Tonight, Weimar City was unusually tranquil.
The once-bustling night market now stood deserted, and streets that were usually crowded with people lay empty.
Aili sat with Aryos in the command center, her face as pale as a ghost.
"I'm sorry to ask you to participate in such an operation on a night like this," Aryos said, feeling a pang of guilt as he noticed her apparent discomfort.
Is it really this painful? The hardships she endures as a female officer...
Feeling the blood surge within her, the rising urge to kill, Aili, barely holding on after ingesting the endurance toxin, asked Aryos, "Inspector... I'm not feeling well... May I go to the restroom?"
Aryos hesitated, then recalled Edel's repeated reminders before they set off to pay close attention to Aili's unique physical condition.
"Hmm... Go ahead, but be careful and return quickly. If you need assistance, you can call on the other squads," Aryos nodded, gesturing for Aili to hurry back.
The first step of the plan succeeded.
Aili felt a surge of joy but kept her face perfectly composed, masking her emotions as she staggered towards a public restroom on the street.
The command center hadn't set up temporary toilets, but Weimar City's excellent public facilities made it easy to find a restroom nearby.
This convenience played right into Aili's plan.
Once the transformation was complete and she returned to the command center, the short time she'd be gone—barely ten minutes, including the round trip—would ensure no one suspected she had transformed into a werewolf in the restroom.
Aili dragged her feet towards the nearest public restroom.
...
"Awooo!" A thunderous howl echoed through the skies, audible throughout all of Weimar City.
Levin, stationed in Area Three of the Eastern District, felt a shiver run through him as his hand tightened instinctively around his sword.
"Did Vera's device fail?" Levin couldn't help but prepare for the worst.
"If it failed..." Gripping his sword hilt tightly, Levin began to formulate a plan, quickly sketching out several strategies in his mind.
"You stay here. I'll go check what's happening over there!" Levin shouted, instructing the Eastern Fourth Squad to remain in position before dashing towards the source of the howl.
If I flee with Aili, should we head to the Hain Empire or the Coldwind Federation...? The Coldwind Federation is Aili's homeland; that might be better...
But as for Inspector Aryos... With my wit and speed, escaping shouldn't be an issue.
I can deal with the Guard Force's interference too. With the [Mythic Trickery (Agility)], even if they form a human wall, I can carry Aili over it.
The [Mythic Trickery (Agility)] will be key to getting Aili out of here. The crucial point is to subdue her werewolf form before anyone else arrives. It shouldn't be too difficult—even if she completes the transformation, the poison and silver should leave her with little strength.
Using [Mythic Trickery (Agility)], Levin sped through the streets like a gust of wind, contemplating his next moves.
If we go to the Coldwind Federation, we'll have to live in hiding. As two Transcendents, survival isn't a concern, but the Coldwind Federation's deep-seated hatred for werewolves will make it even more important to keep her condition secret...
Levin vaulted over a low wall and arrived at the scene of the howl, his heart sinking.
The guards in charge of the area had arrived before him, already forming a circle with their spears, the tips aimed at the gray-furred werewolf in the center.
Am I too late...? Levin's heart grew heavy, but then his eyes lit up.
Wait, that fur color—it's not Aili!
There's another werewolf in Weimar City!
"Awooo!" The werewolf let out a piercing howl, causing the surrounding guards to recoil in fear. Their captain had to bark several orders before they summoned the courage to tighten the encirclement.
The gray-furred werewolf cast a disdainful glance at the guards, then leapt onto a nearby roof and fled.
"D*mn it!" The captain of the area cursed, drawing his sword and leaping onto the roof in pursuit. Judging by his speed, he was likely an agile-type Transcendent.
Levin felt a wave of relief. If it wasn't Aili, then there was still hope.
The werewolf's appearance had instantly turned the oppressive atmosphere in Weimar City into one of feverish activity. Connecting the full moon to the current events, most of the guards quickly guessed that the werewolf was the target of the operation, prompting them to fortify their positions and prepare to intercept the creature.
...
Full Moon Operation Command Center
"Oh? Aili, you've returned." Aryos, who had been pacing anxiously, sighed in relief when he saw Aili come back. "Are you alright? You don't look well," he asked with concern.
"I'm fine... Inspector... Just feeling a bit unwell..." Aili nearly collapsed into a chair.
"Alright, take a good rest. The werewolf has appeared, and I'm going to personally deal with it. I was worried sick when you didn't come back, but now it's time to show that werewolf what I'm made of." Aryos patted Aili on the shoulder, grabbed the silver longsword he had specially prepared, and dashed out.
Aili's face was deathly pale, her fingers trembling slightly. The collar under her winter coat had completely snapped.
Under the influence of the full moon, even Vera's device couldn't prevent her transformation, which destroyed the device entirely.
Fortunately, Aili reverted to human form after the transformation ended prematurely due to the endurance toxin injected beforehand, allowing her to regain control just in time.
The plan had succeeded. Aili let out a long sigh of relief.
But was there truly another werewolf in Weimar City besides herself?
Was he, like her, a victim forced to hide his nature?
Or perhaps a follower of the Valkyris Church, infiltrating the city?
...
The gray-furred werewolf ran swiftly along the rooftops, its limbs a blur of motion, but the agile police chief was beginning to lose ground when suddenly, a figure darted past him, moving with blinding speed.
"D*mn, that's fast! Did a higher-up from headquarters join in?" The chief was momentarily stunned.
The figure, of course, was Levin, who had activated [Mythic Trickery (Agility)]. Matching the werewolf's speed, he challenged its four legs with his two and ultimately managed to intercept the creature.
"Awooo!" The gray werewolf howled and lunged at Levin.
Levin quickly retreated, his movements as fluid as if he had eyes on his back. No matter what obstacles he encountered, his body instinctively reacted, allowing him to navigate them as easily in reverse as he could moving forward.
As he continued to retreat and widen the distance, Levin drew a pistol loaded with silver bullets—a weapon Aili had kept for suppressing her own transformations. It now found a new purpose.
"Bang!" The shot rang out, striking the gray werewolf's torso. The creature faltered, its speed visibly slowing as a bullet wound appeared, deep crimson blood oozing from the hole.
The werewolf growled menacingly, arching its back and fixing its gaze on Levin.
Levin, gripping his sword in his right hand, holstered the pistol with his left and drew the silver dagger he had once used against Aili.
Now, with [Mythic Trickery (Agility)], Levin's speed was unparalleled. Even in close combat with the werewolf, he felt confident in his ability to emerge unscathed.
Man and beast faced off, the gray werewolf hesitating to strike first, while Levin calmly awaited reinforcements.
It seemed some primal instinct warned the werewolf that time was running out. It abruptly changed direction and bolted.
But Levin wasn't about to let it escape so easily. He sprang forward, quickly overtaking the werewolf and blocking its path once more.
The werewolf roared in fury and made a desperate lunge at Levin, who deftly dodged and left a shallow but precise cut on the beast's body with his dagger.
But the werewolf, determined to trade wound for wound, endured the pain and seized Levin's wrist as he attacked, closing in and knocking him to the ground, its jaws aiming for his throat.
Levin quickly brought the silver dagger up to block the werewolf's maw, struggling to hold it back.
But Levin's strength was no match for the werewolf's, and he could only just manage to hold his ground.
D*mn, this was a major mistake. Levin's heart sank.
In his eagerness to strike, he had allowed the enemy to seize the upper hand, overpowering him with brute force.
To be caught in such a disadvantageous position despite his superior speed—such an error should never have happened.
"Swish!" A blade flashed beside the werewolf, carving a deep wound from its waist to its chest.
"Awooo!" The werewolf howled in pain as the force of the blow sent it sprawling, releasing Levin.
"Levin, you okay?" Aryos' familiar voice rang in Levin's ears.
Yes! Reinforcements are here! Levin thought with a surge of relief.
"I'm fine now, but that was a close call. I'm glad you arrived just in time, Inspector."
Otherwise, I'd have had to use my wits, Levin added silently to himself.
"Don't start praising me just yet—let's capture this beast first." Aryos charged forward, seizing the opportunity to press the attack while the gray werewolf was wounded.
...
With Levin and Aryos working in tandem, the gray werewolf was soon overwhelmed. Battered and with nowhere left to run, it let out a despairing howl before slowly reverting to human form.
A scarred, gray-haired man, unconscious and naked, now lay where the werewolf had stood.
Seeing the man had passed out, Aryos quickly restrained him and turned to Levin with a question.
"Levin, is this the same werewolf you encountered the other day?"
"No, it's not him," Levin replied firmly.