We are all hiding in the forest near the Sarkh Village while Allen is approaching the suspicious player who has been hanging outside the village.

We see Allen is waving his hand at the guy, and they both immediately interact with each other. We can’t hear what kind of conversation they’re having but we can tell that the guy is really the one who’s been recruiting newbies to join the Segregate. Allen looks so convincing that the guy is taking the bait and showing a big smile on his face.

Aven is eating an apple while staring at those two.

“I think Allen manages to get something from the guy.”

Ilvia is resting her head on her knees.

“That’s too easy, doesn’t he has to do some research on Allen’s background or something? I mean, they’re big and quite hidden from the community, so how’s he so easily believe in Allen?”

I cross my arms and lean my right shoulder on the tree while staring at Allen.

“I don’t think it’s his job to investigate the player’s background since he’s here to recruit newbies and it’s unnecessary for him to look at those newbies’ backgrounds because we can’t have multiple accounts. So, even if those newbies are spies, they can easily beat them up or give them a lesson since those newbies can’t do anything.”

They’re looking at me and then Aven raises his eyebrows with an apple in his mouth.

“So Allen will be sent to a different person and that person will be checking on his background?”

I nod while not letting my eyes away from Allen and the guy.

“Yeah, I think that will be the case, so let’s just wait until he’s done.”

Halfaer looks at me while picking the grass next to him.

“But, if one of those newbies is a spy, don’t you think it’s enough to make them feel a bit uneasy about it? Let’s say that they’re rapidly recruiting newbies, and it will be impossible for them to check every single one of them.”

I tilt my head while raising my eyebrows.

“I don’t think those newbies can get anything from them since they’re  newbies,  do you understand what I mean? They labeled those newbies as newbies and they won’t share anything about the reason why they created the Segregate. They only show them that they’re here to help newbies so if one of those newbies really is a spy, it will take him or her months and show what they’re capable of before they can be trusted by the higher-ups of the Segregate so it’s not easy.”

They’re nodding and humming with understanding, and then I nod up.

“Looks like Allen is done with the guy, we should go back to the cabin and hear what Allen has for us.”

They all nod and we all go back to the cabin.

Allen gets inside the cabin while we are waiting for him at the table, he sits down and he looks a bit nervous.

I raise my eyebrows while staring at him.

“What did you get?”

Allen is scratching the back of his head.

“Well, he said that he would love to let me join the Segregate but he didn’t have the authority to let old players join. He gave me a coordinate and told me that I should meet someone who could recruit me into the community.”

All of them are surprised and Ilvia looks at me while smiling.

“Wow, you were right, Mister Trevor!”

Allen is so confused right now, I look at Allen while crossing my arms.

“Have you found out where the guy that he said is?”

Allen nods.

“Yeah, based on the map and the coordinate that he gave me, the guy is in Eston Town which is a miles away up north from the Alliance Kingdoms.”

Aven is humming with understanding.

“Eston Town is the place where players used to spend the night, right? Because of the beautiful aurora, I remember there were so many mini-bosses in that area that newbies can get a lot of status points and achievements from killing them.”

Halfaer scoffs and shakes his head.

“It’s still the best farming spot for getting status points for players.”

Ilvia is humming while rubbing her cheeks.

“But why there? Is there a reason why the person that the guy wants Allen to meet to be in that place? Based on the way he said it, it seems like the guy is always there in Eston Town.”

I sigh and rest my head on my fist while staring at Ilvia.

“As Aven said, it’s the best place for players to hang around, it could be that’s where the Segregate use that town as their hideout or base since so many players going there and it’s easy for them to recruit players without having to move from place to place.”

Everyone is humming in agreement, Aven is leaning back while staring at the ceiling and tapping his chin with his fingers.

“So it’s like a fishing pod, where they can take the players they want to recruit since they might have some kind of talent or skills that they wanted.”

I nod in agreement.

“Yeah, something like that.”

I stand up and look at them.

“Alright, let’s not waste Allen’s time and we don’t want the guy to be suspicious of Allen just because it took him so long to meet him.”

All of them nod and we immediately go to Eston Town.

Eston Town, the city of light stripes where day only lasts 4 hours and night for 20 hours. I haven’t been here ever since I play the game for the second time because there’s nothing interesting here other than mini-bosses and monsters with very high levels but very low EXP.

Ilvia looks at me with worries.

“Mister Trevor, don’t you think that having you here is enough to make them uncomfortable?”

I smirk and shake my head.

“I have been blending in crowds so many times, it’s not something new for me to hide identity from everyone.”

I put my disguise and roam the town on my own because Aven and the others are also known by the Segregate that they’re a threat for them. I’m asking a favor to Avriel to observe and scout the whole city and see if there’s something interesting for us. She immediately sends a few of her men around the town and then we both go into a pub and have a nice hot tea.

Aven comes in and then followed by the others, they all sitting at different tables but close enough to be able to talk with each other. Allen is already in the building to meet the person, and from here we can’t do anything but wait.

I look at Avriel who’s hiding her face and appearance.

“Have you been here before?”

Avriel looks at me and shakes her head.

“Never, I hate cold weather…”

I’m humming with understanding but Avriel keeps staring at me and it starts to make me feel uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong?”

Avriel looks at my chest while sipping the hot tea.

“That thing inside you, does it hurt since it makes you weak?”

I rub my chest while looking at it.

“No, I feel like nothing weird in there so I’m fine. But, yeah as you said that it’s really annoying that I can’t do anything at all, in fact, there’s a high chance I might die from the cold weather here.”

Avriel is chuckling while shaking her head.

“I’m serious, if I remove this robe and scarf, I will die from the cold. That’s how weak I am right now, and it’s dangerous to even for me to go to this place. I’m risking my life here.”

Avriel keeps chuckling and starts laughing quietly, she can’t stop laughing that Aven and the others start staring at us with curiosity since they have never ever heard Avriel laugh.

Avriel suddenly stops laughing and she immediately glares at the window from the corner of her eyes. She stands up and immediately leaves the pub, I know what’s she doing and I think something interesting has been found by one of Avriel’s men.

I look at Aven and he immediately writes a message since it’s the only way for him to communicate with me.

[I just received a message from Allen, as you expected, Allen is indeed is getting a background check by the guy. Right now he’s waiting outside the building and waiting for their decision. Do you think he will be able to pull it? I’m a bit worried about him.]

I look at him while smiling.

[Don’t worry, as long as he’s confident with it, there won’t be a problem. He’s confident with himself and offered himself to do this, so that alone is enough because it’s the only thing that a person needs to have, confidence.]

Aven looks at me and nods with understanding, and then Avriel comes back in and hurriedly leans close to my face.

“I have to go, we found something interesting and I will tell you the details once I confirmed it.”

I nod with understanding.

“Okay, be careful.”

Avriel smiles and kisses my cheek out of nowhere then she leaves the pub again.