CHAPTER 195: HELP

Adam broke the silence. His voice was quiet but carried a weight that cut through the tension. "I know this situation isn’t good."

Everyone’s attention snapped to him. They were listening now. Not just as students listening to a leader, but as four boys trapped in a place that wanted to kill them, listening to the only person who had a plan.

"I want to tell you all something," Adam continued, his gaze moving from Kado to Void, then to Robin, and finally to Ryan. He held each of their gazes for a moment, forcing a connection. "I created this group because I saw the potential in every single one of you. I meant that. I also know what is happening to the other students, the ones who get absorbed into the other factions."

A flicker of understanding passed through their eyes. They had all seen it. The fear, the subservience, the way the upperclassmen treated the new arrivals like property.

"I’m not going to hide anything from you," Adam said, his voice dropping even lower, becoming more personal. "My friend, Alina, is trapped in the Golden Group right now. She asked me for help."

The words landed with the force of a physical blow. This wasn’t about points anymore. This wasn’t about a stupid bet with Joshua. It was personal. The stunned silence was absolute. Kado’s rigid posture softened slightly, his focus shifting from the threatening woods to Adam’s face. .

"That is why I am asking you," Adam said, his honesty laid bare. "Help me with this mission. Help me get her out." He let the request hang in the air, a profound vulnerability in his tone. Then, a harder edge returned to his voice. "I can’t complete all these missions by myself. Not in the time we have. But I know that you are all more than capable. I chose you for a reason."

The four of them exchanged looks. It was a silent, rapid conversation. Ryan’s fear was still visible, but now it was warring with something else. Loyalty. Robin pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his expression analytical, calculating. Kado’s jaw was set in a firm line of contemplation.

Void was the only one who seemed unaffected. A slow, lazy smile spread across his face, a flicker of dark amusement in his eyes. So, the great leader needs to ask for help, he thought. This is getting interesting. It seems I might have to show a little of my true power after all. Just a little.

He stepped forward, breaking the formation. He clapped his hands together once, the sound sharp and jarring in the quiet forest. "You don’t need to get so formal, boss," Void said, his grin widening. "But since you’re being so earnest and actually asking for our help... I suppose I’ll lend a hand. This sounds like much more fun than picking flowers."

Before Adam could respond, Kado moved. He shot a hand out and clamped it firmly on Void’s shoulder. "When did I say you could speak for me?" Kado’s voice was a low growl. He didn’t even look at Void. His intense eyes were locked on Adam. He squeezed Void’s shoulder once, a clear message of dominance, before letting go.

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"Don’t listen to this fool," Kado said, his tone softening as he addressed Adam directly. "I give you my word. I will do everything within my power to see these missions completed." It wasn’t a promise made to a leader. It was an oath from one warrior to another.

The dam of uncertainty broke. Robin and Ryan stepped forward together, almost in unison. Robin was the first to speak, his voice less shaky than before. "I don’t have much fighting experience," he admitted, his gaze steady behind his spectacles. "But my eyes are sharp. I can serve as surveillance. I can spot things others might miss."

Ryan, emboldened by Robin’s declaration, straightened his shoulders. "Like Robin, I’m not much use in a direct fight," he said, his voice gaining strength. "But I have knowledge. I’ve read books on magical flora, fauna, and geological formations. My knowledge of many different fields could be useful to you in this mission."

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A genuine smile touched Adam’s lips for the first time since entering the forest. The tension in his chest eased, replaced by a surge of warmth. They weren’t just followers. They were a team. They had seen his vulnerability, heard the real stakes, and they had not hesitated. They had chosen to stand with him. He let out a long, slow breath, the air clearing from his lungs as if carrying away the last of his doubts.

"Alright then," Adam said, the authority returning to his voice, sharp and decisive. He looked between the two most uniquely skilled members of his new unit. "Void, you’ll go with Robin. You two are a team."

The pairing was unexpected, but it made a strange kind of sense. The brute force and the sharp eyes. The fighter and the scout. Void simply shrugged, that same amused smirk on his face. Robin, however, gave a sharp, affirmative nod, already processing the strategic implications.

Adam reached into the inner pocket of his uniform jacket. He pulled out a small, folded stack of papers. He carefully counted out eight slips of worn parchment, the ink on them a faded black. They were all F-rank missions. He held them out.

"Your team will handle these," he announced. "I want you to complete as many of these as you can. Most of them are simple gathering quests. Crimson Nettles, Glimmer Moss, Sun-Kissed Ferns... ingredients. The last three are a little different. They require you to capture small-sized Crystal-Backed Centipedes. Alive."

Void’s eyes lit up at the mention of capturing a creature. He reached out and plucked the mission slips from Adam’s hand with a theatrical flourish. He glanced at them for only a second before crumpling them slightly in his fist. "Consider it done," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.

Adam didn’t reply to him. His attention was now fully on the slighter boy standing next to the powerhouse. He looked directly at Robin. The weight of his stare was immense.

"I am trusting you," he said, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. "I am trusting your capabilities to navigate this place. To not only complete your tasks but to find a way out of this forest. Do you understand?"

Robin swallowed hard, the magnitude of the responsibility settling onto his shoulders. He was being tasked with more than just surveillance. He was being tasked with their survival. He pushed his glasses up again, a nervous habit, but his voice was firm when he replied. "Yes. I understand."

Adam gave a single, sharp nod. He took a deep breath, the crisp, damp scent of the woods filling his lungs. The plan was in motion. The pieces were moving. Now, all that was left was to execute.