Master Percival

Belialthorn stilled and his eyes sharpened like a blade. "Pardon? Seems there was a mistake somewhere. We already declined."

Rota nodded along with him.

Percival laughed again this time his tone was mocking. "You have no choice in this matter. You will do as you are told."

Belialthorn's eyes glowed blue as mana flowed through him, faint smoke of blue aura covered him as his face darkened. "I take orders from no one."

Rota shifted with uneasiness in her seat, her hand not far from the cool metal of her weapon. But Percival didn't seem bothered with the building power in the room. After all, what could a low Grade 1 hunter do to him?

He considered using all his mana to create a powerful fire spell that would burn all in front of him away but he knew he wasn't powerful enough to defeat Percival. Even his Demon form won't be able to do it.

He clenched his fist, 'I'm still far too weak'. he thought. He slowly cut off his mana and his eyes returned to normal.

Percival nodded, his jaw bouncing. "Good good choice, don't bare fangs on those higher than you boy. I like your will but you will be taking this order from me. I am after all the Master of Havenbrook Hunter's Association."

Belialthorn gritted his teeth. "The Hunter's Association isn't some armed forces for some nobles. It's not military, we don't obey superior orders.'

"We do actually. There's a clause in the document you signed when you first came here that stipulated we all must obey the King's decree. That's why most Lords don't want us in their lands." Percival said.

"You are not the King." Belialthorn pointed out unnecessary.

"I might just be in Havenbrook." Percival countered.

Belialthorn snorted. "Yes, you and two others."

Percival didn't like to be reminded of the fact that he shared power with the Holy Church in the only land where the Hunter's Association had the upper hand on how things were run.

Not to talk of that Keenreaver kid.

"That'll change and there'll be only one to share it with." They had to take the Keenreavers out once and for all.

So that was their plan, Belialthorn thought. Take out Alaric, the only one in the Keenreavers who seems interested in Havenbrook. What he couldn't understand was the role he and Rota was to play here.

"There must be a reason for us joining the team," Belialthorn said casually. First, he had to know why they wanted them in Alaric's raiding team.

"I want ears inside the Crypt." Was Percival's simple reply.

But Belialthorn knew it couldn't be that simple, not with these crooks. The Holy Church and the Hunters Association both wanted them to join Alaric's team. Did they both want them to join for the same reasons? He doubted that because hadn't the Holy Church just tried to kill them with assassins?

It seems they were working together....and at the same time not working together.

"You want me as a spy," Belialthorn said flatly. "You want us as a spy."

Percival shrugged. "Yes."

Bullshit, Belialthorn swore inside his mind. "Do you think I'm a kid? You could easily get any spy you want inside the raiding team. Why would you want us?"

Percival's crooked teeth gleamed. "The boy seems to want those who are new to the association. And you too are the perfect fit; you didn't enroll for our instructors, you power level ourselves without our help, and you have lots of potential. In short, you have no affiliation."

Belialthorn wanted to laugh. His plan of not drawing attention to himself had backfired In the worst possible kind of way.

"He won't trust us," Belialthorn warned. He had to get them out of this situation.

"No, he won't but he would let his guard down in front of you."

Belialthorn narrowed his eyes. "Let me tell you, we won't be killing anyone for you. He has knight Eleanor as his guard."

Percival waved that away. "You mean that Grade 7 knight. That's well and good but I don't want you to kill him. I want you to just be my ears."

Interesting, Belialthorn thought. So he didn't didn't want them to kill Alaric? What information could Alaric possibly have that... unless it wasn't Alaric he wanted them to spy on?

"What information are you really after?" Belialthorn asked.

"I won't ask you to spy if I know now, would I?" Percival grunted with annoyance. "Just do as you're told."

Belialthorn looked him in his small eyes. "I decline."

Then Belialthorn watched in fascination as Percival's face crumpled with anger and the veins on his eyes turned purple. "Enough!" His shout was accompanied by a blast of angry red aura that hit like a punch and sent the tables shaking.

The jug and cups shattered and Rota gasped as the aura made her crash to the floor, her spear clattering.

Belialthorn grunted as the aura pressure increased, it was like a heavy rock on his back but he gritted his jaw to raised his head. Even as his chair cracked and shuddered. In his Demon form, he could have easily shrugged it off but he could only hold on now.

With slowness, Belialthorn opened his mouth and spoke. "What's in for us?"

The aura vanished just as suddenly and Rota released a relieved gasp as she slowly stood up on trembling legs.

Percival started at the man in front of him in stunned disbelief. Maybe there was potential in this newbie, after all that he had just withstand part of his 350-level aura.... a shame about what was planned for them.

"What's in for you? Simple.... I won't kill you." Master Percival said.

"What do you mean?" Belialthorn snapped. He was getting tired of this.

"As the Master of Havenbrook Hunter's Association, I can decide the penalty for the crime of killing fellow Hunters. Which you are both guilty of."

"What?" Rota shouted. "We didn't kill anyone! There must be a mistake somewhere!"

Belialthorn remained silent. Was it the Alchemists he killed then?

"You did in fact. Not too long ago to be precise, in a dark alley." Percival smiled.

They both froze. Did he mean the assassins?

"But they are assassins! They were there to kill us. All we did was protect ourselves. It was self-defense!" Rota glowered.

Percival looked at them blankly. "Where are your witnesses? Let me guess... you have none."