Having seen Jason stop, the tall, muscular woman also halted her steps.
"Eh, is this the finish line?"
"You really run fast."
As she said this, she reached out her hand to Jason.
"Let's get acquainted, I'm Aras, a Bounty Hunter."
The tall, muscular woman introduced herself.
Jason didn't raise his hand.
He wasn't used to shaking hands with strangers.
Still, Jason replied.
Aras didn't seem to mind Jason's attitude. After hearing Jason's introduction, the exceptionally strong woman propped her chin with one hand, muttering to herself, "Jason? Jason? I feel like I've heard this name somewhere."
"You've heard this name?"
At the same time, he immediately thought of the background information about him.
It repeatedly mentioned 'him' and 'rumors.'
Jason was very concerned about these rumors related to himself.
Because they would affect how he would fit into this world.
Aras nodded, frowning her attractive almond-shaped eyes, and began to recall, "Previously, in the underworld, there was a legend about an 'Undying.' Rumors had it that he was the younger brother of some major Lord of the Nobility who had obtained eternal life by wearing a mask, and had once, due to some issues, confronted the local military in a certain city, wiping out an entire Tank Corps. The city was destroyed to a great extent too."
The younger brother of some major Lord?
Confronting an entire Tank Corps?
Were these selections from my experiences with 'Crab Salad' and 'Fried Meat Crispy Rolls' woven into the rumors?
Jason's eyebrows furrowed.
Subconsciously, he thought of the sentences that appeared in the black notebook when he entered the current replica world.
"Some foods are not born in isolation."
"They need to be combined."
"Previously, they tasted awful!"
"Remember: this is the pairing drink for your appetizer, your beverage."
"Is this what pairing means?"
Jason furrowed his brows tightly.
The situation in front of him was beginning to look grim.
Such rumors had already exposed his greatest trump card.
And there was no telling how much of his past had been revealed.
The feeling was almost suffocating to Jason.
An inexplicable urgency began to surround Jason.
I need to become stronger!
Only with greater strength can I deal with the current crisis!
I must eat, eat, eat!
"Where have you been previously?"
"I took a client's task to investigate a special mansion."
"I had circled the outskirts and checked it roughly, not finding much."
"Are you interested, Jason?"
Without further questioning, Aras excitedly looked at Jason.
As soon as Jason nodded, Aras immediately broke into a smile.
"Now we are partners!"
"I was worried I wouldn't be able to handle it alone... I, I'm not a coward, just a bit scared of all these weird things."
Aras bowed her head, her thick fingers constantly fidgeting and causing a 'thud thud thud' sound, as she awkwardly spoke.
Jason silently gave her a glance, suddenly feeling an uncomfortable sensation in his chest.
Aren't you the scariest one?
Would those strange things dare to show up in front of you?
Aren't they afraid you'll snap their necks?
Jason's heart was filled with these unsaid shouts.
However, Jason was still curious.
"You seem to trust me a lot?"
"Jason is not a bad guy. The first and second time we met, Jason, you were eager to leave, but when I pursued you, you just left, never using your weapon to hurt me."
Aras revealed a 'I'm so clever' smile.
Then, the tall, strong lady bashfully scratched her head.
"You know, my muscles can only withstand small caliber firearms. Shotguns, automatic rifles, they would still cause me harm," she said.
Withstand small caliber firearms?
Jason was taken aback..
He too had the ability to withstand small caliber firearms, but that was only after merging the Prus Body Refinement Technique with the Griffin Body Refinement Technique.
Jason glanced at Aras's muscular build.
Was it a sort of Body Forging Technique?
Or just pure muscular strength?
If it was the former, Jason wouldn't be surprised, but if it was the latter...
That would be truly astonishing!
Because that would mean a Talent as extraordinary as his own!
However, he couldn't ask such a question outright.
Everyone has secrets.
He didn't want others poking into his own secrets.
And the same applied to others.
When dealing with partners, Jason was always fair.
"Where is this mansion located?"
Jason went straight to the point.
"It's on the outskirts of the city."
"Are we heading there now?"
With that response, the two didn't linger any longer in the neighborhood but, following Aras, Jason smoothly made his way towards the outskirts.
Along the way, Aras not only avoided surveillance cameras but also evaded some patrolling police cars.
She handled it all with ease.
"You know, I'm a Bounty Hunter," Aras said, responding to Jason's inquiring gaze, and she raised her thumb pointing at herself.
Then, upon truly leaving the city area, she made a phone call.