Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 185 Underworld, Sea, Air, and Land

"What the fuck!? How is this even legal!? And after they dragged you around like that everywhere!? I mean, we're the only ones allowed to drag you like that, Rhys!"

"...Thank you, Lina… but can all of you let me get dressed first?"

After they were cornered by General Banner in the parking lot, Rhys and the others were brought to a large warehouse, where the task force assigned to take out the Dregs of Society was currently stationed. Rhys was provided with his own tent, but it proved to be too small when Ayesha and the others also decided to stay there.

And right now, the only thing Rhys could really do was stretch his hand to the side as Katarina dressed him up with his coat, while everyone else just loitered around the small tent… with Agatha even staring at him like he was some sort of buffet table.

"Let's just go. Fuck all of this," Lina scoffed and rolled her eyes, "I don't really like it there, but let's just return to Enkland."

"I don't tend to agree with the doll, but that's a viable option, Recruit," Ayesha crossed her arms and sighed, "You… don't need to do this."

"But I do," Rhys shook his head as Katarina started fixing his coat and placed the red band of the Wilder's Harem around his arm, "Even if the government did not force me to do this…

…I would have hunted the Dregs of Society myself."

Maria, who had been keeping quiet on the side and just checking her tablet, glanced at Rhys as he said that; the two of them, looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds before just looking away.

"...But are you sure you want to do this alone, Rhys?" Katarina let out a very long and deep sigh as she placed her hands on Rhys's chest, "You do know I'm here, right?"

"We're here," Lina quickly added as she approached Rhys, placing her cheek on his back. As for Ayesha, she really only placed her fist on his arm, lightly hitting it and smiling.

Vicky was about to join them as she awkwardly stretched out her hand, but Lina quickly glared at her while shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, but you don't belong in the harem just yet."

"W—"

"No one's in a harem," Katarina groaned as she backed away from Rhys, "All of this is just… a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Then…" Agatha stood up and also started very slowly approaching Rhys, "...I think I want some of those benefits."

"No!" "Can you please just go away?" "I don't think so." Katarina, Lina, and Ayesha all raised their voices at the same time as they saw Agatha carrying a weird smile on her face.

"I can take that woman's place," Agatha only shrugged before pointing at Maria, "She doesn't seem to be joining the lot of you."

"I prefer a more steamy scenario than this one, Your Highness," Maria did not even glance at Agatha as she spoke and just continued to scan her tablet.

"Y—"

[Officers, please gather at the central site for briefing ASAP. Officers, please…]

And before Rhys's mutually beneficial arrangement could start arguing, an announcement calling for him resounded throughout the entire warehouse.

"Hm…" Rhys nodded as he moved away from Katarina and the others, "Please make sure our members are fine. They must have been… traumatized by what happened."

"Don't worry," Katarina smiled and shook her head, "Most of them are back in the HQ. We'll handle it, don't think about anything else."

"Right…" Rhys nodded, looking at everyone before leaving the tent. And as soon as he stepped out, all eyes were on him; with most of them glaring at him as if he was the worst criminal they have ever seen — a complete contrast with the way he was being looked at inside the tent.

There were several other tents there, but Rhys heeded them no mind at all as he made his way to the center of the warehouse. There were already a few people gathered there, but Rhys made sure to keep his distance from them, as none of them even needed to say anything for him to know they didn't like him at all.

And so, Rhys just grabbed one of the chairs and decided to drag it to the back of the briefing area.

"I don't think so, pal."

Before he could even take 3 steps, however, one of the officers there also grabbed the chair.

"Go stand in the corner, Army Boy."

"..." Rhys looked at the officer for a few seconds. The badge on the officer's uniform showed he was of higher rank than him — but sadly for him and everyone else in this room, he wasn't here as a member of the military.

"Did you hear me, Lowborn!? What is wrong with—!!!"

And before the man could finish his words, he found himself suddenly being dragged across the ground as Rhys just casually continued dragging the seat away along with him. The man let go of the chair, spinning on the floor for a little bit before immediately standing up and rushing toward Rhys.

"Woah, woah! Everyone needs to chill the F down. Especially you, Stretcher."

Another officer moved between Rhys and the man, Stretcher, with both of his hands raised, "We're all brothers and sisters here, chill."

"That Lowborn doesn't belong here, he's unlisted — and from the Army. I'd suggest you move away, Lincoln," Stretcher did not back down and pushed Lincoln away as he made his way toward Rhys again; standing in front of him and not being fazed at all even though Rhys towered over him,

"Let go of the chair, pretty boy."

"..." Rhys did not really say anything and just looked at the other empty chairs in the briefing area. And with a small sigh, he really did let go of the chair.

"Good boy," Stretcher smirked and nodded, "You—"

Rhys did not wait for him to say anything else, however, as he just walked back to the briefing area and sat at one of the empty chairs there instead.

"Pft," Lincoln, as well as the other officers who were watching the scenario unfold, could not help but almost snort as they saw Stretcher being ignored.

"You little—"

"That's enough! All of you take your seats!" Unfortunately for Stretcher, before he could even do anything, a man carrying the badge of a Captain arrived, with several people behind him pushing a large screen.

Everyone quickly saluted and found their seats as he ordered… As for Stretcher, since he was holding the chair that Rhys placed at the very back of the briefing area, he had no choice but to just stay at the back.

"While all of you are comparing who has the bigger balls here, we have managed to find a possible location where members of the so-called Dregs of Society are gathered," the Captain said before pointing at the screen behind him, which showed an image of a map,

"They have a very skilled hacker within their ranks, so it took us a while to pinpoint their location. There is also a possibility that they are leading us to someplace else — but we have no choice but to check on-site and raid the building. Stretcher, you and your team… What in god's name are you doing all the way out there!?"

"S… Sorry, Sir!" Stretcher quickly stood up and started dragging his chair.

"God damn it, Lieutenant!" The Captain once again raised his voice as the noise of Stretcher dragging the chair whistled in the air. The Captain then turned to look at the other officers before his eyes landed on Rhys, "I changed my mind. Wilder, you will be leading the main assault along with Lincoln."

"But sir, he's from the Army!" Stretcher could not help but exclaim as he looked back and forth between Rhys and the Captain.

"Lieutenant, what are we?" The Captain took in a short but very deep breath as he looked at Stretcher.

"Navy USEALS, Sir!" Stretcher saluted.

"No, we are soldiers," the Captain glared at Stretcher, "And our primary order is to follow orders. So…

…what exactly are you doing now?"

"Sir…" Stretcher could really only look down as he heard the Captain's words.

"I see," the Captain let out a small scoff as he noticed that some of the officers in front of him also held an expression of objection, "Perhaps the lot of you feel you are superior to Mr. Wilder. But you see, Mr. Wilder offers something none of you have — advantage. We're hunting a fucking fanatic that treats Mr. Wilder here as a god."

"..." Rhys wanted to say something, but just chose not to as… the atmosphere wasn't really allowing it.

"And if you are still displeased with my decision, then your unit will also be joining Wilder, Lieutenant Stretcher."

"Sir!" Stretcher smiled before looking at Rhys.

"And to ensure this misbehavior by you does not happen again… Wilder," the Captain then turned to look at Rhys, gesturing to him to stand up from his seat,

"…Effective immediately, for this mission alone, you are hereby given the rank of Commander."

"...Sir?"