"Masters?"
Anna looked at the three of them incredulously.
"They should be considered masters, at least. The main thing is, we haven't dealt with these creatures frequently. This time, we're treating it as a training exercise. I'll handle the main issues," Zhao Lun replied confidently, sounding like a seasoned veteran, casting doubt in Anna's mind.
The three ladies merely allowed him to ramble on.
*Drip, drip, drip*—
Rain pattered against the walls, creating a rhythmic sound.
The strong winds finally pushed the dark clouds over the small town.
"Hmm, this rain will pass quickly; no need to worry. So, shall we eat?" Zhao Lun suggested. "I have a professional chef preparing lunch. Mulan is one of the best culinary masters I've met! Plus, she's quite capable!"
As Zhao Lun mentioned lunch, he took the opportunity to introduce Mulan.
"Are you sure you want her to cook lunch?"
Anna appeared hesitant, concerned that asking a guest to cook was rather impolite.
"It's her hobby."
Zhao Lun shrugged.
It indeed was her hobby. Ever since she began cooking, she hadn't taken a day off.
Anna agreed and led Mulan to the kitchen, and Zhao Lun decided to check out the kitchen as well.
In the kitchen, a cook was already preparing lunch.
Anna introduced Mulan to her, asking for assistance in preparing the meal.
Mulan's culinary skills were exceptional; before long, a splendid array of dishes was served. The meal was a delight, providing an unparalleled sense of satisfaction that made Anna feel incredibly happy.
She had never eaten such delicious food before; she was sure that Mulan was a culinary master. However, she worried that good food couldn't defeat evil, and she remained concerned about the reckless actions of the group.
Although the rain had stopped, the weather hadn't improved, and it was still dark outside. They didn't act immediately but instead sought detailed information from Anna about the surroundings.
Seeing that they were resolute in their plans, Anna allowed them to proceed and answered their questions earnestly, deciding to accompany them on their mission.
Everyone was thrilled; having a local guide would greatly reduce their troubles.
Dinner was once again prepared by Mulan. After a cup of tea, they all went to rest. Given the primitive conditions, there were no entertainment options, making an early night the best choice.
Even with some items on hand, Zhao Lun didn't take anything out, as they needed to be well-rested for the mission ahead.
Night fell, and the town was eerily quiet, with only the distant mountains—snow-capped and unmelted—looming nearby.
The mountains weren't peaceful; throughout the night, the howls of wolves echoed across the town, audible to everyone inside. The townsfolk had grown accustomed to it, but Niko and Penelope felt restless and couldn't sleep, while Mulan, with her calm methods, seemed unaffected.
Having experienced it once before, Zhao Lun managed to settle down as well.
The wolf howls persisted throughout the night, only ceasing as dawn approached.
The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, a chilly breeze seeped through the gaps in the windows, making it impossible to continue sleeping.
Zhao Lun opened his eyes to see Niko and Penelope, both looking a bit fatigued.
"Morning, Alan."
Upon seeing Zhao Lun, they greeted him and simultaneously yawned.
"Didn't sleep well?"
"Those wolves howled all night, keeping us awake," the two girls complained, expressing their grievances about the wolves disturbing their sleep.
"Those aren't just wolves! If I'm not mistaken, they're werewolves! Dracula's minions! He already knows you're here and won't let you leave."
Anna's voice interrupted as she practiced with a knife, becoming adept with her weapon.
"Dracula's minions? This is getting more interesting," Zhao Lun remarked.
Through their casual conversations from the previous afternoon, they had grown familiar, especially the ladies, who felt like good friends by now.
At the breakfast table, Zhao Lun sat quietly, eating while listening to their conversation. As he listened, he realized something was off; the topic had drifted.
For example:
"Anna, is that corset comfortable? I feel uncomfortable just looking at it."
"Comfortable? I'm already used to it. Your outfit looks quite neat and stylish…"
"This outfit…"
Zhao Lun couldn't take it anymore; he initially thought they were discussing strategies but realized they were talking about fashion.
After breakfast, the group tidied up and prepared to head to the castle on the mountain.
Zhao Lun carried a modified firearm, while Penelope wielded her wand. Niko also held a firearm, and Mulan carried the large box that Zhao Lun had gifted her.
"Mulan, why are you following us?" Zhao Lun asked curiously, but the underlying question was clear—this was a battle, not a game; was it wise to bring a mere cook along?
"I've reached a bottleneck in my training and need combat experience to progress!" Mulan replied calmly.
"You! A cook! Going into battle to break through?" Zhao Lun rolled his eyes.
Niko shrugged, indicating that it was beyond their comprehension.
The dense forest loomed ahead, sunlight barely penetrating the thick canopy. Walking through it, the light dimmed, resembling dusk.
"It's so dark?" Niko exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise; having lived in the city, she had never encountered such a primitive forest.
"The deep mountains are like this year-round," Anna explained.
They pressed on, falling silent as they listened carefully to the sounds around them.
Not only was the light dim, but the temperature was also low, with few creatures stirring. The absence of insect and bird sounds created a stifling atmosphere, growing heavier the further they went.
"We're almost there; stay alert!"
The group moved swiftly, soon emerging from the dense forest into a clearing filled with caves.
The area was quiet and dim, with an unpleasant odor lingering.
"The werewolves are hiding inside; everyone be careful!"
Anna cautioned, drawing the handgun Zhao Lun had gifted her, pointing it toward the cave as she moved cautiously.
Zhao Lun and the others exchanged glances, silently agreeing to spread out and coordinate discreetly.
"Grrr! Awooo!"
Before they could make a move, the werewolves spotted them, howling as they charged forward.
They moved quickly; in less than two seconds, they covered the distance of over ten meters, extending their steel-like claws toward the group.
*Bang!* A gunshot rang out, followed by a rapid succession of shots.
Anna fired! The werewolves were fast and agile, but despite Anna's shots, she missed with several rounds!
"Awooo!" The werewolves caught the scent of silver and howled in disgust. The commotion attracted more werewolves, who charged toward them, exuding an overwhelming presence.
They weren't polite about it; they attacked directly.
Anna's aim finally struck a target; a werewolf couldn't withstand the specially designed silver bullet, howling in agony as a gaping wound opened, quickly disintegrating into dust.
The other werewolves, seeing this, hesitated, backing away in fear, but soon they launched themselves at the group again.
*Cut!* Zhao Lun summoned his wand, unleashing a powerful spell that obliterated the next werewolf that lunged at them.
"Remember, when casting spells, don't rush!"
"Like this!"
Zhao Lun, moving with casual confidence, tucked away his shotgun, explaining to the girls how to cast spells.
"Impedimenta!" A blast of light shot out, hitting another unsuspecting werewolf.
*Bang!* The struck werewolf was immediately incapacitated, suffering a severe injury.
"Awooo!" Zhao Lun released the binding spell, and the injured werewolf howled desperately, charging at them in a frenzy.
It appeared that silver worked best against these werewolves.
"Petrificus Totalus!" The injured werewolf was caught off-guard and quickly immobilized.
"Now, give it a shot!"
Zhao Lun encouraged the girls to try again.
"Expelliarmus!" The spell shot forward, hitting the target.
*Bang!* The immobilized werewolf was struck and fell lifelessly.
"Good!"
Zhao Lun applauded her performance.
The remaining werewolves, feeling slighted, suddenly realized that Zhao Lun was the most dangerous adversary. They abandoned their original targets and charged toward him.
*Bang, bang!* Gunshots rang out as two werewolves were hit, turning to ash in the process.
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