Chapter 330: Recruiting

The bell had just rung and the front gates  of the school were bustling with people coming in and out and conversing in groups. It was still a very spacious environment but still by far the most crowded time of the day.

"Big brother… Where are you…"

Hikari leaned on the thick, metal walls of the school, twiddling with her fingers trying to ignore everyone around her and avoid any eye contact from the few stares that were coming her way. It was a strategy she had developed when in a crowd to calm herself down, though it was not always effective.

That was when she heard a pair of footsteps approaching in her direction, and she immediately tensed up and raised her guard in anticipation for anything. But, when she lifted her head and looked clearly, she found it to be the same man she had been so eagerly waiting for.

"Sorry for being late. I was hung up on a conversation with someone. Hope I didn't make you wait too long,"

"Oh no! You're okay! I'm grateful that you even do this in the first place… You don't have to walk me home every day after school..." She quickly responded, Yami sighing in her head unbeknownst to her. 

"Oh, don't worry about it. It's really nothing," Moby comforted her, making her anxious face slightly simper. 

"So… are we going home like usual?" She continued. 

"Nope, not this time. I have something different planned for today! We're gonna go in the city again. It will be great to get you accustomed to how it functions. But, I would also like to take you somewhere special…" He spoke, turning serious on his last few words.

"S-special…" She muttered, abruptly looking away. 

"Yeah…It will be somewhat risky but I'll need you to trust me on this… I'll need to borrow some of your points… We're gonna go gambling…" He whispered in her ears, making her eyes go wide. 

"Oh… I see… Well, I trust whatever big brother does… You've never let me down."

Moby smiled. "I'm glad you have so much faith in me."

"So… Where is this place? Are we gonna go now?" She asked with a hint of excited nervousness. 

"It's pretty complicated. But, you shouldn't worry about it. As long as you stay behind me, you should be fine. But, we're not gonna go right now. First, there's someone else who's gonna be joining us… Follow me…" His smile grew as he turned around and faced his dorm building, and thus, Hikari quickly nodded and followed right behind him until they reached their destination. 

"You wait out here for me okay? I know it's right outside the boy's dorm but It shouldn't take too long. If someone tries to mess with you, tell them you're with me and they would usually leave you alone,"

"O-okay!" She bowed lightly and nodded at Moby who then turned his back and walked into the tall, crowded building ahead. 

He entered the building, went up the stairs for faster movement and reached his room, immediately scanning his new student ID on the door. When he entered, he was greeted by a clean kitchen table along with the usual silence that leaked a slight sound coming from the training room just like he expected.

He inwardly smiled to himself and walked further inside, closing the door behind him. And, with no hesitation or care for his own safety, he barged into the training room with an upbeat vibe. 

"Hey, Regrit! How's your day been going?"

"GOD DAMN IT KANE! I told you to knock on the door before you enter! What do you want now!? This better be something important!" He yelled, dropping his weights on his chest before pushing them away. 

"Oh! Come on! It's not that bad! No harm has been done right? And, of course, it's something important!"

"Eh, whatever, why are you even here!? It can't be to use the VR machine this early. So, come on! Spit it out so I can get back to my training!"

"Okay okay! Calm down! I just came here to ask you… Would you like to join me and a friend to go on a trip in the city?"

"Huh?! Now, why would I want to go to the city with you? It's not like we're friends! It's hard enough sharing the same house!"

"Wait, wait, I know... That's why I'm gonna make it worth your while…" Moby's voice became more serious, and the atmosphere in the room immediately shifted. 

"You wanted a way to gain strength and I can provide that… Don't worry, you won't be forced to show me any of your powers… If anything, I'll be the one exposing what I've got in my bag… It's a mutual deal…  I help you and you help me…"

"Okay… I'm listening… Tell me what this is all about…" Regrit's tone shifted corresponding to the change in atmosphere as they both stared daggers at each other, one of them slightly smiling more than the other. 

"There is a secret gambling ring for students in the city… And today is an event that eclipses every other one that will happen this year… There are not many people I can trust in this school, but something about you makes me want to trust you with this... I currently have 310 points, you have 220 points, and my friend has 150 points. For maximum profit, I need as many points to work with as possible. Don't worry, I'll be splitting your share with you fairly by the end… The security is gonna be tough, but I know ways of winning almost every single event they have down there… It's pretty much free points. Points can help you buy weapons, knowledge and material… Used properly, they are very powerful. From how you speak, you know what I'm capable of…  You can choose to trust me, or you can simply decline… It's all up to you… So… What will it be?"