The Dragon Lord System
S2 - Last Reunion ?

"So, Rio, what do you want to talk to us about?" alex asked, To Rio directly.

Alex looked at Rio seriously, waiting for an explanation from their old friend. All the members of the Phantom Nemesis party were secretly curious about Rio's request for help.

"Actually, there's something I want to ask you guys. No, I need the help of all of you, my old comrades," Rio said in a stern voice.

A moment of laughter and laughter stopped. The five party members focused on Rio, waiting for his explanation. They felt strange because Rio rarely asked for help like this. Usually, he always appeared confident and independent.

"What help exactly? So you're begging us all to gather here?" ask one of the party members with curiosity.

Rio took a deep breath before giving an explanation. He explained about the mission given by King Theovilus to investigate the Anomaly in the Elysian Forest.

Although it was not his official duty as the King's personal bodyguard, Rio felt that the mission was very important and dangerous. She needs help from her friends who have helped her so much in past adventures.

"You were always there for me, you were friends who saved my life many times. Now, I need you guys again," Rio said gratefully.

Suddenly, all the members of Phantom Nemesis stood up and left their seats with various reasons. Rio felt perplexed seeing them immediately looking for a pretext to escape from this meeting.

"I'm sorry, Rio, I'm reminded there's something urgent that I have to do" said one of them.

"Sorry, Rio, I'm practicing a new magic after this," added another.

"It seems that I have to go to the gun shop, my weapon is ready to be taken" said another.

And some pretended to have a fever and wanted to leave the room.

The members of Phantom Nemesis moved towards the guild exit, but Rio quickly blocked those who wanted to escape. He knew something was wrong, they seemed to be trying to avoid it.

"I'm sorry, I can't let you run away just like that" Rio said firmly, holding those who wanted to escape.

However, his comrades only smiled awkwardly and tried to break away from his grasp.

"Rio, we really have an urgent matter, believe me," one of them said in an anxious voice.

"Please wait! Listen to what I have to say first! No, please listen! Help u! Help me!" Rio tried hard to convince them, his hand clasping tightly onto the shoulder of one of his comrades who was about to leave.

After a while, he managed to get the attention of all of them. With a serious face, Rio told the situation to them. He explained that King Theovilus had ordered to investigate the many scattered beetles that appeared in the Elysian Forest.

"In order to conclude, you must have been ordered by King Theovilus, right? To investigate the large number of beetles appearing in the Elysian Forest, right?" ask the Phantom Nemesis leader, Alex.

"Yes, you're right Alex," Rio nods to the leader.

The Elysian Forest is indeed a very dangerous zone, even referred to as a death zone because it borders directly with the Elysian Mine.

However, as these mines were very useful, the country always monitored the area near its borders to reduce the damage inflicted by the many ferocious monsters near the Elysian Forest.

"There are three reasons I need you, my friends. First, sending the surveillance team alone was not enough," Rio said firmly, his eyes remaining focused on his party members.

"In this matter, you are experienced and tough adventurers. Even though the nest of beetles is the lowest grade monster, still we have to act quickly to prevent the potential for bigger problems later on," Rio continued seriously.

"Second, it's faster to ask all of you directly than through the guild, therefore I'm telling you to gather together" he continued.

And, the third point is important," Rio said seriously, creating silence in the room. "This is the intuition of King Theovilus. He was very interested in this report. That's why I was asked to investigate this," Rio said firmly.

"What?!" Everyone in the room was shocked to hear it. They never thought that their mission this time would be related to the intuition of the king.

"Intuition?" Ask one of them, it's still hard to believe.

"Yes. To be honest, it's disturbing. But you know, King Theovilus' intuition is often correct. In fact, it has already solved the crisis in the country. I've been with him for 10 years and almost from his intuition it's right and it doesn't miss" Rio told friends with a slight joke to ease tensions.

Slowly, the faces of the Phantom Nemesis members changed from shock to doubt and finally, into a sense of trust. They knew Rio, and when he said that King Theovilus' intuition was worth considering, they trusted him completely.

Rio turned off his cigarette that had been in the ashtray on the table for a long time. He bowed to everyone with great supplication.

"Please, help me! I know this is a crazy request. I know I can't convince you guys. But you guys are the only people I can count on." Rio said with a sincere plea. His gaze drifted from one face to another, seeking support from his old friends.

Rio was indeed the right hand of King Theovilus, but he had no power in the royal palace. There was nothing he could rely on, especially the nobles who were always harassing him and ridiculing him at all times. Almost everyone in the palace thought it was rubbish.

King Theovilus had actually ordered the capable noble knights to participate with Rio, many of them looking face to face saying that they would come with Rio to investigate the Elysian Forest with him.

Their threats just came, threatening to injure Rio's wife, some even threatening to kill Rio's pregnant wife if he told King Theovilus.

Inwardly, Rio felt a great and fiery rage. He was eager to slaughter those rogue nobles who dared to threaten the life of his beloved wife.

However, he knew that if he got angry and fought them, those nobles would happily injure Rio's wife. Inevitably, Rio could only nod and obey the royals of the rascal.

There was only one thing that Rio could rely on in this situation, namely his old friends whom he had known during his adventurer days. They were the only people he could trust completely and would never betray him.

"Hmmm.." said Alex.

"Have you asked Gazel about this, Rio? He is much stronger than us" Alex told Rio with a serious look.

"I don't know how to contact that crazy fighter. I don't even know where he is after 10 years. The other person I know who is strong other than Gazel, is Diabelle, but I can't reach her either" Rio explained to Alex with a face full of uncertainty.

"Hmm, so that's why you came to us, isn't it?" alex said with a pouting expression. Other members also showed similar facial features.

Rio felt even more worried. It seemed like they were going to reject his infatuated request. But he had no other choice. If they refused, then Rio would go investigate the Elysian Forest alone.

The situation was getting tense, but Rio decided to vent his courage and pleaded sincerely to his old friends, "Please, I do know my request looks crazy, but you guys are my only hope"

A few long seconds passed, the atmosphere became silent. However, then the members of Phantom Nemesis began to look at each other, as if there were thoughts chasing each other in their minds.

"...Alright. We'll take it."

After a moment of being stunned, Rio finally realized that those beloved old friends had actually accepted his request to go to the Elysian Forest. The widened gazes addressed to them turned into expressions of haru and thank you.

"Seriously, why are you surprised by such a reaction? You idiot!" said the black-haired woman with a distinctive satire style.

"What's the problem? Is it weird that we agreed to go to a dangerous place, my friends?" alex said in a relaxed tone.

Rio smiled, feeling lucky to have friends as good as them. However, another member, who seemed to hate King Theovilus greatly, expressed his view, "Alright, I understand. But we won't believe your intuition or anything from your boss, VILUS."

"Ehem, actually his name is Theovilus, not Vilus," Rio said smilingly trying to correct the mistake of his party members.

"Ah, whatever. Clearly, we only accept this request because of you, Rio. Don't make us regret it!" said one of the male members with a stern look.

After a moment of haru feeling, Rio subconsciously came forward and sincerely declared, "After I left you all for these 10 Years... But, you still believe me, after leaving this party." His eyes were teary as he looked at the familiar faces he had longed for so long.

"Well?!" said the black-haired woman, quickly standing up and with a joke as usual, she strangled Rio. "How long do you think you were with us before? YOU'VE BEEN WITH US FOR 15 YEARS STUPID! We always believed in you, RIO!" continued Viona while extending her hand to Rio's shoulder sincerely. Her smile is so charming.

Other members also expressed their agreement with various boisterous comments.

"Vi-Viona." said Rio while moved, but also smiling happily.

"That's it, don't cry, fool!" viona said as she pinched Rio's cheek gently.

"We're used to adventuring with you, and that's reason enough for us to accept this job, Rio" he said firmly, but behind his words was a deep sense of friendship.

The other members nodded in agreement, indicating that they had all fully accepted Rio back into their group.

HEHEHE, It seems that there is still a sense of love in your heart, Viona, to Rio," said one of them with a mischievous joke.

"STUPID?! Can you say it again? Do I need to kick your face, you idiot!" reply Viona with a flushed face. Quickly, he continued, "I'm just happy to be with Rio again, after 10 years have passed."

"Look at the former's face, Viona flushed, guys. It seemed like it wanted to explode," joked one of the members of his friend while laughing.

Laughter gathered at their table. Both Rio and Viona were trying to deny with increasingly red faces.

"No! That's not it!" rio and Viona said spontaneously together.

However, none of the members listened. Everyone is still engrossed in laughing and talking, enjoying their moments together like before.

Thus, Rio went to the Elysian Death Forest with his former adventurer Team Phantom Nemesis.

At that time, they did not yet know the calamity that awaited them.