Gregory sighed without taking his eyes off the screen. “Say what you will, but there was no way I could have guessed that a Mutant Beast would choose such a strange place to undergo evolution.”

Vivian snorted, settling back into the mattress. “Uh-huh, sure. But excuses don’t pay the bills, buddy. And the mission level has gone up twice since we entered this damn forest... What about our deal?”

“This isn’t the time to discuss that, Vivian,” Daira intervened before Gregory could respond. Her tone was calm, but full of authority. “Let’s relax and rest as much as we can. I’m sure we won’t have time for that in the next few hours.”

The silence hung for a moment. Gregory finally looked away from the screen and looked at the two of them.

“I agree with Daira. The support team sent their location and will arrive shortly. After we meet, we’ll decide how to proceed. The original plan certainly won’t be useful now.”

“In other words, we won’t abandon the mission, even if the level is too high for a small team,” Vivian concluded with an acidic tone, stretching on the mattress before turning to the side.

Gregory didn’t answer immediately. His eyes returned to the screen, analyzing the latest records of the creature resting at the bottom of the lake.

“I have no choice,” he said finally. “That Aligodon can end its evolution process at any moment. And, as we know, it will seek a nearby food source. A Level 5 Mutant Beast is a risk to Efflium’s defenses.”

“In other words, we have to deal with this as quickly as possible.” Daira nodded slowly.

“Exactly. We have no choice…” Gregory sighed, putting down the device and running his hand over his face. “I’m sorry for putting you in this situation, Daira.”

Daira, who was still chewing, stopped for a moment. Her eyes met his, and she placed her hand gently on Gregory’s shoulder.

“It really is an uncomfortable situation that I would avoid at all costs,” Daira said bluntly. “But, as you said, we have no choice now that we are here. I don’t blame you, I’m sure that wasn’t your intention.”

Gregory nodded, his expression filled with weariness. “And it wasn’t. As annoying as she may be, I wouldn’t take that risk. But don’t worry, I’ll do my best to get us out of this situation masterfully.”

Daira raised her eyebrows slightly, but didn’t comment. Her mind seemed to wander through distant thoughts.

“Don’t worry,” Gregory continued, his tone firmer. “The promised rewards will be increased exponentially. That’s the least I can do.”

“Thank you…” Daira murmured, before adjusting her mattress and lying down.

The silence in the tent dragged on like a thick fog, a silence interrupted only by the soft sound of the wind hitting the canvas walls. Gregory, with his attentive and precise gaze, looked at Vivian and Daira for a moment, before calmly standing up and starting to do some tests.

He carefully checked the Estronitus levels, taking a small needle and collecting a blood sample from both of them, as a routine and careful gesture. The drop was collected directly into a specialized device.

With a detailed and focused look, Gregory analyzed the results while taking out some other medical equipment. One to measure temperature, another to measure blood pressure, another to collect sweat and a few others. Each movement was meticulously calculated, unhurried, as if he had done this countless times, as he had in fact done.

After the tests were done, he took out a medicine bottle containing numerous red capsules in the shape of teardrop-sized drops. More precisely, these were Neutritus capsules, of which he delicately took one and gave one to Vivian and another to Daira.

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After making sure they had both taken it, he checked their transmission bracelets, adjusting the parameters and calibrating the frequencies. The sound of precise clicks filled the space as he made the necessary adjustments, analyzing the tension on Daira and Vivian's faces with an attention that seemed to read every nuance of discomfort in their bodies.

"Have you checked the weapons yet?" he asked with a lightness that only disguised the seriousness behind the question. "Let me take a look at them, it doesn't hurt to check." He paused and observed the two. "Do you need more food or water? What about the cold? Are you feeling okay with the environment?"

Vivian rolled her eyes, an almost automatic movement, but not completely devoid of a slight frustration. She crossed her arms and let out a sigh.

"For God's sake... Do you see children here?"

Gregory, without losing his composure, shrugged with a slight crooked smile. His voice was calm, as always, but there was a hint of unchanging seriousness.

“They’re not children, Vivian, but it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re in good condition. Since I don’t have access to your medical records or combat histories, I can only ask you directly or check in person.”

He approached Daira, noticing her slightly tense posture, and lightly touched her shoulder, checking if she was comfortable.

“Do you need anything, Daira?” He pulled a small portable monitor from his bag and, with delicate movements, “I can’t leave you unattended since your healing powers will be of utmost importance… Let me know if you need anything.”

Gregory then stepped back a little, taking out some cereal bars of different flavors from a bag and offering them, with an attentive look. “Are you still hungry? These are new, with different flavors, it might be a good change, right?”

He paused, observing their reactions, as if trying to discern the slightest sign of tiredness or need. “Forgive me if I’m exaggerating, but I’d rather be careful than negligent.”

He also adjusted their water supplies, making sure they both had enough, never asking directly, but checking their bottles and making the calculations with precision.

Gregory’s every gesture, every word, seemed imbued with a careful calm. He was there not just as a leader or superior, but as a guardian, attentive to even the smallest details, concerned with every aspect of their physical and emotional well-being.

His care was not imposed, but genuine, a responsibility he assumed without question.

Vivian gave him a suspicious look. “To me, it looks like you’re about to sing us a lullaby to sleep.”

Gregory chuckled softly and fixed her with an amused look. “If you need me, I’m willing.”

“Humph…”

She said nothing, just turned away, pulling the blanket over her body. Gregory shook his head, clearing away distractions, and turned his attention back to his equipment. He cleaned the weapons with surgical precision, rearranged the supplies, and made sure everything was exactly where it should be.

His movements were meticulous, almost mechanical, each gesture executed with absolute efficiency, without wasting time or energy.

Daira, still awake, watched him in silence. Her eyes followed each action with a mixture of curiosity and something close to admiration.

"Are you always like this?" She broke the silence when Gregory was already finishing the process.

"Like what?" He answered without raising his head, keeping his focus on what he was doing.

"I don't know how to explain it…" Daira hesitated, searching for the right words. "Careful, meticulous… Attentive. Do you always worry about these details when you're on a mission?"

Gregory paused briefly before answering.

"Yes… I think so."

He continued to buckle one of the supply compartments, but his mind seemed to wander for a moment.

"Normally, I'm in charge of all the logistics and preparation for the mission. But I also take care of more personal aspects when it comes to Monique."

Daira tilted her head slightly.

"Personal care? You mean monitoring Estronitus levels and stuff?"

"That's right. But I like to keep tabs on everything—logistics, route, territory analysis, enemy assessment, combat plan, health, food, hygiene… even emotional support. Monique just needs to follow the plan."

Daira arched an eyebrow in surprise.

"Isn't that a bit… excessive?"

Gregory looked up at her for the first time, his expression impassive.

"No. Not at all."

There was an unwavering firmness in his voice.

"My entire methodology is based on absolute trust. It's not enough to follow orders; she needs to trust me without hesitation. If I tell her to advance straight into the enemy's mouth, she must go. If I tell her to retreat, she retreats."

Daira crossed her arms, still absorbing the idea.

"And how is that level of trust built? Isn't it something that only develops in real combat situations?"

Gregory let out a dry laugh.

"That's complete nonsense. These extreme experiences are important, of course, but they're not enough to generate blind trust. I've been through life-or-death situations with Monique countless times... and if it depended solely on that, I would never have gained her absolute trust."

A new voice cut through the conversation. "Could it be that this is just your own insecurity in disguise?" Still lying down, Vivian didn't move, but her voice sounded full of disdain.

Gregory didn't even bother looking at her. "Maybe... But now is not the time for that kind of discussion." The sharp sound of a beep interrupted the moment. He quickly checked his GPS.