As we made our way back to the inn, the streets of Mornlit Village were eerily quiet. The occasional flicker of torchlight cast long, wavering shadows across the cobblestone paths. I kept my senses sharp, ever aware of the strange tension in the air. Leora walked beside me, her gaze fixed ahead, but I could tell her mind was racing.


    “We should run a facial recognition of this with Selena,” I suggested, holding up the picture we’d obtained. “She has advanced access to the Hunter’s Association database. If anyone can track this guy, it’s her.” I have no idea what learning this guy’s civilian life would help us.


    Leora nodded, though her expression remained pensive. “A good start as any. We got lucky this time... That kid’s camera was a Maker artifact, capable of parsing aura from aura. I’m almost certain the picture is accurate, and we’ve got Ulrich’s real face for the first time.” She sighed. “I regret not being able to buy the artifact from him.”


    “It’s fine,” I said. “We’ve got what we need. Besides, it’s better that the kid keeps it. Looks like it was a family heirloom to me and you wouldn’t want to be cursed by an artifact of all things.”


    Leora hummed in agreement, though she still looked uneasy. As we walked, we reviewed what we’d gathered so far.


    “Mercenaries, huh?” I said, breaking the silence.


    Leora folded her arms. “We can’t be too sure. Maybe there are cultists among the people protecting him.”


    I shook my head. “Testimonies indicate otherwise. Remember that sleazy rat who claims to have overheard their conversation?”


    “You really believe him?” she asked skeptically. “It sounded outrageous. Ten billion credits? That’s an insane amount.”


    “It is,” I admitted, “but I’ve been working on a Lie Detection feature for my techniques. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s functional enough to know that rat was right on the money.”


    Leora’s brows furrowed as she processed this. “If Ulrich does have that kind of money, he’d definitely hire professionals. Heavy hitters.”


    “Exactly,” I said. “There were three mercenaries he hired. That’s all we know so far. But we’re already outnumbered from the outset.”


    Leora stopped walking and turned to face me, her expression serious. “I don’t feel good about that ring Ayla gave you. Maybe you should discard it. She might have been your student once, but that’s it. You don’t owe her anything.”


    I pulled the black ring from my pocket, holding it between my fingers. “Don’t worry,” I reassured her. “I’ve made countermeasures. Embedded Soul Links, bound it with a Soul Chain. It’s harmless—for now.”


    Leora’s gaze lingered on the ring for a moment before she sighed and continued walking. “I hope you’re right.”


    “I usually am,” I teased, slipping the ring back into my pocket.


    The inn came into view, its warm glow a welcome sight after the long day. Selena would already be waiting for us, no doubt surrounded by her drones and tech. As we stepped inside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the hunt for Ulrich was about to get a lot more dangerous.


    We knocked on Selena’s door, and her voice came through almost immediately. “Come in.”


    The door creaked open, and we stepped into what could only be described as organized chaos. It was a single-person room, and it showed—barely enough space for the bed, a small desk, and a chair. With Selena’s equipment taking up most of the floor, it felt like stepping into a miniature tech lab.


    Fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a bright glow over everything. It was a stark contrast to the torchlit streets outside, and for a moment, I had to blink to adjust. Selena had clearly gone all out. Two massive crates sat against the far wall, their surfaces humming faintly with energy. Beside them was a vending machine-looking contraption that instantly caught my attention.


    I gestured toward it. “That’s new. What is it?”


    Selena didn’t even glance up from her tablet. “Looks familiar, doesn’t it? The Association uses similar devices for pit stops and teleportation pads deeper in the forbidden regions. This one’s customized.”


    Ah, the same thing back in the Fighting Tower.


    I gave a low whistle of appreciation. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were a Maker.”


    Selena smirked but didn’t respond immediately, her focus still on her tablet. Leora wandered closer to the crates, inspecting them with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.


    “How’s it going?” Leora asked, leaning against the wall to give Selena some space.


    Selena finally looked up, her expression a mix of triumph and exhaustion. “I managed to track them. They’re nearby—close enough that we won’t lose them easily. But here’s the thing: they’re stationary for now.”


    “That’s good, right?” I asked, stepping closer. “Means we can plan our approach.”


    Selena nodded but raised a hand. “Sure, but I suggest we call it a night and get some sleep first. No point rushing in when we’re tired. They’re not moving, and we’ll need to be at our best if things go sideways.”


    Leora glanced at me, clearly weighing the suggestion. “She’s got a point. Pushing ourselves too hard now could backfire.”


    I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Selena’s reasoning was sound, but the thought of sitting idle when our quarry was so close grated on me. Still, I knew better than to argue when she was right.


    “Fine,” I relented. “But let’s be up at dawn. If they’re stationary, they might be planning something. I don’t want to give them a chance to slip away.”


    Selena nodded, already turning back to her work. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep monitoring them through the night. If anything changes, I’ll wake you up.”The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Leora pushed off the wall, stretching lazily. “Guess that settles it. I’m heading to bed. Try not to stay up too late, Selena.”


    “Noted,” Selena replied, her tone dry but amused.


    As we left the room and headed toward our own, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of what lay ahead. Ulrich was close—closer than he’d ever been. But the mercenaries he’d hired, the insane bounty on his head, and the unknown factor of Ayla’s involvement made this more than just another hunt.


    Tomorrow, things would come to a head. And I wasn’t sure if we were ready for what we’d find.


    Sleep didn’t come easy. The room felt too quiet, too still, and the absence of Leora’s steady presence only amplified it. I tossed and turned for what felt like hours before finally giving up. With a sigh, I got dressed and stepped out into the dimly lit hallway.


    The mess hall was quiet but not empty. A few night owls lingered at the tables, nursing mugs of coffee or bowls of stew. It was surprisingly cozy for a place so far outside the World Wall. I ordered myself a coffee and some snacks, choosing a seat near the back where I could think in peace.


    I had barely taken a sip of the bitter brew when Selena walked in. She looked tired but alert, her smartwatch glowing faintly on her wrist. Without a word, she ordered her own coffee and joined me at the table.


    “Couldn’t sleep?” I asked.


    Selena smirked. “Says the guy sitting here at—what, two in the morning? You first.”


    “Fair enough,” I admitted. “The usual. Too much on my mind.”


    She nodded, taking a slow sip from her mug. “Lately, I’ve been sleeping less and less anyway. Comes with the territory.”


    I raised an eyebrow. “Territory, or your aura technique?”


    “Both,” she admitted, leaning back in her chair. “You don’t push boundaries without consequences. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”


    “That’s not exactly comforting.”


    She waved me off. “Relax. I’ve got this.”


    For a moment, we just sat there in silence, the faint hum of the mess hall’s fluorescent lights filling the air. Finally, Selena broke the quiet.


    “I ran the picture that Leora provided,” she said, her tone businesslike. “Cross-referenced it with the Hunter’s Association database and every known civilian record I could get my hands on.”


    “And?”


    She shook her head. “Nothing. No matches. If this is really Ulrich, then he probably didn’t even have a civilian life to begin with. He’s a ghost.”


    “That tracks,” I muttered. “Everything about this guy feels...off. Like he doesn’t belong in any system.”


    Selena nodded, her expression grim. “Exactly. Whoever he is, he’s good at covering his tracks.”


    A thought struck me, and I frowned. “Not to sound like an ass, but if you’re here drinking coffee with me, how are you monitoring them?”


    She gave me a flat look. “You are an ass.”


    “Sorry.”


    She sighed, tapping her smartwatch. “The drones’ video feed is synced to this. I can keep an eye on them from anywhere. Happy now?”


    I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Point taken.”


    Selena smirked but didn’t say anything more, taking another sip of her coffee. For a moment, I studied her. The lines of exhaustion around her eyes, the subtle tension in her posture—she was pushing herself harder than usual. I wanted to ask why but held back. She’d tell me when she was ready.


    Instead, I leaned back in my chair and stared into my mug. “You think they’re still stationary?”


    “Unless they’ve figured out how to jam my drones, yeah. They’re still at the same spot.”


    “Good. Then we’ve got a chance to catch them off guard.”


    “Maybe,” she said, her voice cautious. “But don’t underestimate them. If Ulrich’s got mercenaries, they’re not going to be amateurs.”


    I nodded, the weight of the situation settling over me again. “Yeah, I know. But we’ve got you, Leora, and me. We’ll figure it out.”


    Selena didn’t respond immediately, her gaze distant. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer. “Just don’t get reckless, okay? This guy’s dangerous. I don’t want to lose anyone.”


    “Hey,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re stuck with me, remember? No way I’m letting Ulrich get the best of us.”


    She rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. “You’re such an idiot.”


    “Yeah, but I’m your idiot.”


    She laughed quietly, shaking her head. “Go get some sleep, idiot. We’ve got a long day ahead.”


    I finished my coffee and stood, giving her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”


    Few minutes later…


    The cool night air brushed against my face as I stood on the inn’s balcony, a cigarette dangling from my lips. The distant hum of the village’s nightlife was muted here, leaving only the faint rustle of wind and the occasional creak of wood underfoot. I inhaled deeply, letting the acrid smoke fill my lungs before exhaling a thin plume into the darkness. It wasn’t a habit I indulged often, but tonight, I needed it.


    “Really?” a familiar voice called from behind me. “Smoking?”


    Selena stepped onto the balcony, arms crossed and an amused smirk tugging at her lips.


    Ok… great, a stalker. “Are you shadowing me now?”


    “You’re becoming too obvious,” she said, leaning against the railing beside me.


    I frowned, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. She wasn’t wrong. Lately, it seemed like Selena could read me better than my own wife. Maybe it was the shared weight of the hunter life, the battles, and the bloodshed that bonded us. Or maybe I was just that transparent.


    “Of course, you’d be out here brooding,” she continued, her tone light but her eyes sharp. “Must have a lot on your mind. Your wife’s here, and yet you’re thinking about running again. Can’t decide whether to stay or go, huh?”


    Her words hit a little too close to home. I took another drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke linger before answering. “Why do you stick around, Selena? You could’ve walked away a long time ago.”


    She shrugged, the motion casual but her gaze unwavering. “For Leora, obviously. Sisterhood and all that.”


    “Don’t give me that crap,” I shot back. “You made a deal with Bob, didn’t you?”


    Her smirk faded, replaced by something more serious. “You’re not wrong. But it’s not just that.” She hesitated, glancing out over the city before continuing. “Do you remember the Hunter Licensure Examination? When Silhouette showed up?”


    I nodded. How could I forget? Silhouette, the enigmatic figure shrouded in darkness, had made an impression on everyone that day. “He’s my dad,” she said, her voice quieter now. “Not that he’d admit it. Maybe that’s why I’m still here. I thought if I helped you, if I stayed close, maybe he’d notice. Maybe I’d matter.”


    Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions. I thought of Loki, the supposed clone of Silhouette, Selena’s half-brother in a way. The tangled web of their family made my own problems seem almost simple. I didn’t bring it up, though. It wasn’t my place. Instead, I took another long drag, letting the silence stretch between us.


    “You’re immune, aren’t you?” Selena asked suddenly, her tone shifting.


    I froze, the cigarette burning low between my fingers.


    “That’s why you’re suffering,” she pressed. “The Hunting Dogs have protocols. They wipe memories after every mission, keep their agents clean. But you… you remember everything. Was it worth it?”


    I exhaled slowly, the smoke curling into the night. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Every time I wake up, I feel dirty. Sure, I get to kill cultists, but I’ve also been forced to kill people I didn’t want to. Turns out the Hunting Dogs don’t just answer to the President. They’re bigger than I realized, and their leash is tighter than I ever thought.”


    Selena’s eyes narrowed. “And yet, you stay.”


    “For now,” I said. “But I’ve made countermeasures. Once this is over, I’m leaving. I’m done with the Hunting Dogs, with all of it. And if you want, I can set something up for you too. No need to be shackled to them—or to Silhouette.”


    She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she smiled—a real one, not her usual smirk. “That’s sweet of you. But honestly? You should be more worried about yourself right now. Get some sleep. Hell, go spend time with your wife. Blow off some steam.”


    I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. After all her complaints, she was telling me this now?


    “Nah,” I said, stubbing out my cigarette on the railing. “I’ll sleep. We’ve got a slaughter waiting for us tomorrow.”


    She nodded, stepping back toward the door. “Damn right we do. Good night, idiot.”


    “Good night, Selena.”


    As she left, I lingered on the balcony a moment longer, letting the night air clear my head. Tomorrow would be brutal. But for now, I let myself breathe.