The streets of Zilt were eerily silent under the scorching midday sun as four figures made their way toward the Adventurers' Association. Passing by the Rusty Axe Tavern, they navigated through the near-empty market stalls, where the occasional vendor idly fanned themselves in the heat. The Adventurers' Association building, towering as always, loomed ahead.
Zegion entered first, his stride confident and familiar with the place. The three behind him followed, Jin glancing around as they approached the reception area.
At the counter stood Bree, a well-known receptionist, organizing papers when Zegion stepped forward. With a concise explanation, he handed over the broken mana core, collected the reward money, and returned to Jin and the two back-alley kids, Mir and Wen. Splitting the amount into two small pouches, he held them out.
"Here, take this," he instructed. "Go get yourselves some proper food. The remaining 10 silver coins stay with me—come to collect them when needed."
The two boys exchanged glances before gratefully nodding. They understood the risks of carrying too much money—if anyone saw them with it, they'd be easy targets. Leaving the rest with Zegion was the safest option. His association with the Solana Merchant Guild and his respect among the back-alley gangs meant no one would dare cross him.
Jin watched them leave with a satisfied smile—until a firm chop landed on his head.
"Ow—what was that for?!" Jin exclaimed, rubbing the sore spot.
Zegion crossed his arms. "That was a reckless decision, Jin. You could have put them in real danger." He was about to continue, but his words were cut short by a commotion outside.
They turned toward the entrance, drawn by the sound of raised voices and arguments.
Stepping outside, they found themselves surrounded by soldiers clad in leather armor, each bearing the Rexroth Kingdom's emblem—a Higher Fire Spirit Phoenix perched on a crown, with a black sun eclipsing a golden one above it.
These were the retainers of nobles, and enforcers assigned to various lords across the kingdom. Unlike traditional feudal armies, Rexroth's military system ensured that soldiers were loyal to the kingdom first, not their direct fief lords. This allowed powerful nobles to transfer talented warriors under their service, while weaker ones were left with scraps.
And now, these soldiers had arrived in Zilt, under orders from the town's corrupt lord—Baron Galstone Berry.
The Baron, in his greed, had granted authority over Zilt entirely to the Adventurers' Association, knowing that Vichitravana Forest was a treasure trove of resources. He had seen no reason to station soldiers in a place filled with exiles, criminals, and desperate adventurers—a town often referred to as a dumping ground. However, these same soldiers had found a new way to exploit the town: extortion.
At this moment, they were doing just that—demanding extra 'commission fees' from adventurers and even back-alley kids.
Among them, three soldiers stood out, mounted atop massive creatures—Tectodons.
Tectodons were large, rhino-like beasts with immense strength, often used in frontline combat due to their natural resilience and earth-affinity abilities. Their signature skill, Seismic Roar, allowed them to unleash powerful tremors over a set range, making them a fearsome force in battle.
Jin observed as a few low-ranking adventurers reluctantly handed over coins, while some children tried to slip away, only to be grabbed and shaken down. His fists clenched at the sight.
But then—
A small figure darted through the chaos.
A Beastman on the Run
Two soldiers suddenly broke into pursuit, chasing a shadowy silhouette that weaved through the crowd.
A Beastman.
Jin's eyes widened. Beastmen were almost unheard of in Pluto, most either taken as criminal slaves or escaping traffickers. Their presence here was nearly impossible unless… this one had fled from something.
The small beastchild ran frantically, dodging past people, but he wasn't fast enough. He suddenly collided with an oncoming adventurer and stumbled to the ground. He looked up, panicked—and froze.
The man before him was none other than Scary Frank, as the back-alley kids called him. Frank, confused, extended a hand, but the beastchild recoiled in fear, his eyes darting back—straight into the soldiers behind him.
He was trapped.
One of the Tectodon-mounted soldiers, clearly the squad leader, dismounted with a smirk.
"Stay back, you lot," he ordered. "This one's coming with us. The Baron's always looking for fresh recruits, and I hear Beastmen have excellent physical traits. Should fetch a good price too."
As he spoke, he drew his sword with its sheath intact, he wanted to end this with as less damage as possible.
The beastchild's red eyes blazed, fear mixing with defiance. His stance was sloppy—untrained—but there was raw instinct in the way he bared his teeth.
The squad leader moved first, covering ground in an instant.
Jin's eyes widened.
Aura.
It was different from his own—stable, refined, flowing like a thin protective coat rather than an explosive force.
As he marveled at the technique, the leader's sword shot out toward the beastchild's neck.
Then—something incredible happened.
The beastchild dodged.
Without even looking, he dropped to all fours, avoiding the soldier's strike with animalistic precision.
For the first time, Jin got a clear look at his face—his wild red eyes, his sharp canines, his stance that was both awkward and terrifyingly natural.
Jin exhaled sharply, his lips parting slightly as he muttered:
"A… Sabretooth?"
Note: Below is the hand-drawn map of the Continent Pluto. I will make a better version soon.
https://imgur.com/a/ox2FnKj