"This place is really crowded today," Kojo observed, looking around the room. The room suddenly fell silent as a man walked to the front. He was of medium build and had long, flowing black hair. Kojo noticed that he had an aura of authority. A jacket hung over his shoulders.
"Who's that guy?" Koniko asked.
"That's Jack Alabaster, the Head of this branch of the Raiders Bureau," Sharone answered. "Haven't you heard of him?"
"No, we only arrived here yesterday," Lin responded.
"Well, he hardly comes out of his office," Kojo said. "Based on the info I've gathered, that guy's a living legend, and even though he appears to be in his early thirties, he's over eighty years old. He was instrumental in holding off the Maajin invasion eighty years ago, holding the frontline on his own."
"That's amazing," Sharone said.
"Yeah, but if he's that good, why is he in Ekron?" Koniko asked.
"Well, Jay told me the king did try to enlist him into the army as a general, but he declined and became a raider. Even with that, they tried to make him head, but he declined that too and came here, climbing the ladder like any other person would. There have been attempts to move him higher up, but he insists on remaining here for whatever reason," Kojo said.
"Hmm, sounds pretty noble if you ask me," Lin said.
"Hey, Kojo?" Sharone called.
"Hmm?" he responded, not looking at her.
"Who's Jay?" Sharone asked.
"Oh, she's the receptionist," he said. He then began to sweat and slowly turned his head to her. She was smiling. Despite that, he could feel an enormous aura of wrath directed toward him.
"What is this?" he wondered, sweating even more.
(Killing intent.)
"I know what it is, but why is she directing it all at me?"
"Since when did the two of you become so close?" she asked innocently, her aura intensifying.
Jack cleared his throat. They all turned their attention to him. Kojo gave a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, man, I owe you one," he thought.
"We'll continue this conversation when we get back to the inn, okay?" Sharone whispered in his ear.
(Death.)
"I'm thankful that you all could come here under such short notice. I'm here to issue an emergency mission."
"Why this all of a sudden? What's going on?" one of the other raiders asked.
"I know, Harvey. Just this morning we discovered a gaping hole in the walls of a city. I, along with the heads of the city guard, went to investigate. There we found evidence that someone had broken the wall."
"Yeah, but isn't that the guard's problem?" another raider said.
"Yes, it should have been. However, we discovered the footprints of a beast. Even though they were faint, the tracks were huge, meaning that it's both big and agile. We've estimated a threat level of 5."
Everyone gasped.
"Beasts are classified according to their danger level or grades. They went from 1 to 7, and the higher the number, the more dangerous the threat level. Now, this is the war hero who heads the guild telling us that this thing's grade 5. This is serious," Kojo thought, alarmed.
"I'm sure it's harmless," Koniko said.
"I'm not so sure. The fact that Jack made the estimate means this thing's a threat we shouldn't take lightly," Kojo said.
"The duke has ordered a joint operation between the raiders and the guard to bring this thing down. That said, anyone who brings this thing down is going to be handsomely rewarded."
"How much are we talking?" a raider named Gaston asked.
"1,000 credits."
Everyone gasped.
"1,000? That's 1,000,000 gold," someone said.
"Sharone," Kojo called.
"Hmm?"
"This is gonna be dangerous. Wanna do it, or should we opt out?"
"I think we should do it," Lin said.
"How about Koniko and I form a party with you? Both of you are really strong. With us working together, I'm sure we can bring this thing down," she said cunningly.
Kojo noticed the sly look on her face as she spoke.
"Sure. I think that's a great idea," Sharone agreed.
"Well, see you around," Koniko said, pulling Lin away.
"Koniko! I'm not a kid. Let go of me."
"There's something off about the two of them," Kojo said, watching them argue as they went.
"Huh?"
"It's nothing," Kojo said to Sharone. "Let's patrol the streets before it gets dark."
Harvey walked out of an alley. He pulled a hood over his head and walked away.
"How do you propose we stop those two from claiming that gold?" Koniko asked as she and Lin walked through an alley.
"If we got that money, we could quit bounty hunting and..."
"Don't worry, Koniko," Lin said, taking out a small bottle of blue liquid. "I have a plan."
Kojo and Sharone were returning to their room. They had patrolled the entire city but didn't find anything.
"I'm beat," Kojo yawned. "Think I'll go take a nap."
"Nah-uh, you're going to make me some food."
"I can't make you anything if I'm tired."
"Fine, then I'll make you some food," she said, moving toward him. He held her back with one hand.
"Hey, no fair."
"Stop fooling around. I'll make you something."
"Yay!"
"Hey Kojo, Sharone." They both turned and saw Koniko and Lin coming towards them.
"Oh hey. What's up?" Kojo asked.
"Oh nothing, we were patrolling the city and saw you," Koniko said.
"Yeah, and I'm as tired as fu—" Sharone stepped on his foot.
"Anyway, since we're all tired, why don't we get something to eat? I'm sure you're hungry." Both Lin and Koniko's stomachs grumbled.
They went to a bar.
"You guys go find a seat while I get us something to drink," Lin said, moving over to the counter.
"So, Koniko, are you really good with a bow?" Kojo asked.
"Yeah, I've always wanted to use a bow. And it became necessary when I discovered my talent for beast taming."
"Wait, you're a beast tamer? That is so awesome," Kojo said. Koniko blushed.
"That said," she raised her hand and extended her claws. "I'm no slacker when it comes to combat."
"I see. Sorry if it offended you."
"No, it's nothing. Why did you ask though?"
"Well, I assumed it was the elves who excelled with long-range weapons, and demihumans used any other than a bow and arrow."
Koniko laughed.
"Well, you're not wrong. It was Lin who helped me hone my skills with a bow."
"Yeah, but why doesn't she use it herself?" Kojo asked. Koniko tensed. Sharone made a pin on her foot and kicked Kojo with it.
"Ou—" she glared at him, and he fell silent.
"Sorry about that. Just ignore him," she said.
"No, it's alright," Koniko said, smiling again.
(You're hopeless.)
"I'm back," Lin said, bringing a tray of tea.
"Have some," she said, handing two cups to Kojo and Sharone. Sharone was hesitant, but Kojo downed the tea in loud gulps and put the cup down. Sharone looked at him.
"That was refreshing," he said, wiping his mouth. Sharone looked into the cup, then shook her head and sipped a little. Lin smiled faintly. They sat and chatted till they were the only ones in the bar. Kojo slowly closed his eyes and put his head on the table. Sharone also became drowsy and leaned back on her chair, closing her eyes.
Koniko and Lin looked at each other and nodded. They got up and carried their bodies out of the bar and took them to their inn.
"There," Koniko said, putting Sharone's body on the bed. "The paralysis potion worked quite well. They should be out for a few days."
"By the time they wake up, we'll have gotten the bounty," Lin said. "And now..."
She and Koniko walked out of the room, closing the door behind them. Sharone opened her eyes.
Koniko and Lin moved over to an old, broken-down temple in the middle of the city where the beast was hiding. It looked like a cat with silver hair.
Its huge body lay curled in front of the altar.
"Good thing we didn't inform the others that we found where its lair was," Lin said, taking cover behind one of the ruins.
"All we have to do is kill it, then that money will be ours," Koniko said, drawing her bow and aiming.
"Did you really do all this because of money?" Startled, Koniko and Lin turned to see Sharone standing on a broken pillar.
"Wait, how did she... There's no way, with the amount of poison I used, you should be asleep for a few more days." Sharone smiled, exposing her fangs.
"Poison? Now that's a joke I haven't heard in a very long time."
"Fangs? Then you're a..."
"Lin, stay back," Koniko yelled, aiming at Sharone, fire charging into a ball at a hole in her arrowhead.
"Koniko, no!"
Koniko fired the arrow. It hit and caused an explosion.
"Did I get her?" Koniko asked. Sharone walked out of the cloud of smoke. Koniko drew another arrow, and Lin took a fighting stance beside her.
"There's no need for violence," she said, raising her hands. "I just want to talk."
The ground began to shake, and they all looked back. The explosion had woken the beast. It got to its feet and roared.
"That's not good," Lin said. It turned to the girls and vanished.
"Look out!" Sharone said, rushing in front of them and making a shield around them. A split second later, the beast appeared in front of them and struck the shield with its claws, knocking them back through the ruins.
"Are you hurt?" Sharone asked them.
"Yeah," Lin said weakly.
The beast stood on its hind legs and roared again.
"What is that thing?" Sharone asked.
"It's a Silver Lynx, the fastest beast out there," Koniko responded.
It turned its attention to the town and vanished with a loud boom, moving toward Ekron.
"It's heading towards the city. We have to stop it. Come on," Sharone said, rushing after it. Lin and Koniko hesitated for a bit, then followed.
Two cloaked figures watched the girls go after it.
"Seems we have to move ahead of schedule, don't you think, Harvey?"
Harvey removed his cloak.
"The work of a beast tamer is so tiresome. But that fox girl seems capable. Don't let her beat you to it," the hooded man said in a singsong tone.
"Yes, sir."
"Good," the cloaked figure said before disappearing. There was an explosion in the distance.
Harvey looked at the rising cloud of smoke before walking toward the city.