Chapter 792 The Reason Behind It
“I’ve answered your question, so what’s your reply?” Perhaps the silence had lasted too long, Garcia couldn’t help but ask.
Roland then came back to his senses from his thoughts, “Ah, I’m in.”
“What...?” She was stunned.
“I’m willing to join,” Roland spread his hands, “Didn’t you ask that?”
“No... I just thought you...”
“Thought I chickened out at the last minute?” He chuckled, “I really was accompanying relatives to go shopping this afternoon. Why can't there be more trust between people? But is it okay to apply now? That senior you mentioned is the referrer, right?”
Garcia’s expression seemed a little stiff. She stared at Roland for a long time, seemingly considering whether his words were sincere. After a good while, she shook her head. “He’s just my mentor. I asked him to come over to guide you to better utilize the power of nature, but he won't see you again in the future."
Uh, is it because of missing the appointment, Roland thought. It seems that the senior was not only extremely disappointed in him, but even Garcia was reprimanded.
“As for applying to join the association, just fill out a form,” she took a piece of paper from under the coffee table and handed it to him, “Your signature means it’s effective.”
“So simple?” Roland said in surprise, “At least it's an organization that secretly protects the world, shouldn't there be some kind of initiation ceremony or ability test?”
Garcia sneered coldly, “Did you think you were joining an ancient hermitage or the Knights Templar? This is modern society. The signature only means that your right to know has been guaranteed. Afterwards, the association will check your identity and register you for new social security and subsidies.” She paused, “As for testing, anyone who has awakened the power of nature is qualified to become a Martial Artist. What level you can reach depends entirely on your own will and effort. Initial tests don’t prove anything.”
Well, being told this by someone who used to belong to the ancient royal family, it really feels a little out of place...
Roland picked up the pen and was about to write his name when he was stopped by her.
“I must remind you again that once you become one of us, you are no longer an ordinary person.” Garcia said solemnly, “You share the rights granted to you by the Martial Artist Association, and you must also bear the corresponding obligations. You must not disclose information about the association, and you must not betray the association. Otherwise, other Martial Artists will regard you as an enemy, and the subsequent handling will no longer be subject to court trials. I hope you think carefully before signing.”
She had been so eager for him to join the association before, but when it came to submitting the application, she reminded him to think clearly. This aboveboard approach greatly improved Roland’s opinion of her. No matter how unscrupulous and ruthless the Azurewater Queen was in the Kingdom of Graycastle, she had become completely different in the Dream World.
“I know my choice,” Roland nodded and signed his name. “So, can you tell me about the Erosion now?”
“No,” she carefully folded the form and put it in the wooden box under the coffee table. “It usually takes about two days to verify your identity. You have only submitted the application and have not officially joined the Martial Artist Association. This information still has to be kept secret from you.”
“Alright... Then I'll change the question. You said that hunting the Fallen can get generous rewards, right?”
“I’ve already explained this question clearly enough,” Garcia’s face showed some displeasure at the mention of working for money.
“I’m not asking about the amount, but how can I confirm after the mission that I've taken care of the opponent?” Roland shrugged, “When hunting the Fallen, it's impossible to bring your own filming equipment, or invite another Martial Artist to watch from the sidelines, right? Or are you planning to use the classical method and settle it with heads?”
“Is money that important to you?” She said unhappily, “Whoever eliminates the Fallen means that the world is cleaner by one point, why do you have to divide it so clearly?”
“You are a famous Martial Artist, the rewards from just one competition are worth the salary of an average person for a year; while I didn’t even have a job two months ago. In addition to supporting myself, I also have to take care of that little girl, so yes, money is very important to me!” Roland replied confidently.
Following Garcia’s train of thought and misleading her in the wrong direction was a welcome thing. After all, as an outsider, he only intended to use the Martial Artist Association to find out the cause of the Erosion from the beginning, and not get himself involved.
Besides, money is indeed very important to him.
Garcia glared at him for a while before saying unwillingly, “Handing over the mutated power of nature to the association can serve as proof that you eliminated the enemy.”
“This stuff can also be handed over?” Roland was slightly taken aback. Doesn't it dissipate on its own once it’s obtained? Could it be that the solid state that Phyllis presented when she held it was not accidental?
“Otherwise? This thing is both the source of the Fallen’s power and proof that they have been eroded. And once it mutates, the power of nature can no longer be recovered. If it’s not collected and properly sealed, it will infect new hosts sooner or later—ordinary people will have their minds taken over by it with even the simplest touch.”
“You mean... it can be used by different people?”
“That’s why some people collect them,” Garcia said resentfully, “It’s obvious what these lunatics are up to. Aren’t they afraid of this world being destroyed!”
Although she was unwilling to reveal the other party's details before, and now she just mentioned it inadvertently out of resentment, Roland had already heard that those guys who opposed the association seemed to have formed an organized and purposeful hostile group, and were snatching the Martial Artist Association's "business."
“But the association should also store a large amount of mutated power of nature, right? Aren’t you worried that if these guys find the storage location, or if some Martial Artists deliberately collude with the enemy—”
“That’s impossible!” Garcia interrupted without hesitation, “Although you have no right to know these things now, I can guarantee that those lunatics will never be able to break through the core area guarded by the Martial Artist Association—before that, they will be crushed into pieces by the four «Guardians»!”
Roland really wanted to ask where the core area was, and who those four Guardians were, but she definitely wouldn't answer, so he gave up. But he always had an idea in his mind. If he were to enter the place where the mutated power of nature was stored and release all those magic vortexes, what changes would happen to the Dream World? To what extent would the warm current in his body and that strange power become stronger?
Whatever the final result, it seems worth anticipating.