Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

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Cecil stared at Yun's extended hand for a long moment, noting his fair skin despite being a “pirate”. She wore a conflicted look on her face, looking at the children that gave her pleading looks.

These children and their parents...they are innocent. 

They only want to reunite with their parents. 

She looked back at Hana, Xue and K'xug, noticing the look of affirmation in their eyes. 

“Alright, I will--no, we will help you," Cecil shook his hand, her voice firm. "But only for the sake of these children.”

At that moment, the system prompted her with a message. 

She had completed her optional mission.

[ Optional Mission #11: The Dark Side of the second continent, Tul, The Four Cities of Arts
Objective completed!
Reward: 1000 points
Remaining points: 5000 points ]

[ Please be warned, every mission issued from now on will be compulsory to accept, and to complete. ] 

[ Good luck, Cecil Lan~ ]

Cecil had no other choice but to brace herself for the next few compulsory missions, whatever they may be. 

Kiyae grinned, raising her arms in the air as if to embrace Cecil. 

“Welcome aboard, comrades--”

Xue appeared by Cecil's side, pushing Yun's hand away. At the same time, he pulled Cecil closer to him by wrapping his arm around her shoulder. 

“Even if we agreed to help you, we aren't comrades,” Xue stated, narrowing his eyes. “You used the children to deceive us.”

Cecil started to open her mouth to retort, until she realised Xue was right. 

Moreover, knowing Xue's wariness of strangers, especially those who have deceived him once…

...it would be difficult for them to gain back his trust at all. 

No matter what it was for, Yun still deceived them.

They might just easily stab us in the back if they wanted to. 

Kiyae withdrew, shrugging her shoulders. “Fair enough.”

Yun nodded without saying a word. 

“Oh Yun, did you...inform our captain about this newfound plan?”

Yun glanced at her, nonchalant. “I thought you told him.”

“I thought you told him.” Yun responded, raising his eyebrows. 

“No, I did not,” Kiyae scratched her head, looking at Ryo. “Did you think Ryo told him then?” 

Ryo was still snoring away on the couch, and one of the children was no longer afraid of poking him now. The child poked Ryo constantly on his face, but Ryo never woke up even once. 

“No chance, huh.” 

“Nope.” 

Cecil wore a troubled frown. “I recall your captain not being too happy that we...destroyed his ships.” 

“Not too happy?” Kiyae laughed, waving it off. “Most of the ships were stolen anyway, and Haru is filthy rich! Don’t worry!” 

“You steal but you saved these children?” Hana gasped, pointing at Kiyae. “Cecil was right, you are bad guys! But very weird bad guys!”