t too far from his mansion.
Just a few minutes later, a small neighborhood bar came into view.
As he pushed open the door, the fresh scent of coffee filled his nose.
His gaze immediately swept through the room before stopping near one of the windows.
All four of his friends were already there, each doing their own thing.
Spotting him at the same time, Owen’s eyes practically lit up.
’’Look who’s late again!’’ he shouted, standing up.
Before Theo could even respond, Lyra reached up toward Owen’s head.
Without the slightest hint of mercy, she twisted his ear.
’’OW!’’
Owen’s head immediately tilted, but Lyra kept holding onto his ear.
’’Stop! Stop! Stop!’’ he yelped loudly, slowly lowering himself back into his seat.
Only after Owen had completely sat back down did she finally let go.
He immediately began rubbing his ear, tears in his eyes.
’’Oh stop it,’’ Lyra said coldly. ’’You don’t want another blue eye now, do you?’’
Owen’s face paled, the tears immediately vanishing.
He sat down perfectly straight, not uttering a word.
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle as he slowly approached the table.
’He’s like a well-trained puppy,’ he mused, pulling back a chair. ’Maybe I should take a page out of Lyra and Adrian’s books since it works so well.’
As he sat down, everyone’s gaze shifted toward him.
The lighthearted atmosphere practically evaporated in an instant.
’’So,’’ Jim broke the silence. ’’What’s this dangerous mission about?’’
Iris nodded, her full attention on Theo.
Only Lyra seemed to have heard the details already, staring more at Iris and Jim than at him.
Theo let out a deep breath and gave a small nod.
’’Yesterday, we were approached by our hunting group’s leader,’’ he began. ’’He proposed a special international bounty mission to us.’’
The table remained deathly silent.
Jim and Iris stared seriously at Theo, evaluating each word.
Theo didn’t want to drag things out.
He immediately went over everything Harold had told him and Owen the day before.
By the time he finished, Jim and Iris stared at him with wide eyes.
’’And... you’re going on this mission?’’ Jim asked, just to be certain.
Theo nodded slowly.
’’Me and Owen have already confirmed we’ll go, yeah.’’
Jim fell silent for a few more seconds, processing the information.
Meanwhile, Lyra calmly took another sip of her energy drink.
’’I’m also going, by the way,’’ she said, raising one hand. ’’Owen convinced me last night.’’
Jim remained silent.
His brows slowly furrowed as he stared at the table.
’This is... insane,’ he thought.
Going to a place with unknown dangers that had a reputation as one of the most dangerous places on Earth?
Who would do such a thing?!
’Not to mention our competition,’ he thought, lowering his head. ’I can imagine we’d be up against some massive Gold Core groups.’
Even thinking about it made his heart grow heavy.
He’d never gone on any life-threatening missions before.
Hell, had it not been for his fight against Theo, he wouldn’t have ever even fought a creature before!
But then, another image surfaced in his mind.
Theo’s battle with Lucienne from the Imperial Church and the mass destruction that followed.
Jim let out a slow breath.
’Theo and Owen are probably the strongest Silver Cores in the world,’ he thought. ’If anyone has a chance to survive that place... it’d be them.’
His eyes slowly turned toward Theo, his mind churning.
’Besides, if I keep hesitating every time things become dangerous...’
’I’ll never truly become part of this group.’
The hesitation gradually disappeared from his face.
Without another thought, he nodded once.
’’I’m coming,’’ he said.
Owen immediately jumped back out of his seat.
’’Nice!’’ he shouted, smiling from ear to ear.
Theo also gave a small, appreciative nod.
’’Thank you,’’ he said.
Then his gaze slowly shifted over toward Iris.
Before he even had to ask, she too nodded.
’’I’m coming too,’’ she said quietly.
Her gaze locked onto Theo as a warm smile appeared on her face.
’’There’s no way I’m letting you do all these dangerous things by yourself once more.’’
Before Theo could even smile, Owen let out a loud scoff.
’’Gros—’’
Thud!
Lyra’s fist connected with the side of his jaw.
Owen’s head jerked sideways from the impact.
He slowly turned back toward Lyra, one hand rubbing his aching cheek.
’’Fuck me,’’ he muttered quietly.
Lyra only raised an eyebrow, and Owen immediately looked away.
Theo shook his head helplessly before looking around the table once more.
’’Then that settles it,’’ he said. ’’The five of us will go.’’
Jim raised a hand.
’’When?’’
Without hesitation, Theo replied instantly.
’’I was thinking tomorrow night.’’
Three heads snapped toward him, staring at him like he was crazy.
Only Owen nodded slowly.
’’The sandstorms are simply too unpredictable,’’ he continued. ’’If we’re unlucky, we could end up waiting weeks before we can even enter.’’
He paused for a moment. ’’Which is why I’d rather get there early than arrive too late.’’
Looks of realization appeared all around the table.
Theo looked around the table once more, a smile on his face.
’’Don’t worry about the supplies either,’’ he said. ’’I’ve got a way to take care of our food and water once we’re inside.’’
The others glanced at him in surprise.
’’Just make sure your weapons and equipment are in perfect condition.’’
The others quickly agreed before standing up one after another.
After exchanging a few final words, they each went their separate ways.
Theo watched them disappear down the street before pulling his wallet from his pocket.
A small smile appeared on his face.
’Time to buy out a few stores.’
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