17 Joined Efforts (1/2)

”Cooperation? But why? Melissa is confused because of what reason did the church's team want to cooperate with her team.

”Well, I'm sure you also know that our mission objective is basically the same, right?” Said Rionne as she still maintained her gentle smile.

Melissa slowly nodded ”Yeah.”

”Then, why can't we cooperate together? My church's team had strong members and so is yours, if we work together, it will increase our chance of survival once we stepped inside the Deadlands.” Rionne continues suggesting Melissa enthusiastically.

Upon hearing her, Melissa lowered her head and pondering soundly.

She also agrees with Rionne's opinion. The Gobi Deadlands is an extremely dangerous zone. Even the barbarians who themselves is the natives of the Deadlands also avoiding the innermost region as much as possible. That region is filled with high-rank demon beasts and any other dangerous things.

Although at first, she's rather confident when she proposed the mission, her conviction now it began to waver. She is not optimistic as before.

But Rionne suggestion to joining both of their team is bringing hope to Melissa. This cooperation definitely would increase the team chances to not only succeeding the mission but also to return from the Deadlands alive, especially when Rionne's team had Victor Assange in their rank.

He is a certified Saint rank expert, his powerful strength would be a major help for the team. But Melissa still hesitates because Victor is rather rude earlier during his entrance.

In the end, Melissa thought it didn't matter if he's rude or not. Besides, it appears that he didn't mean anything earlier, he just wants to scare Melissa's team a little for making him wait outside before. They need a huge strength to safely traversing the Deadlands, and Victor's Saint rank strength is perfect for that.

Additionally, the SAD Leader also gives her advice that she can trust the church's people if she encountered them. Therefore, Melissa has decided to work together with Rionne's team, but she needs to ask several things firsts.

Melissa lifted her head towards Rionne's face ”Before I decide, can you tell me who's gonna lead once our team is merged?” and she asked.

”Oh, isn't that obvious... of course it's you who would be the leader, lady Melissa” Rionne replies.

”But why?” Melissa was baffled.

Why did Rionne easily surrender the team leader position to her?

Even after Melissa glanced at each member of Rionne's team with an inquiring look, they only staring back at her silently as if they don't have a problem with her taking command.

But Rionne's reaction became weird after hearing Melissa's questions.

”This! Hehe...ehem, it's..hehe, let just say it's because we trust you, that's all.” Rionne answered awkwardly, she also averts her eyes from Melissa's face.

The other Rionne's team members also feel embarrassed, and their face was flushed. Melissa and her team were stupefied, they didn't know why they are like that.

Rionne can only sigh helplessly after she saw Melissa's team silly expressions. The exact reason is because all the three men in Rionne's team are extremely useless when it comes to leading.

Although Victor Assange is a powerful Saint expert, he's basically a musclehead who only knows how to fight, he was completely different compared to Visser Gallard who, not only an expert in fighting but also capable as a leader. His conduct while being outside is always carefree and shameless.

Ryson Gaddras are not much different from Victor, even though he is the Vice Commander of the Order of the Radiants, he wasn't a good vice leader to the Order and he himself acknowledged this.

And about the young man in Rionne's team whose name is Steven Greyrat, this Steven actually wasn't bad at all. He's a promising young holy knight who already achieved level 3 Super Warrior strength in his young age, but he still didn't have many experiences, this mission is the first time for him to be deployed far away from the church's headquarter. Hence, it's too early for him to become a leader.

While Rionne herself is rather capable for being a leader, she's the Saintess candidates, after all, the one who would become the next Saintess, but comparing herself to Melissa is still too far, furthermore, she too didn't have that much of an experience. Thus, it is a correct action to give up the team leader position to Melissa, because they know Melissa's battle and command prowess.

Since young Melissa already experiencing in leading people to do missions, especially since she's joined, the SAD few years back, and this is a publicly known fact so it was not surprising at all if the church's people know about it.

But of course, Rionne would never reveal the real reason ever, because it will be too embarrassing if people know about the church's high-level members incompetency.

Melissa didn't register Rionne's word at all as she still in a stupefied state, Rionne become even more uncomfortable because of that, then she quickly tries to divert the topic.

”Ehem... so lady Melissa, do we have an agreement?” Rionne coughed a little and she asked Melissa again.

Melissa snapped out from her silly state ”I..i..” but she stills unably to answers as her minds are still very much in muddle state.

”You don't have to worry about anything lady Melissa since we propose this ourselves then we have no problem from being under your command. We will follow every of your order, how's that sound?” Rionne persistently keeps suggesting, from the looks of her. She wouldn't take a no for an answer.

The other members of her team also agreeing with Rionne's word and nodding their head.

Melissa wanders her eyes around seeking an opinion from her team members, but her team members didn't have any of it at all, they leave it for her to decide since she's the team leader. Even Arno only slowly nods to her. Melissa knew what Arno's nods meaning, it is not to give an approval towards Rionne suggestions but he's implying it was Melissa's decision whether to agree or not.

For Melissa's team members this is a good occasion as agreeing to the suggestions means that they will be in the same team as Victor Assange, and it would be a great opportunity for them to journeying and fighting side by side with the exalt Saint rank expert. So they are secretly hoping inside their mind for Melissa to agree with Rionne suggestion.

Only Arno, who thought otherwise, in fact, he thinks nothing of it at all. The only reason he's tagging along with the team is to observe his destiny connections with both Melissa and Alfred as well as to enjoying the view, so it didn't matter to him whether the team will cooperate with the church's team or not.

Since it's like that, then Melissa is convinced, beside it is a good thing for her too, not only that the team overall strength would be boosted but she would also be still to retain her position as the leader. In summary, everyone is happy.

Thus, Melissa shift her eyes back to Rionne and she nods ”Very well lady Rionne, let us work together then.” her lips were curved upward while agreeing.

Seeing that Melissa is accepting her proposal, Rionne letting out a dazzling smile ”Yes, thank you lady Melissa, let's cooperate from now on.” and she quickly replies.