Owners of the City

Inside the study, there was a man who might have been in his late forties or early fifties. The man didn't even give a look at Jason who just came in. He was sitting at his mahogany desk, wiping his hands with a white towel. Jason noticed that the man's fingers were lifting red marks on the white towel.

Jason didn't mind being ignored. There was no confusion about who had the right to keep the other one waiting, at least amongst the people currently inside the room. In fact, Jason was surprised that the two of them were alone in the room. Jason knew that someone would leak the news that the Captain trusted enough to meet him alone. This was both bad news and good news.

No one in this city would not want to be the Captain's friend, but Jason knew that being the Captain's friend was not as easy as it sounded. Either way, Jason had made his choice. Or by another saying, his mother made the choice instead of him.

Jason glanced at the man who just laid the towel in his hand on the table. His hair and beard were starting to gray, but still, black could be seen in his hair. His shirt was black. Since the man was sitting at his desk, Jason didn't know what he was wearing for his lower body, but he was sure Captain was armed.

Captain was wearing a gold watch on his wrist with slow movements. He had a distorted version of Rajid's noble aura. From the gold watch to the blood-stained towel, the room was screaming 'blood money'.

''What are you thinking?'' When he finished wearing his watch and put on his gold ring, Captain asked Jason. Jason did not feel safe at all, with the wall behind the Captain built of red-brown bricks in harmony with the mahogany table, and the all-glass wall behind him.

All businessmen used small office design tricks that would give them a psychological advantage. And no matter how bloody it was, business was business. A wall made of glass so that the uncrowned king of the seashore can see his kingdom. How appropriate.

Jason didn't dare to leave Captain's question unanswered, ''I was thinking of a friend of mine, who asked how I was able to become district supervisor at such a young age,'' he said and walked towards the Captain.

The captain thrust out his hand over the desk to Jason. ''And what did you answer him?'' Captain said.

''I told him that the former district supervisor hunter could not get along with the local rulers, so they replaced me,'' Jason answered.

Jason took the Captain's hand, then bowed his head and kissed the golden ring lightly. Then he put the Captain's hand to his forehead. After repeating the ritual twice more, he let go of the hand respectfully and took a few steps back.

Captain nodded, ''An adequate answer for outsiders. My dear child, what is the reason for your unannounced visit?''

''You are probably aware of the latest murders?'' Jason said.

Captain nodded. ''Ay, yes. Young alpha of wolves and a few more. What a pity. He was a promising alpha for his pack.''

Jason did not question how Captain knew the corpse, which the police found yesterday and has yet to identify. ''Did you know the deceased?'' Jason said.

''Yes. We were trying to negotiate for the wolf shapeshifter packs to accompany the caravans, along the caravan routes goes by Silk Road and the Spice Road. The wolves would protect the caravan from bandit gangs and get a share of the profit. Then we would send the goods from my dock to Europe,'' Captain said and sighed.

''I don't want to be like teaching you your job, Jason. But is it a coincidence that he was killed by a shapeshifter while working on something that would disturb shapeshifter gangs that much?'' Captain said in a tired voice.

''Can't you make the deal without him?'' Jason asked.

''Routes pass through the territories of dozens of wolf packs. It's hard for me without an alpha to convince them,'' Captain sighed. Jason wondered if he was mourning for the dead man or for his business.

''If there is no personal grudge and the victim was not chosen randomly, this is the most likely reason I've ever heard,'' Jason said. ''Who would suffer the most from this deal?''

''All of the non-wolf shapeshifter gangs, but the worst ones are at the Sahara. If wolves accompany them, caravans can shorten the road by traveling by land instead of the sea. Packs of wolves don't normally live in the desert. If we'll have a deal, they will have to fight with the wolves in the region and they will not be able to reach the caravans,'' Captain said.

Jason nodded and started to think. Alpha wolf was one of the first victims, or maybe he is the first. As far as Jason knows, there were eight murders in total. Five lions, two lizards, and one wolf.

If the last three lions were victims of Rex, who wanted to strengthen his authority, and the Alpha wolf was killed by gangs that didn't want a deal, what happened to the other two lions and two lizards?

''Was that all you had to say?'' Captain asked.

Jason shook his head, ''Two sailors working at the dock, Gary and Nilsson, attacked me and a priestess in the Temple quarter earlier today. Nyx guards caught Gary. When his query is over, they will hand him over to the police. He was he who reported the body of the alpha wolf.''

Captain frowned, ''I didn't know about it,'' he said and it was clear from his voice that he was not satisfied with the situation, the attack or his unawareness. ''Did you say Gary? Gary is one of the lions that the previous Rex had a deal with me for employing when they were fired for being a shapeshifter. I never heard of Nilsson. I will investigate the him.''

Jason nodded, ''Would it be okay if I asked Trisha for help with your name?''

''Doesn't she help you?''

''I didn't even see her when I tried,'' Jason said.

Captain thought for a few seconds, ''It is okay. I'll be sure her to see you at midnight.''

Jason nodded. He was not happy with the meeting time, but he had no objection to say. As Jason was preparing to say goodbye, something came to mind that had been bothering him for a while. He wasn't going to say anything, but the Captain saw the doubt in his eyes.

''What is the problem?'' Captain asked.

''I... no... another hunter thinks hunters' families can be targeted,'' Jason said.

''Hmm... it wouldn't hurt to take extra precautions,'' Captain said. Jason nodded. ''If you're worried you should go see her, Jason.''

Jason nodded again but he didn't seem convinced.

Captain sighed, ''My child, if I thought there is someone more capable than you, I wouldn't give you the job. You know that, don't you?''

''I'm not questioning your decisions, Captain,'' Jason said.

Captain sighed, ''I don't expect you to put me in your daddy's shoes or anything like that. But when you need something, just ask. Okay?''

''I am thankful, Captain,'' Jason said that and he was serious.

When the captain smiled, his face wrinkled as if he wasn't used to this expression, ''Go now. I am an old man now and this stress is affecting my health badly. Call me if you find out anything useful. I won't give up this deal that easy.''

Jason conveyed his goodbye and left the room. The female guard, the guard who woke him from his meditation, and the two guards who took the beaten man out of the study were in the lobby. They all gave Jason weird looks.

When he left, two bodyguards entered the study. Jason guessed they were ordered not to disturb them. They must have been wondering what they talked about this long. Well, Jason had no intention of satisfying their curiosity. He left the lobby and headed home.