Chapter 42: Life Ain’t Easy

“Huh!?”

The three team members let out a collective gasp of disbelief, staring at their captain as if he’d lost his mind, their eyes filled with confusion and incredulity.

Their fists clenched, itching to throw a punch.

But Aibrune seemed resolute, making it clear he wasn’t joking!

“What’s the problem?
Earning money through honest work and buying food with it is perfectly normal, isn’t it?”

The three were dumbfounded, stammering as they tried to argue, “B-But, Captain, we’re Bloodkin…”

“So what if we’re Bloodkin?
Do Bloodkin not need to eat?
Can we just eat without paying?
Attacking humans for blood in the dead of night—what’s the difference between that and humans robbing a supermarket for bread?
It’s a crime!”

“???”

The team members were utterly baffled, their heads swimming with question marks.
One whispered, “But this is a human city.We’re their enemies.We don’t need to follow their rules…”

“That’s exactly my point.
Bloodkin or not, who cares?
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
If we’re in a human city and want to survive, we should follow their rules and be law-abiding citizens.”

“…?”

Suddenly, the three team members turned away, whispering among themselves.
They couldn’t tell if their captain’s worldview was too upright or completely unhinged.

Member One: “It’s over.
The captain’s brain is fried.
Does he think he’s human now?”

Member Two: “What did the humans put in those bullets?
They shot our captain stupid!”

Member Three, who’d always wanted to usurp leadership: “Just grab a brick and bash his head in.
I’ll take over as captain.”

After sitting for a bit, Aibrune’s head gradually healed, the pain and dizziness fading.
He stood up with a commanding air, dramatically sweeping his golden hair back with a flourish.

Thankfully, that shot hadn’t been a nullification bullet, or he’d be dead already.

Then, his expression grew serious, his tone low and grave.
He patted the three members on the shoulders and said, “Relax, my head’s fine.
I know you’re confused.”

“But I’m sorry to say, this is our only way to survive.”

“Even as Bloodkin, we could attack humans at night to sustain ourselves with their blood.
But have you considered what happens if we’re caught?
Our tracks would be exposed, and their military would come to wipe us out.
That’s even more dangerous.”

In their current situation, if they wanted to blend into human society and survive, they couldn’t leave a single trace of their true nature.

Attacking humans at night?
Out of the question.

“I’ll be honest with you.
I don’t harbor any deep malice toward humans.
You all just graduated from the academy and were recruited—you don’t have any real grudge against them either.”

“I’ll say this once: follow me, and we’ll survive.”

The three team members exchanged glances, falling silent.

They had no counterargument.
For now, they could only follow the captain’s orders.

The humans had taken down even the Vice Staff Officer in no time.
They, who were far weaker than Auston, stood no chance.
And in this godforsaken place, retreating wasn’t even an option—they didn’t know how to leave.

The void rift torn open by Zero Otherbeast was surely under human surveillance now, making it impossible for them to approach