World's Best Protagonist [BL]-Chapter 31: Scavenger Team

The team was only given three days of preparation before the big day. The first day was mostly spent studying the vortex.

It was my first time, so I had to ask for everything I didn’t find in the books. Fortunately, after that heated discussion about whether I should go or not, the team members, except the captain were kind enough to accommodate me.

"It’s an A class, so another team will join us."

Claude’s voice echoed in the room.

Noir scoffed. He replied conceitedly, "Is that necessary? Our team can close the vortex without receiving help from another team."

I thought so too. Claude didn’t look pleased announcing that either.

I leaned a bit to Etienne and whispered, "Is there a problem with letting another team join us?"

Etienne whispered back, "Well, our team doesn’t have a good reputation in the NSA. The captain used to hoard all missions before. He was worse than a workaholic person. He would accept higher-rank missions locally and internationally; enter a vortex without the higher-ups’ permission; or even stake on one and then go ballistic once it was given to another team."

My curiosity reached its peak.

"Why does he live like that? Does he want to die that badly?"

"I’m not sure. I don’t think he wants to die. Whenever he would fight monsters, I could feel his desperation to come back alive."

"And you guys just followed him along? Aren’t you scared for your own lives?"

Etienne went silent for a while. His expression became somber.

I was about to tell him not to think too much about it, and that’s alright if he didn’t answer since it looked like a sensitive topic, but my attention was caught by a shadow blocking our view.

Looking up, I gulped as I met those obsidian eyes. He looked pissed.

Well, he had the right to. After yesterday’s meeting ended, I bolted out of the room and went on training. Claude waited for me until I finished...no, more like, he ambushed me.

I was planning to spend the night in my new home, but he dragged me back to his Sanctum and wasted the whole night nagging me about my rash decision and interrogating me about my real intention.

I lost a few hours of sleep because of him. And I hope he noticed the dark circles under my eyes as he looked at me today.

But as unconcerned as he was, he just reminded us to focus on the meeting.

On the second day, we met the team that would join us in the mission.

And by met, I mean we walked into a room full of people looking like they had just smelled something rotten. That something, I realized, was apparently us.

What a warm welcome, indeed.

They stood in perfect formation, all stiff backs and crossed arms, eyeing us like we were stray dogs that had wandered into their fancy garden party.

The one standing at the forefront was probably the team’s captain. He’s a guy with a face so sharp he could probably cut bread with his jawline, and obviously, he didn’t like me since he narrowed his eyes the moment I met his eyes.

Okay. I don’t know what to do in this kind of situation. He seemed waiting for me to introduce myself, but what do I say?

Nice to meet you? A pleasure to meet you?

It certainly wasn’t nice to meet him, and I am certainly not pleased by how he looked down at me as if I was poop smeared on his brand-new shoes. The other members gave me the same look.

Or maybe they just weren’t morning people.

I just looked away, and let my other team members introduce me first, if they ever. Judging by Claude’s indifference and bored look, he doesn’t care at all. He didn’t even inform us which team would be joining us yesterday.

Or was I the only one uninformed?

"Why is there someone in your team who shouldn’t be here?"

Here comes the displeased captain. He eyed me with suspicion.

"He’s part of the team. His name is Jade, and he’ll be joining the mission," Allen answered.

"He’ll be what?" Bread-knife face took a step forward, his expression twisted like Allen just announced I was here to sell him life insurance. "An additional member? Without informing us?"

Okay, so they weren’t just grumpy morning people.

"Why do we need to inform you?" Noir said, offering a good-natured smile that was probably wasted on them, and definitely fake. He added, singing, "Who do you think you are~?"

I glanced at the guy in disbelief mixed with amazement. Noir really is something else. Too blunt and reckless. Is that the result of living a life hidden in frills and ruffles?

The captain’s eye twitched. "It’s a joint mission, and the least you can do is inform us if there are any changes, whether it’s about your team or whatever. What if that guy is a spy? This mission is already at risk, and now we have an outsider. The whole thing is doomed."

Wow. I knew I had a knack for making people uncomfortable, but being called a bad omen within five minutes of meeting was a new record.

"He’s a newly registered Seeker, Captain Jerome. Why would we bring a spy into our team? What are we, crazy?"

Go, Noir, tell them. I never thought I’d be cheering this bastard one day.

Another member behind that guy called Jerome scoffed and whispered, "Yes, you are."

My eyebrow raised. How bold of him. He knew Noir was crazy and he still whispered in a voice everyone heard. It was obvious he was trying to provoke Noir. I applaud his bravery.

The air in the room shifted. Tension snapped tight.

Oh, boy. Noir didn’t get angry often, as far as I know, but when he did, it was like watching someone flip a switch from casual menace to actual threat.

I looked over at my team for some backup. I mean, it’s a joint mission, shouldn’t they try to get along instead of being at each other’s throats?

At least, Allen was trying to do damage control; his hands raised in a please don’t stab him motion. Noir, on the other hand, looked like he was this close to throwing hands and stabbing the guy. His easygoing grin had turned sharp, like a cat ready to slap a puppy for breathing too loudly.

And the captain?

Yeah, he did not care. At all. In fact, he was standing there with his arms crossed, watching the whole thing like he was deciding whether to intervene or just let the members fight.

Etienne placed a hand on Noir’s shoulder in a silent attempt to calm him down. Meanwhile, Lexie and Terrius were just standing next to Claude, watching this unfold like it was their favorite soap opera.

I was going to explain my purpose to the team but someone grabbed the back of my collar. I paused. This familiar feeling of warm air touching my skin trying to seep through every pore to poison me was definitely him.

Before I could look back and slap away his rude hand, someone arrived.

"What’s happening here?"

I peeked over Claude’s shoulder and found the commander of the 1st division by the door. He is a tall, burly man in his 30s, dark and handsome, has an army haircut, unshaved stubbles, and a distinctive mole on his temple, parallel to his left eye.

His voice boomed through the room, effectively shutting everyone up. The man stomped in, radiating pure authority.

Allen explained the situation.

"You’re ready to tear each other apart over one additional member?" Commander Lan crossed his arms. "You’re supposed to be cooperating, not fighting like children."

A brief silence followed. Claude pulled the back of my collar and threw me to Lexie and Terrius without hesitation, and then he stepped forward with an unreadable expression.

"Commander," he said, his voice was smooth but arrogant. "I understand teamwork is important. But why should we ’cooperate’ with the scavenger team?"

A few members of the other team bristled.

Claude continued, unbothered, "We’ll be the ones fighting the boss. They get to stand back and gather whatever’s left behind. Where’s the ’teamwork’ in that?"

Oh no. I knew that tone. That’s the Claude is about to start a fight tone.

Captain Jerome took the bait immediately. ’If you have a problem, then maybe we should switch places," he snapped. "I bet your team couldn’t even handle it!"

Claude smirked. He stopped provoking the other team and shrugged his shoulders. He then walked away and threw the commander a meaningful look.

Commander Lan let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

"You brought this upon yourself," he murmured before leaving.

I gave Allen a look, confused. What did the commander mean? He just shook his head in response.

On the third day, I was handed a blank paper and a pen. I asked Elvie, a female employee in the NSA, who gave the items to me.

"What’s this for?"

"Something to write your last will on."

I blinked. Then, stared at the white bond paper again. I can’t think of something to write.

"Do I have to do this?"

"Yes. It’s necessary. Every Seeker writes their last will on their first vortex raid. If they get out alive, they can update it the next raid, but if they die inside, then we deliver the will to their immediate families."

I clenched the black pen.

Elvie sensed my troubled mind.

"You can submit it on my desk later. If you don’t, I will get it from you before you leave tomorrow."

I’ve been staring at the paper for several minutes already, but I still don’t have anything to write. Frustrated, I finally wrote whatever.

Starting the letter with the sentence, this will is not for my immediate family at all...