Unholy Player

"You’re not lacking anything," Adyr replied, his expression softening just a fraction as he spoke, his tone easy but matter-of-fact. "If anyone’s lacking here, it’s me. I’m just not suited for teams."

And he meant it. Even though he had the skills to fit into any group if he chose to, it was never in his interest. Moving alone was more comfortable, and so far it had proven to be the most efficient path; sooner or later, everyone else would fall behind him.

Still, Adyr had no reason to shut every door in Dalin’s face. She wasn’t some disposable pawn. Like Eren, she was one of those rare people who might prove useful further down the line.

"If you’re looking for a team," he continued, "you can talk to Selina or Victor."

Adyr had been the one to set the wheels in motion for Eren and Selina’s connection, kick-starting their exchange of information by sharing his knowledge of Chinese early on. And considering it was Selina who had brought Victor into the team, it was hardly a coincidence that the most formidable group in Player Headquarters was now made up entirely of people Adyr already knew and had directly interacted with.

That meant the most promising circle of players in Player Headquarters was already coalescing into a single unit—and not without some of Adyr’s influence.

If Dalin joined them too, then—with so many others already dead and only a handful of active players left—the top-ranked players would be concentrated in a single group, one that Adyr could easily reach whenever he wanted.

And the stronger that group grew, the more advantageous they could be for him in the future. With his business in Velari nearly wrapped up and his thoughts already turning to other regions, they might serve as the perfect circle for him to leverage once he moved beyond these borders.

Dalin let the words hang in the air, then suddenly lowered her head, lost in thought. She had never imagined being in the same group as someone like Selina—and even harder still was the idea of asking to join their team.