The Shelter Game: Me, Starting with a Tenfold Drop Rate

After several hours, the sandstorm finally passed. Irving and Aron, along with the others, were finally able to emerge from the cave. The six of them quickly tidied up the surrounding area.

Once they cleared a space, Anna took out a pot. "Although this mission is quite dangerous, we still need to create a more comfortable living environment amid the risks. We can use this pot to cook. We have plenty of vegetables and seasonings with us. What do you all want to eat? I can make it for you."

Anna's official role was, of course, as a member of the Angel Guild, but privately, she had always been someone who loved to cook.

Upon hearing Anna's words, Wendy quickly chimed in, "I want grilled chicken wings, grilled pig's trotters, cumin ribs..."

Wendy rattled off a long list of dishes, leaving Anna momentarily stunned.

At that point, Irving reminded her, "We're not in a fancy hotel. The dishes you mentioned can't possibly be made here."

After saying that, Irving turned to Anna with a smile and added, "Just prepare some home-cooked meals. I think we don't have the luxury of being picky while on a mission."

Anna nodded and then began to cook.

Wendy felt a bit disappointed, but she didn't complain. Instead, she returned to the cave to wait for the meal.

At that moment, Aron approached Irving. He handed the map to Irving and pointed to a specific location on it. "This is where we are right now. I think the suggestion you made earlier might not be feasible. If we set off in the early morning, we could very likely encounter some extremely powerful monsters not far ahead. Therefore, I believe we should wait until daylight to depart.

While this will make our schedule quite tight, it will lower the chances of running into those strong monsters."

Irving listened carefully to what Aron was saying. After frowning and examining the map, he had to admit that Aron's argument was quite reasonable. "You're right; we should indeed move during the daytime."

Just as Irving finished speaking, Nick shouted from a short distance away, "I don't think we need to be that cautious. I can ensure everyone's safety."

Nick's declaration drew everyone's attention to him. Standing under their gaze, Nick continued, "I'm not boasting; my strength is considerable, and I can handle any powerful monster. During the Night Blades' rebellion, I defeated two teams of Night Blades members. I also had a brief battle with one of the elders from the Night Blades.

Although I didn't eliminate that elder, I successfully drove him back, ensuring the safety of the City of Warding's coastal area."

As Nick spoke, his expression was very sincere. Both Aron and Anna knew that what Nick was saying was indeed the truth.

Irving and Benjamin looked at Nick, their expressions remaining unchanged. Nick felt a bit at a loss. With no one giving him a clear reaction, he was unsure whether the others acknowledged his strength.

After thinking for a moment, Irving turned to Aron and said, "Since Nick is so confident, let's proceed with the original plan."

Aron paused for a moment, surprised. "Are you really sure about this? What if we encounter a monster that Nick can't handle? Our entire plan could fall apart."

Irving smiled. "If we do run into a monster that Nick can't defeat, then just leave it to me. Don't you believe in my strength?"

Irving's words seemed to provoke Nick. He shouted, "I don't need Mr. Irving's help! I can eliminate all the powerful monsters we encounter on behalf of the Angel Guild!"

Nick's proclamation pushed Anna and Aron to their limits. Anna stepped up beside Nick and said, "Have you forgotten what we told you when you joined the Angel Guild? As a member of the Angel Guild, you cannot undermine the judgment of your superiors. Right now, Captain Aron is communicating with Irving, and you do not have the right to speak. So, you should just remain silent."

With Anna's words laid out clearly, Nick had no choice but to comply and stay quiet.

However, Nick was actually still unconvinced. At that moment, Irving felt that Nick's reaction was quite similar to his own in the past. So, with a smile, Irving said to Aron, "I used to dislike Nick. I always thought he was jealous of me, but after hearing what he just said, I realize we have a lot in common."

Aron and Benjamin were both slightly taken aback by Irving's remark. After a moment, Aron responded, "He has a lot in common with you?"

"Of course. He is just as confident as I am. And like I used to be, he struggles to earn the trust of official organizations. So I think we should give him a chance to showcase his abilities. What if his talent surpasses mine? What if he's an overlooked genius?"

Irving's words had largely convinced Aron, but he still felt that the whole situation was a bit too risky. "You make a good point, but this mission is crucial. I think we should play it safe and stick to my plan."

Irving patted Aron on the shoulder. "We do need to be cautious, which is why I suggested that I would offer you guidance if you encounter danger."

Since Irving had already made his point, Aron decided not to dwell on it any longer. "Alright then, let's go with your plan," Aron said, turning his gaze to Nick. "If we encounter a particularly strong monster, it will be up to you to handle it. If you can't manage it…"

Before Aron could finish his sentence, Nick interjected loudly, "If I can't handle a powerful monster, then I will completely obey your orders from that point on. I will also willingly accept any punishment."

Aron nodded. "Since we have our plan in place, let's hurry up and have dinner. After dinner, we can get some rest. We'll set out tomorrow morning at dawn."

Under Aron and Irving's arrangement, everyone quickly finished their dinner. Afterward, they began taking turns keeping watch. The first person on watch was, of course, Wendy, as she was the weakest among them.

After Wendy's watch ended, Anna took over. Wendy didn't go straight to rest; instead, she started a conversation with Anna. "You've known Irving for quite a while, right? What do you think of him as a person?" Wendy asked, her tone slightly weary.

Anna was a bit surprised by Wendy's question, but she still provided a very sincere answer. "I think Irving is a very strong and responsible person. He wouldn't abandon his friends, and no matter how powerful the enemies he faces are, he doesn't show fear."

After hearing Anna's words, Wendy nodded. "Is that your first impression of him, or is it something you've come to realize after spending more time with him?"

Anna smiled. "How could that possibly be my first impression? I still remember the first time I met him; it was on a gaming forum. He seemed very ordinary at the time. But the moment I saw him, I recognized his talent. That's why I introduced him to the other members of Angel Guild.

Through that connection, he was able to collaborate with us."

As Anna recalled the scene from when she first met Irving, she felt a sense of relief. If she hadn't invited Irving to collaborate with Angel Guild, they might not have managed to survive the Night Blades rebellion.

Wendy gazed at the sky and asked in a dreamlike voice, "Irving mentioned not long ago that he sees many similarities between himself and Nick. Do you think he was being sincere?"

Anna didn't quite understand why Wendy was asking so many questions, but she patiently responded. "While I'm not sure what specific similarities Irving sees, I can agree with his assessment. Right now, Nick is a lot like the Irving of the past. Though Nick's strength isn't that formidable yet, he is very confident and isn't afraid to showcase his abilities in front of others."

Moreover, Nick doesn't shy away when facing someone stronger than him. Irving has shown similar traits in the past as well."

After Anna said this, she suddenly noticed that Wendy's eyes were misty with tears. It seemed that Wendy was reminded of something very sorrowful, as tears had started to flow from the corners of her eyes.

"What's wrong? Why are you so sad?" Anna asked, concerned.

Wendy managed to force a small smile. "The traits you mentioned aren't just seen in Irving and Nick. I can also see them in a friend I used to know. That friend was very important to me. But not long ago, due to a very difficult task, he left this world. He can no longer speak to me."

Wendy's words made Anna realize something.

With a sigh, Anna tried to comfort her. "Your friend must have been very important to you. It's only natural to feel sad about his departure. But I think, in situations like this, anyone can leave this world when faced with a crisis. The only thing we can do is to stay strong.

We have to fight bravely against the monsters, work hard to enhance our abilities in the shelter game, and fiercely prevent the apocalypse from coming."