My Last Hunt

A Level Zero's Struggle (part 16)

Linwin wide opened his eyes upon hearing these words.

He hurriedly looked around to make sure whether others were paying any attention toward them. He was relieved to find they were all still chatting with others. After the shock a few moments ago, they had all gone back to discuss it and felt nothing more.

"Wait, I am feeling a bit weird because of bloody clothes, I will return in a few minutes," he went to wash up his clothes or wear the one pair which he brought along.

Qiao nodded.

He was serious when he gave this option. The first step to walk toward his goal was to change his circumstances beginning from today. If Qiao wanted to live a better future without bullies, he would start to fight the bullies first and make a place in this world.

At that moment the team leader saw him sitting alone and came forward.

"So did you consider joining us?" he asked and sat beside him.

"I am willing if you can accept to give a chance to another zero, Linwin too," Qiao spoke with the same attitude. He knew why the leader was interested to rope him in. It was due to his weapon which seemed to have some worth now and also because he was somewhat skilled due to his awareness. The weapon played the main part, so he was thankful that he thought to pick up this shapeless stone for defense back in the cave.

Also, the way he had used this weapon made him look like someone who has proficient using such weapons.

It was not a small detail to be ignored.

"Ahh, are you really serious?" the team leader was shocked. He was not expecting that this youth would be putting forth a condition for joining. Much less such a condition. He wasn't running a charity for Zeroes to gather.

"Fair enough, but do you know understand that the team has two less members of level one. Before we had five people at that level. You are not level one yet and if I added two level zero, the balance of the team would completely break," the team leader wanted him to know how a team should work in a better way. Else it would just be a burden and hunting would be difficult.

"Who said that hunting completely depends up on the levels? Even if you gather level three chasers and ask them to hunt for you a level one monster, there are chances they could get completely annihilated if they are not careful." Qiao spoke bluntly to him.

The team leader was really shocked now even more. He was a level two and had faced many things, but what this youth just said was unheard of.

A team of level three chasers cannot hunt a level one monster? What kind of joke it was?

"What you are trying to say?" the leader asked, puzzled.

"If all the level three were to bear greed, they would let the other die first and then try to hunt it on their own. This way all of them might die and the monster would mock their carcasses," Qiao explained.

He knew what he was saying and the team leader looked at him agape.

"Of course, I am not asking for you to make it easier for Linwin to gain experience by presenting an injured monster on a platter. He will have to earn it by himself. I just want that you do not treat him like a disposable zero. And I will be a level one soon." Qiao also added.

If this team leader wanted him to join in the team, he would join on his own terms.

"Alright, I understand what you meant so from now on you both are part of my team," the team leader stood up and went to chat and inform the other members of his team.

....

Linwin returned and sat beside Qiao.

"Brother, the Guild provides a single bed for every member to the stay and sleep, if you want to rest I can show you the path," Linwin came and suggested.

He was no more wearing bloody clothes.

"How can the greedy Guild provide an abode freely?" he instead asked Linwin. The Guild was doing everything with the exchange of pearls and precious stones. Then how on earth could it provide abode free of charge?

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that the members who register with the Guild pay a monthly or annual fee for this kind of facility in advance, only newbies are given two months to earn and then pay," Linwin explained.

Now it was understandable for Qiao.

"Linwin, someone asked me to join their team. Do you want to join too?" Qiao asked casually.

"Why not, I would prefer to be in your team rather than a random one," Linwin jumped with excitement and then sat back when others glared him.

"Oh, also what about your previous words? Were you serious?" Linwin almost whispered in his ears.

The idea to take revenge was fascinating but the problem was that he was only zero. Those most of those chasers were level one or two.

"Do you know what we need first?" Qiao asked sincerely.

Linwin was clueless. What was he talking about? He shook his head.

How can he tell what this brother was thinking in his genius brain?

Within small conversation of the morning and this casual talk, they seemed to have got to known each other quite well.

"First you need the determination to take revenge," Qiao winked and stood up. He then asked Linwin to show what kind of abode this Guild provided.

Linwin guided him to the way to the spare room that were used by level zeroes. The rooms were all unkempt and dirty. Anyone who stayed here never considered about the cleanliness and just made good with the space provided.

Qiao felt he would go insane from the smell of the unclean quilt and bed sheet, so he threw it out of the abode and sat on the wooden plank.

He was thinking to deposit all the pearls in the Guild bank else he would remain worried about it.

The possibility that chasers could snatch assets was high so he cannot take risk.

Now he was starting to understand a bit the importance of having high level weapon and also why the spoils gained were so important that hunters were willing to commit crimes to gain more.

The advantage that one can have while us high level weapons against low level monster was best.

He had seen the low-level weapons shattering with his own eyes so he was unwilling to take this risk too.