After the fear test, the Furies became busy as they began to prepare and train for any mercenary job that came their way.

  Tigress started to make the specialised weapons for the Furies since they left their weapons behind at the LAB:

  A greatsword for Bear.

  Small and large needles for Mantis.

  A katana for Crane, just in case.

  A spear that extends for Monkey.

  And finally, the whipsword for Viper.

  Out of all of them, the hardest to make was Viper’s whipsword.

  She pondered silently, observing a fan blowing some paper strips as she had an idea. She picked up her pen and began to draw the blueprints for Viper’s whipsword.

  This is what I can do to help her…

  ***

  Mantis was observing the dying crops he was farming and wondered what he did wrong.

  Junkie chuckled as he patted his head, “It’s different from what ya read in books, ain’t it?”

  “I don’t understand? I gave them water and changed their soil. What am I doing wrong?” Mantis looked at him bewildered.

  “Ya gave them equal treatment.” Junkie smirked, “Each plant has their own needs, just like how people need different types of treatment.”

  Mantis pondered, “Ok, so? What do you do then?”

  Junkie knelt beside him as he examined the leaves, it had multiple black spots, “This one is sick. See the black spots and greyish mold? It means it's a fungal infection.”

  Mantis leaned closer, “What? How did it get a fungal infection?”

  “Hm, did you water them from the leaves?”

  “Yes since it was quicker that way.”

  “Tut tut. And that's called lazy farming.” Junkie shook his pointy finger as he got scissors and began to cut the infected leaves, “First rule, water from the soil, not from the leaves, second, take note of the temperature. If it’s hot, add a little more water to the soil so it doesn’t get dehydrated. If it’s about to rain, it’s ok to not add water but just in case it's only cloudy, add a little water.”

  Mantis then belatedly realised as he scratched the back of his head, “Now I get why you asked me to farm your crops.”

  “Do ya, now?” Junkie chuckled.

  “You wanted me to realise studying isn’t just from books but also from actual experiences.” Mantis wearily admitted, “And, you knew I would be too stubborn to realise that if you simply told me.”

  Junkie patted his head, “Good that ya know.”

  Boom!

  Mantis glanced at the explosion where Viper and Monkey were sparring in the open field, “You sure they’ll be ok?”

  “Oh them? Yeah. As long as Monkey is there, even if Viper rampages, she’ll be able to stop. Especially since he’s the only one who can stop her in her Hidden Stage at this point in time.” Junkie hummed a tune nonchalantly.

  Mantis asked curiously, “You don’t have to be close to her to use your ability?”

  “Hm? As long as they’re within range, my illusion ability will work. By now, Viper is probably hearing lots and lots of whispers until she goes crazy.” Junkie smirked mischievously.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “You’re still a bit of a jerk.” Mantis frowned.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  ***

  On the other hand, Bear was looking at the mountain of metallic trash in the backyard as Junkie told him to gravity crush it into small pieces.

  Bear exhaled sharply, remembering Junkie’s words:

  ‘Ya need to learn how to Gravity Crush while being aware of yar surroundings.

  To do that, ya need to practise Gravity Crush until it’s second nature. So go clean my backyard for me.’

  Bear’s mouth twitched, still getting irritated by Junkie’s goofy smirk as he made him do his chores.

  Bear raised his hands and began to use Gravity Crush on the mountain of abandoned metal trash.

  ***

  In the training hall, Crane had her eyes closed as she began to create a golem of some sort.

  Junkie told her:

  ‘Ya know ya should try making animals rather than weapons. Animals are harder to create with their special details. And, ya begin to appreciate God’s handiwork. Hahaha!

  Ehem! I digress. But if you mastered that, yar capacity for weapon making will increase and ya increase yar options in battle too.’

  Crane breathed in deeply as she placed her hands together and imagined a small mouse. Long tail, fluffy fur, big ears and cute eyes.

  Crane manifested an ice mouse as she waited. The ice mouse opened its eyes as it looked at her. She smirked, feeling accomplished.

  I did it!

  If I master this, I would be able to have an army of ice golems to command if I wanted to.

  ***

  Monkey discharged a lightning strike on Viper as she dodged.

  Viper squinted her eyes as she heard the whispers Junkie made:

  ‘You can’t do it. You’re too weak. Is Medusa really hot? Tell me. You’re gonna hurt him. You’re gonna lose him.’

  The voices in her head overlapped as she groaned.

  Some of the whispers weren’t even relevant!

  I swear, I’m going to get Junkie back for this.

  Junkie sneezed unaware, rubbing his nose as he taught Mantis how to farm properly.

  ***

  18:22 - Dining room.

  Viper stabbed the lamb steak aggressively as she pulled the meat to separate it.

  She huffed as she talked with her cheeks full, “I lost control. Why is it so hard to control my rage especially when Dr 8 is mentioned?”

  Everyone chuckled helplessly as they watched her grumble. This was the first time they’ve seen Viper ever get mad for a prolonged period of time.

  But then again…

  Junkie did use his ability to annoy her to death.

  When they all turned to see Junkie all black and blue on the couch, he felt their pity gazes and frowned, “Don’t look at me like that.”

  Monkey hummed, “But I heard some of the fake whispers you made weren’t even relevant?”

  “Well obviously. I needed to get her mad.” Junkie sulked as he crossed his arms.

  Everyone knew he probably did it to tease Viper for his own entertainment.

  Viper exhaled sharply, “Sorry. I never knew I had so many… things bottled up.”

  “I think it’s good.” Tigress smiled warmly, “It means you’re human.”

  “That’s right,” Crane added, “And sometimes, it felt like you were a robot that never rests so it makes me glad seeing you get mad.”

  Viper looked down contemplatively, “I… was a robot?”

  “S-seemed like one. I said ‘seemed like one’.” Crane panicked, seeing her so deflated.

  “But still, at this rate, Viper is still a risk for jobs.” Mantis fed himself some salad.

  Bear, who was chewing his 4th portion of coconut curry, suggested, “Maybe it's because you don’t have a goal after? Like a dream you want to pursue?”

  “A dream?” Viper tilted her head.

  Bear nodded, “I mean, literally, all your life, you’ve been ‘enduring and surviving’ thanks to your brother’s words, but is that really considered living?”

  Viper felt something stir in her heart as she pondered his words. She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she muttered, “I get what you’re saying but, I… don’t know. I don’t even know where to start.”

  “Viper, you have us.” Tigress softly held her hands, “You can ask us for help. A goal or a dream doesn’t have to be for one individual person. It can be shared as well.”

  Viper couldn’t retort her logic as she smiled, “Alright. Then please… tell me your dreams and share them with me.”

  “I’ll start!” Crane smirked, “I want to be a singer! Originally a kpop star, but, since we’re in America, I thought I should try it out here!”

  Mantis pondered his as he replied, “For me, after our mercenary life, maybe make my own botanic garden? With special herbs and everything. If not, I’ll make my own clinic.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Tigress chuckled, “As for me, I’ll go to a University here and get a physics and engineering PHD. Maybe even head to NASA and design a new space aircraft.”

  Everyone’s mouth gaped at her goal. Tigress tilted her head, “What?”

  “Nothing, just… it’s much grander than I thought it would be.” Crane then smiled encouragingly, “But, it suits you, unnie.”

  Bear then interjected, “My one is simple. To go on a world food tour.”

  We figured!

  Viper then glanced at Monkey. Monkey noticed her curious gaze as he smiled, “I’m already living my dream.”

  “You are?” Viper raised her brows.

  “Yep!” Monkey rubbed the back of his neck shyly, “To be with people that are like family to me.”

  “…Ew.”

  Everyone glared at Junkie who had goosebumps crawling his skin, “Ya know, a dream can always change. And a dream doesn’t have to be only one. The good thing about dreams is once ya’ve accomplished it, ya can find a new one.”

  Junkie walked closer to them with his empty plate, “With that said, it is also ok to not have a dream sometimes. Because if ya focus too much on yar dreams, ya might miss the people ya meet along the way.”

  He patted Viper’s head, “So take yar time in finding a dream, but as ya do, make sure to always look at the people around ya. Ya have a good team here.”

  Viper settled his words into her heart as her chest felt full of warmth. She softly whispered, “Thank you… all of you.”

  “Speaking of dreams,” Mantis curiously looked at Junkie, “What’s yours? Or at least, one you had?”

  Junkie flinched, not expecting they would be curious, “I had many in my lifetime. Ya sure ya want to hear ‘em all?”

  They all nodded.

  Junkie sighed as he looked at his watch, “Well, considering we don’t have any jobs at this time, might as well. I’ll tell ya about all of ‘em.”