The next morning, Finn and the others grouped up together once more to commence joint training. They were instructed by Elder Hua to head to the main hall building, where Patriarch Lei and the Big Five were already waiting.

“Good morning. I hope you all had a good night’s sleep last night,” Patriarch Lei said calmly.

Finn and the others bowed collectively. “Good morning, Master.”

“As you all know already, today will be when your joint training with the Big Five starts. For the purpose of this, I have invited someone from outside the squadron as your instructor for the time being.”

At this, Tian Long from the Big Five stepped forward and raised his hand in confusion.

“Apologies, Master, but… there wasn’t any prior mention of this?”

“Yes, because I only received news recently that this man will be joining you for the operation as well to help out.”

‘So, he’ll be part of the actual operation too…’

Lei looked behind the pillar that was blocking the others’ views.

“… How long are you planning to hide there, Jim?”

“… Jim?” Iris’s eyes widened in shock at the sound of this name. Finn was somewhat surprised too.

‘It couldn’t be…’ He thought.

“Agh… ya couldn’t have waited one bloody more minute?!” A familiar voice groaned as he stepped out from behind the pillar. “Ya ruined my stunnin’ entrance!”

“It really is you!” Octane suddenly blurted out.

“Hm? Who ar- ah.”

The man — Jim — glanced towards where Squadron 154’s members were standing and immediately froze. More particularly, at Finn and Iris.

He instantly spun around to face Lei. “Oi oi oi! Ya didn’t tell me Bakris’s kids were gonna be here! I wouldn’t have accepted if-“

“… You never asked,” Lei cut in calmly, a somewhat dangerous gleam in his eyes. “Is there a problem?”

“Uh…” Jim glanced at Finn and Iris, then back at Lei. “Agh, bloody hell… forget what I said!”

“Hehe~ looks like he’s still traumatized from that time we beat him,” Iris whispered, nudging Finn, who nodded in response.

“A-Ahem… anyway,” Jim cleared his throat and said, turning around to face his soon-to-be students. “I, the best Cardmaster in the whole world, will be yer bloody teacher for the next few days. Ya can call me Master.”

“Master, what will you be teaching us, exactly?” Qi Ling asked, raising her hand.

But Jim merely nodded, smiling happily.

“Mm, yes, repeat that.”

Qi Ling was confused, but complied. “Master, what will you-“

“Mmmm, again.”

“Sigh… Master-“

“Ooh, yes, that’s the spot! Keep repeating that!”

“…” Qi Ling fell silent, realizing what this perverted man was trying to do. Everyone in the room stared at Jim in disgust, who seemed otherwise unconcerned.

“Okay, okay, fine…” Jim said at last with a deep sigh, realizing no one was amused by his little prank. “I’ll be teaching ya a bunch o’ things, but the most important one is probably… the basics of a bloody Baron Hunt.”

Shortly after, Jim led his new students to an obstacle course of some sort near the outskirts of the squadron base. It seemed to be quite long and tested different aspects, from agility to timing and reaction speeds.

Other than that, though, it was just a normal obstacle course. Definitely not something one would expect from training that was supposed to be prepare these young Hunters to take down a Baron, an extremely dangerous and powerful type of Ghost.

“… Master, if I may ask, what is this obstacle course for?” Tian Long asked. “Surely this isn’t our ‘training’.”

“Hm… it doesn’t feel the same, having a guy call me that,” Jim muttered to himself, then shook his head. “Anyway… what’s yer bloody question?”

“Tch…” Pang Zi couldn’t take it anymore and pushed his friend aside. “Look, old man. If you think we can’t even handle an obstacle course, you’re really underestimating the Big Five. I dunno about those weaklings over there, but we’ll tear through your hurdles.”

At this, Jim smiled mysteriously and chuckled.

“Ohoho… ‘old’ man? Kid…”

Suddenly, Jim clenched his fists tightly as an explosive, terrifying aura erupted out of his body, blowing everyone back a few inches. His eyes turned completely white, face contorted in rage.

“Ngh-!” Pang Zi, who had been standing closest him, was instantly thrown backwards, sent crashing into a solid brick wall and past it.

“Pang Zi!” Tian Long cried in worry, but was too busy covering his own face from the pebbles and dust being blown around by Jim’s immensely powerful mana field.

“There are two things in this bloody world that piss me off… and you just did one of them.”

“M-Master, please calm down!” Tian Long begged, bowing deeply. “Pang Zi is an idiot, don’t pay him any mind!”

Jim breathed heavily a few times before finally relaxing his muscles and mana, returning to normal. Tian Long shouted words of gratitude and hurriedly rushed over to check on his friend.

“G-Gah…” Pang Zi groaned and struggled back to his feet with the help of Tian Long, feet wobbly and back most likely fractured. “DAMN YOU, OLD GEEZER!”

Tian Long’s eyes widened in a panic. If he said that, he was definitely dead meat!

But before Jim could react-

SLAP!

“How much further do you want to embarrass the sect?” Qi Ling, leader of the Big Five, said quietly but threateningly as she struck Pang Zi across the face harshly.

“G-Guh… senior sister…” Pang Zi looked at her weakly, caressing his own cheek where she hit him.

“Apologize.”

“Tsk…”

“… Don’t make me say it again.”

Pang Zi, faced with the ice-cold stare of Qi Ling, had no choice but to bow down. Gulping in fear, he clenched his fists and shut his eyes tightly.

“I’m sorry, Master…!”

“Well, looks like we know who’s going to be leading the rest of ya during the bloody operation,” Jim chuckled. “That said… oi, kid. Yer name was Pang Zi, correct? Ya said this obstacle course was ‘too easy’, but not fer the other team?”

“…” Pang Zi fell silent, neither confirming nor denying that.

“Heh, how about this, then?” Jim smiled as an idea formulated in his mind. “Ya guys compete… and see who can get all yer members through the obstacle course first.”

“W-What?” Octane stuttered a bit in surprise. “Us, against the Big Five…?”

“Have some confidence, Octane,” Fanatic encouraged, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’ll be fine.”

“They seem ready,” Jim said, taunting the Big Five. “How about ya guys? Are ya up ta the challenge?”

Qi Ling nodded firmly, expressing her opinion as one of their entire group.

“We accept.”