Chapter 99 Joining The Shelter
'Condition?'
Justin swept his gaze on the three without uttering a word.
The atmosphere inside the conference room became thick.
The nervous middle-aged man palm sweats. He looked at the two young people beside him from the corner of his eyes.
'Did I say something wrong!?' He cried in his heart.
"Tell me more about you first?" Justin finally said.
The heavy load on their back was finally lifted. The three exhaled a sigh of relief.
The middle-aged man cleared his throat and rubbed his palm against his black pants.
"I'm Howard, First Circle Existence. Enhance Combat." Howard said slowly.
"I'm Jordan, First Circle Existence Enhance Combat." Jourdan the young man said, looking at Justin's face.
"I'm Ashlee, First Circle Existence Enhance Combat." Ashlee the lady announced with a tight lips smile.
'They are all enhanced Combat!' Justin was shocked.
He had never seen anyone with the same ability in their camp. This is the first.
Nevertheless, he didn't let the shocking revelation appear on his face.
"With your strength, why should I allow you to bargain with us." He announced.
"We didn't fight those savage people because of you. They stepped on our reverse scale and their destruction was imminent. You people were just saved by chance." He added.
'Kira, can you get Nika?' He communicated to Kira through their soul link.
At the back of the shelter, a lot of people were busy working, sorting out the beasts and some renovation was going on to accommodate the large beast's part.
'Alright,' Kira responded without any change in her expression.
With the display of Kira's strength in the concluded battle.
Everyone now respected her and also wondered where the beast was tamed. She knew their thoughts but kept quiet.
Inside the conference room, Howard and the others were speechless. They stared at each other not knowing what to say.
After a couple of seconds, Howard recomposed himself and straightened his back.
"We know that with our meager strength we don't have the right to ask anything from you. But with our addition to the camp, we speed up the development of the camp." Howard paused to arrange his thoughts.
"You're called the king, but you can't be king without people." He added.
"You're right, our population is little." Justin agreed.
"But any First Circle in our camp could defeat you. Our camp is only filled with elites not mediocre"
The trio was speechless. They didn't know what to say. Howard sighed and gave up.
What has been affecting them for the past couple of weeks was solved by three people.
If they are not elites then what are they!?
Bang!
The door was kicked open and a young girl rushed inside the room. She didn't bat an eye at the three people.
She rushed toward Justin.
"Uncle Justin, what took you so long before you came to save me!? Lola complained and jumped into his hand.
Seeing this, Justin quickly stretched his hand to catch her and smiled.
"When did you wake up?" He rubbed her hair.
"Just now." She pouted.
"Your highness… " Vera's voice came from outside.
"I'm ok. I don't need any check-up." Lola frowned when she heard Vera's voice.
At once, Justin realized what was going on. He looked at Lola's pouting face and stared at the entrance.
"You can leave. She is alright." He said.
"Alright."
"Yeh! I know big brother Justin won't send me back." She giggled happily.
Justin shook his head and smiled. "I'm currently busy. So if you want to stay with me…"
"I will be quiet." She answered, turning to look at the three people in the room.
The three stared at Lola and Justin in shock. The previously cold and detached Justin disappeared in an instance with Lola's appearance.
They couldn't believe the swift shift in behavior.
"So what do you have to say again?" Justin asked.
The trio recovered from their initial shock and sighed silently.
"I agree with your camp having stronger people than us. But you don't have to look down on us because you're stronger than us." Jordan said in a slight annoyance.
"Who are you?" Lola asked before Justin could speak.
The room descended into an abrupt silence. A smile appeared on Justin's face while the trio was stupefied.
It took them a couple of seconds to recover from the initial shock. Jordan swallowed the lumps in his throat and cleared his voice.
He looked at Howard and Ashlee not knowing what to do. Should he have replied to the kid or not?
Seeing Jordan's questioning gaze, both the duo averted their gaze. They have nothing to do with him.
"Who are you?" Lola asked again.
Jordan forced out a laugh and said.
"Kid, older people are talking. You shouldn't butt into it. "
"But you're talking to my older brother. Besides, I've never seen your face in the camp before." Lola said.
"Oh! We are from the other camp?" Jordan forced a smile.
"So you're the people that we save. And you came to join us" Lola added.
"That… you don't need to worry about that. We are still discussing it with your elder brother."
"Then why do you say my brother is looking down on you?"
"That — " Jordan's voice trailed, not knowing what to say.
"I don't care. If you want to join us. Why are you still discussing it with my brother?" Lola turned to Justin and asked.
~~~~
"What are they still doing? They wanted to join us, let them join us." She put on a puppy face.
Knock! Knock!
Nika matched inside the conference room and looked at the three for a sec before averting his gaze. He gave Justin a slight bow.
"I heard you need me?"
"Yes. I've been waiting. These people want to join us. But they have something related to you." Justin said casually.
"What could that be?" Nika creased his brow.
"They are all Enhance Combat."
Hmm!
Nika was surprised and squinted his gaze staring at the three.
"What do you think?" Justin asked.
"That came out of the blue." Nika's response still looking at the three.
"Do you feel any connection?"
This was the main reason he called him. He wanted to test his theory. The moment he realized the trio.
He wanted to test if there was a way for people of the same ability to have a connection.
"No?" Nika shook his head.
'Perhaps, more tests are needed.' Justin thought.
Meanwhile, Howard and the others were surprised by Nika's arrival. The pressure coming from him told them. He was far stronger than them. And the pressure from him was higher than Justin.
'They are truly freaks?' Jordan thought.
He knew how difficult it was to level up to a First Circle Existence. But why are the people stronger than the First Circle popping out like candy in this place?
"Now, what I need to know has been confirmed." Justin's expression changed and turned stern.
"If you want to join us. I will allow that. But if you dare to negotiate with us again. This should be the last time."
"I understand your plight, but you don't have to worry about that. If we are that, you won't be sitting here and negotiating with me"
"Did I make myself clear?" His fierce gaze was fixed on the three.
"Y-Yes. Yes." They chorus.
Their muscles tightened and a bead of sweat dripped from their heads. It was like they were being stared at by a powerful beast.
"Also, when you join the camp. Whatever position you previously have would be void. Everyone is given a position or resources according to their contribution points." Justin announced.
"So, are you joining us or what?"
Howard inhaled and exhaled twice before he could control his thumping heart.
"We're pleased to join the camp. But can you tell us more about contribution points?" He asked with a forceful smile.
Justin averted his gaze and looked at Nika. Noticing his gaze, Nika nodded.
"Contribution points work as currency and status. With enough contribution points, you get anything, also when you contribute enough, you are given certain privileges…" Nika paused a bit before he continued.
"There are various means to acquire contribution points. But the easiest method is going out to kill the monster beast and find resources. While others invent something important and useful for the shelter. And more." He concluded.
"Do you have any questions?" He asked.
The three looked at each other and smiled. The slight nervousness on their body lessens.
"No. We understand everything and thank you for accepting us." Howard gave a slight bow.
"Alright, follow him and ask him anything you don't understand," Justin said.
The three nodded and stood up from their seats, preparing to depart. But suddenly, Ashlee stopped and looked at Nika.
"If I reveal vital information. That could be considered a contribution, right?" She asked.
"Right." Nika nodded.
A smile crept onto her face and she nodded. Quickly, she reveals a hidden location where good could be found.
After Ashlee finished telling the location of the resources. Howard and Jordan stared at her and had their mouths slackened.
"What!?" She snapped.