“And what would these business deals be?” François, the suited businessman, replied, his voice matching the coldness of Bruce. The two men went into stare – off, Lucas completely confused by the events. For all he knew, the businessman was the newcomer with no previous history with any of the people here, but that certainly didn’t seem to be the case. He casted an inquisitive look towards Goldilocks, who looked back at him, smile on her face indicating she was having fun. Was it on the expense of Lucas and his ignorance or at the posturing of the two men who were still at the intense stare – off, Lucas didn’t know, nor he was particularly interested in finding out.

“Gentlemen, please, there is no need to be uncivilized about this” Goldilocks spoke, still smiling. Her voice startled the two men, both of them suddenly squirming, looking a little bit ashamed.

“My colleague is right, Mr. Beneschent, we have more important things to discuss. Like the fact you sold extremely dangerous beasts to the known tyrant, endangering the whole region” Bruce said, Lucas realizing he was talking about the beasts that were guarding the vault of the General.

“The specimens in question were completely docile and trained” François responded, his voice showing no emotion, just pure calculation.

“You cannot know that for sure. That beast is a dangerous entity, better not be trifled until we can destroy it” Bruce spat, clearly frustrated by the demeanor of the businessman. Lucas watched the reaction from the room, spotting some of his party members suddenly listening to the conversation with great care. Lucas was getting the feeling something big was discussed, but the reason for it went over his head, so he moved slightly, not even paying attention to the flow of conversation, aiming to get close to his party in a hope they would be able to fill his gaps.

“Why are those creatures so important?” Lucas asked, finally managing to get close to his party.

“If I’m hearing correctly, they are talking about the Beast. But that is impossible, as those were rumors and legends” Chen was the one to respond, still paying attention to the conversation between François and Bruce, looking shocked and a bit frightened.

“The Beast?” Lucas asked, intrigued by the reaction, as there were very small number of things that could get a member of his party scared.

“There is a tale of the creature somewhere in the ass – end of the Earth, capable of incorporating everything it kills into itself and then reuse the material in any way it sees fit” Chen explained.

“That doesn’t sound so scary” Lucas said

“Lucas, everything. Not just the physical aspects, but the mental ones too. In theory, if it ever ate a human, it would gain sapience and theoretically access to classes and the System in the same way we humans have” Chen further explained, his voice showing disbelief in Lucas’s reaction.

“It’s not just a theory, it’s a proven fact as Mr. Beneschent here is fully aware. It ate some humans after the invasions were beaten back, when exploration of the new Earth started in earnest” Bruce suddenly said, startling Lucas, who wasn’t aware that the other conversation has died down, leaving a conversation between him and Chen as the only voices in the room.

“And as your Loremaster refuses to accept, the Beast is not all powerful, the link between it and its creations able to be severed” Beneschent added, starting to get frustrated a bit by the obstinacy of Bruce.

“And what happens when some of your hunters are killed? We know for a fact that the creature is actively trying to escape its island and reach new shores, imagine if you were the one to give it a class necessary to achieve this” Bruce said loudly.

“As much as I would like to see you boys fight it out, we can iron out this issue later, seeing as Mr. Beneschent still has to get us our supplies” Goldilocks interjected, her voice amused.

“That is correct, Loremaster. If you will excuse me now, I still have a deal to fulfill, and you still have an invading force to contend with” François said and left the room, Bruce letting out a heavy sigh before recollecting himself.

“Unfortunately, we need that asshole” Bruce commented, turning to Lucas “I suggest you all get some sleep, you will be needed tomorrow” he finished.

“There is one more thing” Lucas said, calling Larissa forward and recounting the events in the villages, finishing with the Larissa’s part in the whole ordeal.

Hearing the story, Bruce let out another sigh, signaling Lucas to be silent as he started questioning the girl, who was responding with the voice barely above the whisper. Finishing with the girl, Bruce turned to Lucas.

“You are aware that now Camp Hearth isn’t a safe place for the girl, right?” Bruce asked, his voice strict.

“Still safer than the alternative” Lucas responded defiantly, not about to change his mind. Bruce shook his head, but seeing Lucas’s resolve he dropped the objections and instead started thinking of the solutions.

“I will place her with Maya for now, I’m sure she would treat the girl well. After we deal with the invasion, I will train her. And now, go get some rest, for tomorrow you have an obligation to defend that what is yours” Bruce finally spoke and with everything resolved, Lucas and his party exited the office, saying their goodbyes as each one of them headed towards their house, eager to get some real rest. Arriving back to his house, Lucas got out of his armor, falling asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

Awakening at what looked like an early morning, Lucas immediately put his armor back on and headed out, towards the gate that was established last night as the designated meeting spot. There he spotted Maggie and Ted already awake and mingling with adventurers who decided to join Lucas, twelve of them in total.

“Good morning” he spoke as he approached the group, everybody but Maggie and Ted standing to attention, respect clear on their faces.

“You are up early” Maggie said jokingly, some of the adventurers not managing surprise at such casual talk aimed at Lucas, who just chuckled.

“What can I say, there is a big morning ahead of us” Lucas said, turning towards the adventurers “no need for that. Are everyone who are willing to go with us here?” he asked.

“No, sir, we await three more” one of the adventurers responded.

“So, twenty people against the tide. I like our odds” Lucas said with the big smile, continuing some small talk as they waited for the rest to show up. Half an hour have passed before Margaret, who was last to arrive, joined them and Lucas was starting to get a little nervous, calculating in his head will they have enough time. The math, based on the information they possessed, said they were on time, but Lucas decided to speed it up a bit, just to make sure.

“Okay, as you know, we are here to slow down the invasion force and lure them towards the settlement, where we will hopefully split their force with our defense matrix, defeating the part that stays inside our defenses. So, be careful with your lives and don’t do anything stupid.” Lucas said before ordering them to move and soon they crossed the gate, which was in full preparation mode, town guards raising palisades and barricades in harmonious rhythm. Lucas’s fears about the time proved unfounded, as they movement through the road that connected the shoreline with Camp Hearth, was uneventful, nothing impeding them. Arriving at the shore, adventurers quickly split into groups of five, Lucas noticing a lack of healers amongst them, some among them starting to channel mana to set up traps and raise some defenses.

“They are good, Leon didn’t lied” Ted commented to Lucas, as they were on the ridge overlooking the shore, watching both adventurers doing their thing and the sea, trying to spot any movement.

“Well, they are paid good money so they better be” Lucas responded back, both men laughing a bit before Maggie interrupted, returning from her scouting trip.

“No one has landed in fifty kilometer radius” she responded, putting Lucas’s fears that the blue skinned invaders would avoid them to ease. They continued their watch, but the day was still calm, Lucas starting to wonder did Maya’s early warning system sent a false alarm. At that very moment, something change in the distant part of the sea, some movement breaking the monotony. Lucas watched as one by one, twenty ships sailed in their view, each of them a masterpiece in ice crafting, its design allowing it not to be impeded by the shallower parts of the sea they have entered. Bellow him, adventurers shouted in alarm for their colleagues that still haven’t noticed the ships, Lucas deciding it was time for him to join the rest. Scaling the ridge, he was joined by his party and they settled, watching the boats get closer and closer.

“Remember, conserve your strength and your life” Lucas shouted once again, the ships near the shore.