Confession

"Hmm... is that so..." Arios mused for a moment, then patted Raven on the shoulder. "You and Ellie have worked hard. Go and rest now; you've done exceptionally well on this investigation."

"Thank you, Inspector Arios." Raven saluted and retired to rest.

Raven sat cross-legged at the temporary assembly point, closing his eyes as if to meditate, though he was actually checking his system panel.

[Deception Successful!]

[Current Rank: One (91/100)]

[Current Combat Level: Warrior 1 (1823/3000)]

Not bad, the deception worked. It seems Inspector Arios believed most of what I said, Raven thought to himself.

The Myth Rank was close to advancing, and the combat level only needed a bit more...

These were matters crucial to Raven's combat prowess, so he took them very seriously.

Once back at camp, he would figure out how to earn the remaining nine points.

The transport of prisoners to the headquarters' prison was proceeding smoothly. As Raven methodically directed the members of the East Fourth Squad, Arios approached him.

"Raven, my friend," Arios greeted. "This mission was far more challenging than we anticipated."

Raven nodded. "Indeed, Inspector. From the previous case files, it seemed these drug trafficking organizations usually had at most two or three low-level extraordinaries..."

Arios interjected, "And today, there were two mid-level extraordinaries, with even an ambush waiting outside their base."

"Furthermore... this might not even be their entire force," Raven mused, furrowing his brow in thought.

"Inspector, how did things go on your end? Did everything proceed smoothly?"

Arios shrugged. "The guy couldn't outrun me. We fought, and I bested him, capturing him alive. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any ambush."

Raven was surprised. "That's odd. If they had extra manpower, why wouldn't they support the more valuable mid-level extraordinaries instead of ambushing two low-level ones like us?"

Arios noticed the inconsistency as well, but with no clear leads, he set it aside for now.

"Don't worry, Raven. We've captured enough prisoners; some of them are bound to talk and reveal more details. Leave the rest to headquarters. Your East Fourth Squad deserves a good rest this month. Headquarters will compensate you for overachieving on the mission and for any injuries sustained."

After escorting the prisoners to the headquarters prison, Arios and Raven parted ways, with Raven returning to camp alongside the East Fourth Squad.

Ellie was in the camp's emergency room, under the care of a doctor. Raven knocked on the door, and a familiar cool voice came from within. "Come in."

Raven pushed open the door to find Ellie sitting up in bed, with Monica, the forensic doctor, by her side.

"Chief, you're awake. Good morning, Dr. Monica," Raven greeted them both. "What brings you back to our Fourth Squad?" This last remark was directed at Monica.

"I heard Ellie was injured and didn't trust those incompetent doctors, so I came to check on her myself. I also heard you gave Ellie a healing potion. What kind of potion did you use?" Monica's gaze sharpened.

"Uh... a healing potion. I bought it at Vera's Alchemy Workshop in the East City. Why? Is there something wrong with it?" Raven was slightly nervous, worried that Vera's potion might have had some side effects since Vera was a rather dubious character herself.

"The potion's effect was astonishing. When I saw the wound, I thought it couldn't have been caused by an enemy; it looked more like Ellie had deliberately injured herself," Monica said, narrowing her eyes and staring intently at Raven.

"Ha ha, maybe that alchemist is just very skilled." Raven deflected, not daring to delve deeper into the topic.

"Alright, alright~ What are you two discussing in front of an injured person? Don't I know how I got hurt? Thank you, Monica, I'll treat you to a meal next time." Ellie playfully intervened, helping Raven steer the conversation away.

"You... sigh, fine. Since you insist, I won't be polite. But be prepared to lose half a month's salary on this meal," Monica sighed, though there was a playful undertone, or was she serious?

"I'll make sure to treat you well, Monica. Now, could you give Raven and me a moment? We need to discuss some work matters." Ellie seemed unconcerned about losing half her salary.

"Oh? Really work-related? Not something else, like maybe me attending your wedding soon?" Monica teased, casting a knowing look between Ellie and Raven.

"What are you saying!" Ellie blushed and threw a pillow at Monica.

"Alright, alright, I won't say any more. I'm leaving. You two enjoy your 'work' talk." Monica raised her hands defensively as she stood to leave, but as she passed Raven, she patted him on the shoulder and gave him an encouraging look, making Ellie blush even more.

"Chief." Raven closed the door tightly and sat on the edge of Ellie's bed, where Monica had been.

"Raven... did you... see everything?" Ellie's voice was ethereal, as if coming from another world.

"Yes, Chief, I saw everything," Raven nodded, confirming Ellie's fears.

"Then why didn't you... run? It was incredibly dangerous, those vicious... criminals!" Ellie's voice trembled as she clutched the bedsheet tightly.

"Chief..." Raven was silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

"Because I believe you're a good person, Chief. That's why I had to save you. Whether it was from the drug dealers or from the werewolf, I had to try," Raven finally responded.

"A good person... am I..." Tears welled up in Ellie's eyes, soaking the sheet. "Thank you... thank you for still thinking that way of me after seeing what you did..."

"Chief..."

"Just call me Ellie."

"Ellie, so what exactly happened to you? Can you tell me?" Raven inquired, this was something that concerned him deeply.

"Let me tell you a story." Ellie lowered her head and began to recount.

"Twenty years ago, when the Principality of Weimar first transformed into the City of Weimar, the first generation of the Guard under the Council of Sages was established.

"The newly formed City of Weimar was rife with dangers. Spies from various nations, criminal gangs, and secret cults wreaked havoc across the city.

"One such secret cult worshipped the Lord of Wolves, the Bloodthirsty Wild Hunt, and the Hunting Demon Varkilis. Through rituals, they implanted a mark of wolf blood in newborns, transforming them into werewolves...

"My parents were merchants from the Coldlands Federation, killed by the cult, and I was taken to the City of Weimar.

"I, along with a group of other children, was imprisoned for over a month. Every day, someone was taken out for the ritual, and we could hear their screams..."

"Some people were taken away while still alive, and some perished during the ritual itself…

"At last, the day arrived for me.

"I was placed upon the altar, and when the ritual began, it felt as though a thousand blades were tearing at me, shredding my body…

"Halfway through the ritual, the guards burst in…

"The guards captured the entire church, and I was rescued by a kind-hearted old soldier.

"He had once been a knight of the Weimar Duchy and joined the first batch of guards after the founding of Weimar City.

"He raised me after my parents had died, took me on shopping trips in Weimar City, bought me beautiful new clothes, and sat with me on the streets to watch circus performances.

"Then… came the first full moon.

"Without any warning, I transformed into a werewolf at home. At that time, I was still very young, and even the threat of my transformation was minimal, easily contained by my adoptive father with a single hand."

Levin interjected, "And then? Did your adoptive father not turn you over to the guards?"

Aili nodded and continued, "That's right, Levin. Like you, he chose to keep it a secret.

"He believed that a six-year-old girl with an infinite future should not be condemned to a lifetime in prison because of a mark. I deserved a better life.

"He taught me martial arts, instilled in me a sense of righteousness, and prepared a safe house with a basement. Every full moon night, I would retreat to the basement on the outskirts and lock myself in a cage.

"He told me that everyone has the right to choose their own path and should not be limited by their origins. Just as he, an old-era knight, could still choose to dedicate his blood to the people of Weimar in the new era.

"When I couldn't sleep due to the wolf's blood mark, I practiced martial arts in the middle of the night. My adoptive father, fearing I might injure myself or practice incorrectly, would train with me and offer guidance.

"Ten years ago, my adoptive father passed away from illness. Having fought for the Weimar Duchy in his youth, he had sustained many injuries. Even after the founding of Weimar City, he continued to stand on the front lines against evil as a guard.

"He was only sixty when he died, still a young age for an extraordinary being…

"I buried him, and at the funeral, I told his mourning colleagues that I would join the guards.

"Like you, after three years of training, I became a full-fledged guard.

"But unlike you, I have a fixed three-day break each month dedicated to women."

Aili said this with a mischievous wink.

Levin chuckled awkwardly, "That was earned with your blood, after all."

"Don't say it out loud!" Aili said, blushing and hitting Levin with a pillow. Levin hurriedly defended himself.

"In any case, I arranged my break for the days around the full moon each month.

"Whenever the full moon arrives, I go to that same basement from years ago, locking myself in a steel cage to await the end of the full moon.

"That's my story, Levin." Aili's azure eyes were as clear as a cloudless sky as she looked at Levin sitting beside her.

"For the past decade, since my adoptive father's death, you are the first to know all this, Levin."