Bounty Hunters

Time passed swiftly. Sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, casting shimmering patches of light onto the ground below.

The tranquil and lush environment offered Vlad and his three companions excellent conditions for travel.

Three days had passed.

Their figures moved swiftly through the forest, and soon, they arrived at the edge of a serene lake.

It was a heart-shaped lake, its water crystal-clear. Small animals darted about, birds flew gracefully overhead—nature in perfect harmony. The picturesque scene unfolded before their eyes.

"Squeak~"

A graceful figure glided down from the air. She wore a sheer pink-and-purple gauze dress with a plunging V-neck that revealed much of her ample chest. Aleera, captivated by the view before her, couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

This was her first time venturing so far from home, and her first time experiencing the untouched beauty of nature.

Turning to Vlad, she asked, "Master, is this the lake where the banshee lives?"

"Yes," Vlad nodded as he gazed over the lake. "This should be the place."

"But it's so peaceful here," Aleera said, puzzled. "And all the animals are calm—it doesn't feel like there's a banshee here."

"Hmph, and you still dare to call me dumb," came a voice from behind. "If this place were really that dangerous, you wouldn't see so many people coming here hoping to strike gold."

"Squeak~"

Marishka appeared, her platinum silk bra exposing her slender waist, a sheer veil wrapped loosely over her shoulders. Her bat wings folded as she floated down elegantly.

Aleera snorted at the sight and gave Vlad a look, as if urging him to explain.

In truth, Vlad didn't know much about the heart-shaped lake either. The information he had was minimal and vague.

So, to prepare for any unknown danger, he had already made his plans.

Time ticked on. The sun shifted in the sky, clouds drifted over and dimmed the light. The forest darkened, shadows stretching between the trees.

Vlad turned back suddenly and murmured, "It's coming."

The two women beside him blinked in confusion and exchanged looks.

It's coming? What's coming?

Before they could ask, a faint noise echoed through the trees.

"Someone's approaching… Could it be?" Aleera and Marishka both thought the same thing.

They turned toward the sound. A few miles away, they heard the rhythmic pounding of hooves and the metallic clatter of armor.

In the distance, armored knights began to emerge, riding toward the lake at full speed.

As they drew closer, the clamor of the group became increasingly distinct.

A man's voice called out loudly: "Our Gold Diggers Demon Hunter Group has been hired to locate missing people. Treasure hunting is secondary. Got that?"

"Boss, I heard there's a banshee here. Is that true?" asked a young man with a patchy green beard. Clearly a newcomer to the team, he looked nervous and uncertain.

He was addressing Rejason Cole, the leader of the bounty hunter group.

Rejason was a seasoned demon hunter, with over a decade of experience under his belt.

Short but stocky, he swung a two-handed sword with ease, giving commands and directing the team's formation.

"Don't worry, little Hall. Big sister's here to protect you."

A sultry voice teased from beside the young man. But when he heard it, Hall flinched, his expression instantly turning wary.

He turned to see a tall, curvy woman in a black robe, holding a polished ebony staff. Her long black hair spilled over her shoulders, her face alluring and full of mature charm.

Though attractive, the team members all kept their distance from her.

"N-no, Master Muriel..." Hall stammered, shaking his head and shrinking back. Fear flickered in his eyes.

Muriel wasn't just a flirt—she was a powerful and dangerous witch with a cruel streak.

When Hall first joined the group, he had witnessed a fellow hunter turned to stone and shattered after nothing more than a light kiss from her during a flirtatious conversation.

The memory of that scene still haunted him. He had no intention of becoming her next victim.

"Alright, Muriel. Stop scaring the new guy," Rejason said with a chuckle. He turned to Hall and added reassuringly, "Relax. We're one of the top demon hunting groups in the region. We're not like those swindlers who just pretend to be hunters to get free meals."

"Haha! Come on, little Hall!" said another man. "We may only be a few dozen, but we've taken down our fair share of monsters and banshees."

The speaker was a bald man nearly two meters tall, thick-built and carrying a massive shield. With a hearty laugh, he waved the shield forward to clear the way, his booming voice easing the tension.

Clearly, the group had a good dynamic.

Only Muriel seemed to exist on the fringe of it all—respected, but feared.

As the hunters approached the lake, Aleera and Marishka finally got a good look at them.

"Master, you actually found a bounty hunter group," Aleera said, surprised.

She had some knowledge of such groups. As a nun, she'd heard of the church's demon hunters.

Although she didn't know all the details, she understood their purpose: they specialized in tracking and eliminating monsters, foreign entities, banshees, and other dark creatures in exchange for bounties. Even witches were sometimes targets.

Most members of these groups were ordinary humans.

They didn't rely on overwhelming strength but rather teamwork, specially made weapons designed to counter dark creatures, and detailed intelligence gathering.

That said, the creatures they hunted were typically weaker monsters or low-intelligence aberrations.

Moreover, real demon hunting groups were rare. Many con artists used the title for fame or to scam people. As a result, the hunters' reputation varied widely, and their strength was inconsistent.

Despite knowing Vlad was a dark creature himself, the two women looked at him with admiration.

Vlad simply nodded, calm and composed, as though none of this affected him.

Both women had the urge to say aloud: "Master, you're amazing."

But they kept the words to themselves.

As the demon hunting group moved ever closer to the lake, Aleera and Marishka's gazes fell on one figure in particular: the witch.

"Master, I think you may have gone a bit too far this time. That woman… she gives me a very bad feeling."

Marishka's previously light-hearted demeanor had faded. A rare seriousness now colored her fair, beautiful face. She leaned closer to Vlad and whispered quietly.

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