Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 31: Chapter 27: Hunting

Read chapter 31 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Chapter 27: Hunting Chapter 27: Hunting Figuring out what to do with Kate and the rest of her squad was harder than Alex had anticipated. Despite the obvious issues with just letting them go versus keeping them as perpetual prisoners, there were additional concerns. Feeding them for one, since nobody was willing to let them starve. The bathroom situation was another. Constant guard of tied-up people was more difficult than Alex had realized. Logistics wasn't his area, he was best when working alone and only having to worry about his own... bodily needs. "We can't even run away right now if we wanted to," Peter said. Right now, he was the one Alex was negotiating with. Kate wasn't in a very talkative mood, given her broken ass face. "With all of your injuries, yeah I have to agree," Alex said. Given Kate's bruised up face, her knee still healing, as well as her broken nose, she wasn't going anywhere. Zach and Cole, the other two members of the ambush squad -as Alex thought of them in his head- were also still recovering from a combination of broken ribs, broken limbs, and a concussion. The three of them were pretty well and truly beaten up. "Then untie us. We won't run away and we can work on starting to help you all," Peter continued his pitch. Having to babysit was certainly a task no one on Alex's squad wanted. Even Holly and Lance were averse to having to watch their former teammates all day. Letting them perform the menial tasks around the camp while they waited to heal was what Peter was shooting for right now. This was the current ask, brought down from Peter wanting them all just set free whole sale. Alex had to explain the situation with the town of Vrung’s Quarry, the Terraxum kingdom, Worldstriders, and everything else Garret and he had figured out while they were gone. Peter was smart enough to understand that they couldn't just be set loose only to later bring danger to them from the other citizens of this new and strange world. "Listen, we are all soldiers here," Alex squatted down to Peter's height on the ground. He winced from the pain of his still-healing arm injury. Team ambush-squad wasn't the only one still healing from the fight yesterday. "But I'm not a killer.” Alex continued. “I'm not just going to murder you four to be rid of your threat. You will be released, to leave if you wish, or join us. That's your choice." Kate scoffed at this, then coughed, and then spat out a glob of blood. It looked like she had something to say, but all the blood in her sinuses protested for her instead. Alex ignored her. "I believe you would understand our point of view as well," Peter said. "Unknown land, unknown threats. You appear to have hidden inside knowledge that could affect our survival, about this system and its workings. We arrive to talk and find you have left to a village that only you know about?" "You saw us maneuvering to get an upper hand then take you out?" Eric added. Alex looked over his shoulder to see the captain a couple of feet back, overlooking Alex and Peter. "Yes," Peter said. "But we weren't. Pierce and Singer were just going to collect more information. Working together from the start was my suggestion, Lieutenant Locke was the one who disagreed." Eric said. Kate released another blob of blood in retort. "Okay then," Alex said. "Look, we can release you four and let you all stay in the camp and the immediate area. I’ll even draw the glyph to let you guys figure out your elements and let you read the aether gathering tome. But until we figure out more, we can't let any of you just roam free. I'm sorry about that, I am, but it's the way it is." "Fair enough, that's a deal I'm willing to take. " Peter finally agreed. Alex looked at Cole and Zach, and each of them also nodded. He looked at Kate, who stared back with anger still filling up her swollen face. After a long moment, she too nodded. "Good. We will untie you now then. Later today, we are headed out for a quest I have. We are bringing all th