"After eating, you answer my questions, okay?" Zalvarich winked.
Su Ha nodded quickly. She returned to devouring the leftover meat on her plate. The dragon girl ate with incredible speed, shoving large chunks of meat into her mouth without pause until her cheeks bulged full. Meat sauce stained the corners of her lips. In seconds, the plate was clean without a scrap left.
"So.. Su Ha..." Zalvarich began. He propped his chin on one hand, his eyes staring sharply yet casually at the girl. "Why don't you have a clan? Is it because of your blood or some other factor? Or because of what?"
"Well, I have a few guesses, but I'd rather see your answer."
After downing her juice to the last drop, Su Ha answered. She bowed her head deeply, her hands crumpling the hem of her shabby clothes. "It-it's because.. because.. I am.. an unwanted child, Sir 00."
"Unwanted??" asked Salksha. She put down her wine glass, her face turning serious as she looked at the girl.
Su Ha nodded slowly. "Y-yes."
"I am a child from my father's affair..." Su Ha's voice grew small, her red tail coiling resignedly on the ground.
"I was sent here when I was still very young,"
"And ever since then, I've lived here, together with other residents who don't have a clan like me."
"I see, I see..." Zalvarich nodded repeatedly, his finger tapping against his cheek.
"Well, that's quite sad too.." Salksha, she then patted Su Ha's shoulder hard enough, trying to comfort her.
"What is your level?" Zalvarich asked again. He scanned the girl's body from top to bottom. "What is your power?"
"My level is currently 50, Sir!" Su Ha answered quickly. "M-my power isn't that special.."
She lifted her hand slightly, showing her sharp claws. "I chose the power of blood manipulation, poison breath, and strong physique."
"Oi, oi, oi, you're level 50?" Salksha was shocked. Her eyes bulged, almost popping out. "Crazy, that's really high! And your power? Huh? Blood manipulation? Damn, that's cool as fuck."
"E-Eh?!! No, no, I'm not strong, I'm not strong!" Su Ha shook her head rapidly, her hands waving panicked in front of her face.
"Bullshit!" snapped Salksha. She pointed at Su Ha's chest. "You know, back where I'm from, that level is already considered rare, and and that's almost equivalent to a Guardian!"
"Shit, man.. even in the outcast area they can be this strong, how strong the the main area?.." Salksha shook her head in disbelief.
Zalvarich smiled broadly. His white teeth were clearly visible. "I see, I see." He then asked again. "What is the average level of the residents in this Ring 3?"
Su Ha fell silent. Her eyes moved to the top right, recalling. "Hmm hmm.. Maybe maybe around... around 40-50, Sir Hasya."
"What about Monsters?"
"As for monsters, around 70-60, Sir 00!" Su Ha answered while trembling slightly imagining those monsters.
"Hmm, quite high indeed.." Zalvarich nodded. "Is that why you guys have trouble eating?"
Zalvarich looked around. "Because, well um.. how should I put it, this place is nice, I think it's kinda hard to starve in a place like this."
"And seeing your reaction to eating meat makes me think you are starving and rarely eat good food." Zalvarich pointed at Su Ha's empty plate. "Let me guess, let me guess."
"The animals or fruits here are mostly killed by those monsters?"
Su Ha nodded weakly. Her tail drooped limply, touching the ground.
"Ah.. but I haven't seen any monsters appear here yet.." Salksha looked around, her hand touching her sword hilt reflexively.
"Well, monsters here are usually smart, maybe because there's a strong person like me, they don't dare to approach," said Zalvarich confidently, he combed his hair back in a narcissistic style.
"I-is that all you wanted to ask, Sir 00?" asked Su Ha fearfully.
"There is, still is." Zalvarich made the number 1 with his finger and asked, "First, who is the retarded leading Ring 3?"
Zalvarich made the number 2 with his finger. "Second, does the Dragon Kingdom care about this place? Like, are there Holy Knight patrols here? Or just checking in?"
Salksha stared suspiciously at Zalvarich. Her eyes narrowed sharply. "Why do I feel like I can guess what you're going to do from those questions?"
Zalvarich smiled faintly, then he winked. "1k gold coins, stay with me."
Salksha saluted enthusiastically. "Yes, Sir!"
Su Ha flicked her tail left and right, she fell silent for a few moments, hesitant to answer out of fear. "Hmm."
"Answer!!!" snapped Zalvarich suddenly. His voice boomed, breaking the silence of the hill.
Su Ha gasped in shock, she almost jumped from her seat. "Yes yes yes!!"
"Um, here, here is led by a village chief named Va Ka! He, he is the dragon leading Ring 3 in this area! Every, every night we have to deposit our hunted meat to him and and and we also sell and buy our goods through him!!"
"What is his level?!!" Zalvarich snapped again, his eyes bulging, demanding an instant answer.
"80! Sir, 80!!!" answered Su Ha in panic, her breath hitching.
"And Holy Knights rarely stop by here!! U-usually Ring 3 residents will come here escorted by special soldiers!"
Clap clap clap.
Zalvarich clapped his hands with satisfaction. A terrifying smile carved onto his face. "Haha, good, good, good!!" He then snapped his fingers.
"Let's FUCKING GO!"
Instantly, the empty glass beside him filled with grape wine. Zalvarich drank it wildly until some spilled a little onto his chin. "Aghhh, I smell, I smell an opportunity!"
"Fuck you Fyar!! No thank you Fyar!! For ruining my plans!"
"Haha. He's crazy again, he's crazy again!" Salksha grabbed her glass and turned to Su Ha. "Let's drink, Su Ha!!"
After finishing his wine, Zalvarich threw the glass onto the ground.
Crash!
The crystal glass shattered into pieces.
Click!
He snapped his fingers.
Instantly, 7 white papers stained with red blood floated in a row in the air in front of Zalvarich. The papers vibrated, emitting a magical aura.
"Those papers... teleportation artifacts?" Salksha raised her eyebrows, she then smirked. "That bastard wants to summon his members now?!"
"W-what is he going to do?!" Sa Hu was confused, her mouth stopped chewing the leftover meat in her teeth.
Zalvarich spread his arms. Instantly, purple fire appeared blazing in his palms.
Zalvarich shot the fire at the 7 papers floating in front of him.
The papers shone brightly as they burned. The blood symbols on them glowed a blinding red. After that, the wind became heavy and blew harder. The grass around them bowed flat to the ground due to the sudden drop in air pressure.
"Wait, why is the effect dramatic? Is it because the distance is far?" Zalvarich muttered in confusion, watching the sky above them rumble slowly.
The light faded brighter and brighter until it was blinding, followed by a light energy explosion that blasted dust in all directions.
Boom!
After the explosion began to subside, and the wind returned to normal.
The 7 papers were replaced by 7 human figures standing tall in a semi-circle formation.
On the far left stood a man with pink hair in a majestic dark blue robe. His gaze was sharp and confused. That was 01.
"Huh? What happened? Eh, Boss??" said 01.
Beside him, a blonde woman in a gothic-style black dress with glowing red eyes looked around arrogantly. That was 02.
"This place.." 02 looked at Zalvarich. "Whoaa, Boss?!"
Then there was a woman with neatly braided black hair, wearing sporty sleeveless clothes. That was 03.
"Ahh, I knew it, it must be you, tsk."
Beside her stood a woman with short black hair in an elegant black dress with gold accents showing off her shoulders. That was 04.
"Hm~?"
04 looked ahead. "Oh my god~"
The fifth figure was very striking, a white-haired woman with animal ears on her head and trained abs, wearing blue combat gear. That was 05.
"I knew it."
Beside her stood an exotic brown-skinned man with long white hair and noble clothes in gold and dark blue. That was 06.
"Even though I just finished cooking.."
And finally, the most intimidating figure, someone wearing full jet-black armor with glowing red lines like magma. That was 07.
07 looked ahead. "Boss.."
"Welcome, welcome, my beloved members!" Zalvarich spread his arms, welcoming the 00 captains.
"Come here, hug!!"