Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 355: Disband Or Not To Disband

”So, should we take more missions or train more and resume the mission?” William asked as though he could read Asher’s mind. Asher’s purple eyes shifted towards William as though saying they were thinking of the same thing.

But Asher’s thoughts shifted to another decision he wanted to make. Should he keep the team or disband it? The Star Academy’s Logistics and Mission Operations Hall allowed solo missions after the first three teamed missions. He had already planned to move solo after completing his first three teamed missions. That decision had been clear in his mind long before their current situation, almost like a path predetermined by practicality.

In fact, he had planned to speed-run through it by completing three missions in three days, but now reality had shown him it wasn’t that easy. The world outside the Academy had proven far messier, unpredictable, and demanding than he initially assumed.

’Disband or not to disband,’ he thought to himself. He wasn’t deliberately changing his former decision to disband just because they were friends, no. Asher had planned to disband the team because of the gap in strength between the three of them.

He was stronger than William by an extremely wide margin, and William was in turn stronger than Finch by an extremely wide margin. These gaps could easily turn fatal in the wrong situation. Underestimating that reality was something Asher refused to do.

Asher had thought that the both of them wouldn’t be able to keep up during the mission, hence slowing him down and limiting him in many ways. But with their first mission, although they couldn’t match his brilliance or power, they hadn’t held him back in any shape or form. They moved with surprising awareness for their level, adjusting quickly.

Besides, Asher wasn’t delusional to think there was exactly anyone who could match his power to properly form a team within the first year class. Even Ryaen wouldn’t last more than a minute against him. The only reason she had been able to last that long during the Star Academy entrance battle exam was because he was holding back, not knowing how much she could endure against his attacks.

Mistakenly going overboard could kill her, and he wasn’t eager to begin his Academy journey with a corpse under his name.

Asher sighed mentally as he decided to shelf the thought. He would think about it after all three missions. He wouldn’t conclude on a single mission.

”I say we take another mission,” Finch spoke, replying to William’s words. ”We can accumulate points, train for a longer time, and when our new client sees Asher’s face, they would be inclined to gift us more points.” Finch added in finality, a smile appearing on his face as the businessman side of him seemed to emerge naturally. His excitement was almost contagious.

He had gained enormous points just by being with Asher, why not ride the wave even more? Finch was nothing if not opportunistic, and in the Academy, that was often a survival trait rather than a flaw.

Asher’s purple eyes shifted towards Finch, who had spoken about using the Wargrave name to subtly acquire more points from their clients. He wasn’t surprised that Finch had thought of this.

Nobles were all like this, always seeking gains and opportunities... well, not only nobles, practically everyone in Crymora who had the means and power. Advantage was not a concept limited to status; it was universal.

”What do you think?” William asked as he turned his head towards Asher, who had been silent for a while.

”Hmmm... I will go with whatever decision you two make. Besides, there is no need to rush the decision. We still have the entire day. We can literally decide tomorrow morning and start a mission tomorrow morning without delay. So you two should think about it for a while,” Asher spoke as he sipped his juice. His tone remained calm, steady, almost detached.

William arched an eyebrow, not understanding why Asher had left the decision entirely up to them. Unknown to both William and Finch, Asher was also kind of indecisive, train or mission, he didn’t know which to pick.

”And if we both have different opinions?” Finch asked, testing the logic behind Asher’s neutrality.

”Well, I guess I would have to choose, since it would be two against one. But I’m confident you two will have the same opinion,” Asher replied with a shrug. His nonchalance made the matter feel less urgent.

William and Finch nodded their heads at Asher’s words. ”We will decide by evening today, or early tomorrow.”

”Also, since we are here, we might as well catch up on the theory classes, like History class and the others,” Finch suggested as he rose from his seat. His initiative surprised even himself.

”Where are you going?” William asked him.

”To get a glass. Asher has been drinking alone for a while,” Finch replied, moving toward the cupboard.

”Bring two,” William stated.

Within moments, Finch was back with two glasses in hand. With that, their conversation continued, the atmosphere becoming more relaxed.

”I know someone that might have their notes up to date,” William spoke as he poured himself a glass of juice from the jug. His mind drifted to the classmates who never seemed to miss a day.

”Wouldn’t they be on a mission? After all, it’s been an entire week since we were allowed to start taking missions,” Asher asked. His tone was curious rather than doubtful.

”I will simply ask,” William replied. With a thought, an orb appeared in his hand from his space ring. Channeling Astra into it, he started communicating with someone else. What he was holding was a communication orb, which Asher recognized. Many people had it within the Star Academy.

Asher simply never saw the need to buy it since he was practically only communicating with William and Finch within the Star Academy. Besides, it was limited by distance, making it less practical for him personally.

But Asher understood that simply because he didn’t need it didn’t mean William and Finch didn’t. As nobles, they knew many commoners and other nobles, hence the communication orb was needed.

Within minutes, a knock echoed within the room. Rising to his feet, William headed towards the door. Opening it, a petite girl could be seen standing there, looking at him. William smiled; they conversed a little before he took the book she held in her hands. Without another word, he returned to the living room and shut the door.

As he walked in, Asher stared at him with a knowing smile, as he had seen everything through his Omni Perception.

”It’s not what you think,” William said defensively.

”I never said anything,” Asher replied innocently.

”You were thinking it,” William replied.

Asher simply shrugged. Finch was confused at what the both of them were talking about but didn’t say anything. With that, the three of them started to read about the classes they had missed while they were away on the Monster Tide mission at the Rivelle Barony.

Within seconds, Asher removed his gaze as he was simply done, leaving William and Finch who stared at him, wondering why he was no longer reading. But Asher didn’t bother to explain. William and Finch, too busy to ask, simply continued reading.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: So, two questions.

1] Do you want the team to remain or be disbanded?

2] Do you want a next mission or not?