Xior enters the Dragon Guild building, and goes to the first floor. He finds Rain sitting as he sips on coffee while reading an article from outside the world.
"Welcome back, Xior." He says as he takes another sip.
"Sir, I came back to update on the situation with the tribes." Xior says as he sits across Rain.
"Go ahead, I was going to come visit the Wolf Tribe in the morning myself."
"The Wolf Tribe is willing to work with us but under the condition that we get their prisoners freed from the Tiger Tribe."
"Hmm...that is certainly not an easy task. The Tiger Tribe are formidable and won't back down easily. Also have you met with the Rabbit Tribe's chief yet?
They are the most neutral tribe here, I'd suggest asking her to write a letter for the Tiger Tribe."
Xior takes out a letter from his pocket and puts it on the table. It's neatly folded inside an envelope and has a Rabbit seal on it.
"I'm impressed you already had done that despite you not having any foresight skill nor a skill which increases your brains processing capability.
Well then you might already know what's next?"
"Yes, if the Tiger Tribe complies then it's fine otherwise I'll rescue the prisoners myself."
"You alone? Your strength was said to be equal to Hunter Nolan, but he was one man, how do you plan on fighting dozens of Tiger Tribe members?"
Rain's expression remained unchanged, he continued to sip his coffee in short intervals as he talked with Xior. Xior contemplated on telling him about the hidden piece but he decided to tell in the end.
"About that, I stumbled upon three hidden pieces under the Wolf Tribe's mountain. There were three doors.
I cleared the first two and obtained runes and a dragons scale. I've definitely grown more than my skirmish with Hunter Nolan."
Rain kept quiet as he sipped his coffee, his eyes shone slightly as he went into deep thinking. His brain was like a supercomputer, fast and efficient.
He thought of all the scenarios Xior could be in and what could he win and what he could lose. His perception about Xior's powers was a bit underwhelming since he hadn't seen him in action.
"Sure, I'll allow, but I think there is a better way."
Xior tilted his head and said, "what is it?"
"If the Tiger Tribe refuses then cause chaos and injure their people and after that just get caught."
Xior understood what he wanted to say, "so that I'll be thrown into the cell of the Wolf Tribe prisoners."
Rain nodded before Xior got up and went to his room. He took a shower and got in bed and drifted to sleep.
*****
It's the next day, the sun was out fully. The sunlight spreading warmth in the winter season. Xior and Becca toured the city. In the center of the square was a board with the name of the city on it.
It read 'Aegis', Becca and Xior walked slowly. They looked at all kinds of shops inside yet they didn't stop.
"When did you come back from the Wolf Tribe mister?" Becca questioned as she pouted.
"Around three am, you were asleep when I came back." He chuckled
They walked some more before they came across a building bigger than most. It was the smithy of the best blacksmith among the humans.
They entered the shop and the smell of ash along with molten metals entered their nose. It was not bad, on the far end a man was working on something.
He was an old man, in his sixties. Tall, bald and had a big moustache. He wore a baggy tracksuit and goggles protecting his eyes.
"Welcome younglings to my humble shop. How can I be of service to you?" The man said with a bow.
Xior took out the black scale from his pocket and showed it to him, "can you make a dagger out of this?"
The man inspected the scale and smiled, started taking measurements of it, "yes I can, tell me how did you get a dragon scale from? Especially of such fine quality."
"I'd rather not tell, my superior told me not to disclose that information." Xior said.
"Ah well that is not good, who is your superior?"
Xior was about to respond but the old man blurted out, "wait let me guess. I've been here for long enough that I know everyone in Aegis."
He went silent for a second as he remembered the names before speaking, "is your superior, Rain? Dragon Guild Vice-Guildmaster."
"Yes, Rain is our superior." Becca said as she sat down.
"That one has always been a hard nut to crack. I will make the dagger you've requested but do know that I will eventually get the information on this scale.
It will take three days so you should rest in the meantime, I can tell your body is tense right now. You've been running around a lot lately."
The man kept shocking them both. They wondered who he was, but there was not much information about him. They exited his shop and started walking back towards their building.
The sun was about to set, they had wandered all day long. Buying clothes, eating ice cream and finally commissioning the dagger.
Becca suddenly grabbed Xior's hand and started running, Xior's arm got pulled and he trailed behind her slowly matching her pace.
To others they would look like two adults fooling around running like idiots but both of them remembered the old times.
Becca always did this when they were young and were on their way back to the shelter. With the sun setting in the sky, Becca's red hair flowed in the air as she smiled with Xior's hand in her hand.
For now they forgot that they were adults and hunters, and were transported back to their teens. Xior smiled slightly and picked up his pace making Becca run harder. By the time they were done, both were out of breath as they sat on the ground in front of the guild building.
From the first floor building Rain looked at them with unchanging eyes. This peace was soon going to end as the Dragon Tribe had already started to move.