Ghost Hero

On the Way to the Field

The sudden bright light blinded Nina.

"Ngh..."

The troops departed the next day. Nina went in a military-grade transport truck. Going the way they did allowed her to see the sun in raw. She had stayed inside Teakwood since she was transported to this world.

Although, the display didn't take Nina's mind away from the truck's heavy atmosphere.

There were a dozen of person there. Two of them were on the younger side. Seeing the angry silence of Del across her, Nina could guess the reasons.

The necklace! He doesn't have it.

Even though Nina didn't have the comprehension of what level meant. Considering his level 99 strength, one could only imagine what violence he could do.

Wait... why is he here? A question popped out of Nina's head.

"Ah, Um... This is the reserves men, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Why are kids like you two here? I don't want anything happening to them to be on my conscience... Hey, Zelle's guys?"

The man beside her answered. His sentence's target changed to the opposite side of the truck. Two soldiers on the most inside seats were different. They were men of Zelle's family.

"Boss's instruction."

"I see you guys got an abundance of harvest, huh?" The discussion headed in a way Nina couldn't understand.

Del... This boy has level 99 why is someone like him in reserve? Not only him, but the others have such a strong presence!

"Um, I'm sorry, why are you in reserves?" Nina peeked at their weapons. Most have some kind of gun. Two had swords. Three including Nina and Del brought nothing at all.

"WHAT DO YOU SAY!?" A younger man with a sword screamed at Nina. From the look of his balded head, he was at the end of his twenties.

"Ey! Calm down! She's brought here fresh! Of course, she didn't know the rules of the court! She COMPLIMENTED us you ignorant fool!" Now one of the oldest on board joined in. "It's because we look more forged than others, right?"

"Hiii. Y-yes! I thought strong guys would be forced to the frontline..."

Most of them were macho old men. Most had all sorts of augmentation to their bodies. Almost all had scored an eye upgrade.

"It's something Cyntral has been doing as of late, all per our head's suggestion." The other Zelle family spoke. Besides Nina, she was the only other female on the floor.

""Reserves force is the ace on your sleeve." Was it?" The old man beside Nina snorted.

"Indeed. We will send you as support if the others get overwhelmed or anything goes south."

"And?"

"Haha, it is not your first time working with us, right?... That is correct, we also choose the strongest people for reserve so we can hopefully recruit any talent easier if deemed profitable."

So THAT was why the group seemed to contradict norms for reserves. Did that mean Nina was also a part of the 'potential recruits' as well?

"Your boss. Where he is right now."

Del finally broke his no-speaking role. The way he spoke back then was the same. It was always unprovoking. Even though he was OBVIOUSLY PROVOKED HIMSELF!

"The boss is going to a meeting with the Cyntral's folks."

"I see. When can I see him."

"The head will talk with you when he wants to talk with you. But I can forward him a message if you want."