The group had returned to Nottsburg under the cover of darkness, and the city's lights twinkled in the distance. While Gary wasn't eager to engage in a direct confrontation with Midwak, he believed in being prepared for any eventuality.
The car pulled up in front of the casino, its grandeur as striking as the last time they had visited. The bridge leading up to it and the building's exterior had been restored to their original state, showcasing the owner's wealth and power.
“How long do you want me to wait for you guys?” Tyler asked as the other four were heading off into the distance.
“We will update you via phone of what's going on. If you don’t hear from us, and it's been four hours or more, then it might be best that you just get out of here,” Kai ordered.
Tyler's heart sank at Kai's words. At first, he thought it was a joke because of how light-hearted Kai had made the comment, but as he looked into his eyes, he realized how serious he was. Tyler understood that if there was any force strong enough to take on the four of them, the way they were now, then he and the rest of the Howlers wouldn't stand a chance.
As they stepped inside the opulent casino, the Howler members were struck by the blinding lights and deafening sounds of slot machines and chatter. They kept their eyes peeled for any sign of trouble, scanning the crowds of gamblers and guards alike. The masks on their faces concealed their identities, though at the same time they informed the Notsburg members that VIPs had just arrived. One of them was quick to approach them, bowing and addressing them with utmost respect. He led the group through the maze of tables and corridors, avoiding the prying eyes of security cameras.
Carrying on their walk through the casino, there were long, hard stares from the customers. They could see the four masked individuals being escorted, treated as if they were royals. This was standard because the group owned the very casino everyone was gambling in.
“Do you think there’s a chance that Midwak would betray us?” Marie asked, not caring about the guide, who stopped for a moment as he listened in on their conversation.
“I don’t sense anyone else with him, but Fox and Hunter might be better at noticing if someone is in here,” Gary replied, using the code names to make sure their identities would remain hidden.
Kai had proven earlier that his senses were now sharper than his own, though Gary wasn’t sure how Kai would fare compared to Olivia's Hunter Class, which was specialised in sensing others. Thinking about it made him wonder whether Marie had uncovered any abilities granted to her by her Werewolf Class.
“Betrayal isn't in his best interest,” Kai replied confidently. “He certainly doesn’t like us, but he's the type to swallow his pride for the sake of revenge. He's accomplished every task I've given him so far, and based on our previous conversations, I can tell that he hates their group far more than ours. As long as we remain his best bet to achieve that revenge, he should at least cooperate with us.”
As they approached the hallway leading to the office, Kai motioned for the guide to leave, and the man eagerly complied.
Memories for everyone started to enter their minds as they entered the office they had fought in. It looked a bit different compared to before, not just due to a lack of corpses.
The decorations of flashy jewels and such had been replaced with a monochrome black and white theme. There were also a ton of olden equipment inside, such as swords, shields, and ancient weapons that looked hundreds of years old.
“I see you have been using the budget that I allocated you quite well?” Kai commented, looking at the stuff.
Midwak looked almost bored as he sat in his chair, in front of his desk. At first, he didn’t even acknowledge their arrival, which settled Gary’s heart a little, as he took it as a sign that the other wasn’t looking for a way to get back at their group.
When Midwak finally looked up, his eyes rested on Marie, and a sly smile spread across his face. “I see that you took my advice about increasing the size of your Pack,” he said, his gaze flickering over the rest of the group before settling back on her. “This will be great for when I become the Alpha, though I have to question your choice. If it were me, I would have started with the black kid… could it be that him not being means you failed to turn him?”
Kai and Gary both made sure that there was nobody else around to overhear what they were planning to discuss.
“Oh, so that’s why you came here. I should have guessed by your current entourage.” Midwak sighed. “I haven’t seen or heard any signs of anyone else daring to attack us or Slough, which means you’re here because of a personal problem.
“Go ahead, just tell me what you want. Not like I can stop you from forcing the information out of me anyway, but I do warn you all, things will be much different when I’m in charge.”
Gary's mind was in turmoil. On one hand, he knew that as the Alpha, he had the authority to alter the Pack Rules in a way to force Midwak to speak the truth, but on the other hand, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Had Midwak truly accepted his fate so easily, or was there something else going on? Gary knew that he couldn't let his guard down, especially since they were dealing with a cunning opponent like Midwak. Despite the Beta's assurance, Gary remained wary and kept a close eye on the situation. He was determined to uncover any secrets that Midwak might be hiding.
“Given that you have been a Werewolf for far longer than any of us, Kai was the one to address Midwak, since Gary chose to remain silent for now. "According to what you have told us, Werewolves have existed for a much longer time than we could ever imagine, yet they have managed to stay hidden from the public eye. It's difficult for me to believe that their existence has remained a secret if there were mass killings every full moon."
“As such, there should be a way to prevent us from actin up on the full moon, and I bet you know what it is.”
In the worst-case scenario, they could always fall back on the method they had used last time. Unfortunately, it was truly excruciating to endure. Moreover, as their Werewolf family continued to expand, there was an increasing possibility that someone would be unable to control or contain themselves, leaving them with no one to blame but themselves.
Midwak finally stood up from his seat and started to walk over to their group, making them flinch for a moment. “That’s it? Shit, if that’s all you wanted to know, this might as well have been a call. Of course, I know a way. However, I have a feeling that you might not like what you are about to hear.”
*****
*****