"This is not good! They need to know they are in danger! But Madam Yao banished me and won’t listen to me—"

Reri muttered to herself loud enough for anyone nearby to hear her complaints. Her disheveled appearance coupled with her wild eyes and pale face made her look like a madwoman best avoided.

’Is this your idea of help? What did you do to her?’

[Please stop blaming everything on the system, Rookie. The system is only trying to help. It is up to the user to decode the system’s message.]

Rin immediately understood what happened. Reri had somehow been tricked by the system and ended up in this condition.

She was not someone Rin liked, but right now, she was his only way into the settlement.

’Ugh, this is going to suck. But I guess I can take some insults if it meant accomplishing his goal.’

Rin sighed and decided to approach Reri.

She did not notice his presence at first, but as soon as Rin came within arm’s reach, she took out a gun and aimed it at Rin’s head.

"What are you doing here? Are you trying to make fun of me? Or do you pity me? Don’t speak a word because if you do, I will make sure to blow your head off"

Reri’s words contradicted each other. Rin was not sure if he should answer her or not. Facing an unstable person like her all alone was never a good idea.

’Staying silent won’t help me. I guess I am speaking to her.’

This was what Rin decided and he opened his mouth slowly and carefully and spoke carefully chosen words.

"Miss Reri, I am here because—oh shit!"

Rin’s body instinctively dodged to the right, barely missing the bullet Reri fired at him.

"Tsk, I told you not to speak to me."

Instead of looking guilty or apologetic, Reri spat these words out with a blank look on her face. There was no reason for someone like her to be so violent with Rin, but she was choosing to behave like he was her public enemy number one.

’I can tell we are not going to mesh. I should look for another way inside.’

[Rookie, you can’t give up now. Don’t you want to make more friends? Take this chance to practice.]

The system insisted, making Rin feel even more suspicious. Why was it trying so hard to push Rin toward Reri? Was there...something going on?

[Don’t think too much, Rookie. The system is only here to guide you along the path. Now, make sure to get inside this settlement with Miss Reri and you will get a nice surprise.]

Since the system had told Rin to do this, he decided to do the exact opposite.

Instead, he decided to leave Reri behind and go his own way. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"I can tell when I am not welcome, Miss Reri. I will find another way to get inside-"

"You want to get inside this base? For what? I cannot allow you to become a threat to this base."

Reri immediately snapped out of whatever mood she was in and stopped Rin with a frown on her face.

He could not understand what her problem was. Hadn’t she just been muttering about being exiled from the base already?

"Frankly miss, you do not get to decide this. I am here to meet Alex for some important business, so I will get inside with or without your help."

"You are here to meet Alex? Why did you not say so before?"

Rin did not mean to snap at Reri, but her whole mood changed the second he mentioned he was here to meet Alex.

It was suspicious how chatty and open she became in a matter of seconds.

"Right...! You are here to meet Alex. That makes sense...! I should help you out with this. Don’t worry and leave it up to me."

It was creepy how cheerful Reri sounded right now. Rin’s instincts told him that it was best to stay away from someone as unstable as her.

[Rookie, I am more and more amazed at your instincts every day. They don’t pick up craziness from those monsters around you, but yet they still categorize dear, harmless Reri as dangerous. May I suggest getting that checked?]

’Shelly is not dangerous. Can you stop saying that? And Reina might come across as overbearing, but she’s one of the most helpful people I know. Teressa is...just weird and Albus is the only one I can call dangerous, but he’s mellowed out as well.’

Rin explained calmly, but the system just scoffed.

[This system did not name-drop anyone, Rookie, but you still managed to narrow down the list this much? This system is impressed by your unconscious judgment. Now, about Miss Reri—]

Rin felt like he was about to develop a headache. He rubbed his forehead and decided to try the gate once more.

He had only taken a few steps before Reri grabbed his shirt and tugged him back.

"Wait a moment. I doubt the guards will allow you entry. So if you want to enter, come with me. We will need to sneak in through the back passage."

Reri did not give Rin a choice as she tugged him behind her.

Rin’s strength stat had gotten better recently, but considering he had a low one to begin with, he was still far below the standard strength rating. It was no wonder Reri was able to drag him along so easily.

[It seems like Rookie is a fragile princess destined to be dragged around by others throughout his life. Would the Rookie like a knight in shining armor as well? Perhaps, someone likes this system?]

’Please shut up! I don’t think I can take this humiliation anymore. Just...just stop talking.’

Rin put his hand over his face to hide his expression. He did not feel like dealing with this today.

It took them no time to reach the back entrance and the security here was lax. But the reason soon became obvious.

"Watch your step carefully. There are a lot of traps set here. One wrong move and you will lose your arm or leg. It would be for the best if you follow me."

Reri spoke with confidence as she walked forward. But despite her showing Rin the right way, he did not feel like he could trust her direction.

Thankfully, the system was here to help.

[For our helpful Rookie, the system has prepared a special gift- a map of the land mines around the area. Be careful out there and don’t let these bombs blow your head off.]