"As you may know..." I hesitated, though whether they truly knew didn't matter. I just needed a lead. "There's been a group involved in illegal dealings—specifically, with a certain drug. I just need to know where they're operating."
"There aren't many groups that deal with drugs in this city," East remarked, sounding completely uninterested in helping me.
"And what business does an Aurum kid have with a group that sells drugs?" the demi-human old man asked, leaning back in his chair. "Teachers are quick to notice if their students are using performance enhancers."
"I have no need to cheat with drugs," I shot back, my tone firm. "My objectives regarding that specific group are my own."
"It's always about objectives in the end, isn't it?"
"Mh...?"
"While the number of drug-dealing groups is small enough to count on one hand, they still exist—and they still cause suffering. Yet you're only targeting one," East continued, his sharp gaze pressing down on me as if testing my resolve.
"As much as it pains me, I have my priorities. And this particular group is at the top of them."
"I see... There's nothing more sophisticated than someone who doesn't back down." The elegant man shrugged and shook his head. "I don't poke my nose into those matters. I have my own objectives. South, wasn't there a group of supposed woodcarvers operating in your district on the surface?"
I knew it. Not only did these lords oversee their arena sectors, but they also had influence over the darker parts of the surface city.
"A group of Raychmen," South replied, irritation flickering in her tone. "I had my men investigate, but in the end, I had to cover for them. They were already prepared for an inspection."
"So much for woodcarvers," North chuckled loudly.
"I have nothing else to add. Information isn't free."
I could leave it at that. The information I had was already more than enough to start. But what if this wasn't the group I needed?
"Information might not be free. But my body is..."
...
...
"Huh?" Everyone in the room said it at the same time.
"Even you said 'huh?'!" Snap barked at me.
The woman gave me a quick once-over—far too quick for my pride—and scoffed. "Not in a million years, kid."
Am I really that ugly!?
"No, no—sorry. I phrased it wrong. What I meant was... if you're having trouble with them, I'll take care of it. For free."
After a pause, the bear demi-human exploded with laughter. "Hahaha! Kid, you're hilarious!"
"You've lost whatever elegance you had in my eyes," East muttered. "Not that you had much to begin with."
"Regardless, if they're the group I'm after, I'll deal with them within a week," I insisted.
"If you're offering to work for free, I've got a job for you right now," the bear said, still not taking me seriously.
"Before you give me more details, I need to confirm if we're talking about the same group," I replied, ignoring him and focusing on my real goal. "The one I'm after should have Montanevians settled near them. And the area they occupy should show irregularities in the flow of mana."
That was all I could reveal without exposing too much.
"I suppose I lose nothing by making a deal with you, West." South sighed and raised her hand. One of her followers quickly handed her a slip of paper.
"I want them gone from my district. If you can do it in under a week, I save manpower. Consider it your test."
"You won't be disappointed, Lady South. I'll handle it before you know it."
"In case of failure, you'll hand me more territory—and more fighters. Do you still agree, West?"
Even though I was offering to work for free, she was still trying to squeeze me.
"I don't plan on failing. So don't expect extra land or fighters from me," I said, taking the paper and sliding it into my pocket.
"At least you talk like a lord," East muttered with a sigh.
"You're still just words, kid. I'll believe it when I see results." The bear demi-human stood and left.
One by one, the other lords followed. My debut as Lord of the West had gone better than I expected.
Still... I hoped I hadn't been too disrespectful.
Anyway, I had other matters to handle.
When I left the chamber, a man in an elegant uniform was waiting in the hall. He bowed respectfully before speaking.
"Lord of the West, the owner of the bar has instructed me to guide you to your designated training area. Today, you'll use it alone for... personal reasons."
"Uh, yeah..." was all I managed before he turned and walked off.
I followed until we reached a spacious training hall—large enough for thirty people at once.
Thankfully, it was empty. I'd have it all to myself.
"Uhh..." I wanted to ask his name, but he seemed to anticipate it.
"Just call me Ba, Lord West. Names are prohibited here, as you know."
"Right. Ba... could you make sure no one comes in? Either post a guard at the door or put up a sign."
"I'll delegate someone to guard it. Any specific instructions?"
"If someone needs me, they can knock. Otherwise, they're not allowed in."
It might sound strange to them, but I couldn't risk interruptions while training with what most people would call monsters.
"Understood, Lord West." He bowed and left.
"Such efficiency..." I muttered, impressed.
Now it was time.
But... how should I call them out?
I couldn't just say "come out." That was lame. If I was going to summon monsters, I needed something cool.
...
Haaa... I'm still just a kid. What teenager wouldn't want a dramatic way to summon allies?
In my old world, I was seventeen. Now, as Alen, I was only fifteen. Some habits didn't fade.
But I was wasting time.
"I'll think of something better later," I sighed, resigning myself to being lame for now.
I extended my arm, the cloak unfurling to reveal its shadowy interior.
"Come out."
Lame... but it worked.
A long, green leg stepped out first. Of course—it could only belong to one person.
Gola, the orc girl. She stretched as she stepped fully out. "Hi, mister," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sadness.
I didn't blame her. Yesterday, she'd abandoned her tribe and watched the only adult who could protect them die at the hands of their king.
The next was Sheiran, the goblin boy—small, but with magical talent that could be called prodigious.
"Mister..." He sounded just as down as Gola, his eyes scanning the training hall.
"You, human! You left us in there too long!" Tinalara, the squad's new captain, emerged scowling.
"Is it uncomfortable inside?" I asked.
"It isn't," Gola said softly, glancing around.
"It feels good, actually. There's even a house inside," Sheiran added.
"A house!?"
"It was filthy and full of cobwebs. We had to clean it top to bottom," Tinalara grumbled as the spider crawled out behind her.
"At least try to get along with it. You'll all be neighbors," I said, crouching to pat the spider on the head.
"With her... she's not an it" Sheiran corrected me.
"The spider is...?"
"It seems so. Sheiran's the only one it listens to."
"Spiders are scary," Gola muttered, crossing her arms and tensing.
"Well then… make sure to take care of each other," I told both the goblin boy and the spider. Sheiran nodded, while the spider only tilted her head before walking away.
One look at Sheiran—his eyes sparkling with eagerness as he watched the spider—and I understood immediately.
"You want to name her? She doesn't have a name, and I'm terrible at coming up with cool ones."
"Really? Can I?" His eyes shone through his orange bangs with childlike wonder.
"Sure. You seem to like the spider the most, so I think it's only fair."
"Then… give me a moment." He plopped down cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes and thinking hard about what name would fit.
"While you think about that, I'll hand out a few things."
I turned to Gola and Tinalara, who were both examining the training equipment with visible interest.
The spider still had that necklace with her, which gave me the idea—if she could keep something like that, then any equipment I gave them should carry over inside the cloak as well.
After all, Tinalara still had her machete. It only made sense.
"I brought this for all of you."
I opened up a bag filled with weapons and armor I hadn't sold.
"Ohhh!" Gola's eyes widened in excitement as she leaned closer, her gaze locked on the pile of equipment.
"Pick anything that suits you," I said with a small smile, watching the orc girl immediately gravitate toward the largest shields and heaviest armor she could find.
"And you, Tinalara?"
"I'll pick last. I don't need much—just some light armor, nothing else."
"That's fine."
As for me, I would use this opportunity to train in the techniques the goblins had passed down—techniques Tinalara and her group could teach me. The same ones Clighton first introduced me to.
Krath's Glide. The Wolf's Stance. And honing my Elemental Defense.
Not only that, but this training would also help us grow as a unit. Because that's what I wanted us to become—
a team that could fight together.