“That is all?” Jacob inquired after hearing the boy’s response.

“Well…” Tilting his head a few times here and there, Adam considered just how much to divulge. “Technically speaking, if my thoughts are correct, for an Essence Crystal to form, the killer of the… Nightmare, as you guys keep calling it, has to be far away such that there is no recipient for the reward of the one doing the killing. Then, when the creature is dead, an Essence Crystal will form.

While the rarity of the Essence Crystal was one thing, the method was fairly known. The problem was that very few people could kill a Second Ranked Nightmare from afar, and those that could usually have other avenues to acquire said Nightmare Spirit Crystal. However, the true crux of the crystal's acquisition lay in the ability to kill the Nightmare permanently and thus not have it smoke away right as it was killed.

Hence, after hearing nothing new from the boy, Jacob’s gaze settled on the Light, up above them and the giant dead wolf.

“I see. You need to be present to deploy that shining light at the moment of death?” Jacob asked.

“Yes.” Adam nodded and explained. “The True light you see above prevents the True Darkness, out of which the… Nightmares are made to simply disintegrate and return back to their source. As such, combined with the unusual effects of my Methodology, every… Nightmare I have killed so far coalesced an Essence Crystal in their head.”

“Alright. I've heard enough.” Jacob stated. “Let me talk it out with my team to see what they think of having you join us for the time being.”

“Hah… And here I thought, I was already automatically welcomed.” The boy retorted arrogantly, all while rolling his eyes.

Seeing the reaction, Jacob explained. “I may be the leader and the strongest of my team, but I have not lived this far without at least consulting with my team when it was required.”

Nodding, Adam said nothing in return.

Jacob, on the other hand, motioned with his head for his group to follow a bit away from the boy.

“Listen, you two.” Jacob firmly voiced while staring at Martin and Evelyn. “If it truly is as the boy said it to be, then we have stumbled upon a gold mine.” Seeing the reactions of his group, he knew he had them already convinced, but then he added something to sink it much deeper. “A living gold mine, that is.”

“Understood, Boss,” Evelyn said, all too quickly to avoid her coworkers' experience of being slapped on the head, not that it would have happened in her mind. “Worth more alive than the trinkets he possesses.”

“I don't know, Jake,” Paul frowned, not entirely convinced of the idea. “Even if what he said is the truth, and we manage to make it big with his help, there is no way that we can keep milking him, he's no doubt connected to the Church. The moment we return to any town, he will leave us, and so will our gold mine.”

“He is right, Boss.” Martin cautiously commented on the side. “Even if we ignore the danger of going after that many Second Ranked Nightmares out there, at most, we'll get a few crystals since the boy will no doubt ask for at least half. It would be a lot easier to just off the kid and take what he has. That way, nobody will know what we did.”

Hearing the arguments mentioned, Evelyn changed her mind and spoke as well, though reluctantly in favor of Martin. “Marty is right, Boss. It would be much easier to just kill the kid and take his possessions. After all, there are four of us and only one of him. I may not be sure just how strong the kid is, but he can't be stronger than you Boss? Can he?.”

Despite hearing the arguments, Jacob did not immediately refute them. After all, even if he was more inclined to just order them to follow his plan, he still wanted to hear his teammates' opinions because it was better to know them than to not know them, just in case.

Stealing a glance at the boy in question, Jacob pondered for one moment later before shaking his head otherwise. “No. That is thinking in the short term. We need to think bigger. Here is what we know. The boy is connected to the Church. There is no doubt about it.” Seeing the nods, Jacob went on, as it was plainly obvious of said fact. “How he is connected is not important. What is important is that he is connected. As such, we stand to gain much more by becoming friends than just earning a good amount of money now. I mean, think of the benefits.”

That pointed out, all four of them instantly imagined those very benefits, as the Church was very, very powerful. Not to mention, it was the number one place if you needed healing in case you were injured.

“True.” Paul affirmed. “Those connections would be worth more than the money earned now. Even better, if we manage to acquire at least some Essence Crystal.”

“Told you.” Jacob stated with a smirk. “Besides, don't forget the fact that we are missing one person. I am sure the boy will be of help with the Nightmare Gate.”

Reminded of their actual goal, Jacob could already see the minds of his team shift before Martin suddenly cursed for a moment. “Damn that rat-faced bastard, If not for him, we would not have rushed it like we did. I still don't understand why he betrayed us.”

“Neither do I.” Paul added, with the other Adventures affirming their lack of knowledge, but then Evelyn suddenly had a random thought.

“Maybe it was meant to be.” Evelyn posited her thoughts, causing the males of her team to stare at her. “Maybe it was the Goddess looking after us? I mean. Consider it. What are the chances that we meet some random kid who can do what he claims to be all alone out here within the Dreamscape?”

Slightly stunned, the three men had no words on how to deny the accusations.

“After all the times I've begged for her help and received none in return, it was about damn time she helped out.” Martin begrudgingly said before shaking his head at the thought. “If this was her doing, I mean.”

“Alright. Alright. Let's ignore the Divine since we can do nothing about it.” Jacob stated. “Are we of one consensus about the boy joining us? I need to be sure that there will be no quarrels between us.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“I don't mind, Jake.” Paul replied. “The kid proved to be somewhat competent, though we will need to educate him on how we do stuff. I have a feeling he's more clueless than he appears to present himself as being.”

“Well see.” Jacob nodded before gazing at Martin and Evelyn. “You two?”

“I am fine as well, Boss.” Evelyn replied with slight expectations behind her tone.

“As am I, Boss.” Martin added. “Even if I wasn't, you're the Boss. I will follow your command.”

“Good. Since we are of the same mind. Let's discuss how we are going to do this.” Adam said before looking at the Ranger of his team. “Paul, we need to first verify whether his accusations are true or not. From here to the Nightmare Gate, we need a Second Ranked Nightmare. I don't care how strong it is, as long as it's not a flying one.”

“Ok. Let me think for a moment.” Paul answered before asking a simple question. “I take it we are avoiding the Quilboar territory?”

“Yes!” Jacon replied instantly.

“Definitely!” Evelyn affirmed her Boss's decision.

“Naturally! I don't want to die.” Martin’s words only cemented the decision further.

Hearing the ultimate answer, Paul nodded at the obvious. Then, he centered his memories on the western part of the forest near the Nightmare Gate, which was their goal. “The route we used so far would have taken us between the Moon Wolf territory and the Razor-Clawed Bizard. Since the Moon Wolf is dead, and another won't spawn anytime soon, the closest option is the Razor Clawed Bizard.” Paul explained. “However, if we switch routes, then we have the options of Armored Red Monkey and White Skull Stinker.”

Almost instantly, the group of four Adventures swore in disgust at the last option before Jacob overruled any thoughts emerging in said direction by voting without any intention to give his team the option. “Leave the Stinker for some other unfortunate Adventures. I don't want to stink for weeks.”

“Phu…” Evelyn sighed in relief as she wiped away the nonexistent sweat she felt had gathered the moment the White Skull Stinker was brought up, but then, just as she felt safe, a cracking sound reached her ears, and a loud BOOM echoed close to them, causing her to curse before she suddenly jumped back a few meters and drew her long daggers. “What!!!”

Not being the only one to be surprised, her coworkers had reacted similarly in drawing on their weapons and facing the direction of the sound. However, they saw nothing untoward at first. Nonetheless, another cracking reached their ears when their eyes witnessed something falling from the air before reaching the ground and causing another BOOM.

Recognizing the origin, they suddenly tilted their heads to witness a golden glow up in the treetops before more huge branches dropped down, causing multiple BOOMing sounds.

“Is that what I think it is?” Martin asked because he was quite sure that the boy they had very recently found had been up in the treetops cutting the branches with his glowing spear. “What the hell is the kid thinking?”

Seeing no danger, the group of four sheathed their weapons before Jacob remembered something. “I think the kid is trying to gather some wood for a fire. I overheard him earlier how he would enjoy eating the Moon Wolf.”

“Can it be eaten?” Evelyn frowned because this was the first time she had ever heard of a Nightmare being eaten.

“Under normal circumstances? No.” Paul, the Ranger replied. “Even if you managed to permanently kill a Nightmare, it's full of Darkness, so whoever eats a Nightmare is sure to make a personal visit to Mistress Ani herself. However, I believe that the Light above us changes that somewhat… Jake, should we interfere?”

“No.” Jacob replied. “There is some kind of hatred buried in the kids' hearts when it comes to these wolf-type Nightmares. Best, he does as he pleases before we give him the choice to join us.” Then, he ignored the boy and focused on his coworkers. “Back to what you just said, Paul. What was it? The choice is between a Razor Clawed Bizard and an Armored Monkey. Right?”

“Unless you plan to go further west past the Gate.” Paul answered. “Those are the options.”

“Alright, let's put it to vote.” Jacob said before instantly voicing out his. “I vote for the Razor Clawed Bizard because the monkeys are smarter. Also, they are known to throw stuff from the treetops before engaging anything on the ground.”

“Me too.” Martin added. “Besides, the Armored Monkeys are tougher to cut than the Bizards.”

“Count me too.” Evelyn affirmed because she too did not want to deal with the Monkeys

“I don't care. Either is fine with me.” Paul expressed. Nevertheless, deep down, he knew the choice had already been made, even without the vote.

“Good. Now. Let's see what that boy will do and speak with him.”

Waiting for a few moments, the group of four Adventures stayed close to the giant dead wolf when they saw the boy with brown curly hair and golden eyes slowly climb down the giant tree.

Once he was down, Adam addressed them. “I take it the discussion is over?” Seeing them nod, Adam spoke again. “And considering you're waiting for me here, I take it I am to join you guys for now?”

“Something like that.” Jacob answered. “But before it's official, we will conduct a trial to confirm your accusations.”

“I don't mind.” Adam told them. “Where and how?”

“Not too far from here lies the territory of the Razor Clawed Bizards.” Paul explained. “They used to compete with the Moon Wolves for territory. Maybe you've met them?”

“Razor Clawed Bizards?” Adam tilted his head in thought. “Medium-sized scaled and hunched bipeds, with very short arms and two thick legs that walk funny and remind you of chickens?”

“Not sure what a chicken is, but yes, those.” Paul answered, slightly hesitant.

“Then, yes. I've met a few of those.” Adam said. “They were particularly easy to take out because of their leg and spine structures, disallowing quick circular movements, thus making it very easy for my spear to slice off their heads. The minions aside, I take it the one we will be after is big? How big? Does it rival this wolf or bigger?”

“Bigger, but not by too much.” Paul replied after pondering about that fact for a second.

“Alright, I am in.” Adam said before ignoring the group and focusing his sight on the dead wolf. “Do you have a plan on how to kill it already? If not, start thinking of one while I prepare some meat for a feast.”

With that said Adam took his spear and went for the big branches he'd cut down from the giant tree before stacking a lot of them onto one pile before tapping Sun Bearer’s pitch-black Obsidian tip and lighting the branches on fire thanks to a recent little trick he'd discovered.

Tending to the fire for a bit to make sure it grew, he left it behind before focusing on the dead house-sized wolf and what exactly he would be cutting down.

“Say?” Adam loudly addressed the group before him. “Are you guys, by any chance, interested in some wolf hide? If not. Then, I don't have to bother with being precise.” Asking and observing them, Adam’s vision centered on the group's outfits, where tough leather and weapons were the norm, with the leader being the only one actually wearing metal. Most of all, they wore no backpacks of any kind for supplies. Still, Adam’s eyes settled on the little pouches on their hips. “Also. Do you, by any chance, have some spices in those little bags? So far, the herbs I found on my travels barely added any flavor to anything I ate. It's like there is a vacuum out there for anything herb-like.”

Seeing them stare at him without replying, Adam just shook his head and went back to thinking about the proper way of slicing a big wolf.