Caiden is wearing his usual red-colored heavy armor that covers up the entirety of his body. While on his back was a sizeable well-detailed ax that shines to the sun.

Alicia, on the other hand, is only equipped with a very light-looking purple robe and in her hands is a large weird-looking staff that might probably be crafted from a very special kind of wood.

The two of them were ready - and it can easily be seen by the serious looks on their faces.

[ ... ]

( They two of them are really enthusiastic about this, huh...? ) Seeing their figures, Shiro muttered only inside of his head.

Shiro did not give a specific time to when their two groups will meet, but he still remembers that he told them they will meet in the morning. But still, Shiro left his mansion expecting that he would arrive earlier than the two.

Looking at the sky, the sun is only rising up. The color of the horizon was still dark and blue, as the sun is still yet to give its light.

[ Ohh...! Vlad-san... You"re finally here. ] with his arms crossed, Caiden has turned his body towards Shiro and his group as soon as his eyes were able to locate them.

Shiro is, as always, together with the trio, Sarah, Nina, and Lumi; and like Caiden and Alicia, everyone in his party is enthusiastic and showing the aura of preparedness on their faces. They too have prepared for accomplishing this task, especially Shiro.

Because of the unexpected turn of events, Shiro was forced to take Caiden and Alicia with him. Now, he needed to make new and difficult plans for this specific subjugation task; knocking his brains out all night to come up with such, particularly, in how he will keep the two alive.

Using his Echolocation to a much wilder range than when he last used it, Shiro was able to detect monsters outside the city that has much higher levels than the people inside of it; but that was all he was able to figure out; he wasn"t able to exactly pinpoint the location of the ruins as there were many parts outside of the city that had blocked his magic and has prevented him from seeing where those high-level monsters he was detecting were located.

His Echolocation magic can easily be blocked by any mid-level - high-level magic items as it was not that powerful. There were types of items that will be able to make a fortress completely undetectable from the map and an enemy"s tracking magic, especially from his Echolocation. The only two cla.s.s jobs that are almost the only ones that will be able to detect them with their job skills are high-level thieves and archers cla.s.ses with tracker job cla.s.s.

That was why even though he did not like the thought, Shiro had still accepted the two of them to be his guides. But while they act as his guides, he also needs to try and protect them. The differences in their levels and the monsters Shiro was able to detect was almost close to theirs. Once they encounter a large amount of them, they will only hardly be able to survive.

[ Haah... ]

And now, with his guides receiving them, Shiro took a sigh and walked towards them.

[ Good morning, Caiden, Alicia. I did not expect to see you two so early... ] Shiro voiced his greetings, and soon, the trio also does theirs by bowing their heads to the two of them as a sign of respect.

[ Vlad-san... We"re veterans, this much is expected. ] Caiden replied with confidence.

( Ahh... That"s right... I remember them saying: "We will do our best"... or something... ) Seeing the excitement on his reply, Shiro was only able to mutter.

[ Is that so... Well, this will be my first time doing this kind of thing so I hope you will do your best to help me. ]

That was a lie. What Shiro had said was nothing more than a lie.

In his time being a hardcore player, subjugations, boss fights, and dungeon captures are things Shiro never misses as he plays the game every single day. Because of his experience, Shiro was able to guess that the ruins they"re going to go now have a high possibility of being a dungeon, more specifically, a mid-level dungeon, managed by a single or two bosses.

Shiro is confident that his trio only has a very slight chance of dying as he had given them items that will help them survive, but Caiden and Alicia"s equipment couldn"t be able to possibly help them as much as the items Shiro had given his companions.

The task would extremely be easy if Shiro will go by himself, but that was out of the question.

( Haah... This is nothing more than a pain... If I knew that it will turn out like this, I wouldn"t have come to the guild myself... I couldn"t possibly be able to refuse the guild master, as he said, this is the only way they will accept my request to subjugate the said vampire.. ) Shiro muttered in regret.

But then he turned his head to Caiden and Alicia with a serious expression. He a.n.a.lyzed them again, as always, using appraisal.

( But still, they have increased their levels as much as I have increased Sarah"s, Lumi"s, and Nina"s. They must have got really frustrated about what happened to that Arthur, huh? I don"t have a reason to, but I still get curious about how they have improved themselves... It was like how I get frustrated when someone was stronger than me in the game. )

Even though the situation was different, Shiro was confident that he knows what the two are feeling. Just like Shiro, he started out as a weak player, and he always finds himself jealous and frustrated with players stronger than him. But of course, that fact only gave Shiro more reasons why he should become stronger too and increase his level. That"s why he knows - that the reason they have increased their levels was that they felt they were weak after seeing how strong Shiro was.

[ Umm... by the way... Vlad-san... I"ve been curious about it since I first met you but... Why are you not carrying any kinds of weapons with you? ] Interrupting Shiro"s thoughts, Caiden asked.

[ I don"t need any... ]

[ Vlad-san... I thought you were a mage... yet, I haven"t seen you holding any kinds of weapons and materials us mages uses... ] Alicia added.

( Right... Alicia was the mage on their party... Our races our completely different but our job cla.s.ses are pretty much close to each other... )

[ Well, I have many varieties of weapons but... I don"t really like showing them off when they"re not necessary. ] Shiro answered.

[ Oh... Is that so? It would"ve been a great opportunity to see what kind of weapons a mage stronger than I use. ]

( Oho~ so she does acknowledge that I"m stronger than her, huh? I did not expect that.. )

[ Wh-Why are you looking at me like that...? ]

[ No, I was just surprised. ] Shiro answered with a sneer.

[ I-It"s not like you"re always going to be stronger than I am. You can laugh now but expect that I will be a lot stronger than you in just a matter of time. ]

[ Well, all I can say is that will never happen. ]

( The difference is just too high. )

[ Hmph! Vlad-san, we"re clearly on the same age, yet the difference in our strengths is obvious, I hope you will not get angry about me saying this but... today, I will figure out what is the secret behind your strength. ]

[ Alicia...! ] Caiden worriedly shouted at Alicia.

[ It"s okay. You can do whatever you want. ]

[ I-Is that so...? Then, I guess you wouldn"t mind us telling you the truth. Vlad-san, the real reason why we wanted to join you in this subjugation was to see how really powerful you are, and if possible, to reveal some of your abilities. ] steeling herself, Alicia revealed.

[ Alicia! ] Caiden angrily shouted.

[ No, Caiden, it"s already obvious, I bet Vlad-san already knows about it. ]

[ ... ]

( Well, there"s no other reasons they will want to come with me other than that, it"s already obvious from the start. ) hearing Alicia"s words, Shiro only stayed silent and did not reply.

[ Is that true, Vlad-san? ] Caiden asked.

[ ... ]

Still, Shiro did not reply. But both Caiden and Alicia, already knew that his silence meant that he truly already knows about their plan.

[ If that is so, Vlad-san. Then, I hope you will not get angry. ]

[ No, it"s alright. I don"t have any problems with whatever you two are planning to do, just do your job and guide me to where the ruins is. ] Shiro calmly replied.

Shiro already knew from the start what they"re after, hence, he did not get angry in the slightest. But still, Caiden and Alicia were not able to believe to themselves that the Vlad they know of that can easily be angered did not even bat an eye after Alicia had revealed their plans.

[ Then, I guess now that both our groups are not hiding secrets anymore, we can continue with our task. ]

Shiro said, as the sun finally revealed itself to the earth.

( Buff Activated: Burning Light -50% to all stats ) and so, his debuff again reappeared itself in the corner of his eyes.

[ Yes... I guess so. The sun is already up. We can reach the ruins before noon if we start walking now. ] Caiden replied to Shiro"s words.

[ Is that so? ]

[ Un, it looks like both our groups are already prepared. Vlad-san, please allow us to guide you to the ruins. ]

[ Yes, I hope you two will guide me well. ]

With Caiden"s very formal words, Shiro also replied trying to sound very formal.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu" ( I hope you take care of me well ) - Shiro wanted to say those words to the two of them and then bow. As a j.a.panese worker, it was normal for Shiro to do such a thing to people he will owe something to. But realizing that it might destroy his image, he stopped himself from doing it and only smiled to the two of them.

[ Un, we had a bad start, Vlad-san, but I hope we can still get along. ]

( He really changed his att.i.tude towards me, huh? But still... that Alicia is still silent as ever. ) after his exchange with Caiden, he looked towards Alicia who was still silent as ever.

( It"s not really my type to act arrogantly, but I guess that"s how the two of them know as me now, huh? Maybe it was because of my race that"s close to undead and demons that I was constantly changing... But still, if I have a choice, I don"t like them thinking of me as an arrogant and scary guy. )

[ Then, let"s go now, Vlad-san. ] interrupting his thoughts, the big guy Caiden took the lead and started to walk straight to the street that leads to the city"s gates.

Soon, Shiro, Alicia, and the trio followed as the sun lit up their faces.