CLEAVER OF SIN

"So, when do we leave to take the mission? Tomorrow?" William asked calmly, his tone even, though his eyes reflected mild curiosity.

"Right now," Asher replied without hesitation. "We don't have anything else to do, so there's no need to waste time sitting around. Besides, if we delay any longer, others will snatch up all the good and high-reward missions. Who knows how long it takes for the Logistics and Missions Operations Hall to refresh its mission list?" His tone was flat, but the logic behind his words was undeniable.

William and Finch both nodded at Asher's words, recognizing the truth within them. It was, after all, the very first day that missions were being opened to the new students. Everyone would be moving in a frenzy, desperate to accumulate points since almost everyone was running short on them.

"Are either of you tired, or anything like that?" Asher asked, though he already knew the answer. He simply wanted to confirm before taking any mission. None of them had done anything strenuous enough to warrant fatigue, but Asher preferred caution over assumption.

"We're fine," Finch and William replied at the same time.

"Then let's leave immediately," Asher said decisively. "We'll discuss the finer details after we've obtained the mission permission slip. For now, every second we waste here is golden time slipping away."

"Then let's go," William agreed. Yet even as he spoke, neither he nor Asher moved from their seats. The only one who stood was Finch. With an exasperated sigh that turned into a small smile, Finch stepped forward, standing between them. Placing one hand on William's shoulder and the other on Asher's, he activated his teleportation ring.

In an instant, the trio vanished from William's room.

The world around them blurred, colors stretching and warping like liquid light, until their senses snapped back into place. They now stood within the grand hall of Logistics and Missions Operations. The air here was lively, filled with the murmurs of other students and the soft hum of magical devices running across the vast room.

The moment they appeared, Asher's eyes immediately darted toward the far side of the hall, where he had met the first Facilitator earlier that day. Without hesitation, he began walking toward the man. Finch and William followed close behind, silent but composed.

When they arrived at the Facilitator's desk, another student was already there, speaking with him. Asher waited patiently, not interrupting. He could tell the Facilitator was explaining the mission rules and the system's finer details to the student.

When the conversation ended and the student nodded respectfully before leaving, Asher stepped forward.

"Ho… you're back already?" the Facilitator said with mild surprise, his eyes narrowing in recognition. "It seems you assembled your team quite fast." His gaze shifted toward William, then moved to Finch. He paused for a moment, his expression subtly changing as his eyes lingered on Finch, scanning him from head to toe as though he were witnessing a rare creature.

Finch didn't flinch. He was used to this kind of scrutiny. In Crymora, literally everyone possessed an athletic build by default, even those who never trained or awakened. Physical excellence was the norm, so his softer, chubbier body made him stand out like an anomaly. People always stared the first time they saw him, curiosity etched on their faces, though their interest quickly faded once they realized it meant nothing significant.

William had once jokingly told him it was punishment for having such outrageous luck.

"Can we see the missions now?" Asher asked, snapping the Facilitator out of his brief daze.

"Oh! Of course, my apologies," the Facilitator said quickly, recovering his composure.

He raised his right hand toward the platform of his desk. A faint hum resonated as Astra surged through his veins, flowing into the desk like liquid light. With a soft whoosh, a large, translucent blue holographic panel materialized in midair before them, glowing faintly with runic light.

"This," the Facilitator announced, "is a list of the missions currently available for first-year students. Choose any one, and I'll approve it immediately."

Asher, Finch, and William's eyes fell upon the holographic display. None of them looked particularly surprised, it was, after all, a common artifact in Crymora. The glowing blue text shifted and rearranged as multiple mission options appeared before them:

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[Mission: Bandit Camp Sweep]

Objective: Assist a local patrol team in clearing a group of armed bandits hiding along the mountain paths.

Details:

The bandits have been attacking travelers and merchants on the main trade route. Your team is to act as support, aiding the patrol squad in neutralizing the threat.

Primary Focus: Group combat, coordination with non-Academy forces, terrain advantage.

Reward: 2000 Academy Points + Bandit Bounty Bonus.

---

[Mission: Supply Transport Escort]

Objective: Escort a supply convoy carrying food and weapons to a frontier outpost near the wilderness.

Details:

The route is frequently targeted by minor beast packs and bandits. Ensure the safe delivery of the supplies and maintain communication with the convoy leader throughout.

Primary Focus: Defense strategy, patience, and crisis management.

Reward: 4500 Academy Points.

---

[Mission: Forest Beast Subjugation]

Objective: Eliminate or drive away the wild beasts attacking a nearby village.

Details:

Villagers have reported frequent attacks from low-ranked mana beasts near the Southern Forest. Locate their nest and neutralize the threat.

Primary Focus: Combat awareness, teamwork, field coordination.

Reward: 1500 Academy Points.

---

[Mission: Baron's Request, Imminent Beast Tide]

Objective: Assist Baron Rivelle's territory in defending against an approaching beast tide.

Details:

Beasts are gathering near Baron Rivelle's lands and are expected to attack within a few days. The Baron has requested aid from the Academy to reinforce defenses, organize the local militia, and protect the townspeople from devastation.

Primary Focus: Defense coordination, teamwork, endurance, and survival.

Reward: 7000 Academy Points.

---

Asher, William, and Finch studied each mission carefully, scanning through the descriptions to gain a broader sense of their available options.

"Which one do you think we should go for?" Finch asked, turning to William beside him.

"Obviously the one with the best reward," William replied without hesitation. "Besides, we already have close ties with Baron Rivelle. That connection might come in handy during the mission."

Asher didn't care about political ties or personal affiliations. What mattered most was efficiency and result. Without a second thought, he made his decision.

"We'll take the beast tide mission," Asher declared evenly.

"No problem," the Facilitator replied. With a swift tap on the glowing table, the chosen mission vanished from the blue holographic panel, indicating its approval.

Asher wasn't the least bit surprised by the vast difference in rewards between the listed missions. He remembered the Facilitator's explanation from their last encounter, that it was the clients themselves who set the rewards, which the Academy then converted into points. The Star Academy merely facilitated the transaction; it didn't dictate the compensation.

His gaze briefly drifted back to the "Forest Beast Subjugation" mission. The reward of 1500 points felt small, especially when split three ways, but he understood. For a village to even offer such an amount must have strained their resources heavily.

"Too bad the training chambers don't accept sympathy as payment," Asher thought dryly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he turned away from the screen.

______

AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's me again, doing what I've been doing for the past few weeks: begging for golden tickets.