Chapter 167 Another Minion . . .

"Simple. Become my minion, and I will save you and your little sister."

Jin's eyes widened. "Y-you . . . how do you know she's my–"

"Is that important?" I butted in. "Your life is draining away before your eyes, so you better act fast."

Jin was still hesitating even though his HP was flashing red.

"Hurry deciding. If you die, your little sister will die as well without your protection," I said.

At the mention of his sister, Jin gnashed his teeth and said with a strained voice, "Fine then."

He didn't even ask about the specifics. He really cared about his little sister enough so that he was willing to sell his soul to the devil.

"W-what's this?" Jin panted, eyes beginning to get blurry. He was having a hard time concentrating on the object on my hand.

"Assurance that you remain loyal to me. To make it short, your head will explode the moment you say, do, or even think of betraying me."

Jin stared at the black object in my palm before he shut his eyes tight. "If . . . if you promise no harm will come to Lina."

"I don't think you have any right to bargain with me here."

". . ." Jin bit his lip, drawing blood so he would remain conscious.

"Protect her yourself," I told him.

Jin briefly drew his eyes on me and shifted them to the black stone in my hand. He grabbed it, and he quickly equipped it.

A dark light appeared on Jin's neck, and it formed into a dark metal choker.

I smiled inwardly and tossed a potion of [Full Heal] in his way. This [Full Heal] was concocted by my master Alchemist, Ulysses, of course. It could completely fill your HP and MP and cure all status effects.

Jin immediately drank the potion, and I saw how his face warped in shock when his HP and MP bar went full, and his poison status disappeared.

"Y-you . . ." Jin looked at me in astonishment. "Who are you?"

"My name is Cross," I replied simply.

Jin shook his head. "That's not what I meant. You're only a noob dubbed as the gil guy, but . . . That potion you gave me . . . there's nothing like it in all my time here. Where did you acquire it?"

"Is that important?"

". . ." Jin was silent before he seriously said, "Thank you for saving me."

"Don't thank me. I didn't help you for free after all."

"Even so you still save my life and my little sister in return."

". . ." We'll, wasn't he an earnest guy behind his brass exterior?

"Don't worry about it. As long as you remain loyal to me, then I promise to take care of you. She included." I nodded in Lina's way.

Jin stifled a laugh while shaking his head. "I don't know how you can protect me and her if you don't have a land of your own."

I was about to reply when Amara's voice rang in my ears.

"Cross."

Amara hugged me from behind before she immediately slip into the confines of my arm while her wary eyes were glued to Thomas.

"Did something happen?" I asked her and stared at Thomas.

Thomas returned my gaze with his usual lethargic expression and a low growl escaped his lips, saying that he also didn't know what Amara's problem was.

"Cross . . . ," Amara started, eyes still on Thomas. "He was bitten, stabbed, and clawed by Goblins, but his HP only remained at one and didn't go down to zero while he wasn't affected by the poison status. I tried to heal him, but . . . it only hurt him. He is strange."

". . ." So that's what happened. I sighed, ruffling my fringe. "Don't worry about Thomas.

I pulled my hand from her grasp. "He won't eat you."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

I didn't reply and walked to Jin. "I want you to take Amara with you back to the Academy. Hide there until everything is over."

"What?" Amara immediately countered. "But what about you?"

"I shall meet with you there shortly."

"What about the goblins?" Jin asked, holding Lina's unconscious body in his arms. "I can't protect two girls at the same time. Not when Lina is still unconscious."

"They won't pose a threat to you. Thomas will safely guard you there. And don't worry if you see anything . . . weird about him."

Jin stared at Thomas and his frown deepened. "Him? But he is a noob."

Thomas growled, and I raised my hand to stop him from showing his blood soaked teeth.

"I'm a noob, too," I said. "Don't underestimate him. Even thousands of goblins can't kill him."

Jin gaped, and Amara wasn't even surprised anymore. She must have known already but only decided to keep her mouth shut.

"But . . ." Jin still had his reservations. "Doesn't he need healing first?"

"No." Thomas didn't take kindly to any White and Divine magic. "Don't worry. He wouldn't die. And his HP would return if he ate" flesh "and drank" blood.

Jin didn't say anything anymore.

"What about you?" Amara asked. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm just going to take care of some things."

"Then I'll come with you."

"You'll only be a hindrance."

Amara shut her lips, and her eyes shook with hurt.

"I didn't mean anything by that."

"I know . . ." she fisted her hands. "I know I'm weak. But still . . ."

Watching her on the verge of crying, I sighed and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. "You would help me by keeping yourself safe in the Academy. In that way, I don't have to worry about you."

Don't have to worry my other self, that is, and risk influencing my decisions again.

Amara could do nothing but nod her head in the end.

"Go now."

Jin carried Lina in his arms while Thomas only followed behind like a guard, making sure that there were no Goblins in their path.

Amara locked eyes with me. I think she didn't care if someone saw her anymore when she shot into my arms and kissed me hard.