Inside the barrel was the body of a man. Lukas didn't know what the man looked like from his nightmare, but he knew it was him because of the state his head was in.
His head had been crushed.
The man's body had all his bones broken so that he could be stuffed into the barrel. In addition, he was without clothes. Lukas could look at this for only a few seconds before he felt his stomach hurt.
He turned away and then coughed. He controlled himself so that he wouldn't end up vomiting.
After a few seconds away, Lukas walked over and closed the barrel. After this, he ran out of the factory. And as he passed the factory entrance again, something caught his eye.
Something tossed among a small pile of bricks beside the entrance.
"Is that a hunter's license?" Lukas looked at the picture on the license that was probably of the killed man. He was an ordinary man: brown hair and black eyes. There was nothing special about his appearance.
Lukas put the man's license in his pocket and then left the factory grounds. As he left, he called the police and anonymously reported the body.
Lukas ran away, feeling nervous and afraid that the people would think the death was associated with him.
####
When he arrived at his house, Lukas took the man's license out of his pocket and threw it on the computer table. He then picked up his cell phone and called Karen. After a few seconds, she answered.
"Karen, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Oh, sure. What happened? Did you by any chance manage to convince your parents-"
"It's nothing like that. Are you in the guild?"
"Yes. Only Noelle and I are here. Why?"
"I'm going to the guild. Wait for me."
"What happened? You look nervous."
"I'll explain later." Lukas hung up the call and then put the man's license in the pocket again. He put the hood over his head and ran towards the guild.
He could see some police cars and some cars from the association on the way. Probably they were heading in the direction of the factory.
Lukas lowered his head even more and quickened his steps.
####
"So, what happened?" Lukas arrived at the guild and found Karen and Noelle sitting at the table. They were eating a snack while watching something on the laptop.
"Here." Lukas took out the hunter's license and placed it on the table.
Karen took the license and looked at it before looking at Lukas. "What's that?"
"A license."
"I know it's a license, but I'm asking why you have it. Cody Maculay... Who is that?"
"I don't know either."
"Explain further what happened."
"Right." Lukas removed the hood from his head and sat down. Then he began to tell what had happened, but of course, he changed the story a bit. He hid that he had seen the whole thing as a nightmare.
In the version of the story he told Karen and Noelle, he had seen it while walking down the street. And his motivation for being in the street was that he wanted to walk a little, that's all.
Of course, this was not well accepted by the two, but they did not question it.
After hearing the story, Noelle looked horrified, and Karen was intrigued. Karen picked up her cell phone and then left the room.
"Is she going to talk to anyone?"
"Probably with the head of the Jacksonville association," Noelle replied. Lukas tilted his head in confusion. "How can she call the head of the association so casually?" He asked.
Noelle then gave a small smile.
"Her father is the head of the association."
"What, is it serious?"
"Yes. That's why she went to the association to try to solve your case... About the signature."
"I see."
"You don't seem surprised."
"I am surprised, believe me." Lukas gave a smile and then was silent until Karen returned.
####
"I sent a message to my father; the association is already at the location where the body was found. Don't worry, I didn't say you were the one who reported it. Although they might find out the cellphone owner and get to you." Karen said as she arrived in the room.
"..." Lukas was silent and then stood up. "I think I'm going home now."
"Already? You came here just for that?" Karen asked, confused. Lukas then turned his face and answered. "I had no choice but to talk about it with you... I couldn't talk about it with my parents and sister, could I? But I made the right choice, didn't I? Since you are the daughter of the head of the association."
"I already thought you knew."
"How would I know? Nobody ever told me about it. Besides, I don't know anything about the association head's life. I didn't even know he had a daughter."
"Ahahaha, and I don't look like him either, do I?"
"You are pretty, unlike him."
"Thanks for the compliment." Karen smiled at him and sat down again. After crossing her legs, she sighed, "I got the answer from the association this morning."
"!" Lukas looked at Karen expectantly.
"But unfortunately, they didn't accept it. They will only accept you to become a hunter when you turn 18 or if you get your parents' signature. Because of that, I have decided to go to your house tomorrow."
"What?"
"I was going to text you to let you know about it. I will talk to your parents and try to convince them to sign the document." Hearing this, Lukas slammed both his hands on the table. "Don't do that." He stood up, and he looked at Karen.
"Why not? Don't you want to become a hunter?"
"That doesn't matter. I'm just asking you not to mess with my parents. Do you understand?"
"..."
"Okay, I'm going now. Don't worry; I'll find a way to fix this. If it doesn't work out, I can wait for two years." Lukas waved his hand and left the house.
Karen and Noelle looked at each other.
"Haaaa~~ That kid is weird, huh?" Karen sighed as she rested her chin on her hands. "He wants to become a hunter, but at the same time, he doesn't want me to help him." Karen pouted.
Noelle smiled.
"His father was a hunter, right? Giovan and Ember talked to him a little bit about that. Something happened to his family, which involves his father's time as a hunter."
"I know that, but it's still strange. It makes sense that his parents don't want him to become a hunter since it's a dangerous job... But why doesn't he want to make them change their minds?"
"You are dumb, aren't you?" Noelle smiled and stood up. "Would you like some tea?"
"Yes."