It didn't take long for Thorin and SBO-1 to arrive at the meeting point, where the rest of the team for this mission was already waiting. One of them was a blonde girl of similar age to SBO-1, a golden mask could be seen hanging from her belt.

Sitting by her side was a tall and stout man, he was wearing metal armor, and had a sword strapped to his back, his silver mask was mostly covered by his long pitch black hair.

SBO-1 wanted to introduce himself to his companions, yet, no words came out of his mouth as he was too nervous.

Thorin wanted to allow him to learn social skills, so he just watched by the side, however, the awkward silence was too much for the blonde girl.

-" Gosh, I heard that you were a weirdo, but, seeing it the first time, they all downplayed how awkward you are." The blonde girl spoke in a rude tone. " Well, you lived your whole life in that forest, so I don't know what I was expecting."

SBO-1 was shocked, almost confused. He gave Thorin a side glance and asked. -" Is she talking to me?"

Thorin had his eyes closed, and a smirk on his face, he couldn't believe how unlucky the boy was, one of the first people he met after years of isolation, was a spoiled girl with a princess complex. " Yes, don't take her words too seriously, she is known for her horrible attitude."

The blonde girl's face contorted as she heard Thorin's remarks, however, before she could speak, the man with a silver mask laughed loudly.

-" Hahahaha, I advise you to get used to it, this is the usual attitude of all Golden Masks." The man took out his mask and placed it in his belt before continuing. " Don't think that just because you are a bit special that they will treat you any differently."

-" Oppius! Mind your words!" The blonde girl raised her voice once again, her face warped in anger. " A Silver Mask like you should only speak when asked."

SBO-1 cowered as the girl kept shouting, he never thought that the people in the outside world were so rude.

-" Enough! You all can fight as we travel, our boat is waiting in Whitelake city." Thorin raised his hand as he knew that this would develop into a big fight. " SBS-29 Oppius, SBG-34 Dillia, it's best if you two can behave in this mission, Pope Mettius is placing much importance on our success, so if we fail thanks to your two petty squabbles, no one would be able to save you two from the consequences."

Thorin gave Dillia a serious look and continued. " Not even your dear family."

Oppius and Dillia immediately stopped their squabble, Thorin was a High-Inquisitor, a position equal to the Sun Blessed, and Thorin's infamy as a warrior made him even more feared.

Before long, the four of them were inside the carriage and their trip finally started. SBO-1 was sitting near one of the carriage windows and observed the road attentively.

At first, he was disappointed, as the outside world looked to be almost the same as the valley where he grew up, but, as they progressed, the road started to get busier and busier.

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SBO-1 gazed at each passing carriage and caravan with interest, he never imagined that there were so many people in the world. Just one of the caravans he passed by had more than fifty people.

In the same way that SBO-1 watched the passerby with interest, they also looked curiously at him, after all, his white bird-like mask attracted way too much attention.

-" SBO-1, you should take off your mask, it's better to not use it while we are traveling," Thorin quickly advised SBO-1, the Sun Blessed mask was very unique, and while most people would never recognize it as the organization was very secretive, some of their enemies could be lurking around.

SBO-1 gulped in anxiety as he heard Thorin. -" Take off my mask? Do I really have to?" After so many years using the mask SBO-1 began to think of it as his real face, and he seriously dreaded every moment without it.

-" Yes, you can't be walking around with this mask, hide it well in your baggage." Thorin's tone was serious, so SBO-1 knew that he couldn't do anything, but, comply.

With reluctance, SBO-1 took off his mask, and with so his shyness grew even more. -" O-O-Okay."

Dillia was surprised to find out that SBO-1 face looked so elegant, the only thing she could think was how his face resembled the description of the princes and knights in the old fairy tales.

-" Why are you staring so much at him?" Oppius laughed as he noticed the odd face Dillia was making.

-" Tsk, Mind your words commoner." Dillia instantly rebuked as she threw her hair back. "He just has a nice face, this doesn't make him any less of a barbarian."

SBO-1 didn't know what to think about the girl's comment, he had a mixture of embarrassment as nobody had ever complimented his beauty, but, her last words made him dislike her even more.

Thorin was smiling as he watched the new scuffle develop, he feared that SBO-1 naivety was too detrimental, so he wanted to let him experience the true face of the world without his help.

However, before the three youths could fight, Thorin noticed that the carriage was slowing, and when the carriage driver knocked three times on the carriage his suspicions were confirmed.

-" Sigh, looks like there is trouble outside." Thorin scratched his beard as he looked out of the window, in the direction of a small caravan near them. " Oppius, take SBO-1 and go deal with them, just try to scare them, we don't have much time."

SBO-1 gulped in excitement, this was his first job in the outside world, and while he didn't know what exactly was happening he was still excited to finally have some action.

Oppius left the carriage with his sword in hand, with SBO-1 following right behind. And to the surprise of the two, a group of bandits had encircled their carriage and a nearby caravan.

-" Drop all the weapons and leave all the goods!" A man wearing chainmail and with a heavy axe resting on his shoulder ordered loudly. " If you comply I won't be too harsh!"

SBO-1 looked at the bandits with interest, some of the books that the Chruch provided him had mentions of outlaws like this, but, seeing them in person the first time left him disappointed.

-" Let's deal with this swiftly, I want to reach the city the sooner as possible." Oppius unsheathed his sword and walked towards the nearest bandit.

The bandits barely paid attention as Oppius approached them, but when their leader noticed SBO-1 his eyes glowed with greed. " Hahaha! Who thought that we would be so lucky?" The bandit leader brandished his axe as he observed SBO-1 clothes. " I never thought we would find a noble here!"

The leader's speech caused all the bandits to focus their attention on SBO-1. the ramson for a noble was several times higher than the profit of raiding caravans that transported grain.

-" Let me deal with them!" A man who was standing on the right side of the bandit leader took the lead, his eyes completely focused on SBO-1 and Oppius. " That is a nice sword, it will look even nicer when I use it." The bandit studied Oppius's blade, and smiled in satisfaction, a good sword was a necessity for every great warrior.

-" Oh? I'm pleased that Heartstriker is to your liking, but, I don't think she would appreciate being used by such a brute like you." Oppius had a sinister smile on his face as he caressed Heartstriker's blade before continuing. " A club would be more fitting for a lowly runt like you."

The bandit scoffed, yet, before he could respond to the insult thrown at him, Oppius brandished Heartstriker and performed a speedy thrust at him.

Oppius's speed was too fast for the bandit, who could only scream in agony as he felt his heart being pierced by the sword.

SBO-1 closed his eyes as he saw Oppius killing the bandit, the sudden scene of Oppius's sword piercing the bandit's chest caused SBO-1 to grow nervous as this was the first time that he saw another human being killed.

The Bandit leader's face turned dark as he watched his second-in-command die in seconds at the hand of the unknown man.

-" Arvad! Damn you!" Another bandit quickly rushed to help his companion.

-" Akbar! Careful he is a Knight!" The bandit leader shouted as he tried to stop his underling.

All of the bandit's leader shouts were in vain, as Akbar continued his charge.

-" Bastard! Die!" Akbar swung his axe with all his fury and strength.

Oppius's smirk widened as he paired the man's axe. " Puny begin... You should've listened to your leader." With a light swing of his sword, Oppius cleaved the man's head.

The bandit leader fell deeper in despair as he saw another one of his commanders fall prey to the man's blade, he knew that he stood no chance against the extraordinary foe, so he rushed towards SBO-1, in hopes of using him as a way to escape.

Oppius laughed with delight as he watched the man's futile efforts.