''What the hell...?" Wain muttered inwardly while looking at Sk''s fist with a dazed look.


    "You seem surprised, though that''s not surprising. It''s my main trump card, so I usually try to hide it, but I showed you my power to make you sure that our operation is sessful." Sk uttered with a confident smile as she unclenched her fist.


    "How did you get this power?" Wain asked with a serious look.


    "Huh, don''t even try to find out, there''s no way I''m telling you about it as you about Ether, right?" Sk smirked.


    Wain frowned but, after a while, sighed as he realized that Sk was absolutely right.


    "Okay, now that the n is clear, now it''s time for the fun part." Fosko said with a sly smile on his face, "Wain, what do you want? Don''t be shy, but remember that Sk and I are not gods."


    "A cksmith. I want a cksmith, the best in Dermin or that you know personally." Wain gave an immediate reply.


    "Hmm? A cksmith? I thought you were asking for money or some rare artifact... This is definitely an unusual request, but what exactly do you need a cksmith for? What skills does he need to have?" Sk asked as she spread her hands to the side in a thoughtful manner.


    "I need someone who can make weapons and armor out of Legendary Souls. I hope you have someone in mind, otherwise there''s no point in me talking to you any further." Wain uttered with an ice-cold look as he made it clear that this was his ultimatum.


    "It''s not an easy request, but I can help you with it. What''s more, I even have two suitable candidates for you to choose from, but you won''t know more about them until you''ve sessfullypleted the mission." Sk said while shaking his hand.


    "All right." Wain nodded.


    "Good. Then let''s sign the contract." Sk uttered as a parchment scroll appeared in her hand.


    "Contract?" Wain asked with a confused look.


    "Of course. Isn''t that convenient? In Dermin, most deals are made only through contracts, so each side can be sure to get theirs." Sk mouthed before shing her palm.


    Drops of scarlet blood fell on the scroll as symbols lit up on it that filled a third of the scroll, then Fosko did the same and handed the scroll to Wain, "Your turn."


    "Good. That might actually be the best option." Wain muttered as he finished contracting with his blood.


    "When do we start? Anything else I need to know?" Wain asked while returning the scroll.


    "In three days. You can walk around town for now. I''m sure you''ll find a lot of interesting things in Dermin. You can practice with my men if you like." Sk said in a careless manner.


    "Well... This could be interesting. Which one of them all is the strongest?" Wain asked while looking at the training ground, "I mean, if that''s who''s the strongest in the Green Cats, except for you and Fosko?"


    "Yeah. That one keeps looking at us, even though trying to pretend to focus entirely on training." Sk pointed at the girl with long blond hair.


    "Huh, she actually looks pretty serious." Wain grinned, "But what is that...?"


    There were two massive scars on the girl''s back that immediately reminded Wain of someone who ripped out his own wings.


    ''I see. She''s an Angel and, like Markaz, decided to rip out her wings, but why?'' Wain inwardly muttered as he jumped off the tower.


    "Hmm? Where is he going?" Fosko muttered with a confused look.


    "Well, Nina seems to have interested him, though that''s not surprising. Angels that tear out their own wings are rare, far rarer even than those that have golden wings." Sk mouthed as a new cigar with a lighter appeared in her hand.


    "Hehehe, some Angels do it because of inner destion, others because of hatred as they have a rather violent society, but few know that it is the way to great power." Fosko uttered with a devious smile.


    Whooooooosh.


    Wain fell while his cloak developed in the wind and released his aura as he was ready to fight Nina.


    However, the girl didn''t flinch as she stayed put since Wainnded right in front of her.


    "Who are you? What were you discussing with Miss Sk?" Nina asked in a serious voice while her menacing gaze as though piercing Wain.


    "Nothing of interest." Wain waved his hand in a careless manner, "More importantly... You seem to be an unusual Angel, tell me why you did this?"


    "What exactly are you talking about?" Nina became wary.


    "Your scars on your back. I want to know more about it." Wain said in a curious manner while pointing to the scars.


    "There''s nothing to talk about, it''s just a battle wound." Nina said in a calm voice.


    "That doesn''t sound very convincing." Wain shook his head, "Well, Sk said you were the strongest one here. Let''s check it out!"


    Whooooosh.


    Wain turned into a shadow as he was behind Nina. The girl reacted instantly as her foot rushed toward Wain''s head with lightning speed.


    Bam.


    Wain blocked the attack with his palm and said with a smirk, "Not bad, not bad at all, but not good enough. Show me everything you can, I want to make sure I didn''t decide to help your guild for nothing."


    "What? Is that what you were talking to Miss Sk about...?" Nina muttered with a devastated look as he stared at Sk.


    Sk was still in the tower with a massive cigar in her mouth as massive puffs of smoke floated around her.


    "Miss, you said I''d be your assistant in destroying the barrier!" Sk eximed with a worried look as she touched her palm to her chest, "Why did you choose some strange man over me?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? I have to be sure of the sess of the mission, only then can I risk it, so we made a pact with him because he is strong enough." Sk muttered as she blew out a club of smoke, "If you defeat him, I will choose you."