Chapter 191: Overseer

"Then what do you suggest?" Ned asked Hunter Jo. 

Ned was supposed to relieve two of their Companion, but seeing how they were formed as a team, Ned had a second thought. His decision might break the team's coordination. And breaking the team's coordination might result in his requests to fail. He couldn't afford to lose it. Not now, now that he was a step closer to finding Roy.

Hunter Jo rested his back against the chair. He was a good team leader since he was aware of what was the other people's concern in his team. He looked at Swift, brows furrowed. But before he could retort  Ned cut him short. 

"Swift's on me," Ned said. 

Hunter Jo rubbed the tip of his chin. He was deciding who to let go of his Companion. 

Sasani was at least a person I could trust, Ned thought. For a moment, she has her reason to join the raid. Judging from her actions she seemed not capable of compromising the quests. But the three behind her? 

Ned looked at the three lastly to Swift. Three Companion, a little older than Ned stood with their back against the wooden wall. One kid, fifteen maybe sixteen years old held a bag over his shoulder; a Porter. Next to him was the Runner, slim, seemed capable of a long run, hair cut short, and eyes boring the floor. Next to him was the Looter, a knife held on his waist. His eyes were discerning, sometimes he looked at Ned with wary eyes just like Hunter Ja. 

"Ning, Paul," Hunter Jo said. Immediately, the Runner and Looter came up to Hunter Jo. 

The two then leaned closer to their team leader. Regret and confusion were visible on their faces, yet, they nodded. Then, after a minute or so of whispering, the two bowed to everyone and left the room. "They will be compensated," Hunter Jo said after the door from behind shut close.

Ned nodded. Now, that left Ned with one problem—the command. Although he was the employer, taking control of the team just because he can do so seemed unreasonable even for him. The trusts the group formed was because of their team leader, and the bond they made,  and Ned doesn't have the right to take over the command just because he liked it. He needs to fix it. He started.

"The command," he said. Meeting Hunter Jo's brown eyes. He looked handsome for his age. He must be in his fifties, nearly sixty, but wrinkles were timid to show up on his skin. "I will order what to attack, and when to attack." Ned paused for dramatic effect. "How to attack is up to you, Hunter Jo." 

The room fell silent. The tension in the air was getting thicker. Not because of Ned, the Hallowguard's fourteen-year-old employer. But because of the coming quests. To raid beasts settlement. Ned gathered the smallest and finest team of raiding team for maneuverability. 

Currently, Ned has been taking over Twali's loyalty toward him. But he knew, that loyalty was possible only because of Lord Sven's order, and because of the Lord's curiosity toward the Mark. Ned wondered if what would happen to them if ever the Lord got what he wanted. For all he knew, and Ned doesn't care, Lord Sven was trying to rebuild his House. And the Lord would do everything for it to happen. Even if he was forced to gamble with a kid.

As of now, Ned's resources were enough for him to let other people do his biddings. He also knew his mana stones won't last long. He better use it for something useful. Like going into raid to find a man who burned his village to a cinder. 

What are you up to, Roy? Ned thought. Eyes boring the long table across him. His thoughts broke when Twali waved a hand. 

The lady at the counter for registration if who's going in and out of the barracks stood. Long sleeves, with a slit on both her shoulder, leather belt along with glass dagger on her waist. She wasn't just a scribble girl, after all, she was a hunter. Of what rank, Ned doesn't know. Her necklace was covered with her collar covering her neck. Her hair was short nearly touching her shoulders. She wore rings on both her middle fingers. She stopped beside Twali, and bowed, turned her head toward Ned and the group, and bowed.

"Master Twali," she said with a big smile. White teeth gleaming under the light. "How may I be of service?" 

"Everyone," Twali said, both elbows on the arm of the chair, her long fingers made a tower under his chin. "Meet Margaret, an Overseer from the Association." 

Ned wondered. How would a former slave get a connection inside the Association if he was banned to even enter a foot?

And as if Twali was reading Ned's mind he said with a smile, "She was a friend. Back in the days." 

Margaret the Overseer smiled, but for some reason, Ned felt it was genuine. She blushed, not too vivid. Ned swept his eyes toward the twins. And, there, their lips were pouting. It wasn't even hidden, it was shown clear for everybody to see. 

Twali proceeds with his commanding face. The rest stiffened. 

Ned's eye laid to rest on Swift. He wondered how would she react to all this. It seemed that even she doesn't even know the real Twali. She stood with her hands behind her back. Trying to look like a man or military. Ned pop a nod at her, the latter nodded. 

Overseer: we're hunters of unknown rank that did nothing but report to the Association of the team they were trying to oversee. The only time they are to intervene was if the situation escalated to the point of life and death

—and I and she will be tagging along with this quest so that it won't happen," Twali finished his speech. The hunters knew about Overseers. But, still, Ned was thankful for his explanation. Ned gave an agreeing nod to Twali. 

Twali gestured a hand, and Margaret proceeds to finish the preparation.

Across Ned was Ulysses, who seemed to be hiding under his armor. Before, he brimmed with energy as he looked at the lady at the counter, only to learn that she was an Overseer. His rank was bronze, and Overseers were said to be between Gold and Diamond. Before a hunter rank up to Diamond, they need to take a quest relevant to their skills. One of them was becoming an Overseer. 

Again, Ned wondered, if Twali could have someone from the inside (the Association) to ask a favor especially a hunter ranging between Gold and Diamond, then wouldn't it make Twali's rank be in Diamond or higher to pull this kind of feat? Ned cocked an eyebrow looking at Twali, the latter nodded and smiled. And for the first time, Ned felt a chill running down his spine. Yet, he smiled to cover his apprehension.

"Uhm," Margaret said, bowing. Pepper hair bowed down. "I am Margaret, again."

Across Ned was the Ulysses, seemed unable to move. Beside him was Sujiro, the thin eye rouge nodded with respect as he laid his eyes toward the Overseer. He seemed to have a mutual feeling with other Rouge. Was Margaret even a rouge? Ned would soon find out, and he can't wait to do so. 

The twins bowed, they knew the feeling of something stronger than them. They were forced to bow with defiance plastered over their faces. 

Team Leader Jo and his brother, Hunter Ja, reluctantly bowed and remained quiet. 

"This is the map," Margaret said. Running her hand behind her waist was a bag—a small leather bag with a single button. She pulled out a paper parchment. It looked new but smelled old—it smelled wet wood. She then laid it over the table for everyone to see. "As you can see." She added, finger pointed at the center of the map, legends of different meaning crowded the map. Her finger stopped in a small dot surrounded by forest. The forest was then labeled Du'kki Forest Middle Area. The map was comprehensive than the one the Association plastered all over the Hunter's Questing Board. "This area here will be our first destination. Then here." Her hand slid across the map, not too far from the first dot. The next dot was labeled 'Town Heavy Wolf'. 

Ned scanned the map, taking a clear mental picture. But he knew the moment his eyes laid to rest on the map, ICE already took a detailed image and ready to be view anytime Ned wanted. 

There were hundreds of small dots the size of corn kernel and there were dozens of bigger dots the size of pebbles randomly scattered across the island. It was their targets—the pebble-like markings were the beast settlements. 

Margaret gave Ned a thoughtful look, her big bright yellow to brown eyes twinkled. Her hand ran far above the map. Almost near the Du'kki Mountain's base. Then, her finger stopped in a bigger dot and she said, "This one here is called 'Unyielding Woods'." She paused and look back at Ned. "Yes, kid. This is where you found the Evolved Goblin."

Gogmurch. Ned thought. Ned was about to open his mouth but Margaret took the first tone. 

"No," she said. Thin lips smiling at Ned. "Before you ask, it was rather empty. Don't worry only a handful of people saw what happened outside the gate of the Hunters Association. After the Association wiped clean the remaining beasts, they were lead to an unknown area of the forest. They named it Unyielding Woods. Arriving at the settlement, it was rather empty. No trace of blood. Not even scattered beasts. Just an old looking settlement. Oh, yes, the fire was still burning when we got there."