Chương 96: 9 – S-GRADE BOUNTY

"A wild beast of an impressive size, known for its ability to teleport any distance instantaneously," Cannon read off the printed piece of paper listing the Wanderer's bounty. On it was a crude black-and-white sketch of a four-legged beast with some sort of tiki mask covering its head.

"How do you plan on fighting something that can teleport?" The four of them were sitting cross-legged in their small bedroom, just as they slept: Acelin and Ellie on the bed, with the two men on the floor.

"Hopefully not the long way," T'balt answered.

"So then this is your first time here, then?" Ellie asked. T'balt snapped his fingers and pointed at her, signaling his confirmation.

"That's somehow not very assuring."

"I don't think I'll be completely blind. I'm not fully sure what these people would consider an S-grade demon, but I have a feeling it's something similar to the Seraph back home." They all blankly stared at him.

"The what?" Cannon asked. T'balt let himself forget that he was the only one changing iterations again. That didn't mean it didn't feel weird coming from Cannon's mouth. He still remembered how the man saved him from that thing, with one eye and barely an arm.

"You all never saw it, I guess. It only occasionally showed it, even back then. But it's a large angel-like beast. It had an ability that allowed it to change into light, moving so fast that it might as well have been teleporting."

"Sounds epic," said Acelin, paying full attention like it was story time.

"So how'd you beat it?" T'balt laughed to himself.

"Actually, I didn't. It kind of kicked my ass, so I made a point out of avoiding it usually." The three of them simultaneously groaned.

"Somehow… not… very… assuring." Ellie glared.

"Hey, I'm not the same guy I was back then. I'm wiser. More refined. If it attacked me again, I'm sure I'd win this time." Cannon leaned back, lying on the ground.

"Everyone always talks the talk, but someone's gotta lose at the pay-per-view."

"I'm not wrestling-brained enough to know what you're implying, Cannon. But it is true. I was different then, and I didn't have such a strong team beside me. Now I do." That at least brought half-smiles to their faces.

"Well, regardless, we won't be fighting anything without our lovely guide."

"You mean the German man?" Acelin asked, willfully oblivious and playing with his crossed feet.

"Yeah, the playboy," Cannon boasted like his jest was better.

"I hadn't seen him since he took you off to that meeting."

"He was pretty upset after that meeting," T'balt said.

"You mean the robot changed his face?" It was Ellie's turn to make fun of him. T'balt crossed his arms, trying to puff out his chest in some form of authority.

"Let's take it easy on him, guys. Alright?"

"Why should we? He's been nothing but manipulative since we got here." Ellie snapped back, mirroring his crossed arms.

"Well, because whatever happens to us, at least on this bounty it seems, happens to him too." German sat outside alone, meditating near an oak tree, not far from the mansion. It was on a trail that he often took to clear his mind. He took a long whiff of the fresh salty air and opened his eyes. At his feet were a set of papers and a clipboard. The papers to his left were filled with cursive writing and a custom signature at the end of each one.

"Yours, Tyene Demue." The y in her name was looped like a heart, in that girlish way she always wrote it. There was a letter on the clipboard, half-written in his own handwriting. He blankly stared as it blankly stared back. He was never one for poetic words or even sentimental ones, but he felt he should try. He would need fitting words for his last, but the only thing he could think to say was, "I have served." That was the sum of his life.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. He folded the paper, putting it into a small, unstamped envelope. Then he placed it in a small hole in the tree, where several more envelopes remained, covered in dirt and pollen. He attempted to leave it there, but some force told him to take it with him. A force that repeated the words, "This is a waste of time." And so he slipped it into his back pocket.

That evening, he put in a request to the clerk at the Hunter's counter. Then he patiently waited as the intercom in the mansion sounded, "Will all available hunters please report to the Hunter's Counter on the first floor." There were at least a hundred people actively a part of the Hunter's Club, including servants and guards, so the room became congested quickly. But there was still space enough for everyone to fit in comfortably with room to spare. There was no chatter among them.

Whenever they were called like this, it was due to a message from the Collector himself. Staring up at German, they would not have realized that today that wasn't the case. German stood next to the counter on its elevated platform so that all could see him.

"Corlander has assigned me and a small group to a special hunt. An S-grade demon by the name of the Wanderer." There was a collective gasp, followed by a corrected silence.

"To increase the likelihood of our success, I am opening the door to anyone who would wish to lend us their aid in this endeavor. You all know the pay for an S-grade loot hunt. Permanent residence inside the Hunter's Club. All your food and all your needs will be provided for as long as this building stands. No need to pay for your survival. You will be under the personal protection of the Collector. So… do I have any takers?"

"No thanks!" someone shouted.

"We've seen this trick before! People don't come back from your S-grade loot hunts! Not once!"

"Well, that is precisely what makes them S-grade and the reward so high," German responded calmly. One of the older men stepped forward, an experienced hunter. Two A-grade loot bounties completed in his name.

"Is this request from Corlander?" German waited for the crowd's murmurs to die down. He knew this was coming.

"No. This is a personal request from me. The reward is given no matter what, but anyone who assists me will be under my personal debt as well." With that last sentence, the entire energy of the room was depleted. The crowd dispersed, no longer caring to hear what German had to say. He straightened his tie and stepped away from the counter, looking as if that result had no meaning to him. T'balt and the others were in the crowd. He supposed now was as good a time as any to speak to German. The speech felt strange.

Though he knew he didn't want anyone unnecessary to be involved in their hunt, he was still disappointed at the lackluster reaction to it. When he approached German, the only thing he could say was, "That was pretty sorry." German didn't bother to glance at him, leaving T'balt to stare at the black diamond on his face.

"It was an expected result."

"Then what was the point?" Ellie asked.

"At least they will know the cause of my demise." He started away, forcing T'balt to chase after him.

"You make it sound like we don't stand a chance fighting this thing," T'balt said. German found a standing table and began unpacking a bag that was already laid there. When a servant holding a tray of martini glasses walked back, he signaled for 2. He put both on his side of the table.

"I've seen the reports on the thing. No one turned it in. I just wrote from what I found at the scene. We sent one of our most lethal hunting groups after it, once someone reported a monster teleporting out in the desert. When Corlander heard, he was so desperate to add it to his collection that he forgot his precious preparation." He took a drink of one of the martinis.

"It decimated them, with almost comical ease. A dozen men, fully equipped, fully looted. It must've only taken seconds before all their heads were severed on the ground. The bodies were still in formation… If you'd like me to believe that four people and a child would fare better, I'd have to disappoint you. I'm a realist. But Mitas Corlander will get what he wants. Even though his power has blinded him as to what is and isn't a miracle." T'balt thought for a second.

"But in the meeting, he said that he was always prepared. Doesn't sound like the kind of person that would send us on this bounty without knowing we could do it."

"Well, that would be knowledge worth sharing, wouldn't it?" German paused, waiting for a response. T'balt didn't have one for him. Ellie, Cannon, and Acelin patiently waited around them, awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

"Well, come on. I don't have all day. I'll tell you what I have." He gestured for everyone to surround the table where he'd laid out a small map.

"Now this beast is called the Wanderer because when we were first trying to locate it, it had reports of being spotted all over the map with no particular reasoning for each appearance. Never in the same place twice. Except for one." He pointed at the map.

"There is a den in a rocky desert east of here. It seems to return there to rest."

"Like it's house?" Acelin said. German continued.

"We're going to travel there and wait for it to return. Hopefully, we can position ourselves on one of the hilltops nearby where we might take it by surprise. If that doesn't work, then…" he trailed off, eventually downing the other martini.

"The day after tomorrow. That's all the time Corlander has afforded us to get ready. I'll come for you when it's time. Anything else I can help you with?" T'balt thought awhile as everyone stared at him like they did when important decisions were to be made.

"If we're going to do this, there is something I need from you, German."