"Thanks for waiting, Lucius. This is important," Sonic spoke, urgency clear in his tone.
Lucius gestured to the seat beside him, even though they could've just sat facing each other. Sonic was the owner of the shop, the main blacksmith, and a trusted friend. Appearance-wise, he looked ordinary—dark-skinned, with a heavily muscled frame from years at the forge. He walked over quickly, but almost tripped, barely catching himself before falling face-first.
What's with people today? Why is everyone tripping? Lucius thought with mild amusement.
"Sorry about that..." Sonic mumbled, adjusting himself as he finally sat down.
"No worries, old friend. Now, onto the main topic. You're clearly tense, which means you've got something interesting," Lucius said, his own curiosity beginning to stir.
"Yeah… yeah, I mean, yesterday I was in the depths of the Outer Rim. Too close to the Ganganath River," Sonic began, then added with a quick glance around, "Don't let Sonia find out about this, yeah?"
The Ganganath River. A divine, sprawling body of water originating from the empire's northern mountain ranges, flowing east before entering the Beast Rims. It was the very existence that separated the Outer Rim from the Middle Rim—a natural boundary too dangerous for most to approach.
"As I was returning, I spotted something—" Sonic paused and quickly gestured at Lucius to make sure no ears or senses were focused on them.
Lucius nodded and closed his eyes, stretching his perception to the absolute limit. He scanned for mana signatures, sensory threads, anything unnatural. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes.
"We're alone. Not even Sonia is paying attention—she's off enjoying her tea with cashew biscuits."
"...While returning, I spotted... a Va—Valgura. Near the Ursa Sector."
Lucius's posture changed subtly. His expression shifted.
Valgura. Humanoid monsters. Officially categorized as Terror Beasts, but a few ranks above even that. Easily ten feet tall, they were SS-ranked beasts that lived in the initial layers of the Middle Rim. A Valgura appearing in the Outer Rim? That was unheard of. Lucius was certain of it.
"You're sure it was a Valgura?" he asked, his tone serious but not accusatory. "I'll be honest—I'm not doubting you. Your behavior definitely says you saw something out of place. But a Valgura? That's a Middle Rim inhabitant. If one's here now, that means it crossed the river by swimming—which is borderline impossible. The river is a hundred kilometers wide and filled with river beasts that use stealth-based tactics to hunt... and Valguras cannot fly."
"I'm damn sure, Lucius. The one I saw was smaller, much weaker. Around S-rank, I'd say. It had severe injuries—a huge open wound across its chest, and it was missing an eye. Since they're humanoid, they look a lot like us. Same biological layout, just… larger. Their skin tone can vary, and their species is not bound to a single elemental affinity either."
"It's injured?" Lucius muttered. "Well, that makes two of us…"
He leaned forward. "Why tell me all of this? Shouldn't you be reporting it to the Guild? You know the protocol. When an SS-ranked beast is spotted, you have to notify the officials. That kind of information could earn you a handsome reward."
"Oh, come on. What'll that do for me? I've already got more than enough for my family." Sonic's voice was blunt and straight, which Lucius appreciated. He preferred people who didn't dance around words.
"Forgive my directness, but what I really want... is for you to enter the Outer Rim, find this bastard, and slay it for me."
Lucius blinked.
What the fuck?
He didn't even try to hide his expression. It practically screamed: Are you insane?
Valguras were beasts of destruction. Resistant to elemental magic, their massive arms came equipped with nature-forged blades that made close-quarters combat a nightmare. If one of them happened to also wield elemental magic? That was usually the end of whoever dared to challenge it.
Lucius didn't have an elemental affinity. His one edge—Crimson Ultima, his newly inherited weapon—had its own flame properties. It was devastating in battle, sure, but activating its fire capabilities took a heavy toll on his mana reserves. Against a Valgura, that was no longer an advantage.
In fact, it might even be a weakness.
"You do realize I'm just a lesser mage with B- ranked capabilities? How is someone as weak and pathetic as me supposed to stand a chance against that monster? I mean, yeah—I enjoy risking my life a bit, but a straight-up suicidal mission? I'm not that insane..."
Before Sonic could interject, Lucius continued.
"Also, my last hunt left me with an injury. A deep one. And my weapons? They're out of commission. They need repairs and upgrades, which you said will take days. I'm sorry, Soni. I don't think I'm capable of executing this mission you're offering. I'll take my leave now—Sia's about to wake up..."
He stood up, politely thanking and rejecting the offer.
"Who the hell are you bullshitting, you fucking liar..." Sonic snapped. His tone wasn't friendly. It was sharp. Cutting. Far from the banter shared between old friends.
Lucius's expression darkened.
"Being my friend doesn't give you permission to speak to me like that," he replied coldly, his mana flaring just beneath the surface.
"Then don't fucking lie, Lucius." Sonic stood now, eyes locked on him. "I know. The guild knows. The military. Even the city officials are starting to notice. You can't hide the strength you possess behind that weak-ass curtain of a B- rank. I don't know the full scope of your powers, your abilities—but I know one thing for damn sure: you can take down that beast. That's exactly why I came to you first."
"As for your weapons and that so-called injury, which clearly is just some tactic—I'll prioritize them personally. Before the sun goes down, I'll deliver your newly upgraded gear to your doorstep. And that injury? I'll fetch a high-grade potion too. From the money you gave me. Just say yes, for fuck's sake!"
"Such potions are expensive," Lucius countered, his voice level. "What I gave you won't even cover one-fourth of the cost."
"Then I'll invest. You don't have to worry. I'll buy some additional recovery potions as well—hell, whatever you ask. I'll provide. Just say yes, man."
Sonic was standing tall, but Lucius felt the desperation bleeding through. He might as well be begging on his knees.
"Why me?" Lucius narrowed his eyes. "There are stronger mages out there—ones with better odds. What's your play here? Out with it."
"Trust, Lucius. It's all about trust. I can't risk hiring some random adventurers, even if they charge half of what you're gonna cost me. With the information I've got, I could get money, artifacts, even favors from nobles or elite hunters. But none of that guarantees success. You're the only one who can offer me that."
Sonic paused for a moment, then spoke more quietly.
"Because your mentor—and my mother—know each other. They've been in contact for years. They're close enough that your mentor shared... certain things."
Lucius understood exactly what Sonic was implying.
He knew about Crimson Ultima. Ragnar's special-ranked weapon—now in Lucius's hands. That alone was a deterrent. A reason Lucius couldn't betray him. Sonic wasn't just asking; he was playing his cards carefully.
Lucius exhaled slowly.
"Hmm. Since you spotted the beast yesterday, that gives me a window of, what—twelve hours? After that, its injuries will begin to heal at an incredible rate..."
"Exactly," Sonic said, nodding. "They're humanoid, like us. Their resilience is engraved into their biology. So yes—the clock is ticking. So? You in?"
Lucius's gaze sharpened. His tone was final.
"... The beast core will be mine. You'll reinforce Crimson Ultima and reconstruct my armor using its blades. And if the beast isn't as weak as you claim—if it has an elemental affinity—I'll abandon the mission. No questions asked. And don't expect any further payment for the weapon upgrades you're about to do. Those are my non-negotiable terms."
"Done!" Sonic exclaimed. "Yeah—fuck yeah. Let's do this. I knew you'd come around."
Without another word, he turned and sprinted off.
Lucius stepped aside to let him pass, watching him disappear toward the forge. As he followed him out, he decided to clear one last thing.
"How are you so sure I've got what it takes to kill an S-ranked beast—even if it's injured?"
Sonic didn't stop walking. "Blacksmiths, creators, researchers—we have a keen eye, my friend. We see value. Potential. Materials. We can tell what's capable and what's not. Just one look is enough. And no matter how you present yourself... your cover's too thin for people like us."
Lucius blinked, thoughtful.
"Its corpse is that valuable? Huh... I guess I should've negotiated more."
Sonic grinned over his shoulder. "You still can, you know."
Lucius waved him off. He was satisfied.
"I'll visit your shop once the sun goes down. Got it?" His tone was casual—but the implication was clear: Don't let Sia find out.
Sonic gave a nod of understanding.
If anything, it made his job easier.