Sweat trickled down Inno's forehead. The sudden shift unsettled him. His senses sharpened.
What's going on? What did she say to him?
His eyes darted left and right, scanning for anything he could use if things took a turn for the worse. It was still daylight, but that meant nothing here—in their territory. If he wasn't careful, he might find himself enduring their cruelty in both night and day.
His gaze landed on a sword resting in a corner. Without hesitation, he mapped out the fastest route to seize it should things spiral. The plan was simple. Efficient. He looked back at the Village Head—he was gone.
Inno's heart lurched. Before he could gather his thoughts, a firm hand settled on his shoulder. He froze, his breath caught in his chest, terror clamping down on his heart. Instinctively, his fingers reached toward the sword. It was gone.
His mind reeled. The speed, the stealth—utterly beyond comprehension. Inno had spent years battling, surviving, honing his senses to detect even the faintest shift in his surroundings. Yet, somehow, this man had moved behind him, unnoticed. Not only that—he had taken the sword. Had he chosen not to touch me, I wouldn't have even known he was here.
"Wait outside." The voice held unquestionable authority. It was the Village Head.
Still motionless, breathless, Inno strained to decipher how to salvage the situation. But there was nothing—only the sound of the Village Head settling back into his seat. Guards emerged from the entrance, seized Inno, and led him to the lobby. There, he was forced to sit and wait.
The Village Head brushed dust from his hands and turned toward his wives.
"You mean to say the clothes he's wearing now… they're the ones I gave to you?" His gaze settled on the woman who had whispered to him earlier.
"Yes, my lord. Why waste words on that repulsive, disgusting thief?" she sneered.
"She speaks truth, my lord! We should not bow to his demands. Accepting anything from HIM would be disgraceful!" another chimed in, frustration clear in her voice.
The wives erupted into heated debate, their voices a tangled mess of indignation and outrage. But the Village Head sat in silence, lost in thought. Yes, this arrangement would ease some struggles. But only temporarily. What he needed was something lasting.
He raised a hand. The bickering ceased.
"You all make valid points. And I have come to a decision," he said, measured and deliberate.
"Bring him in."
Inno sat alone, drowning in his thoughts. How? He retraced every moment, every detail. He had never let his guard down. And yet… the Village Head had still outmaneuvered him.
"Hey, riff-raff. They want you back inside." The guard's voice dripped with contempt.
Inno stood, walking past him toward the Village Head's chambers.
"I'm just waiting for the clock to hit seven," the guard muttered, licking his lips as Inno passed.
Inno frowned. So… they've already decided. He pressed against the heavy doors and stepped in.
The Village Head and his wives regarded him.
"I've taken my time to deliberate," the Village Head said. "And I want to give you a more lasting offer—a chance."
He leaned forward slightly, voice somber.
"Our crops and livestock are vanishing. We inch closer to famine by the day. A certain breed of creatures hunts us—we call them Cropgores." He paused, letting the weight of the words settle.
"I doubt you've heard of them. They target us—residents—not you embodiments. They take what we grow, what we raise. Their size ranges from that of a wolf… to an elephant. Swift. Ruthless. A single blow from them can kill an average soldier. And they evolve rapidly—each generation stronger than the last. We don't know where they came from, or why they're here. But they have made one thing clear…" His voice darkened. "They refuse to leave."
Inno narrowed his eyes. "Why are you telling me this?"
The Village Head studied him carefully. "Because I'm offering you an opportunity. Help us eliminate the Cropgores. Hunt for our people. Do this, and we will put an end to the Hunting."
His words hung heavy in the chamber.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Inno. I suggest you take it."
"Think on it. Any questions you have will be answered after you agree. You may leave." The Village Head dismissed him with a flick of his hand.
After Inno had gone, one of the wives turned to her husband.
"Why make a deal with him? We could have found a solution ourselves. It wasn't necessary." Her voice held a sharp edge.
The Village Head smiled.
"Oh, my dear," he mused. "They say exploiting weakness makes one stronger. I intend to do so to the fullest extent."
A grin stretched across his face—wide, knowing, dangerous.