——Joining Lin Da''s team, of course I can.


    Aiko had practically no sense of belonging to the Snow Goose Adventure Team.


    That''s what she thought, but she put on a face of great difficulty, intentionally making Lin Da feel guilty for his hasty invitation.


    Every team member was bound by contract, and quitting without permission required paying a hefty penalty.


    To Aiko, that wasn''t a problem at all.


    Her financial reserve was quite substantial.


    She could agree to Lin Da''s request and join the team,


    but she couldn''t just join casually.


    The way a boy treasures a room he could enter with a single Gold Coin versus one he fought hard and spent countless Gold Coins to get into, surely would be different, right?


    Aiko intended to make Lin Da go and ask Lia, to be rejected when she refused to sign the contract for a team transfer, making him lose face, and only after he thought it impossible to get her, would she pay a high price and quietly join his side.


    Then Lin Da would realize just how outstanding she was.


    She bowed her head, seemingly in great distress, "Sorry, I need to think it over before joining your team."


    "No rush, after all, setting up a team isn''t something that can be done hastily."


    Lin Da said helplessly, "We haven''t even recruited a front-line warrior yet."


    Aiko was puzzled, "With the reputation you''ve built in the Snow Goose Adventure Team, recruiting a warrior shouldn''t be difficult, should it?"


    "In theory, yes." Lin Da took a big gulp of Wheat Beer, shook his head, and said, "I''ve changed professions, so currently our team''s strategy progress is at the zerothyer."


    The hidden implication of changing professions was that his level had also been reset to zero. This was not something he needed to conceal; if Aiko were earnest, she could make inquiries at the Adventurer''s Guild and find out.


    "Changing professions after level 10 is a big risk, why were you so reckless, without even discussing it with me!" Aiko said, her eyes starting to redden, "You really, didn''t think of me as a friend."


    "Don''t cry." Lin Da awkwardly offered her a tissue, never realizing before how fragile Aiko''s temperament was.


    He had been covertly watching for any signs of irregrity since she arrived.


    But he couldn''t find any.


    Aiko''s genuine emotion, even if partially driven by an agenda, was probably not all an act.


    Although he sometimes sensed Aiko''s subtle air of superiority and a hint of her Young Lady attitude, he believed that within Snow Goose''s group of five, his rtionship with Aiko could be ranked at least fourth, quite a bit higher than Bilya''s...


    Aiko took the tissue and dabbed at the corner of her eyes: "What profession did you change to? You''re not nning to keep even this from me, are you?"


    Lin Da pondered for a moment and said, "A Healing Mage."


    "Healing Mage? I''ve never heard of it. Is it any good?"


    Aiko blinked her eyes in confusion.


    In her heart, however, she was jubnt.


    A profession nobody has even heard of must be terrible.


    Lin Da thought for a moment and said, "It''s probably a bit stronger than a Healer. The advantage of a Healing Mage lies in having Poisonous Healing, giving them a fighting chance against Magical Creatures."


    "Oh, it''s sort of like a Poison Doctor then," Aiko confirmed in her mind.


    A Poison Doctor is stronger than a Healer, but only marginally so.


    It sounded like this Healing Mage was abination healer and attacker, supposedly good at both.


    But jack of all trades, master of none.


    That was Aiko''s first impression of a Healing Mage.


    "Must be tough recruiting for your team, need me to help you scout around?"


    "Yeah, that would be great."


    Aiko saw the sincere expression on Lin Da''s face. On the outside, she smiled and agreed readily, but inside, she scoffed in disdain and even spat in contempt.


    Helping you recruit people? You can''t be serious!


    I wish you''d never find anyone, ande begging me to join, that would be the best!


    Aiko''s questions were circuitous and seemingly worried about Lin Da, yet every bit of Lin Da''s plight she learned of secretly delighted her.


    The worse Lin Da fared, the happier she became.


    After chatting for a while longer, Aiko prepared to take her leave, not wanting to give Lin Da the cheap satisfaction of her being at his beck and call.


    On her way out, she took out ten gold coins from her bag and gave them to Lin Da.


    Creating a team required a hundred gold, and even if Lin Da had the dumb luck to recruit new team members, he still wouldn''t have the money to create the team.


    He could onlye and beg her.


    The little abacus in Aiko''s mind cked away merrily.


    "Lin Da, remember toe find me if you encounter any troubles, okay? Although we''re not teammates anymore, we''re still friends."


    Outside the Tyrannosaurus Barbecue Restaurant, Aiko sat in her wheelchair, waving goodbye reluctantly.


    Lin Da stepped out to see her off, holding the little bag full of personable gold coins and couldn''t help but sigh: Aiko was indeed much strongerpared to Lia.


    Behind him, envious and jealous stares were cast his way, with some drunken adventurers wailing bitterly out of sheer envy.


    "I want a beautiful girl to visit me too, and give me gold coins!"


    "Ten gold coins! I risked my life in the Mystic Realm today, and I only earned three!"


    "This guy seems to have changed his profession to level 0, right? Should we beat him up?"


    Thest remark was made by a lean adventurer with a Mohican haircut, grinning mischievously.


    To his surprise, as soon as Mohican finished speaking, a light arrow whizzed in from outside, grazing his scalp and leaving a small pit in the wall.


    Mohican touched the patch of missing hair on his head, his face turning deathly pale.


    A little lower, and his head would have had an extra bloody hole!


    This incident had everyone quiet as mice, promptly zipping their lips.


    At the entrance of the barbecue restaurant, Aiko waved her delicate white magic wand with a smile, saying, "Whoever bullies Lin Da, don''t me me for bullying them back, okay? Also, my level isn''t the 23rd level that''s rumored outside—in fact, I just reached level 24 yesterday."


    Level 24, absolutely a top figure in White Dove City.


    The adventure team members felt a chill run up the backs of their necks and forcedughter, saying:


    "Who would be so short-sighted as to provoke Lin Da, eh? We''re lucky he doesn''t bully us, hahaha..."


    "Exactly, exactly."


    "A level 24 beautying to Sparrow District to visit teammates? I''m damn near turning into a ''lemon spirit'' magical creature!"


    Lin Da watched the group''s feigned performance and couldn''t help but chuckle, "Aiko, you should stop bullying adventurers of level five or six; it''ll be a joke if word gets out."


    "Well, they were the ones who said they wanted to beat up my old teammate," Aiko puffed her cheeks, and her attempt at looking cute froze all the adventurers secretly watching inside, turning them into a collective group of ''lemon spirits,'' with jealousy flowing everywhere.


    "I''m off then," Aiko waved her hand.


    "Take care on your way back, although I think others might need to be more careful around you..." Lin Da joked.


    A High-Level Light Mage from Holy Light Church at level 24, respected and awe-inspiring anywhere in White Dove City.


    Lin Da turned and re-entered the Tyrannosaurus Barbecue Restaurant.


    Little did he know that no sooner had Aiko left than the drunk Mohican, driven by his drunkenness and feeling mortified, began to clench his fists with an annoyed expression as he tried to stand up: "You little... You made me lose face..."


    "Sit down."


    Lin Da''s hand was on Mohican''s shoulder.


    Thetter obediently sat back down.


    He didn''t get up again even as Lin Da brushed past him.