Chapter Fourteen: Joining the Squad

Then Modde told Xiao Zhang to get up, “The one leading our team this time is Captain Four, Ghost Lantern.”

Ghost Lantern? Xiao Zhang had grown accustomed to all these strange things—so much so that if someone told him he was dreaming, he might even believe it.

“By the way, I still haven’t asked your name.”

“My name is Xiao Zhang,” he replied, scratching his head reflexively.

“Arrogant? You do look pretty arrogant.” Modde glanced at him. “Come on, our team is over there.”

Xiao Zhang had a peculiar feeling. When Modde invited him to join the organization, Lilia’s gaze seemed to carry a certain chill.

Lilia and Modde’s team was stationed at the best spot among all the squads. Xiao Zhang quickly realized this was a prime position, offering a clear view of every group’s movements. Yet, what puzzled him was how all the other teams intentionally kept their distance from this one—even the closest was far away.

With just a few glances, Xiao Zhang was sure this was an excellent location. And if so many teams were willing to stay away, it meant this squad’s strength must be considerable.

On the way into their territory, Xiao Zhang silently steeled himself. Although he was confident he hadn’t revealed any flaws before Lilia and Modde, he knew well: anyone who could become a team captain must have exceptional abilities—maybe in everything. He was worried that Ghost Lantern might have some bizarre device that could see through him.

When Xiao Zhang finally saw Ghost Lantern, he nearly choked on yesterday’s dinner.

No wonder he was called Ghost Lantern—it was a robe with two holes cut out, but instead of eyes, the holes glowed with green flames.

Lilia walked over and, to Xiao Zhang’s surprise, hugged a woman standing beside Ghost Lantern.

Modde leaned close to Ghost Lantern and whispered a few words, gesturing toward Xiao Zhang.

Ghost Lantern approached, the two flames fixing intently on him.

Xiao Zhang immediately felt as if he were being laid bare.

A hollow voice sounded from within the robe, “So, you are Xiao Zhang?”

The lifeless tone made Xiao Zhang uneasy. “Yes.”

“What an interesting little fellow. There’s something familiar about his aura.”

“Oh? Do you know him?” the woman Lilia had embraced asked.

“I must have invaded him once while wandering this world.”

“What?” Xiao Zhang feigned ignorance.

Modde was briefly taken aback. “Captain, you tried to invade this account?”

“Yes,” Ghost Lantern replied coolly, “but I failed.”

“You’re lucky, Xiao Zhang,” Lilia laughed, her voice light and teasing. “No wonder your initial combat power was so high—with such a good host.”

Host? Are we just avatars for these real players? Xiao Zhang tucked this suspicion away in his mind.

Ghost Lantern seemed to lose interest in questioning him further. “Alright, let him go join the other recruits.”

…

Modde led Xiao Zhang aside, gave him a few instructions, and pointed to a few people chatting nearby. “Get to know your teammates. Remember, if you can’t pass our test, you’ll be eliminated from the squad.”

There were only three other recruits here, and two of them were rather overweight—easily over two hundred pounds each. The last was a young man about Xiao Zhang’s age, probably around twenty, with a frail appearance, not exactly the fighting type. Yet Xiao Zhang found him oddly familiar.

The two heavyset men ignored Xiao Zhang. The younger one, however, sized him up with a strange look, then shifted to make space for him. Xiao Zhang caught on and sat beside him.

“Hey, I’m Xiao Zhang. And you are?”

“Zhao Tai.”

Zhao Tai’s voice was raspy. After answering, he turned his attention back to his gear but, after a few seconds, couldn’t help sneaking another glance at Xiao Zhang.

The three new recruits were dressed uniformly, their outfits reminiscent of costumes from a sci-fi film.

“Xiao Zhang, here’s your equipment.”

From a short distance away, Modde tossed a metal sphere, which Xiao Zhang caught easily.

“Put it on. Tonight, you’ll be going out on a mission.”

Xiao Zhang stared at the sphere in his hand. Honestly, how was he supposed to use this thing?

There were no instructions, and that damned system wasn’t even online.

If he couldn’t figure out how to put on the suit, would his true identity be exposed?

He looked up—fortunately, the veterans weren’t paying attention, and as for the recruits—

Wait.

That Zhao Tai kid was still watching him.

Xiao Zhang quietly pulled out his wrench. Should he silence him?

Zhao Tai, seeing this, quickly waved his hands and pressed the sphere to his own chest.

Xiao Zhang looked at him as if he were an idiot. Was this kid alright?

Seeing Xiao Zhang’s lack of response, Zhao Tai mouthed the words “on the chest” and pointed to his own.

Xiao Zhang understood then and pressed the sphere to his chest.

With a swish, the metal ball vanished, and a combat suit materialized on Xiao Zhang’s body.

Zhao Tai was grinning at him.

Could this guy be an Awakened too? Xiao Zhang studied him more closely. He did seem familiar. Though suspicious, he made no move.

At dusk, Modde came over, stood there, and pointed: “Zhao Tai, take Xiao Zhang down to the river and find ten energy crystals. You two, come with me. Zhao Tai, you must return before dawn!”

He was pointing at the two heavyset men.

So Zhao Tai and Xiao Zhang were assigned the task of collecting energy crystals.

As Modde led the others away, Zhao Tai turned to Xiao Zhang. “Let’s go. We’ll be punished if we don’t finish the mission.”

Xiao Zhang noticed Zhao Tai wink quietly at him, and his heart skipped a beat.

The two of them left the camp in the valley. As they passed other teams’ camps, they could feel the scornful and faintly hostile glances thrown their way.

Xiao Zhang couldn’t understand where these D- and E-class players got the confidence to sneer at others. Couldn’t they see his level?

He silently followed Zhao Tai, out of the valley and into the woods, until they reached a small stream, where the sound of cicadas could be heard—so, there was life here after all!

“Do you know where to find energy crystals?” Xiao Zhang couldn’t help asking. They couldn’t just stay silent the whole time—someone had to break the awkwardness.