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[Level] – 26
[Name] – Eldric Thorneborne [Neutral]
[Race] – Lycanthrope
[Bloodline] – Bloodline of the Crescent Moon
[Title] – Howler, Leader of the 23rd Garrison Squad
[Lifespan] – 52/230 years
[Class] – Blood Hunter
[Unique Skill] – Moonlit Illusion (A)
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Kuber felt a wave of confusion wash over him as he examined the status of Eldric, the squad leader. The name "Eldric" was accompanied by the designation "Lycanthrope," which clearly indicated that he was a werewolf. However, unlike Kuber and Leona, Eldric's bloodline was displayed on the status screen, just as it had appeared on Grendar's profile. Yet, these details had to take a back seat for now.
A shiver visibly ran down Leona's spine, causing her body to involuntarily tremble. Fear had taken a firm hold of her, and understandably so. Kuber had just tasked her with stealing from one of the city's most dreaded figures. Eldric, a veteran hunter, had retired following the annihilation of his party, later joining the city Garrison as a squad leader. He possessed an aura of menace, complemented by his sinister disposition.
"I can't bring myself to steal from him. He's not the kind of person who would extend mercy to a thief," Leona stated, her voice betraying traces of nervousness as a faint sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"But isn't that precisely what makes this opportunity advantageous?" Kuber responded.
A wicked grin slowly crept across Kuber's face, his eyes glinting with a malevolent spark as a sinister plan unfurled within his mind.
"What kind of thoughts are brewing in that mind of yours? I won't entertain the idea of stealing from that guy under any circumstances," Leona retorted, her response brimming with unshakable determination as her tone remained steady and resolute.
"Even if I offer you 90 stone credits as a reward?" Kuber's lips curved into a self-satisfied smirk, his eyes narrowing slightly, exuding an air of superiority.
"But wouldn't I get to keep all the credits I manage to pilfer from him?" Leona inquired, a thoughtful expression crossing her face, though her resolve remained unchanged.
"Indeed, you would acquire credits through your thievery, but can you guarantee your escape without getting caught?" Kuber's voice dripped with a hint of smugness, his words carrying a subtle arrogance, his tone laced with an air of self-assuredness.
Leona pondered his words, her uncertainty evident as she began, "Well, you see..."
Kuber's proposition sent a jolt through Leona. Her eyes widened, brows furrowing in confusion as she blinked several times, caught off guard by the unexpected offer.
Could she truly place her trust in Kuber's words? After all, he was a newcomer, unfamiliar with the intricacies of this world.
"Listen, young one, the time for a decision is upon you. Will you seize this opportunity or let it slip away?" Kuber's voice rang out, his words carrying a sense of urgency, pushing Leona to make a choice.
Kuber's stance stiffened, his tone growing more serious as he addressed Leona, who wavered in her decision to steal from Eldric.
"Understood. I'll proceed with it. It seems I don't have much of a choice, anyhow," Leona conceded, her agreement stemming from the lack of viable alternatives at the moment.
Having endured days of hunger, Leona had turned to thievery as a means of survival. Her initial attempt at pilfering had nearly ended in her capture, yielding a mere 11 stone credits. However, Kuber had emerged as her beacon of hope. He had managed to deduce her class without prior knowledge, a peculiarity she didn't probe into, deeming it not her place. Kuber had transformed into a guiding light, capable of leading her deeper into darkness or illuminating her life for the better.
With a determined clench of her fist, Leona forged ahead, a newfound resolve gleaming in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Eldric engaged in conversation with his subordinates, a hearty laughter echoing in the air.
"Hahaha... You're absolutely right. That foolish, portly official remains oblivious to the intricacies of this world. He even awarded me a bonus for pilfering credits from other squads," Eldric chuckled, his laughter persisting.
Eldric was completely absorbed in his laughter, not paying any attention to his surroundings.
Thump!
Leona collided with Eldric, a result of his distraction that was somewhat intentional on her part.
"Ouch! My bad, uncle. Wasn't looking where I was going," Leona apologized, a hesitant smile playing on her lips.
"It's fine, young one. Just be more careful when you walk," Eldric responded, not giving it much thought, assuming Leona to be a girl from a well-off family who accidentally bumped into him.
Leona nodded, expressing her thanks and apologies once more before taking her leave. A genuine sense of gratitude radiated from her as she smiled brightly.
Without much attention given to her departure, Eldric continued conversing with his squad.
"Well, that was quick and... kinda simple too," Kuber chuckled softly, his voice carrying a light and amused tone.
"So, are you really sure we won't get caught? Once he realizes he's lost his credit coin, they'll probably start combing the whole city," Leona's voice wavered a bit, a hint of uncertainty evident in her words.
"Relax, I told you already, you won't land in any trouble because of this little heist," Kuber's voice reassured, gentle and calming.
"I'll take your word for it then. Anything else?"
Kuber pulled out a paper from his pocket, something written on it. He had acquired the pen and paper from the library. Given his newfound understanding of the local language upon entering the tower, reading and writing in it wasn't much of a challenge.
"Oh, just a small thing," Kuber said, unfolding the paper, his focus shifting.
"Just make sure this message gets to the garrison somehow, but remember not to reveal your identity while you do it," Kuber instructed, passing the paper to Leona.
"Got it, I'll handle it," Leona replied, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, a clear sign of her heightened nervousness. Despite this, she agreed to Kuber's request instead of declining it, showcasing her determination and resourcefulness.
Handing over the credit coin to Kuber, Leona quickly departed from the scene. Following suit, Kuber also left, heading in a different direction.
After walking for a while, he eventually reached his destination - a weapons shop. A sign with a hammer and sword hung in front, exuding a traditional blacksmith's vibe.
As Kuber stepped inside, the loud clanging of metal hitting metal greeted him, along with an intense heat that might have made someone else turn around immediately. A dwarf, dressed lightly, was meticulously hammering a sword, shaping it with precision. Various types of weapons including swords, armors, spears, and more adorned the walls, adding to the shop's atmosphere.
"Hey there! Can I have a quick word with you?" Kuber directed his voice towards the dwarf, his friendly smile drawing the blacksmith's attention. Despite the deafening clang of metal around the smithy, the dwarf's senses were sharp enough to catch Kuber's call.
Wiping sweat from his brow with a cloth, the dwarf turned his gaze towards Kuber. "What's up, lad? Lost your way or something?" A puzzled look crossed the dwarf's features as his forehead creased and his eyes narrowed. He was genuinely curious about why a newcomer, likely not even in this world for more than 10 days judging by his attire, would venture into his shop.
Without hesitation, Kuber summoned his aurablade from his inventory. "I'd like to sell this."
Kuber's expression remained poker-faced, devoid of any overt emotions, as he presented the blade to the dwarf.
The dwarf's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait, why on earth would you want to sell your only weapon? You're a newbie, you can't even afford to buy another weapon right now."
The aurablade Kuber held was unmistakably the basic weapon awarded to every newcomer after completing the trial. Kuber's decision to sell it to the dwarf further deepened the dwarf's bewilderment about Kuber's intentions.