[What do you want?]

[Me? Don't you're the one who wants to talk to me?] Woman

[You can do that without that show you know!] Me

[Hahaha... Let's just say I'm testing you.] woman

[We nearly die out there!] Billy

No billy. I'm literally die over there.

[What's the point of a test if it's not that far?] Woman

[Then can you release us?] Me

[Now, now. Don't be haste, shall we? So... What is the purpose of your visit?] Woman

[I just want to know the lycan we met days before. Is it your work?] Me

[Hahaha... A lycan? Maybe? I'm not sure. There's a lot of us out there you know.] Woman

[And what's the purpose?] Me

[Purpose? It's your people who want that. You're the one who is always in pursuance of power. Some of you even willingly sacrifice your loved ones for that.] Woman

.....

[You know what? I can give you some of that if you want. For free this time.] Woman

[No thanks! Didn't I told you I'm not here to make any deals?] Me

[You insolence child! You know I can just kill you right here right now?] Woman

[Release this boy and you can kill me in any way you like!] Me

[No way Mr dean!] Billy

[Hahahaha... I like your resolve! Ahh... I can really use someone like you] woman

[Hmm?]

[We'll resume this conversation. Looks like I got more guest to greet.]

*slam*

*SCREEEE!!*

*aaa-ooooooohh!!*

Another lycan? Is it another of that witch underling?

[Billy, quickly!]

I throw my bowie knife to Billy and take a peek from the windows.

A lot of lycan fighting swamp draug and harpies?

Just what's happening right now!

And what's even that? Werewolf?

It's twice as big as lycan!

[Hold on Billy. I don't think we can easily get out from here. Let's wait until everything calms down a bit.]

*Weapon summon: PPSh-41*

[Mr Dean. How's that...] Billy

[It's magic tools. I can summons it whenever I want.] Me

There goes one of my secrets.

I take another peek outside. The situation settles down considerably. I can still see Lycans running around and attacking the draug but this is the perfect time to escape.

[Let's go, Billy! We'll take the back doors!] Me

*creak*

*GRRRRRR*

Two lycans greeted us behind the back door. It just seems as they're already waiting for us.

I'm aiming my PPSh right between the two eyes of one of the lycans. Take another step and I'll not hesitate to squeeze the trigger!

[Hold it, boys!]

A werewolf with a head of a human approaching us. Two of the lycan are following his order and also start to transform their head into that of a human. One of them actually a woman.

[You're lucky you're still alive. Or should I say, as expected as someone who kills a lycan alone?] Werewolf

[I don't know who you are and I don't want to cause any trouble. Can you let us go? I promised we'll never sticking our nose to any of your business if that's what you want.] Me

[Hold your horses boy. We can't exactly let you go after you're seeing everything. But we're not here to silent you either.] Werewolf

.....

[Why don't we go back to the tree's nest first? I'll explain everything there.] Werewolf

--------------------------------------------------------

[Master! Bring us your mead!] Man

[Right away.] Barman

Just like that, we go back to the tree's nest tavern. All the people who at that time are having a body of a wolf now look like just an everyday mercenaries.

The one that supposes to be a werewolf is now sitting in front of me with that buff body of his.

*gulp*

[Right. I can see you're still puzzled by everything that happens. Let me introduce myself. I'm Krill, the leader of this Cloudy River mercenaries party.]

[But as you can see earlier, under the shadows, we're also known as the Silver Claw Faction. I'm not gonna introduce you to everyone here but the two you've met is Lisa and Jake and the ones with big body there is Arnold. These three is my main henchman.]

Contrary to Krill, Lisa and Jake are having normal posture. Actually, I think Jake is even bonier than billy.

But Arnold, when Krill said 'big body', he's not lying even a bit. He'll easily be a great strongman athlete back on Earth.

[I'm Dean, mercenary. This one is Billy, my companion.] Me

[Nice to meet you] Billy

[Now, to the main point, I'm not lying when I said you're lucky to be alive.] Krill

[What of it?] Me

[The one whom you muddle with earlier is not just your everyday witch. She's a vampire, from Tristania at that.] Krill

-------------------------------------------------------------

Tristania.

A kingdom of monsters, mutants, and demons alike, hiding behind the Weavingtower Mountain range.

Lead by a pureblood vampire, they have been in an everlasting conflict with any neighboring kingdoms as far as the legend can tell.

The reason is simple. To eradicate and enslaved all humans in Catala.

[So you're here to stop the war?] Me

[Stop the war? Bah! like hell it's gonna happen before either side is destroyed! No, no. All that vampires are always high and mighty. They'll never want to live side by side with humans.] Krill

[But, aren't you guys also not on good terms with humans? Why don't you join them] me

[Because we, lycanthrope are a natural enemy for them. Besides, there is time when we actually fight side by side with you guys.] Krill

......

[But over time, humans do become wary of us. It's not really your fault when compared to other mutants and mix-breed like that cat and dog person, we do looks more terrifying and violent.] Krill

*bang!*

[And that witch with her lycan is making it worse!] Arnold

[Calm down Arnold. But yeah, that's the reason for our meet earlier. Not only that we want to clear our names, but we'll also do anything that aids that vampire befall.] Krill

[And your reason for telling me is...] Me

[Look. I'm not asking your allegiance or anything. But, if you you have any task that can help our cause, go to the Petty Bowl tavern in Romora and ask for audience with Silver Claw. We might lend our strength to help you] Krill

*gulp*

*drop*

[Let's go boys! We're going home!] Krill

....

*creak*

[Ahh, go home already?] Old Bard

[We are. You really did find someone interesting this time, old friend.] Krill

[Hehehe...]