Chapter 162: Burden
"Ah, yes. I will. Then, see you." A brown-haired man with a deep scar running down his cheek waved casually at the woman by the guild’s entrance before walking away.
The night was quiet. The gambling dens had already closed their doors, but down another lane, the brothels were still alive with laughter and muffled music.
The man paid them no heed. His stride was steady, untempted by the noise or lights.
Once he reached a more deserted stretch of street, he pulled a shroud over his head. Slowly, his body began to change.
His legs elongated and bent, his skin darkened before turning silver, and long coarse hair sprouted across his back. His arms stretched, his shoulders widened, and his eyes gleamed with a golden hue.
Within moments, the man was gone. A wolfkin now walked in his place.
His steps, though heavier, made little sound as he moved through the night toward his temporary shelter.
Alazar wasn’t supposed to be here. Circumstances had forced his hand.
The biggest problem with this city was its guild master—a bloodthirsty man who tolerated no disturbance in his territory.
Alazar knew this well. After his near brush with death during the last battle in Aethernox’s capital, he had become more cautious. He limited his raids to small caravans and weak towns, never again willing to gamble everything against a real monster.
But then... there was that boy.
Alazar had been present when the weird teenager struck his deal inside the guild. He had watched the exchange unravel—the girl Abby accepted the deal, and the boy walking away with what he wanted.
At first, Alazar thought to make the lad his next prey. Yet something in that scene had felt off. The boy seemed almost as if he were luring someone.
Then he noticed it. A few strands of hair peeking out from under the boy’s hood.
Crimson.
Every instinct screamed at him.
The rumors. Could it be true? That the son of Matriarch Aethernox had returned?
If so, then this boy was no merchant’s brat. He was bait. A hunter’s snare waiting for a careless step.
Alazar exhaled slowly, forcing the thought down, but his mind raced. Perhaps he was being paranoid. Perhaps not. In his world, paranoia meant survival.
One reckless mistake, and he would be nothing but a corpse left for the crows.
So he chose restraint. He would not rise to the bait. Not tonight. His work came first.
He needed to convince his son who has recently gotten a hobby of gambling to return home so that Alazar could continue to work normally.
*CLINK*
Pushing open the door, he walked inside.
The room was silent. No lights, no presence.
Alazar stepped forward and removed the carpet.
A panel came to vision.
He lifted the door and a slim staircase came into view.
Climbing down, Alazar noticed that his son was already here, not gone to the brothel today.
"Are you finally realising what I always taught you?" Alazar asked as he entered the small room where the father and son were staying.
The lights were quite dim so Alazar could only see his son sitting on the bed.
The older wolf poured himself some water and just as he lifted the glass to his lips, he froze.
His golden eyes shone as he caught a pair of crimson eyes staring at him from the shadow.
*Clank*
The glass hit the ground, shattering into several pieces as Alazar called out, "You..."
He couldn’t forget that face...the same boy who might have cracked the biggest deal within the shortest time.
But that’s not his concern right now.
The matter was not about the deal or the money here.
It was about Alazar’s son’s life.
"Kalwank?!" Alazar shouted, his voice cracking as he saw his son sitting there, a sharp blade pressed against his throat.
Tears streaked down Kalwank’s face as he stammered, "D-Dad... I thought... I’m sorry..."
Hades let out a slow sigh. "Quite the coward, isn’t he?"
Alazar’s growl deepened. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Your head," Hades replied plainly, "Give it to me, and I’ll leave." No theatrics. No games.
Alazar’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you from Aethernox?"
Hades shrugged. "Does it matter? You’ve destroyed countless homes. Does it really matter who comes for your life?"
The older wolf bared his teeth. "You think you can catch me? Three nations are hunting me—and not one of them has even taken a single hair from me."
"Oh, but I have this."
"EIIIK!" Kalwank screamed as Hades pressed the dagger deeper into his neck, drawing crimson drops.
Alazar clicked his tongue. "How did you find him?!"
Hades chuckled. "He came to me, thinking he could steal my money. Then I convinced him to bring me here."
Alazar’s gaze hardened as he looked at his son, only shame reflected in his eyes.
The silence didn’t last long before Hades spoke again. "I know your town is facing famine, and you want to save as many as you can. Here’s my offer—behead yourself, and I’ll give your son the money I collected today. How does that sound?"
Alazar was taken aback. One million gold coins could sustain his town for over ten years, and he could even save Kalwank.
Hades sighed. "What are you even thinking? You don’t have a chance to escape with him. One wrong move, and he’s dead."
Alazar knew it was true. This boy may seem young, but he had tasted blood. He knew how to hunt, and he wouldn’t hesitate to slit Kalwank’s throat. Hades was here for the kill and wouldn’t stop until he had Alazar’s head.
"You got me there," Alazar said, reaching for his dagger.
Hades’ eyes narrowed as the older wolf drew his blade, the steel gleaming in the dark.
Kalwank’s eyes filled with tears again—his father was willing to sacrifice himself for him.
I’m such a loser... I can’t protect myself... and now... He gritted his teeth, glancing at Hades. But I swear, Father, I will kill this human... what—SQUELCH!
His thought was abruptly cut off as a sharp pain stabbed the front of his head.
Hades’s eyes widened as his hand moved on instinct, cleaving Kalwank’s throat.
The boy fell to the ground, blood pooling around him.
Hades turned his widened eyes to Alazar.
The man appeared blank.
His eyes held no emotion.
In a barely audible voice, he said, "You were right, he was a pussy. A burden. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to remove him."
Hades clenched his fists, "I was also kind of disappointed to not be able to hunt you down myself."
Throwing the dagger aside, Hades stood while facing the man and said, "Come at me."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.