CHAPTER 86: TEAM FORMATION!

Chapter 85

"Well, I don’t think it’s hard to form a group, is it?" Jake asked as Elijah had just exited the hall, leaving the whole canteen buzzing with chatter and excitement.

"I mean, since we already know each other, we should just stick with one another."

"One more thing, we need to keep the numbers tight. The smaller the group, the easier it is to manage." Max suggested casually, leaning back in his chair.

"Like how many members?" Jake asked, turning to him with interest.

"I don’t know, you decide." Max replied with a shrug, stretching his arms lazily before letting out a yawn.

"Guys." A voice called out, soft but firm enough to cut through the noise. The duo spun around to see both Jasmine and Lana walking forward with confidence.

"Hey girls, good to see you both." Jake greeted with a smile, lifting his hand in a small wave, but Max didn’t even bother with pleasantries, his gaze indifferent.

"We want you to join our team." Lana quickly went straight to the point as she pointed directly at Jake.

"Huh?" Jake muttered with a raised eyebrow, caught off guard.

"Did I stutter?" Lana asked coldly, her arms folded. "I want you to join us."

"What about Max then?" Jake asked with another raised brow, half-expecting the answer.

"I don’t know, he can join if he wants. I don’t really care." Lana scoffed dismissively.

"Tch!" Max scoffed as he rose out of his seat. "Have fun. I’m not interested in being in a team with a rude and arrogant female like you." He said bluntly, then turned to walk away without looking back.

"He’s my buddy. If he isn’t in my team, I’m out. Besides, in as much as you respect me, show the same respect to him." Jake scoffed as he stood up, crossing his arms firmly. Just then, Max spun around with a frown.

"We aren’t buddies." He muttered with clear irritation.

’I still find his behavior suspicious. Why is he all over me like a guy who doesn’t want to leave his girl? It’s strange. I feel like he has an ulterior motive but I don’t know what it is. Who exactly is he?’ Max thought, his brows knitted as he studied Jake carefully.

"Fine." Lana finally sighed, clearly annoyed but choosing to swallow her pride. "I apologise for my rudeness. Now can you both kindly join our team?"

Jake didn’t respond immediately but instead looked toward Max, his brow raised as if asking for permission.

"Why are you staring at me? Don’t you have a tongue?" Max asked, his tone irritated.

"Well, what do you say? Should we join the team?" Jake pressed.

Sigh.

"Fine. And that’s only because we’ve all gone on a mission once and I feel like we did a good job. I can kinda trust you all, so yeah." Max shrugged, sounding reluctant but agreeing nonetheless.

"Do you mind if I join you all?" A new voice suddenly called out, and the group spun around to see a young man walking over.

He had a beaming smile plastered on his face. Standing at about 5ft tall, with short brown hair, a bruise still fresh on his face, and a somewhat lean body, he looked nothing like the rest of the hunters around.

"Huh?" Jasmine muttered as her eyes narrowed on the young individual.

"You look familiar." Jake said as he stroked his chin, trying to recall where he had seen him before.

"You were the one Zach bullied a day ago, right?" Max asked as his sharp eyes instantly recognized the thin mark on the boy’s cheek.

"Wow!" The male exclaimed, his eyes practically glistening with admiration. "You remembered me?"

"Huh?" Max frowned, staring at the male suspiciously.

"Oh, pardon my manners. Hi everyone, the name is Jim and I want to join your team, please. Or more like, I want to join Max’s team." The male introduced himself with a slight bow, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Aren’t you an E ranked hunter?" Lana asked with a raised brow, glaring at Jim as if sizing him up.

"Yes, I am. And that’s exactly why nobody wants me to join their team, because they feel I won’t contribute much. But honestly, I just want to join his team." Jim said as he pointed directly toward Max, his tone unwavering.

"Huh?" Max muttered with a raised eyebrow. "Why are you so eager to join my team?"

"Because you’re awesome! So cool, and I’m your number one biggest fan." Jim excitedly creaked out, his voice cracking in a way that made everyone blink in surprise.

His face was practically glowing with admiration as he stared at Max like he was some kind of celebrity.

"Awkward." Jake whispered towards Max, covering the side of his mouth while throwing him a teasing glance.

Max stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape. "You swing that way?" Jasmine asked as she leaned in closer, her eyes mischievous with a sly grin tugging at her lips.

"Eww, no!" Max roared instantly, his face twisting with disgust as he took a step back.

"Sorry freak, group is closed for weaklings." Lana waved her hand dismissively, her tone sharp and cutting like a blade.

"Calm down, Lana. Let’s hear what he has to say." Jake interrupted smoothly, stepping in with his usual easygoing tone as he now turned his focus towards Jim. "Per my knowledge, Max isn’t a singer. Or are you?"

"Heck no!" Max snapped back with an even deeper scowl.

"Good." Jake nodded, still smirking. "Nor is he an actor, so tell me—how are you suddenly his number one fan?"

"That’s because his actions inspired me," Jim answered, his voice steadying as his earlier excitement dimmed into something more serious. His expression shifted, a shadow of his experiences flashing across his face.

"I have always been bullied by those stronger than me, and not just by Zach. You don’t know this, but I’ve been in this association for six months now, and I have always been suppressed by those stronger. Every day it felt like I had no place here."

He exhaled sharply, his hands tightening into fists at his side. "I never had the strength to fight back and could only run my mouth, which always earned me a few beatings. But that day, Max helped beat up my bully—something I couldn’t do.

Something I thought I’d never be able to do. So yeah, I’m totally grateful for that because nobody has ever stood up for me before." Jim explained with a hint of melancholy in his voice, his gaze falling to the ground before lifting again to look at Max.

’Huh? I didn’t even save him. I just decided to act because that brat decided to mess with me.’ Max thought, his brows knitting tightly together.

"You just said it yourself," Lana cut in coldly, her arms folded as her sharp glare landed on Jim. "You’re weak and can’t stand up to your bullies, so how will you help us on missions?

I’m a B rank, Jake is one too, so is Max, and Jasmine here is a C rank. Meanwhile, you’re an E rank—no help whatsoever." Her scoff rang with disdain as she leaned forward slightly. "Your story is touching and all, but honestly, I don’t care. So chop, chop. Leave now."

Jim’s lips parted, but no words came out. Deep down, he knew Lana was right, and the weight of that truth crushed him.

His shoulders slumped, his expression fell, and with a heavy sigh, he turned around, his steps slow and his face dropped down in defeat.

He took just one step forward when a voice rang out.

"Wait! Let’s not be rash here." Max said, his tone laced with reluctant patience. Everyone turned toward him as he exhaled again, scratching the back of his head. "If he isn’t going to be useful in combat, there are other ways he can be useful though."

"Like?" Lana arched a brow, her frown deepening as if already expecting some nonsense.

"Like carrying our equipment," Max replied plainly. "If there’s ever a need to bring back a beast carcass, he can do just that. We can’t always waste our strength dragging things around. There are many ways to utilize him without expecting him to fight."

Jake nodded slowly, stroking his chin. "I mean, I don’t see anything wrong with that. He doesn’t have to fight directly to contribute."

"Same here." Jasmine added, her voice calm but supportive as she gave Jim a soft smile.

Jim spun around instantly, his eyes wide and his grin eager, the gloom vanishing from his face in an instant. "Wait, does that mean...?"

"Yeah. They have agreed, so you’re on board." Lana sighed, scoffing once more before she turned and walked away, clearly uninterested in the decision.

"Welcome to the team." Max said with a small smile at the E ranked hunter, giving him a thumbs up.

"Yippee!" Jim shrieked at the top of his lungs, actually hopping in place like a child whose wish had finally been fulfilled. His face was full of pure joy, and for a moment, even Max couldn’t help but blink at his over-the-top excitement.