"I need to get out of my headspace and do some work."

Rin reminded himself as he went back to work. But the bad feeling lingering inside him refused to go away. If anything, it increased so much that he could think of nothing else.

[Rookie, if you are so worried about the situation, then why not take a look at it? It will help ease your mind if you do something about it.]

"Since I cannot change the outcome, I don’t want to think about it either."

This was Rin’s answer.

As they say—out of sight, out of mind. Now, if only Rin could apply this logic to himself as well and somehow clear his mind of the guilt he felt over Alex’s doomed fate.

[Rookie, you think too much. Just go and check up on the Calamity of Rose. You likely won’t get another chance to do so. Do you want to live with the regret of not having a last talk with your ’friend’?]

Alex and Rin were hardly friends. They were more rivals and co-workers than anything. But somehow, Rin could not deny the system’s claim that they were friends.

Moreover, the fact that the system was pushing him to meet with Alex was suspicious. Was something going to happen?

’Maybe I should go check after all.’

Rin made a decision quickly. Even though he knew that he needed to distract himself from this situation, he could not bring himself to completely abandon Alex

"What a messy situation. I guess I will take a quick look and come back with a clearer mind"

Rin decided and quickly finished the remaining work in the emergency pile Once he was done, Rin decided to head out alone and to do so, there was no better person to rely on than Reina.

He immediately headed to the medical wing to take Reina up on her offer Reina had made him.

Finally, it was time for Rin to be officially ’sick.’

...

"So, you want me to help you sneak out of the base today?"

Reina asked with an unamused expression.

She was the one who offered this solution to Rin and she was also the one who told Rin he could trust her. So why did Rin have a feeling Reina was not in the mood to entertain him? Surely she wouldn’t turn him away and tell him to go back to work?

But apparently, she was in a mood to go back on her word and tell Rin he was not allowed to go out.

"I don’t want to help you this time. I know I promised to help you sneak out, but that help is for times when you are healthy and can look after yourself. I doubt you are in a condition to go out. Have you seen the dark circles under your eyes? They’re massive and becoming permanent."

Reina frowned with concern. She looked pretty with her head tilted slightly to the side and her eyes narrowed, but this was not what Rin was here for.

’I need to focus. If Reina is not going to help me, then I need to sneak out without her permission—’

"Tsk, you’re not going to stay put just because I told you to? Then that leaves me no choice but to help you. First, sit down. I am going to give you a full health check-up before you leave."

Reina patted the bed for Rin to sit. Her gaze looked impatient and left no room for negotiation.

But something about this situation felt like a trap.

’Will I be able to get up if I lay down on that bed? I have a feeling Reina will make it impossible for me to even lift a finger.’

Rin’s hesitation made Reina grow frustrated with him and she decided to grab his arm and drag him toward the bed instead.

"Stop being a moron and come to bed right now. You’re making my blood boil by doing unnecessary thinking."

Rin was pushed on the bed and his body felt cold when Reina used her skills. She started to type something on her system and then heal Rin.

He had to admit that his body felt lighter and the slight pain in his shoulder after sitting all day was gone as well.

Reina finished after ten minutes of healing him, but she still did not look satisfied with the results

"I did what I could for you. Please be careful when you head out and try not to get hurt this time."

Reina reminded Rin and he nodded before he snuck out the window of her clinic.

"Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this. Should I go after him?"

Reina muttered under her breath as she watched Rin making his escape. But she decided to stay put in the end and not chase after him.

...

GBF settlement was a full day’s drive away. And by foot, it was going to take a few days at least. Rin did not have time for all this, so he headed toward his private garage where he kept cars for his personal use.

He chose one he wouldn’t mind abandoning and drove toward GBF. He reached the settlement by the end of the day and after hiding his car, he approached the settlement gate. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The door was locked shut and Rin had a decision to make- should he walk through the front gate or try to sneak around?

"Should I...just knock?"

Rin questioned before deciding to do it and knocking at the door. It opened slightly and a young girl peeked out at him.

"Excuse me, but I am here to meet Madam Yao and Alex-"

"You are not welcome here. Please leave."

The settlement door closed in front of Rin’s face immediately. He did not even get to explain his identity before he was told to leave.

[It seems like even the well-connected Rookie still managed to be disliked by the GBF. The system already predicted this outcome, so so don’t feel too bad]

[( ´･･)ﾉ(._.`) ]

[Don’t worry. The system has already made arrangements to help you. After all, we cannot leave our Rookie all on his own. The system is looking forward to the first evaluation meeting.]

Why did those words sound so ominous? Rin had a bad feeling about this.

Just what could the system have arranged to help him get into this base? And more importantly, why?

Rin got his answer soon enough when he walked around the side and saw Reri’s familiar face.