After completing the prayer ritual, Reyn followed Pollock back to the third squad's assembly point.
"From now on, before every mission—unless there's an emergency—we'll gather here, in this room," Pollock showed Reyn around the second-floor room and added: "Missions usually come about once every half month."
"The five Demon Extermination Squads take night shifts in rotation. Each shift requires at least three people. We have six in our squad now, so we pull night duty once every ten days."
"You can use all the facilities in this building. The Public Security Bureau covers training expenses for free."
"Also, find old man Martin as soon as possible. Have him teach you griffon riding. It's not hard—actually a bit easier than riding a horse."
Reyn nodded in understanding and asked:
"And where are the other squad members?"
"They're probably busy with their own things at this hour," Pollock thought for a moment and suggested: "If you're free tomorrow evening, we'll set a time and throw you a welcome dinner."
"I'm free tomorrow evening. Thank you for your concern, Captain," Reyn knew he needed to build rapport with his squadmates.
"No need to thank me—it's only natural."
After witnessing the duel, Pollock's attitude toward Reyn had become even friendlier. He remembered something, turned, took a palm-sized item from a hidden cabinet in the room, and handed it to Reyn, saying:
"These are your Communication Watches. Don't lose them."
"Communication Watches?" Reyn was puzzled.
The item in his hand resembled a pocket watch but was larger. The case was entirely silver. Opening the lid, Reyn saw a dial with hands that moved accurately, showing the time.
"Indeed a pocket watch, but more than that."
Reyn examined them. Without doubt, it was an alchemical artifact. A faint, steady ticking came from inside—the tiny mechanisms at work. The inner lid was engraved with runes emitting barely perceptible flows of spiritual power. Three metal buttons sat beside the dial. The elegant piece looked like a work of art and clearly cost a fortune.
"Communication Watches are a joint development by the Mechanics' Guild and the Alchemists Association. They use a magical material called sound-conducting stone, allowing communication over long distances," Pollock explained. "They're very easy to use."
He took out his own Communication Watches and demonstrated. Reyn understood immediately: essentially a simple radio, but magic-powered. The three side buttons controlled them. Holding the top one transmitted your voice. Holding the middle one let you hear incoming transmissions. The bottom set the time and wasn't for communication. On receiving a message, the watches vibrated slightly, and the middle button glowed brighter, signaling to listen.
The functionality was simple, but with significant limits. Communication Watches only received from specific devices. When one spoke, all other owners heard, like a shared channel. Channel control was tied to one device, managed by one person. This was how Demon Extermination Squad fighters kept quick contact.
Reyn knew nothing of their principles but could use them fine. Curiously, he asked:
"Captain, what's the range of these watches?"
"About three hundred li. Useless beyond that." Pollock added: "These are the basic models. They say top ones work across continents, but I've only heard rumors—don't know if true."
Reyn was secretly amazed: a satellite phone! He'd never suspected Communication Watches existed. Now he saw: though this world's comms weren't as convenient or widespread as his past life's telecoms, info transmission was fairly quick—at least not delayed by distance.
Seeing Reyn's interest, Pollock smiled:
"They're not cheap. Used not just for squad comms but as a symbol of Demon Extermination Squad membership. Keep them on you always and don't lose them."
"Got it."
Reyn pocketed the watches and suddenly asked:
"Captain, who's this Dris? Where's he from?" He'd asked before the duel, but Pollock had distracted him, and he'd forgotten. In the armory picking gear, no time for questions either.
Pollock had nothing to hide and answered:
"Dris is a noble from the Liansel family. His father, Viscount Perry, is Longsand's tax office deputy chief and very wealthy. The family owns many enterprises, mostly demonic soul farms."
"Demonic soul farms..."
It clicked for Reyn. No wonder Dris, a mere fourth-level magical swordsman, had multiple elements and was noticeably stronger than others of his class and level.
Pollock continued:
"Viscount Perry's an ordinary human but shrewd and successful in business. He brought the duke huge wealth and enjoys full trust, earning a noble title—viscount, no less."
"And connected to the duke too?" Reyn felt his head starting to ache.
This Silver Star Duke seemed incredibly money-hungry: openly selling posts and titles, fusing officials and merchants. Wasn't he afraid they'd wreck Longsand's governance? But thinking it over, Reyn realized: the Silver Star Duke was a Holy Soul Mage. His power was absolute; he feared no petty schemes. Maybe he cultivated such people to "harvest" them later, like a leek field.
"Does the Liansel family have other Superhumans?" Reyn asked. Their influence seemed big; he needed precautions.
Pollock thought seriously.
"As far as I know, no."
"Nobles find it somewhat easier to raise Superhuman offspring than commoners, but still very hard. Viscount Perry has three legitimate kids. Dris, the eldest, is the only Superhuman. Whether Perry has bastards, I don't know."
Reyn nodded slightly. He'd heard from Viola: even the ducal family, hundreds strong, had few Superhumans—less than a tenth. For Perry, a commoner upstart, it was lucky to "level up" his eldest to fourth-level magical swordsman with money.
But no Superhumans in Liansel didn't mean Perry couldn't hire others. Money makes even devils serve. If the Silver Star Duke stooped to anything for wealth, what about other Superhumans?
Pollock guessed Reyn's thoughts and reassured him:
"No need to worry too much. You're in the Demon Extermination Squad now—nobles won't dare touch you."
"Plus, you're acquainted with Master Roger. Just hint that to Viscount Perry; knowing his caution, he won't harm you."
"True, when Dris returns, you'll have to clash again."
Reyn grinned carefree. Dris took his hammer blow and would recover three-four months. By then, Reyn's strength would surely grow; no fear of schemes. If another chance came, finish the scum.
Reyn bid Pollock farewell, left the Public Security Bureau, and returned to his apartment. He changed and, as usual, headed to the Violet House for music practice. Delayed, he arrived over an hour late. Viola asked worriedly, but he just said he'd joined the Demon Extermination Squad, omitting Dris.
The next evening, Reyn went to the pre-booked restaurant to meet squadmates. Entering the private room, he found everyone assembled. Besides familiar Captain Pollock, Holy Swordsman Frida, and Berserker Hargrove, three strangers.
Reyn scanned them with Soul Eye, identifying classes. The couple huddled opposite the door looked under thirty. The man was a third-level mage, a rare Mage of All Souls. The woman—a second-level fire sorcerer, pretty and petite, with faint fire runes under her skin and scarlet eyes like twin flames. They laughed and chatted with an ordinary-looking black-haired youth—a second-level Shadow Warrior.
Six in the room, all Superhumans except Pollock—low ranks. Each a unique class: fourth-level Ranger, third-level Holy Swordsman, second-level Berserker, third-level Mage of All Souls, second-level fire sorcerer, second-level Shadow Warrior, first-level combat mage.
"Must be deliberate selection by the Demon Extermination Squad," Reyn thought. Superhuman class synergies often yielded surprises.
"Reyn, there you are." Pollock smiled. The others stopped talking, stood, and greeted him. They'd heard of yesterday; eyes showed undisguised surprise and curiosity. A first-level Superhuman beating higher-ranked Dris sounded legendary. Especially Holy Swordsman Frida—she recalled Reyn. Weeks ago, ordinary human; now squadmate and so strong. The contrast amazed her.
Reyn smiled and nodded slightly to Frida. He bowed formally and said politely:
"Greetings. I'm Reyn. Pleased to meet you all."
Squadmates responded eagerly. Seeing Reyn easygoing, they relaxed.
"Everyone, sit."
Pollock was happiest. Once seated, he said:
"Reyn, let me introduce. This is Frida—you've seen her twice." He pointed to the over-two-meter giant: "Hargrove, you met the night before last. He's a Berserker, so hot-tempered. Reyn, be patient with him."
Hargrove had clearly been briefed. Grumpy, he just nodded reluctantly to Reyn and buried into his drink mug. Reyn ignored it. Berserker class "Fury" element affected mood; most were hotheads. In "Basilisk" tavern, they'd brawl over a glance.
Pollock continued: the Mage of All Souls was Milton; fire sorcerer, Alberna. Shadow Warrior: Ilay. Except Milton, the others felt awkward around Reyn.
Reyn, however, was intrigued by Milton. Third-level Mage of All Souls—very strong, young too. Talent surpassed others; only Frida maybe matched. Geniuses like him studied under mentors in Mage Towers, bright futures. Why join Demon Extermination Squad?