Expedition time
A week had passed since Roger and Maria founded The Waker Guild, coinciding with Cassius's move to Klauss's care. Most of their time was dedicated to settling Cassius in and acquainting him with the nuances of the hunter world.
Alongside this, they revamped Cassius's room, a space echoing the simplicity of Klauss's old dorm but infused with a modern and stylish touch—complete with a bed suited to his size, a study desk, and a sleek closet.
In parallel, Klauss received a briefing about the impending expedition with the Stormbringers Guild from Sylvetta, all while the echoes of their recent skirmish lingered in the air.
The day of the expedition finally arrived. The mission: to raid a rank D gate with the Stormbringers Guild and a designated participant chosen by THA.
Originally a party of five, including Klauss, the challenge was set for the gate known as Wolf Island.
The looming threat of Wolf Island demanded immediate attention ahead of the scheduled gate rush.
Despite belonging to the Stormbringers Guild, THA took charge, issuing an alert about the potential gate rush in the upcoming weeks.
In this world, every gate technically fell under the jurisdiction of the government and THA, although certain guilds managed to assert possession through power plays and strategic lobbying.
Regardless, THA diligently tracked and maintained records of each gate, monitoring entry details and specific times, especially in the lead-up to a gate rush.
To gauge the impending gate rush and establish an estimate, The Hunters Association collaborated with the research department. Employing advanced scientific tools, they conducted tests on the gates, focusing on the mana emanating from each one.
Irregular fluctuations and, in some cases, alterations in color served as key indicators of an impending gate rush.
Therefore, to stay ahead of potential threats, THA regulated and cleared gates preemptively, ensuring that any significant spike in mana output was addressed promptly and efficiently.
This meticulous approach allowed them to maintain a level of control and order in the face of the unpredictable nature of gates.
This prompted the formation of an expedition team. Besides addressing the urgency, the expedition aimed to provide valuable gate experience, especially for the guild's younger members, and Wolf Island emerged as an ideal training ground.
Aware of Klauss's responsibility this time, Cassius politely extended his wishes of good luck as Klauss prepared to step out. The rendezvous point was set at 1 pm in the Topaz District, a mere 30-minute drive from THA headquarters.
Downstairs, Aisha was ready to drive Klauss to his location, ensuring a prompt departure for the expedition.
At 12:15, Klauss and Aisha left the apartment complex, en route to the Topaz District.
Upon arrival, Klauss, cognizant of the need for discretion, directed Aisha to park a bit farther from the meetup location to avoid attracting undue attention.
The sight of a D rank hunter escorted by an assistant in a sleek black saloon car could potentially raise too many eyebrows and spark questions. Opting for caution, they parked a few meters away.
Near the gate entrance, THA representatives, dressed in black, diligently secured the perimeter and finalized details before the expedition's commencement.
Within that secured area stood a group adorned in hunters' gear, proudly displaying the emblem of the Stormbringers guild—a lightning bolt encircled by vibrant blue and gold hues.
Among them, they engaged in conversation with someone sporting the same emblem but seemingly not partaking in the expedition.
As Klauss approached the group with graceful strides, he recognized some familiar faces—it was the very group he had bested just a week ago.
A mischievous smirk and a wink from Klauss sent a shiver down the spines of the group. Offering greetings, he then positioned himself in a discreet corner, patiently awaiting the expedition's kickoff.
The person standing with the Stormbringers members was none other than the vice leader of the guild, accompanying the juniors on their maiden gate experience.
A vision of elegance, she wore a one-piece dress. The group quickly apprised her of Klauss's identity, recounting the incident from a week ago when he had assaulted them seemingly without reason.
The vice leader of the Stormbringers guild harbored skepticism about how a seemingly young boy like him could overcome four members of their guild single-handedly.
Yet, a spark of curiosity ignited within her. Peering through her black shades, she observed Klauss and addressed the group with an air of intrigue.
"The only thing he has going for him is his looks, though. Hmm, who is this guy?" Her curiosity piqued, she called for a THA representative to bring the file of participants, seeking more information about Klauss.
As she read his profile, she discovered that Klauss was a rank D hunter who had awakened just over a month ago. A small giggle escaped her lips as she absorbed the irony—a rank D hunter, recently awakened, had bested four D-rank hunters.
The fact that he was not affiliated with any guild raised an eyebrow, especially considering THA had recommended him. "Hmm, why would the association send someone who recently awakened to join this expedition? Something smells fishy," she mused, disposing of the file.
With an air of elegance, she strolled towards the tree where Klauss patiently waited. He sensed her approach, raising his head slightly and peeking with one eye at the approaching figure.
A woman stood before him, clad in a stylish blue one-piece dress adorned with black spades, her arms crossed as she regarded him directly.
A pregnant silence lingered between Klauss and the approaching woman, both seemingly waiting for the other to break it. Eventually, Klauss sighed and prompted her with a simple, "Well?"
Her response came in the form of a giggle, "Oh, nothing. Still trying to wrap my mind around it." Klauss glanced at her briefly, then shut his eyes, choosing silence.
Undeterred, she pressed on, "What are you doing here?" Klauss, finding amusement in the question, decided to play along with a sly smirk, "Hmm, what do you mean?"
Repeating her question, she added a pointed query, "And why did you attack my members?"
Responding with a cold glare, Klauss retorted, "They deserved it." Her shock at his answer and the abrupt change in demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Klauss.
Sensing an opportunity to smooth relations, she chose a more diplomatic approach, acknowledging, "Well, you answered one question. How is it that a rank D hunter who just awakened managed to get himself in this expedition, hmm?" She leaned in closer, her eyes searching for answers.
Playing along, Klauss leaned in as well, responding with a nonchalant, "If you have a problem, that's your problem." The vice leader, slightly flustered, was taken aback when Klauss closed the gap.
Tension hung in the air until the moment was abruptly interrupted by a shout, "All set. Please prepare to enter the gate." The sudden announcement startled her, causing a momentary loss of footing.
Klauss, amused by the turn of events, nonchalantly walked away, preparing for the imminent gate entrance.
As she observed the young man's departure, she felt an unexpected pressure on her chest. The boy had managed to surprise and intrigue her, leaving her with a sense of curiosity.
"Oh my, it's been a while since someone has looked down on me like that. It was kinda hot," she mused to herself before swiftly snapping back to reality. "Whoa, what did I just think? He might be our guild's enemy, but what if I bring him to our side? He still is very mysterious, mysteriously hot, hihi."
Her thoughts continued to wander before her junior members snapped her back to reality.
She sighed and gave them a menacing glare. "Be sure you get as much information as you can from that boy! And if you get the chance, rough him up a little to show him who's boss."
Her tone shifted abruptly to a more cheerful one as she addressed the group one last time, "Good luck, my juniors. Come back safely." She was indeed a peculiar woman who had taken a liking to Klauss instantly.
With the announcement, the expedition team gathered to enter the gate leading to Wolf Island. Klauss stood alongside the four Stormbringer members, who shot him with wary glances.
Without hesitation, Klauss strode through the threshold, the hunters close behind. An instant later, their boots met with soft earth and long grass.
Before them sprawled the landscape of Wolf Island - lush forest as far as the eye could see. From their vantage point atop a hill, the late afternoon sun dappled the treetops in molten gold.
In the valley below, a river snaked through the woods, the burble of water reaching their ears.
Somewhere in that sea of green stalked their quarry - the island's namesake. Wolf packs claimed this territory, the apex predators of the land. Typically they traveled in numbers up to six, hunting with coordinated finesse.
About the size of mature Great Danes, the wolves sported thick fur of silver and ash. With powerful limbs and jaws full of dagger-like teeth, they could take down prey twice their size.
While only mere rank D monsters, the wolves' teamwork and strategy made them challenging adversaries.
Occasionally, some displayed troubling irregularities - perhaps a reddish coat instead of gray, an ability to wield mana, or even higher than average intelligence.
Klauss meticulously surveyed the landscape, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. Meanwhile, the designated team leader for the expedition, a member from the group, initiated the formulation of their plan of attack.
With a focused demeanor, the leader began briefing the team on their respective roles for the upcoming expedition...
The hunt was on.