My Last Hunt

Level Four (8)

Lower level crimes are no more crimes:

Qiao could not sleep well because the assigned lodge was not big enough and all the team members were supposed to share the space together. While they all slept like logs of wood, he could only run his thoughts. The small insects also kept buzzing around his ears, which made it even more annoying. He wondered why the others beside him were not disturbed by this. 

...

The next day early morning,

The team leader woke up and yawned with his mouth open wide, while his arms stretched. He was now ready now to kick the others to wake up. Then he noticed someone else who was already up.

Qiao was sitting at his spot quietly. 

"Oh, you are ready for hunt today. You seem quite excited." He casted a casual glance and then went to angrily wake up others. 

It won't be easy to follow the rules and instructions if they were lazy. Hunting on Snow Island could be dangerous if you were not cautious enough.

They informed of some rules which they would be following during their stay here. They had to come back immediately when the last rays of light disappeared. Similarly, they were given other pieces of information that were required and would be essential for surviving. 

All the teams then slowly reached forward to get their missions, as it was first come first serve. The seniors were mostly away on their duties so not many information for specific quests could be provided. Which was why limited missions were available here. And fortunately, his team leader was able to get a mission at least. 

It was because of him that the team leader glared at other members when he saw them lazily reacting. Usually the teams would return with damage and benefit both, because that was how hunting worked. Risk and benefit went together. The team leader strongly wished to reach level five and he also didn't want his team to get in any kind of trouble and this applied most of the other teams too. 

Ten teams had gathered in the small encampment. They were in the last part of the encampment as they waved to each other before leaving. 

They could choose to help each other if they had a good relation or if they were acquainted. Even those who were strangers could also help if they wished. It all depended on whether they were willing or not. Often times though, a team would happen to see another team in trouble and they would choose to walk away without bothering.

It was only in Middletown that the teams would leap forward when they saw some team unable to keep hold on the monster. Their concern was not to help but snatch the hunt, still it was better situation. Crime was no more a crime if the injured team was not killed, but here in the Snow Island things were different. 

Three of the teams were from other Guilds residing with the seven teams of the Starglow Guild. Starglow teams left early, they had this habit to mind their own business while the other teams were still wandering to find mission. 

Outside of the encampment, the team leader gathered his team members around and spoke, "According to the mission, a level four monster is spotted at the eastern region, it is among the races of hibernating monster and currently it seems to be wandering to find a better place around an area of hundred feet in the eastern region near the dead hill." He told. 

Eastern part was not a small region. It spanned around few hundred kilometres and was distinguished with the land marks. The dead hill mentioned was named after a small dead volcano. Naming the landmark was helpful to locate the target of the missions. 

"What about the monster's specifications?" He did not tell what kind of monster they would be facing. 

"They cannot tell the specifications because it is possible that we may even find another monster at the same place but it would be level four and other rules we already know." 

So, it was normal to end up seeing different monsters with their different appearance and specifications. 

"You two will provide cover to the team. Qiao you would scout ahead the distance and tell the team when a monster is around." he divided the duties and walked under the falling snow. 

Qiao had learned to distinguish the levels of the monster so he carefully chose a better view to keep his focus ahead of the other members. This forest was not a crowded forest. Sometimes they walked under the bare sky and other times they walked in the middle of the woods. Walking in the bare sky was not beneficial because they could be seen by some monsters and also they would be battered by the falling snowflakes. 

They soon reached the place and Qiao gestured at them to stop. Up ahead, he could see the monster and also a team. It was the same team living with them but how did they find this place on their own? It was impossible to have stumbled across here as no one had an accurate map for the Snow Island unless a team was giving mission and told the direction. 

Actually, this was a team that got late and could not get any mission. Thinking that if they ventured by themselves and might ned up meeting a number of monsters unknowingly, they chose to do this. They heard the team leader speaking of his mission details to his men and they overhead him. 

With clear direction, they ran in a hurry to reach before the real team. Now they were hunting a monster which was actually assigned to another team. The team leader gritted his teeth to see this as he understood that it was his mistake. But they cannot go and stop the team, it would look immature and if they asked the organization to settle this, they would make fun of them. 

"We better remain in the eastern region and find another monster." The Team leader spoke in half spirits. He thought to complete the first mission and get a good reputation but because of his folly, the other team took advantage of it. 

"We can stop them from hunting as it was assigned to us." a member spoke. 

"It is useless and a waste of time." he waved his hand and gestured to move on with the search. 

"Qiao find a level four monster and alert the team." he pointed at Qiao to search the surrounding. Qiao was good at leaping around the woods and small uneven places. He could also act as spy at times and the team leader had noticed his qualities in the previous hunt.