After checking for snakes and bugs, Lin Mo leaned against a tree with his Wolf Bone Sword by his side, briefly closing his eyes to rest.

His young body could barely handle the exhaustion from a poor night’s sleep. Even so, it still affected his condition to some degree.

’In the end, my Physique Attribute is just too low. Only 4 points. If it had been increased like my Strength and Agility, I probably wouldn’t feel so miserable.’

"By the way, Lin Mo, which squad were you in before?"

During the break, Evan came over and asked curiously.

Lin Mo opened his eyes and shook his head. "I’ve never joined a squad."

"Then you’ve always been on your own?!"

Evan was instantly shocked. When he had first started following Bain two years ago, he experienced that difficult rookie period, which was completely different from what he had imagined. Back in town, holding a Wooden Sword, he had fantasized about countless battle scenes, defeating enemies with all sorts of cool moves.

But in the forest, facing a real enemy, he couldn’t even hold his sword steady and didn’t even have the courage to fight a Goblin.

Luckily, he had Bain to back him up, allowing him to slowly grow and become the competent Adventurer he was today.

Evan simply couldn’t imagine how one person could face alone the daunting hardships that had nearly broken him countless times.

Nearby, Bain and Millian also looked over, their faces showing astonishment.

Out of an unspoken rule among Adventurers, they had never rashly pried into Lin Mo’s past. However, they held a considerable amount of curiosity about this impressively strong lone wolf.

’Why hasn’t he joined an Adventurer Squad, choosing to go out alone instead?’

’He looks so young, yet he’s so strong. When did he even start his adventuring career?’

It seemed that today, the veil of mystery surrounding these questions would finally be lifted.

However, the truth that came from the handsome young man’s mouth gave them a sense of dreamlike absurdity.

"More or less. But it’s only been a few days, really. When I met you, it was the second day of my adventuring career. It was also only my second time leaving town."

Lin Mo thought for a moment. ’There’s no need to mention Rhein and the others. It’s better if no one knows I was conscripted into the forest. That should help me avoid any potential trouble later on.’

"Just as I thought. A rookie."

Cody leaned against a tree with his arms crossed, not at all surprised by this.

’I never doubt my own judgment. Lin Mo’s behavior is no different from any other rookie I’ve seen. During the last fight, he just hung back, looking like he wasn’t sure whether to engage.’

’What puzzles me, though, is that the captain and the others don’t seem to know the kid well. Does that mean he didn’t get in through connections?’

The gasps that followed interrupted his self-righteous thoughts.

"The second day?!"

Bain, who was always composed—even when facing the Blood Sea Gang in a desperate battle—completely lost his composure for the first time. He shot to his feet, staring at Lin Mo in utter shock, as if looking at a monster.

’That’s it. I’ve always sensed something subtly strange about Lin Mo. Some of his mannerisms are indeed similar to a rookie’s, like Millian.’

’But I always thought it was probably because he chose to go solo and hadn’t joined a squad.’

’Because the strength Lin Mo displayed was so far beyond that of a "rookie" that the two had nothing in common.’

’Even I, as a Knight whose solo combat abilities aren’t the strongest, don’t think I could beat him. A draw would be the most likely outcome, with neither of us able to get the upper hand.’

And it had taken him a full twenty years to go from a complete novice to his current level of strength!

And now he was suddenly being told that this young man before him was a pure rookie who had been adventuring for less than a week?

’Is this some kind of joke? Are we even still in the Doria Kingdom?’

Bain looked like he was questioning his own existence, and Evan was even more speechless, feeling like his past two years had been a complete waste.

Only Cody was completely baffled, unable to understand what the captain and the others were so shocked about.

In a daze, he seemed to recall what that kid Evan had said when they first met: "He’s really strong!"

But from beginning to end, he had never taken those words seriously.

’A rookie... how strong could he possibly be...’

’Besides, when he said "strong," it was only from Evan’s own perspective, right?’

And Evan’s strength, to put it bluntly, was that of a total newbie.

In this entire squad, only Captain Bain’s strength had earned his respect. It was precisely because of him that Cody had chosen to temporarily join this team.

But now, seeing the genuine shock on Captain Bain’s face, Cody couldn’t help but fall into self-doubt. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’Could I have really misjudged him? Does this kid actually have some skill?’

...

No one in the squad said much of anything until the break was over. Lin Mo had effectively killed the conversation, sending the other three squad members into a withdrawn silence.

As the sun reached high noon, the group had a simple meal to replenish their Energy and set out again, officially entering the territory of the Cat Demons.

That being said, the distribution of Demons was a vague concept. This area wasn’t home to just Cat Demons, and entering it didn’t guarantee a quick encounter with one. Everything still came down to luck.

And it seemed their squad’s luck wasn’t very good.

The scorching sun beat down, making one feel dizzy. It was early summer, and the temperature in the forest was so high that even the air seemed to shimmer and distort.

In such weather, the Adventurers were still wearing Armor, so naturally, they were unbearably hot. Lin Mo’s clothes were already soaked with sweat. Bain and Evan had it even worse; the two of them wore Iron Armor, and the metal plates grew scalding hot under the sun.

But the time was crucial, leaving them no room for rest.

Even diurnal Demons would often choose to take a short rest during the hot afternoon, to say nothing of nocturnal creatures like Cat Demons.

High noon was precisely when they were most relaxed, most drowsy, and at their most Fragile.

The forest was filled with the sound of the group’s increasingly heavy breathing. Lin Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued to scan his surroundings cautiously.

’Never let your guard down, no matter the situation.’

This was the maxim that a young man named Barnes had taught him with his life.

Bain and Evan did the same. Cody the Assassin leaped up into the branches to look farther ahead.

Only Millian, drained by the hot weather, seemed listless. However, as the Ranger, she walked in the middle of the formation, so she wasn’t in any particular danger.

"Captain, I have targets!"

Besides hiding in the shadows and waiting for a chance to strike, Assassins also often served as the team’s scout.

As an Adventurer as experienced as Bain, Cody competently fulfilled his duties.

"Southeast, 40-degree bearing, about four hundred meters out. Four Cat Demons in total. Two are resting, one is eating..."

The squad members’ expressions all sharpened, and they became fully alert.

Bain met the gazes of his comrades, drew his Sword, and pointed it in the direction Cody had indicated. In a low voice, he commanded, "Prepare for battle!"