C17 Small Benefits Were Dangerous!

Lee Kai exhaled softly as he watched the enemy frantically swim away in the water on the other side of the stone path. He looked up at the man who had offered him a hand, expressed his gratitude, and, taking hold of the man's arm, he pulled himself up. To avoid any confusion, he deliberately didn't reach for the steel spear lying on the ground.

But in the next moment, the man thrust the weapon at him. "It's dangerous here. We need to move," he said, and without waiting to see if Lee Kai would follow, he turned and strode away. Lee Kai caught his breath and, gripping the steel spear, hurried after the two men. Their pace was brisk, and since they were together, the others in the world didn't dare approach, and the people from the two platforms were too embroiled in their own chaotic battle to target them.

They swiftly navigated through the jungle, and soon the sounds of pursuit faded. When the group finally stopped, it was clear that the four of them distrusted Lee Kai, as he was a stranger to them.

"Who are you? Why are you here in the Hunger Games?" Lee Kai remained silent upon hearing the protagonist's question. He had no identity to claim, and any lie would be easily debunked. Telling the truth would be just as dangerous; his platform identity exposed, he wouldn't have to wait for someone else to kill him—the platform would simply eliminate him.

With a calm demeanor, he met the gaze of the group, all eyes fixed on him. He tore at his clothing to fashion a bandage for the wound on his shoulder, caused by an arrow he had removed earlier. Once the wound was dressed, he stood, steel spear in hand, and watched the four people warily, cautiously backing away. They tensed as Lee Kai rose, but seeing that he intended to leave, they refrained from attacking. They kept a watchful eye on him until he vanished from their view.

"Why didn't you take him out?" Finnick asked Katniss. Lee Kai certainly didn't seem like an easy target; they had all witnessed his exceptional speed. After all, he was the first to arrive at the supply drop, and everyone had taken note of that.

"He didn't seem to have any intention of attacking me. In fact, after he dealt with his own weapon issue, he tossed his bow and quiver over to me. It's likely he meant well," Katniss mused, then explained to the others.

"Are you certain? We have no idea who these people are, or why they're in the Hunger Games. To assume they have good intentions towards you—might that not be a bit premature?" Finnick expressed concern that she was too quick to trust, which could be dangerous. Emotions could lead to decisions that might endanger the whole team.

"Trust her, Finnick. You committed to joining forces with us, so you should have faith in us. At the very least, we need to maintain a basic level of trust until we reach the critical point," Pita interjected. Finnick paused, about to object, but then held back. It wasn't that Pita's argument was particularly convincing; rather, his mentor had just given him a reassuring pat on the back, signaling him to trust his allies.

"With this sudden influx of new players, our risk has definitely increased. But even though the danger has escalated, we don't need to be overly fearful. I've observed those newcomers during the resource raid; they're stiff, hardly moving well, and none seem to possess the kind of strength we saw in the person we rescued earlier. The real threat is likely from the participants from other districts," Finnick shared his thoughts. Then, with a hint of suspicion, he added, "I wonder if these newcomers were sent by someone specifically to eliminate us?"

Katniss paused, taken aback by the suggestion. After a moment's thought, she replied, "I doubt it. If he had sent people, they'd likely be more formidable, not just a ragtag bunch. And why would they throw their weapons to me right from the start?" They delved deeper into their discussion.

...

Having left the main group, Lee Kai surveyed his surroundings and cautiously climbed a tree. From his vantage point, he watched Katniss and kept a vigilant eye on the area, ensuring no one was approaching. Finally feeling a sense of relief, he settled on a branch and began to contemplate his next move.

Since we're invading this world, it means we're at odds with the people from the other platform. My main task is to protect the protagonist, while theirs is likely assassination. This puts us at a disadvantage since destruction is simpler than protection, right? Moreover, my identity lacks a plausible explanation, or rather, I'm unaware of it. This complicates gaining the protagonist's trust significantly.

The real issue, however, isn't just that. Why didn't they clearly label the individuals from both platforms? They only identified the protagonist's identity at the start, and now I have to figure out where the protagonist even is. This could lead to accidentally killing an ally, which is incredibly frustrating. It's made Lee Kai realize he can't trust anyone, and what's worse, there's a chance he might mistakenly kill the protagonist, which would be akin to suicide! That's why he can't risk straying too far from the protagonist's group.

Suddenly, footsteps rustled beneath the tree. Lee Kai, perched above, became alert and cautiously moved the leaves blocking his view. He spotted a figure below, knife in hand, vigilantly scanning the area.

The tree Lee Kai had chosen wasn't easy to climb, but its foliage was thick, concealing him from anyone looking up. Just when I was contemplating trust issues, someone shows up, clearly not a native of this world. The competitors here are dressed in special attire, unlike the eclectic styles of those from our platforms. Take Lee Kai, for instance, he's in a simple military outfit picked out by Wei Han. The reasoning behind the clothing choice was, frankly, astounding.

Wei Han had said, "Look at you, your muscles are hidden by your clothes, they don't show off your physique. I've always said you should build a strong body like mine, so your muscles are evident when you dress. And stop wearing gym clothes all the time; being indoors has made your skin too pale, almost like a pretty boy. You could be mistaken for gay, or worse, get mobbed by middle-aged women in the south asking if you're a gigolo. So, to foster your manliness and aesthetic sense, I'm taking over as your stylist. I'm going to ensure that you exude masculinity, not just inwardly but outwardly too." He then gleefully transferred all his expensive garments, watches, necklaces, and accessories to his room, replacing them with a wardrobe full of dark green, light yellow, and black military uniforms, complete with assorted belts and boots. Satisfied with the transformation, he left.

Discussing the matter here isn't about praising the quality of clothes or griping about Wei Han's penchant for reselling Lee Kai's expensive garments to fund his drinking money. Lee Kai's point is that wearing a subpar leather jacket in combat could hinder one's movements. Take the current situation, for instance: the adversary, though armed with a blade, is visibly hampered by his attire as he tries to fend off incoming arrows. His arm swings are restricted by the clothing, preventing him from leveraging his full strength.

"It seems that selecting the right attire plays a significant role in maximizing combat effectiveness," he mused, observing the other swiftly taking cover behind a tree and scanning the direction from which danger approached. Two individuals approached: one with a bow at the ready, arrow nocked and poised to shoot, and the other, shirtless, wielding a metal rod and advancing slowly.

The man behind the tree was fraught with anxiety. Like Lee Kai, he had only just survived a beginner's world on the platform and was fortunate to make it through unscathed. But his luck also meant he had never shed blood or reaped any substantial rewards. Though he had managed to acquire a basic blade, upon returning to the real world, he felt utterly overwhelmed and unprepared.

On Material Island, he had been paralyzed with fear, too terrified to confront anyone until they had all departed. Only then, as a diving instructor, did he muster the courage to emerge from the water, retrieve a knife from a fallen body, and flee into the woods. Despite his cautiousness, he had been discovered, and now, with two adversaries closing in, he was at a loss for what to do.

Lee Kai, perched in a tree, watched the newcomers with a calculating gaze. "They're from this world. Should I intervene? Or should I wait until they finish off the fellow below and let down their guard before I act?" He was conflicted. The man below represented an attribute point, yet Lee Kai hesitated to act rashly. The two men were clearly experienced, possibly even more skilled than himself. He was only confident in outmaneuvering the platform's novices. His primary adversaries were those from the platform; it was best not to engage with those from this world without due consideration.