Beast crystals were a rarity, back in what they would call their world at least. In their ti, such things could be sold for a small fortune, drawing attention from governnts, companies, and anyone seeking power. But here, in this strange place, whether it was a new world, the past, or simply so constructed space, they were starting to realize things were different.
Beasts seed to appear constantly, roaming lands with no shortage of threats. Entire professions here were dedicated to eliminating them, and adventurers built their lives around hunting and collecting the crystals. Based on their experience, the three had already discovered it wasn’t particularly hard to gather them. Because of that, they assud the crystals couldn’t possibly be worth much in this world.
However, Kai’s sharp senses were picking up more than just the crystals themselves. His ears twitched, catching every whispered word and hushed conversation from those gathered in the guild hall.
“Look how many beast crystals they brought with them,” one adventurer whispered, his eyes glued to the pile on the desk. “Do you think they’re fake?”
“I’ve seen fake crystals before,” another said, shaking his head. “But these don’t look fake at all. You can feel the energy radiating off them. They’re definitely real.”
“But how could three people, who aren’t even part of a guild or ranked in any way, gather that many crystals? To kill that many beasts? Do you think they stole them?”
“Right. They might’ve just stumbled across a group of dead adventurers and brought the crystals in themselves. Still, at the end of the day, possession makes it theirs. Lucky bunch.”
The murmurs continued, the hall buzzing with disbelief. Then, from the staircase, led by the receptionist, a tall, older man appeared. His presence silenced the room. Deep wrinkles lined his forehead, and a smirk seed permanently etched across his long face. A heavy mustache drooped past his mouth, hanging low as if weighed down by years of leadership.
Gary leaned closer to Kai, his voice low but not nearly as discreet as he thought. “So that’s the guild leader, right? I guess this is like eting a gang boss.”
Kai thought about it, and surprisingly, he agreed. It wasn’t a bad comparison. They should treat this situation exactly like that, careful, respectful, cautious.
The guild leader reached the bottom of the stairs and cast a glance toward them, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “You three are the ones who brought these crystals with you?” he asked.
“Yes,” Lupus answered plainly.
“Then the next question I have is this,” the man continued, stepping closer. “Did you gather these crystals yourself? As in, did you personally defeat the beasts to obtain them?”
“We did,” Lupus said again, without hesitation.
The hall grew still, the silence heavy. The guild leader studied them closely, as though weighing the truth of Lupus’s words. His sharp gaze made it clear that a single slip could turn the tide against them.
“I’ll be honest with you,” the man finally said. “I find that hard to believe. The three of you have no beast gear, no weapons at your side, and you’re not part of any guild.”
Gary felt his stomach tighten. He could see where this line of questioning was leading. Suspicion was clear in the man’s tone. If they weren’t careful, this could spiral. The guild could accuse them of stealing the crystals, or worse, claim the crystals for themselves under the guise of justice.
Then Gary rembered sothing, Caram’s reaction back in the village. It hit him suddenly, sothing he had forgotten until now.
“It’s because we’re Werewolves,” Gary blurted out.
Never in his life did he think he would say those words so openly, without hesitation. But if even a villager like Caram knew about Werewolves, then surely mbers of a guild would know as well.
The guild leader’s expression shifted imdiately. His lips curled into a grin, and his hands clapped together with a loud smack that echoed through the quiet hall.
“Oh! That explains it, then!” he said with sudden cheer. “Why don’t you follow to my office, and we’ll get those crystals processed properly for you. Truth be told, there was a reason I was questioning you. Perhaps there’s sothing we can do to help each other.”
The three exchanged brief glances but agreed to follow. They ascended the stairs and entered the guild leader’s office. Compared to the rough-hewn hall below, this place was extravagant. The room was filled with fine decorations and treasures. Jewels glittered in ornate cases, and rich fabrics draped across the furniture. Even if this was the past, or another world entirely, one didn’t need to be told the guild leader had wealth.
The man sat behind his desk while the three of them settled into the sofas placed before it.
“Lilly will be ready with the coins shortly,” the guild leader explained. “But while she’s preparing, allow to introduce myself. My na is Glen, leader of the Energy Star Guild here.” His smile grew slightly as he leaned forward. “I wanted to make a proposal to the three of you. At the mont, there’s a quest that has been causing trouble for most of our guild mbers.
“We aren’t the strongest of guilds, but in the local area, a powerful beast has been stirring chaos. Although you aren’t officially ranked, just from the number of crystals you’ve brought in, I can gauge your strength.” His eyes glinted with curiosity. “Do you mind, just for verification, showing that you really are Werewolves?”
Gary saw no harm in it. Other than the crystals, they had little else that could serve as proof. So, without hesitation, he raised his hand. Brown fur sprouted across his skin, his fingers elongating slightly, claws erging before he pulled it back, the transformation receding as quickly as it ca.
“That’s enough,” Gary said.
“Excellent,” Glen said, his tone impressed. “I’ve only seen a few Werewolves myself in my ti. Of course, you’ll be rewarded for helping us on this quest, but I suspect simple paynt won’t be enough for you. I assu you’re here for a reason?”
“We’re currently traveling to the Redwing Kingdom,” Kai explained. “We were hoping to stay the night and ask for directions. We’re on a bit of a ti crunch, so I’m not sure we can help you with your issue.”
Glen nodded slowly, tapping his fingers on the desk. “I thought as much. Still, I believe we can help each other. The Redwing Kingdom is the largest and most powerful kingdom in all of Bronzeland. My guess is that you don’t have citizenship, but you’re heading there to et with other Werewolves, correct? That much is obvious, considering you don’t even know the direction to the kingdom.”
The three froze. Glen wasn’t wrong. His sharp deduction cut straight through their vague story.
“I can provide you with direct passage to the location,” Glen continued smoothly, “and I also have ways to ensure you can enter the city itself. In return, I ask for your help in dealing with this beast troubling our region. I think you’ll agree this is quite a fair offer.”
The three looked at one another. With Kai’s instincts, if they followed their own path, it could take far longer to reach the Redwing Kingdom. This was an opportunity, perhaps the best one they would find.
“Alright,” Kai said at last. “You have a deal.”
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