63. The Pioneer They Couldn’t Find
On the way back, the sea grew calm once again. Still smiling after parting ways with Major Deri, Rangga finally opened the regional chat.
Rangga: Oi.
Rangga: Just finished meeting up with Major Deri.
The chat immediately came to life.
Andre: How was it, Bang?
Fajar: Was it fun?
Rio: What did it feel like finally meeting another person?
Rangga replied immediately.
Rangga: It was awesome.
Rangga: We explored together.
Rangga: Turns out Major Deri is pretty cool.
Rangga: He's really good too.
Several Pioneers quickly joined in.
Andre: Man...
Andre: Now I really want to level up faster.
Fajar: Same here.
Fajar: My ship has to reach Level 3 today.
Rio: I'm seriously jealous.
Bima: I want to experience exploring together too.
The chat filled with similar comments. Everyone was growing impatient to reach Level 3.
Not just for the new islands, but so they wouldn't have to survive alone anymore.
Amid the lively conversation, Major Deri suddenly sent a message.
Deri: When you all meet Mas Rangga someday...
Deri: Don't be surprised.
Rangga frowned.
Rangga: Huh?
Rangga: Surprised about what, Mayor?
The others became curious as well.
Andre: What do you mean?
Fajar: What's that supposed to mean?
A moment later, Major Deri replied.
Deri: Because...
Deri: Mas Rangga genuinely looks like someone who's lived in this world for years.
The chat fell silent.
A moment later, it exploded again.
Andre: Huh? Seriously?
Fajar: LMAO.
Rio: Is it really that bad?
Major Deri continued typing.
Deri: I'm not joking.
Deri: His armor.
Deri: The way he carries his weapons.
Deri: The way he moves.
Deri: Even the way he walks through the forest.
Deri: He's already like a seasoned hunter.
Reading that, Rangga chuckled.
Rangga: Ah, Mayor, you're exaggerating.
But Deri answered shortly.
Deri: No.
Deri: That's simply the truth.
The chat became even livelier.
Andre: Now I'm even more curious.
Fajar: Hurry up and level up!
Rio: I want to see Bang Rangga in person.
Bima: Hopefully my ship is finished tomorrow.
Rangga could only shake his head with a smile.
Seeing how excited everyone was made him look forward to it as well.
The more Garuda Pioneers reached Level 3 ships. The sooner they could form a team and explore this increasingly dangerous world together.
Rangga continued replying in the regional chat while leaning against the ship's railing.
By chance, his eyes drifted toward the Nautical Scanner on his left wrist.
He raised his arm.
Beneath the coordinates of his own island, a new entry had appeared.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]
X-620873
Rangga nodded to himself.
"Oh... So these are Major Deri's island coordinates."
He immediately opened the regional chat again.
Rangga: Mayor.
Rangga: Our island locations showed up on the Nautical Scanner.
Rangga: Check yours.
A moment later, Deri replied.
Deri: Correct.
Deri: Mas Rangga's island coordinates have appeared on my device as well.
The other Pioneers immediately became excited.
Andre: Whoa...
Fajar: So later we just have to select it?
Before the conversation could continue, Deri sent another message.
Deri: Mas Rangga.
Deri: Check the Global Chat.
Rangga frowned.
"Global Chat?"
He switched tabs.
The moment it opened, his eyes widened.
The chat, which had previously been quiet, was now filled with conversations.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: I thought I'd be the first one here.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: Turns out there were already three people when I arrived.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: So I was fourth.
Soon another reply appeared.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: I also thought I'd be the first from my country.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Turns out there were already two people here.
Another message followed.
Xiao Fan [Eastern Dragon Pioneer]: So the Bald Eagle Nation's superiority doesn't apply here after all.
David replied immediately.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Watch your words.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Don't go looking for trouble.
Before the conversation could heat up, another Pioneer joined in.
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: Come on now.
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: We're all new to this world.
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: There's no point arguing.
A few moments later, another familiar name appeared.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]: Good afternoon.
The chat instantly stopped.
A few seconds later, messages flooded in almost simultaneously.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: Garuda?
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: A Garuda Pioneer?
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: You've already reached Level 3?
Xiao Fan [Eastern Dragon Pioneer]: Pretty fast.
Rangga read everything while quietly chuckling.
"Hehehe... Wonder what they'd do if they knew... I was actually the first one here."
But he stayed silent, letting Deri handle the conversation.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]: I don't think the order is very important.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]: What's more important is how we survive.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]: And if possible, cooperate as fellow Pioneers.
David immediately replied.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: No.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: My priority is my country.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: As long as my nation gives me orders, I'll follow them.
A moment later, Xiao Fan responded.
Xiao Fan [Eastern Dragon Pioneer]: I'm not interested either.
Xiao Fan [Eastern Dragon Pioneer]: I trust myself more than anyone else.
Xiao Fan [Eastern Dragon Pioneer]: I don't need a group.
Ryu typed again.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: Just looking at you two...
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: Makes me hesitate to meet other Pioneers.
Lucas tried to calm things down.
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: Personally...
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: If you meet someone you don't get along with...
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: It's better to simply avoid each other.
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: There's no need to create conflict.
The Global Chat became lively again as small debates started breaking out.
Meanwhile, Rangga simply read everything while shaking his head.
"They've only just met... and they're already arguing. Seriously... I thought only people from my country were like this."
The Global Chat continued scrolling.
The earlier debate gradually turned into curiosity.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: There's still one more person.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Come out already.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Stop hiding.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: Yeah.
Ryu [Sakura Pioneer]: I'm curious who was actually the first one here.
Lucas [Brown Bear Pioneer]: They're probably the first person to reach Level 3.
Xiao Fan [Eastern Dragon Pioneer]: Or maybe they're too scared to introduce themselves.
David chimed in again.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Whoever you are...
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: Just show yourself.
David [Bald Eagle Pioneer]: We all want to know who came first.
Amid the lively discussion, Deri sent only one reply.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]: Sorry.
Deri [Garuda Pioneer]: I don't know who that person is either.
The conversation continued as everyone began guessing the identity of the last Pioneer.
Meanwhile, Rangga struggled to hold back his laughter.
"Hehehe..."
Instead of replying in the Global Chat, he opened the regional chat.
Rangga: Oi.
Rangga: Don't tell anyone that I was the first one, okay?
The regional chat immediately became lively.
Andre: Huh? Why?
Fajar: Why keep it a secret?
Rio: Why, Bang?
Rangga answered right away.
Rangga: Just leave it.
Rangga: It's funny watching them guess.
Rangga: Besides, there's no benefit to admitting it right now.
Rangga: I'd just become the center of attention.
The chat went quiet for a few seconds before erupting in laughter.
Andre: HAHAHAHAHA.
Fajar: That's evil.
Rio: Let them argue among themselves.
Bima: Agreed.
Yusuf: Don't spoil it.
Even Major Deri sent a message.
Deri: Understood.
Deri: I won't mention it.
Rangga chuckled after reading the reply.
"Alright then... It'll stay a secret for now."
Meanwhile, in the Global Chat, four Pioneers from four different nations continued debating and trying to guess the identity of the mysterious sixth Pioneer...
Completely unaware that the very person they were looking for was reading every single message with a wide grin on his face.