Vera’s Proposal

Vera halted. "Ah? What brings you here? Let me be clear—I do have potions that enhance such abilities, but they're not cheap and must be paid for in Gold Weimar."

Please, don't make such irresponsible assumptions! Levin's mind was filled with exasperation.

"No, it's about... the extraordinary beings," Levin whispered as he approached Vera, lowering his voice to avoid being overheard.

"Oh? So it's not about vampires?" Vera also lowered her tone as they whispered together on the street. "It seems you need advice on a different type of extraordinary being. Are you unusually susceptible to them? Why do they seem to seek you out?"

How would I know? Do you think I want this?

"In any case, I need your counsel on some matters. Are you free tomorrow?" Levin inquired.

"Even if I'm not free, I'll make time. Otherwise, you might report me to the City Guard, and I couldn't bear that. However, I can't guarantee much help; my knowledge is limited to extraordinary beings beyond myself," Vera rolled her eyes.

"That's fine. I mainly need your advice. I'll visit your shop tomorrow morning. If not, it'll be in the afternoon. Be prepared."

After bidding farewell to Vera, Levin continued his way back to the camp.

Tomorrow, I'll visit Vera with Aili to see if she has any solutions. For now, I should discuss the plan with Aili. Perhaps she has some ideas herself?

Returning to the camp, Levin headed to the infirmary.

Inside the infirmary, Aili was seated on the bed, engrossed in a book about gardening.

The afternoon sunlight was particularly gentle, casting a soft golden hue on Aili's silver hair.

To Levin, it resembled a scene from a Renaissance painting.

"Knock, knock."

Levin tapped on the infirmary door.

Aili looked up, her face lighting up with a gentle smile. "Levin, you're back. Did Inspector Arios have any tasks for you?"

Levin nodded, closing the door behind him and sitting at the edge of Aili's bed.

"Aili, Inspector Arios has assigned me a task..." Levin's voice was somber.

"Oh? What task? Was it assigned to you alone?" Aili's tone shifted, sensing something unusual.

"No, it's not that it was assigned solely to me, but rather because it wasn't..." Levin replied.

"What do you mean?" Aili set her book aside, her expression turning serious.

"The headquarters has organized an operation targeting the werewolf. On the night of the full moon, both you and I are required to participate," Levin whispered.

Aili's hands tightened around her book, her knuckles paling as they trembled slightly.

"Really..." Aili lowered her head, closing the book with a heavy thud.

"I mentioned your female-specific leave to Inspector Arios... He said you could oversee the operation from a central position," Levin continued.

"But... I..." Aili closed her eyes momentarily.

"Aili, do you have any solutions?" Levin asked.

"Solutions? Haven't I been searching for them for years?" Aili opened her eyes, forcing a strained smile as she fought back tears.

"So, you don't have any solution, do you?" Levin's brow furrowed.

"Levin, you should report me to headquarters," Aili suddenly said, as if resigning herself to the idea.

"What? Aili, I would never do that. Don't doubt me," Levin said, stunned.

"No, I'm not doubting you. I'm serious. Report me to headquarters," Aili's tone became resolute. "I actually anticipated this day..."

"I might be able to hide it for five or ten years, but can I truly conceal it for a lifetime?" Aili couldn't hold back a tear, which fell onto the cover of the "Gardening Basics" book, splattering it.

"Aili..." Levin was at a loss for words to comfort her, shaking his head. "I won't do such a thing. You are a good person; you shouldn't be condemned to life imprisonment because of an unjust law."

"So what? Am I really such a good person? You don't understand... Even when I'm not transformed, the craving for blood and flesh constantly tears at my will... I'm... in so much pain." Aili covered her face, tears seeping through her fingers.

"Perhaps life imprisonment would be a fitting end for me. On the bright side, at least I haven't been sentenced to death," Aili looked at Levin, her eyes filled with tears and her lips curving into a painfully forced smile.

"You don't need to think like that, Aili. We can find another way. The situation isn't hopeless yet," Levin shook his head. "You saved my life, and I won't abandon or betray you. Whatever responsibilities come, I'll share them with you."

"There's no need for this, Levin..." Aili tried to smile as she persuaded him to report her for credit. "You're already an extraordinary being. If you report me, you'll become the Chief of the East Fourth Division..."

"Enough of that," Levin interrupted forcefully. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet someone. Let's see if she has any solutions."

"Who will we meet? Can you really find someone with a solution?" Aili seemed doubtful.

"I'm not certain if she has the answers, but we can't lose hope, can we?"

The next day, Levin brought Aili to the entrance of Vera's alchemy shop.

"Is this the place...? Is Vera reliable?" Aili turned to Levin.

"By now, I won't hide it from you—she's also an extraordinary being, like you," Levin nodded. "As for her reliability, you needn't worry. I've checked; she shows no signs of criminal activity and, like you, seems to be a law-abiding citizen."

"If that's the case, at least she has no reason to betray me. I trust you, so I trust her as well," Aili nodded quietly and followed Levin inside.

"Welcome to my little shop... Oh, it's you. You've turned the 'Open' sign to 'Closed,'" Vera looked up, seeing Levin and Aili, and clicked her tongue in annoyance, pointing her chin at Levin to hang the closed sign.

"Considering we're adults, shouldn't we understand some manners?" Levin grumbled softly as he complied.

"X, if you mention age again, I might just drain you dry," Vera said through gritted teeth, revealing her sharp canines.

"So, you're... a vampire?" Aili naturally deduced from Vera's words.

"Ah, indeed, that's me. Wait, the extraordinary being Levin mentioned couldn't be..." Vera's eyes widened in surprise as she saw Aili.

"Yes, as you can see, I am a werewolf," Aili replied calmly as she took a seat.

"Really? Are you two playing a prank on me? I don't appreciate jokes," Vera looked at Levin in disbelief.

"This is no jest. Everything you see and hear is true," Levin affirmed solemnly.

"Do you even realize what you're saying? Are you telling me that the City Guard's chief in Weimar is a werewolf? That's as unbelievable as having a vampire in the Council of Sages!" Vera whispered, her voice thick with shock.

No, no, no, I still find a vampire in the Council of Sages more astonishing... Levin thought.

"Especially you, Chief Aili. You've been in the City Guard for at least six or seven years—how could that be hidden? We vampires are one thing, but you, with your mandatory transformations, what about on the full moon?" Vera remained in a state of disbelief.

"Our City Guard has female-specific leave," Aili said flatly.

"Are you saying that a werewolf hides their full moon transformation with female-specific leave? Is this some kind of vampire joke? The punchline being that hiring a vampire inspector would expose the secret?"

"No, it's the truth," Aili's tone remained even.

"Alright then, I suppose the most dangerous place is the safest," Vera said, sitting down and taking a sip of tomato juice to steady herself. "So, what trouble have you encountered that has forced this werewolf chief to reveal her identity?"

"It's like this..." Levin detailed the City Guard's plan for the full moon.

"So you need to address the issue of forced transformation on the full moon?" Vera pondered, tapping her chin.

"Yes, that is our main challenge," Levin confirmed.

"I actually have an idea," Vera snapped her fingers.

"Really? What is it?" Aili's eyes lit up with hope.

"Aili, you should voluntarily surrender and seek leniency."

...

The room fell into silence.

Vera looked at Aili, then at Levin. "That's not feasible, is it?"

"Of course it's not. What would be the point of coming to you if surrendering were an option?" Levin was almost out of breath from frustration.

"Since surrendering is off the table, we need to think of another solution. However, I'm not well-versed in werewolf transformation mechanisms, so Chief Aili will need to explain more about it," Vera resumed her thoughtful pose, "and we might need to conduct several experiments together."

"Fine, I can describe the sensations before and after transformation, but during the transformation, my rationality is mostly lost, so I have little memory to share," Aili nodded.

"In any case, we have thirteen days left of our leave, and twenty days until the full moon operation. The time is tight, but it's not impossible," Levin summarized.

"Alright, then today, Chief Aili, please explain your experiences before and after transformation. Levin, you can provide your perspective as an outsider. I'll design the experimental plan after I've heard everything," Vera decided, "By the way, could the City Guard settle my compensation for the time I've been unavailable? And just to mention, I don't support payment in terms of my personal safety."

Levin's wallet faced a serious crisis.