He took the script of an exorcism legend, but became the number one anti-fraud expert.

The northeast corner of Fenghou Town is the guard regiment's barracks.

Including Benjamin, there were a total of nineteen guards lined up in the open space.

Although they were supposed to be lining up, they were actually standing casually and yawning, many of them still feeling hungover.

Avery yelled at the top of his lungs:

"Look at you bunch of spineless cowards! Look at how your legs are shaking! It seems our management has been too lax. Everyone, start running ten laps!"

The entire room sighed and groaned, except for Benjamin, whose eyes widened in disbelief.

He looked around and realized that the open space wasn't even as big as a quarter of a football field.

How strenuous can it be to run ten laps?

With full confidence, a column of people began running around the open space.

"......"

One lap, two laps, three laps...

By the third lap, Benjamin was practically running with his heart pounding in his ears.

The rise and fall of my chest didn't match my breathing.

He was out of breath, and as he tried to adjust his breathing rapidly, cold air rushed into his lungs, causing a series of sore and swollen sensations in his chest.

I don't know if it's because my body wasn't warmed up enough, or if I'm just physically weak.

Benjamin felt dizzy and his brain was deprived of oxygen.

This body is even worse than that of a young man who works in an office like 007.

At this moment, his head began to throb, and his steps became unsteady.

Benjamin's body had reached its limit; if he continued, he might fall, but giving up would make others look down on him.

His choice was...

[Virtue: Perseverance even if you faint, at least you're not giving up halfway, +8%]

[Torment: Your life is more important, there's plenty of time, don't try to save face, +8%]

Are you kidding me? A life-or-death choice is only worth 8%?

If I choose to persevere now, but then give up halfway through, won't I lose my daily reward?!

Benjamin started to have wild thoughts.

That's outrageous! And in the barracks, showing weakness will only get you bullied.

Regardless of whether Avery takes care of himself, he's not going to be his bodyguard.

Benjamin gritted his teeth and began to desperately adjust his breathing, trying his best to keep up with the pace.

Never mind, let's just do it!

Benjamin chose to persevere, starting with adjusting his breathing—a virtue.

[Virtue: Fountain Accumulation Progress: 38%]

Start by suppressing each instance of hyperventilation.

Benjamin tightened his lips and raised his tongue, trying to make the air he inhaled as warm as possible.

Fortunately, when running in winter, you don't get thirsty too quickly.

Gradually, he found his rhythm.

"Cheer up! Speed ​​things up!" Avery yelled.

Grass!

Are you kidding me!

Benjamin glanced at the portly Avery urging him on from the side.

You're the one who needs the most training!

By the fifth lap, Benjamin, who had finally found his rhythm, lost his footing again.

He had to abandon following the team and start letting the players behind him move forward.

As each team member passed him, he would turn back with a mocking and sarcastic look.

He began to feel a pressure rising in his heart.

The feeling was obvious, yet so unfamiliar.

Is this the world's pressure mechanism?

Why didn't I feel this way yesterday when Jeff was chasing me?

His thoughts became increasingly chaotic, his throat began to ache, and he felt like he couldn't breathe anymore.

Benjamin lowered his head, trying to keep his vision from going black.

Otherwise I really would faint.

Just when he was about to give up, a voice suddenly came from beside him:

"Open your arms, don't hunch your shoulders."

Benjamin knew the message was directed at him, but he no longer had the strength to look back.

He looked up and increased the amplitude of his arm swings.

"Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, drawing the air into your stomach, not your chest."

Abdominal breathing, how could I have forgotten this!

After being reminded by this person, Benjamin slowed down and began to readjust his rhythm.

The stabbing pain in his chest subsided, and Benjamin felt a little more relaxed without the pain.

"Don't look at others, just run your own race."

"Um....."

In just a moment, perhaps because someone else was running alongside him, Benjamin's mindset began to change.

He was no longer in a hurry to catch up, and therefore felt no pressure.

Then we reached the seventh lap.

I was just panting like a log, but I've actually gotten used to it.

Unbeknownst to them, they had even overtaken several of the team members ahead of them.

Benjamin finally slowed down on the tenth lap.

"Don't stop, keep going."

Benjamin knew that running without stopping could cause him to faint, and in extreme cases, it could even be dangerous.

Only then did he turn his head.

"Thank you... Pete."

Pete did not respond; he strode past Benjamin.

Once his breathing had completely calmed down, Benjamin turned around and looked around.

His gaze swept over everyone in the open space, and he saw Avery talking to someone else.

Their gazes were fixed on him.

Benjamin recalled his previous behavior and then realized something.

This run may have been a test from the beginning, aimed at finding out one's own limitations.

After all, he claims that his family is in the exorcism business, so as a family member, could he be an exorcist?

As mentioned in "The Exorcism Manual," some exorcists do not reveal their identities.

They went into hiding to avoid trouble, since there are many people in the world who hate exorcists.

I see,

No wonder everyone was acting like they hadn't woken up yet, standing in lines without any discipline.

I guess the guard regiment hasn't gotten up early to train in a long time!

Benjamin was relieved that he managed to catch up with the two teammates in the end.

after awhile,

At Avery's command, everyone returned to their units.

"Today's mission is tough. It's still by the sea. Those disgusting fishmen are making our port unusable. Same as always, four people per team."

Soon, the soldiers formed four-man squads. They all had regular teammates, so there wasn't much to choose from.

In addition, his performance had not been outstanding, which made some soldiers unwilling to take him along as a burden.

At this moment, Benjamin stood alone in the middle of the open space.

"Isn't anyone willing to team up with the new member?" Avery emphasized.

Seeing the lack of response, Benjamin finally understood.

Avery hadn't told anyone about the arrangements made last night regarding the cost of the guards' protection.

Otherwise, why would these guards refuse to make money?

He even planned to keep the money for himself!

He's really stingy.

There are always three people in a group of nineteen.

Avery naturally hoped to team up with as many people as possible.

When he saw that Pete and one of the members were short-handed, he would naturally skip them.

"I want to be in a group with Pete," Benjamin said.

"Pete..." Avery squinted, seemingly having something difficult to say.

However, since Benjamin brought it up himself, Avery had no reason to stop him.

"In that case, let's add Abi. Although the Indian can't join the guard, he can still contribute."

Upon hearing this, Abby, who had been huddled in the corner, was immediately at a loss for words.

His eyes were tired, and his already dull skin was accentuated by dark circles.

But after making eye contact with the menacing Avery, he could only quickly lower his head and join Pete's team.

After everyone had obtained their sidearms, the brown bass, they set off.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

The fog was thick by the sea. We walked along the path to the end of the jungle, and the gravel on the ground ahead crunched under our feet.

The extremely low visibility kept everyone on edge.

Abby was not armed; he walked ahead carrying a torch.

"Don't fire your guns lightly. Use your bayonets as much as possible. The merfolk are very sensitive to sound. While the fog is still thick, kill as many as you can and don't linger in battle."

The only people here without experience fighting evil spirits are probably himself and Abby, so Benjamin knows that Pete is teaching him.

Looking around, each team was about 20 meters apart.

As they got closer to the sea, the fog thickened until they could no longer see the other teams.

If it weren't for the torch in Abby's hand, Benjamin would have barely been able to see Abby.

What are you doing?

Suddenly, a piercing sound came from the left front, startling Benjamin.

The four of them immediately gathered together.

Then, the sounds of fighting came from what seemed to be a great distance.

"Hurry up!"

Pete showed no intention of sending reinforcements; he walked in the opposite direction of the sound.

Since Pete said that sound would attract fishmen, then those few sounds of fighting just now must have attracted the attention of a large number of fishmen.

Pete's reaction surprised Benjamin slightly, yet it seemed perfectly reasonable.

The guards weren't acting out of noble ideals; they were all just trying to survive.

Therefore, when danger arises, taking care of yourself is the most important thing.

At this moment, Abby raised his torch and waved it to the side, while another soldier silently gripped his brown beret and aimed his bayonet at the thick fog ahead.

"John, you lead Abby in the front, Benjamin and I will cover the rear. If anything unusual happens, move back."

John nodded without doubt, and Abby, seeing this, had no room for rebuttal, so the two disappeared from Benjamin's sight.

As the flame in Abby's hand was gradually swallowed by the thick fog, Pete suddenly said:

"You're not from the Hord family, are you?"

[The "Caution" talent is activated: Benjamin senses that Pete has something to say, but he doesn't seem to be asking, but rather testing. After all, the fact that the Hod family is a wealthy family was originally an identity that Benjamin himself gave himself.]