Tenzing and everyone else turned to the source of the sound, seeing a group of tanned muscular men wearing nothing but fur clothing approach them in a line.
"It’s the Brownblood Werewolves!" the arrogant guy said excitedly. He thought this was his chance! He hurriedly fixed his white baggy robe-like uniform and straightened his posture.
"Have they found someone to recruit?" Tenzing asked. Everyone knew that the Werewolves were trying to find allies for their annual Lunar Celebrations. But even he, a part of the Rising Six, found it extremely hard to catch their attention.
Yet now, these Werewolves were running down the boundary between the quadrants with eyes that looked like they were hunting for something... or someone perhaps.
"Hahaha, looks like the heavens have blessed me with an opportunity," said the arrogant man. "They’ve probably figured out that I’m here."
Tenzing couldn’t help but click his tongue. "No way they’re coming for him, right?"
Michael shrugged. "Probably not. He’s coming for us," he said nonchalantly.
"Yeah. This is probably just a coincidence—wait what did you say?"
Tenzing’s eyes widened as Michael and his demi-human ally walked forwards, intending to intercept the Werewolves during their arrival.
But before he could even say anything, the arrogant man rushed ahead and stood face to face with him.
"You said what now? Stop being delusional," he said. He seemed to have overheard Michael’s conversation with Tenzing.
"They’re here for us. Well, not me. But my friend over here, Jaku," Michael said, pushing Jaku to the forefront.
After seeing this, the arrogant man and the rest of his posse couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
"Him?!" he said, pointing at Jaku. "You could have picked a better lie! Look at this guy."
And as much as Tenzing wanted to protect Michael, even he couldn’t help but to question his words. He would wholeheartedly believe it if Michael was the one who caught the Werewolves’ attention. Given his capabilities, that was more than expected. But not the demi-human beside him.
During the auction, Michael’s allies did show some great talent. But at the end of the day, they were still demi-humans with a limited potential. They couldn’t be Maugnetics.
Michael, despite the doubts, remained steadfast.
And soon, the Werewolves arrived.
"Stand out of the way. Your lies are just going to get all of us in trouble," the arrogant man said, bumping past Michael’s shoulders as he welcomed Chief Lupan’s arrival.
The Werewolves skidded their feet as they came to a stop right in front of the arrogant man.
Chief Lupan, who was at the very center of their formation, approached them.
"It is an honor to see the famous Brownblood Werewolves out in the open! It must be an intervention of the heavens for the two of our groups to meet today, HAHAHAHA!"
Wordlessly, Chief Lupan approached, making the arrogant man even more confident.
"I come from the great city of Zenthaven, hailing from one of the big companies that are worthy of your allyship. My name is—"
Unfortunately for the nameless arrogant man, he would remain nameless even now.
Chief Lupan walked past him, not even sparing him a single glance.
And even though they hadn’t made contact, the arrogant man fell on his ass as Chief Lupan almost brushed past him.
The Werewolf Chief’s mere presence sent a chill down the arrogant man’s spine.
Chief Lupan only stopped once he was in front of Michael and Jaku.
Tenzing couldn’t help but step back as he realized Michael’s words were being proven true.
"I didn’t expect to see you here, young historian," Chief Lupan said, his eyebrows raised.
"He knows you?!" Tenzing quietly whispered to Michael.
Then, the chief’s gaze moved over to Jaku. Immediately, Chief Lupan’s eyes glistened as he scanned the Dragonborn’s body from head to toe.
Jaku returned the gaze with a nonchalant stare as if saying, ’whatcha looking at?’
Seeing this, the arrogant man got back up on his feet and charged at Jaku. "You don’t look at the Werewolf Chief with that kind of disrespect," he said with a performative anger. His words were only a way to cater to the chief’s good side.
The arrogant man sneaked a peek at Chief Lupan, expecting a look that appreciated his actions. But instead, what he saw was a piercing stare of hatred and anger.
"YOU DARE?!" Chief Lupan bellowed, his voice echoing as a wolf’s howl.
The shockwave sent the arrogant man flying backwards and hitting his posse like a well placed bowling strike.
"Urggh...." the arrogant man groaned, slowly lifting his head up, his face filled with confusion.
"But... but... but he’s... he’s only a demi-human..."
Chief Lupan took a moment to compose himself once again, massaging his throat, before turning towards Jaku.
"Great sword warrior. I am deeply sorry for that human’s words," he said, bowing.
This little interaction sent an infectious gasp throughout Tenzing and the others watching this little confrontation.
The crowd had now gathered to almost a hundred spectators. Previously, it was just the peddlers and the random passersby who were making their way through the boundary between quadrants. But as soon as the Werewolves arrived, it continued to grow till it filled the streets.
"That Werewolf Chief... he’s bowing to that demi-human!"
"Who are they?!"
Chief Lupan ignored all the stares and focused on Jaku. "Honorable swordsman, we weren’t able to meet after the tournament due to unfortunate circumstances. Would it be possible to invite you to our tribe and discuss the possibility of a friendship?"
"WOAH!"
"The Chief of the Brownbloods is asking that demi-human to be their ally!"
And amidst all the jealous stares coming his way, Jaku couldn’t help but sigh. "If it was up to me, I would refuse... but you should ask my boss."
Jaku pointed at Michael, surprising everyone including Chief Lupan.
"You?"
"Yup."
Chief Lupan was confused. "But... you are the professor’s protege."
Michael shrugged. "I moonlight as a company owner," he explained.
This seemed to confuse the chief even more. But he did like the terminology he used. "Moonlight... moonlight."
"You want Jaku’s help in the Lunar Celebrations, right?" Michael asked him.
"That is correct."
Michael nodded. "Then I’ll accept on behalf of my lazy guard."
Chief Lupan’s eyes widened, irises brimming with hope. "Then I shall escort you both to our tribe!"
Meanwhile, the arrogant man and his posse of ten were left completely speechless by the unbelievable sight.
"No... wait," he said, limping towards Michael, Jaku and Chief Lupan as they walked away.
But before he could get close, thirty Werewolves growled at them, making them shrivel in fright.
"But... but... but..."
Just then, a fist smacked at the arrogant man’s head.
He turned around, only to see his father glaring at him with a face as red as a tomato.
"You unfilial son, you!" his father grumbled.
The arrogant man’s father took his son’s head and forcefully bowed it towards the retreating Werewolves.
"Forgive my son! He cannot distinguish between heaven and earth. He is a frog trapped inside a well!"
Chief Lupan continued walking and without turning around uttered, "make sure this never happens again.
The father’s face was filled with determination—a determination to fix whatever’s wrong with his arrogant son.