Provocation

"Did the captain return yet?" one of the guards that are stationed in one of the watchtowers asked after going for a dump.

"Not yet, I have been watching all over the place but I could not find the captain. It might be possible that he caught in a dilemma otherwise it would not make sense." The two are very aware of ow strong their captain is after climbing up on the ranks without anyone's help and that is a fact that the people in the city knows of. For him to be missing out of sight for a few hours makes the guards at the watch tower a bit worrisome.

The two take turns to monitor the surroundings in hopes that they can find their captain who might still be searching for the caravan that he was expecting earlier but could not find a single silhouette outside the city.

"This is getting bothersome, I think we need to report it to the mayor. Surely they know what to do in this situation." The two agrees on that idea and just as one of the guards is about to leave, one of them spots a silhouette of a walking man at a distance.

"Is it the captain?" the two hurriedly looks for the telescope and is relieved to see that it indeed is their captain and that there are other people behind his back, some of them have injuries which alerts the guards and making them think that their captain really did encountered a dilemma.

"Tell the healers to go and meet the captain immediately. If they are the people that the captain is waiting for then that only means they are important guests." He other guard did not waste any time and runs down the tower, some of the other people in the other watch towers were able to set their eyes on the captain returning back to the city and had done the same thing.

The mayor who immediately got the word about it rushes out to meet the captain as well as the people that are supposed to be in the caravan.

"Why did this had to happen now? He will surely chew me to death if something happens to his son." The mayor thinks to himself and tells his men to send in the talented healers to heal the injured. "I can't lose his trust in me now that I really need it. Call forth the healers, I don't want them to have the slightest injury left. Raise the dead if you have to, their safety and wellness is our priority!"

"That could have been a disaster, I am greatly indebted to you captain Gladius. I thought my life will end there." A man with a cheeky smile walks beside the captain as the healers that were called by the guards to heal the injured arrives at the foot of the city. Hundreds of people stops to watch the spectacle and the young man beside the captain did not take it nicely and clicks his tongue.

A few moments later and the mayor and his men arrived and disperses the crowd from seeing things that they should not see that might cause complications for his plans later.

"I am terribly sorry for that young master Irrid, what could have happened that caused all your people to have injuries?" he bows to the young man and then turns to the captain to receive a report since he cannot ask the son of the man that he serves to answer a question such as that.

"I arrived there at the nick of time but fortunately enough, the young lord's men were competent enough to defend for his life but this incident is caused by an attack from a demon, I don't know what kind it was but it was something that I have not encountered in the past. Some of the veterans must have encountered it but the demon have razor sharp claws and very agile, even my armor that I just bought just recently could not withstand it's attacks."

The mayor looks at the captain's armor and just realize how damaged it was even after being made by the most skilled blacksmith in the city. "Goodness, what in the world did they encounter there?" it is then that some of the injured men cries in agony while the healers do everything they can to heal them but due to the circumstances that some of them have broken bones and twisted arms and legs, the healers have to correct the positions of their limbs before they can heal it properly, some of them have deeper wounds and some have lost a limb, a sight that is proof of their struggle.

"This is a much bigger problem than I thought." Without making them wait any longer, the mayor told the soldiers with him to help the people get to his residence and continue to treat them there. Furthermore, the mayor ask some of the injured to tell him and some people that are in charge of making posters that will be later on posted on the various parts of the city.

The soldiers, even though they are still fighting against the pain after being healed told them the features of the creature and it matched with what the captain had told him earlier.

"Thank you very much for the description."

The mayor went back and finds that the young master had already made himself comfortable while enjoying himself with the company of the girls from the best brothel to entertain the young master while he settles things on his side.

"Looks like you are not as fine as you look earlier, did the creature manage to land a hit on you?" the mayor looks at the captain as he stitch the injuries that he suffered from the attack. Not letting a single healer heal him since he believes that he will now grow if he depends on magic in healing his own wounds.

"I have to keep my image earlier and besides, if the young master was to learn about me suffering an injury considering that I am one of the best warrior in this city gets bested by a mere demon will only taint the name of my family. Being as overly conscious as them, for their image, they will not take it nicely if they happen to hear about it as well. But still, I have to say that the creature is strong. It is a miracle that the young master's men were able to repel it."

The mayor admires his wit and pat his back. "That's a good one. But the fact that that thing is still there remains a thorn on our side, the incident is bad enough but for it to survive after encountering you is just as equally bad. I doubt there are other hunters that will be able to take on that creature." The mayor expresses his disbelief and worry over the matter but the captain just shrugs it off easily.

"If that is a demon then there are veteran hunters that might have a chance in taking that thing down. I don't want to say it but there are hunters that are on another league compared to me, I just got the seat of the captain due thanks to the rules that we follow. But it is a different case for people that are not under the grasp of the government."

Surprised of the sudden confession coming from one of the strongest soldier in the city, the mayor go intrigued by what he wants to do. "What are you suggesting that we should do? Whatever it is we should do it immediately, it will not be long till he gets bore of the toys that I sent him, shall I leave it in your care?"

Gladius smiles and nods his head and reassures the mayor that it will be done really soon. The two of them had been on each other's side ever since captain Gladius manage to impress the mayor with his skill after taking out and making the captain seat vacant. Since then, they are doing each other a favor.

"If you say so then I will have no choice but to trust you. Just make sure that it is done the soonest possible time. We need it done before the young master returns to his father's side, if that thing is not taken care of before that time, it will strike my name negatively and I will turn out to be someone that is not taking care of dangerous things in my own domain." Gladius can sense the desperation on the mayor's voice and tells him not to worry about it that much since it will be done by veterans.

"You can just relax. There have been a lot of instances that you have helped me, I will make sure to return the favor." The two nod their heads as the mayor returns to the room of the young master and finds that all the women are intoxicated and broken, lying on the floor naked and abused, he clenched his teeth at such a sight since he reassures the brothel master that no harm will come to the girls but since this happened, he will have to make an excuse about it.

"This guy really likes doing things like this." He said to himself and finds the young master sitting on the chair like a boss puffing a smoke. "They break so easily that I did not even have enjoyed my time with them. Such a shame." He then grabs the hair of one of the girls closest to him and drops her on the floor without any care.

THUD!

"I thought that you will bring me a proper toy but I guess I was wrong and because of that, my mood is as bad as it gets. But thankfully I remember what happened earlier."

The mayor tells his men to take the girls away and give them a proper care and return them to how they are before with the help of the healers and then tends to the young master ones again.

"The thing about earlier. I have already sent someone to take care of it. Rest assure, we are going to hear some results in the following days." After seeing how the girls are treated, the mayor tries his best to conceal his anger directed towards the young master that has been acting really cocky ever since he arrived, not to mention that he is ordering him around as if he is some kind of a lackey which greatly infuriates the mayor.

"Hmmph, you better make sure that's the case. Otherwise I will have to tell father to stop supporting you and let the other nobles take over the seat of the mayor for you. There had been a lot of times that father is frustrated so it will not be long until he lets someone take over. Luckily enough, there is something that you can do about that matter."

A malicious smile appears on the young master's face aware that his actions thus far had greatly angered the mayor but is still pushing it forwards like he has nothing to be feared about.

"What do you mean?" intrigued by what the young master had said, the mayor thinks about the possibilities that the young master wants to ask him but could not think of anything that will be worth that much, then he came to realize he was wrong.

"No- there is something of the same worth. Captain Gladius. This prick. He must be thinking of snatching away the one of the only few person that is strong enough to keep the city safe. I don't know if this is a joke but it is a bad one." He bit his lip in anger and ask away the young master on what he wants that would redeem himself in the eyes of the young master's father.

"What might that be young master?" he asked in a really respectful way, making the young man that is waiting for his burst of anger to come out frustrated.

"What is wrong with him? Why isn't he taking the bait? What a creepy old man. Father was right, he has a nerve of steel. I thought that was something that father would joke about but to think that it is true. I underestimated him." While waiting for the young master's reply, the mayor did not spare any time and ask him again.

"What might that thing be young master?"

"Nah- I was going to say 'Hand over Captain Gladius" but you don't look like one to hand over something that is yours in the first place. And now that I think about it, if he is gone, this city might face some power imbalance. He is the one that is keeping those guys in line after all. With him gone, the city will be nothing but dust and rubble. Am I right mayor?"

A smile crept on his face after seeing the expression that the mayor wore which gave him a bit of satisfaction since his plan might work but then again, the mayor manage to control his anger and keep his cool head and just laugh it off.

"That would be impossible young master. Your father knows how important of a figure captain Gladius is in this city so there is no chance that he will ask for something like that and besides, that is possible if he wants to see one of his city get burned to ashes right?"

The mayor taunts the young master with his smile and the effects are really effective than he thought. The angry young master clench is fist and starts to turn red after his tactics is used against him, the mayor realized that his trip to Thur'na is not by visit and see how things are on the city but to try and make an enemy of the mayor.

"Thanks to how he said those words earlier, I manage to analyze what he wants to achieve. Too bad you picked the wrong target kid. There are only a few persons that will be able to achieve that and its sad to say that you are not even one of them," seeing that there is nothing more to discuss, the mayor excuse himself since the young master had to travel for a long time just to get to Thur'na so he excuses himself to let the young master rest and with that, the victory goes to the mayor who kept his head cool after all the provocation that the young master had done.

"That bastard. He really is pushing things too far when the tide is in favor of him. No wonder father wants him gone, for someone like him to be on father's side that is really a big question. Tch! Just thinking about it makes me angry!" he refrains from breaking anything inside the room since it would signify about his anger towards the mayor, making him even more cautious about his real goal about visiting in the process.

Meanwhile, Captain Gladius visit the guild to put a bounty on the creature that attacked the young master on his way to the city and is easily accepted because of his closeness to the guild leader.

"What a nasty looking one. Are you sure this one even exist. I mean just look at it." The guild leader expresses how disturb he is after seeing the creature on the paper and Gladius is not surprised since he had the same reaction earlier when he fought with it.

"Well, that is how the creature looks so I don't think it doesn't exist and besides, I fought it myself so I can guarantee that it is out there."

The guild leader looks at the captain with a blank look on his face after hearing something that is not reassuring and then realizing that it is strong enough to take on the captain, signifying that the hunters weaker than the captain will just perish. The guild leader scratches his head in disbelief but still accepts the fact that it is real and alive.

"There is nothing we con do about it then. If you say so then so be it. But I have to say, you are quite lucky. Usually I would have to decline this if you handed it to me a few days earlier but you are in luck. That guy is here after handing over a bounty, I am guessing that he is more than enough to take care of this thing."

Captain Gladius is happy to hear about the news since the problem of the mayor will be resolved quickly. "That is really good to hear, and you mean him, you mean that guy right?"

The guild leader happily nod his head but sighs. "If only I can recruit him on my guild but that guy really is a hard rock to crack. I heard that some of the strongest guilds are scouting him but he turned them away. If they are not able to persuade him then I doubt I will be able to. That guy is quite different after all, I don't think there will be anyone that will be able to even hire him."

At the same time, a man sitting one of the coffee shops stands up and pays for his coffee and walks away.