Demonic Dragon: Harem System
Chapter 162: A silent plan

"They should've just said they missed each other," Jhonatan remarked, watching the two women help each other up, even though they both looked utterly beaten.

"That's why you're still single," Marlon teased him, grabbing another bottle of beer and placing it on the counter.

Despite their battered appearance, the two women made their way over to the bar, leaning on each other for support.

"This reminds me of that day," Jhonatan said, but his eyes drifted away from the scene, focusing back on his drink.

"Careful with what you say, or they'll kill you if you say the wrong thing," Marlon warned, as Samira sat down in front of him. "Another round," she ordered, and Rogue gave him the same look.

"Coming right up, ladies," Marlon said with a smile as he poured the beer into a large mug, "On the house."

His unspoken plea was clear: Please don't wreck my bar! Samira and Rogue got the message loud and clear.

"So, why did you come back?" Rogue asked, taking a sip of her overflowing beer.

"It's a long story..." Samira murmured, resting her elbows on the counter and her head in her hands, her body visibly exhausted.

"We've got time for long stories," Rogue replied, taking another swig of her beer.

"I'm looking for someone... Someone who has information about the Duchy of Vorah. Does that ring any bells?" Samira asked.

"That depends on what information you're looking for," Rogue responded, the request too vague for her to narrow it down.

"Well... Ah..." Samira sighed, "They're posing as a merchant or working with one, arrived about a week ago, no physical description, but probably has the demeanor of a cultivator." She explained the limited intel Strax had provided to track down this person.

"We?" Rogue inquired, catching onto the subtle shift in Samira's words. "Oh, right... I got married recently. I mean, there was no formal ceremony, but he calls me his wife, and I call him my husband, so... yeah, I guess I'm married? I think so," Samira said nonchalantly, leaving the three utterly stunned.

"Huh? Why the shocked faces?" Samira asked, noticing their open-mouthed expressions. How could this woman, this wild barbarian, have found love?

Samira kept talking, ignoring the dumbfounded looks on their faces.

"My 'husband' is an amazing person, even though we didn't have a formal ceremony. It's a bit confusing, I know." She said, taking another drink of her beer.

"I'll introduce him later," she added, but then quickly backtracked, "No, actually, I won't."

She remembered what her husband was like, and the mere thought of introducing him to Rogue sent alarm bells ringing in her head. 'Definitely NOT!' she screamed internally, realizing she wouldn't be able to handle the chaos that would ensue if her husband...

'No! Better not even think about it!'

"What? You're not going to introduce him?! I want to meet him!" Rogue said, her excitement clear. Of course, she wanted to meet the man who could win the heart of this fierce woman!

"Never," Samira grumbled. "I'm not here to talk about my husband or gossip." She was trying hard not to feel embarrassed.

"Fine," Rogue said, stretching as she stood up. "Bring him to my office, and we'll talk there."

"I just said I'm not introducing you to him!" Samira roared like a lion. "If you think I'm going to work for free, give you the information I have just because we're friends, you're dead wrong, darling," Rogue said, her body fully recovered from their earlier scuffle.

"And since I know you must be completely broke, I at least want to know who's behind this. Because I doubt you, of all people, would swallow your pride and come to me if it wasn't for someone important." She added, her words cutting through the air.

Rogue knew Samira too well to think she'd come back without a damn good reason. She was too proud to return here without one.

And if it was because of a man, so be it—she wanted to know who he was, who he served, or who he once served. Rogue was the keeper of information, the one who set the rules.

"I'm leaving. You know where to replace me," Rogue said as she turned and walked away without looking back. Samira watched her retreating figure from a distance, wanting to say something but...

'That damn bitch...'

She thought to herself.

Despite everything, at least now she had the lead she needed... and that meant two things: a reward from her lovely husband and... a possible threat to their relationship.

Samira began to get up as well, realizing Rogue had already disappeared from view.

"You can go; it's on the house," Marlon offered, but Samira couldn't care less about that.

"Here, fix that facade of yours," she said, tossing a gold coin to him. "B-but this is too much!" he stammered. For people like him, a gold coin was a big deal, but for her, living the high life thanks to her husband...

"Just be more courteous, alright? Now that she forced me into this, my husband will come here, and if you think I'm difficult to deal with, you don't want to meet him." She waved him off with a casual goodbye.

"Careful, little wolf. I'm sure you'll end up dead if you keep treating me like this," she said, vanishing from the place, leaving everyone in stunned silence...

"Of all the things..." Jhonatan muttered, as all the wolves stared at him. "What?" he asked.

"I think they're just shocked at how useless their leader is in front of a pretty woman," Marlon remarked, cleaning the glasses. "You really are going to die if you keep this up."

"Huh? I didn't do anything! You're the one who let the fight happen!" Jhonatan protested. "Sure, but I'm not the leader here, you are," Marlon replied with a smirk. "Watch yourself, friend."

Jhonatan... just stayed silent. What had he even done? He just... "Ah, forget it."

...

As Samira continued to walk through the clear night in that strange, sleepless city, certain issues began to unfold, and the first of them involved a man who wasn't too pleased about being the "errand boy." In fact, he felt downright insulted, being treated like a mere courier, or worse, a chauffeur.

"Damn it... damn it..." he muttered as he moved through the night, avoiding any bright lights and constantly checking his surroundings, making sure he wasn't being watched.

Of course, as a well-trained assassin, he was simply doing his job as quickly as possible, especially knowing who that man was and what he was preparing.

"Damn dragon..." he muttered again, as he entered a strange, narrow tunnel—this was the city's sewage system.

"So many places to hide... why here of all places..." Carlos grumbled, following the tube with caution, clearly uncomfortable with the claustrophobia the place induced.

"After this job... I'm getting out of this city, getting a new identity, and living happily in some village far away from these crazy people."

He was already making plans to get out of this mess unscathed.

As he walked, he could smell the foul stench of the environment, hear the distant sounds of rats fighting over scraps, and the disgusting sound of water sloshing through the pipes grated on his ears.

"How should I handle this? Should I tell her? Damn... it's so hard being me," he murmured, finally spotting some kind of sign—a place where shadows clearly danced around a fire.

The flickering flames cast light ahead, and he crept forward cautiously.

"Black Blade..." he muttered as he approached, sneaking closer.

The tension in the air grew suddenly; his body stiffened as he fought against the fear that it might not be his boss waiting for him.

As he got closer, Carlos finally saw who was sitting in front of the fire. It was a hooded woman, with a mysterious appearance and an aura that radiated a sense of latent danger.

"You're late, you know?" The angelic voice sounded, one he knew all too well. "Cut the crap and get over here," she ordered, and Carlos quickly rushed to her.

"Boss, why here?" was his first question.

"I don't have time for that. Did the Young Master Strax arrive safely?" she asked, her tone indicating she had some pressing concerns that required Strax's presence.

"Yes, they're at an inn. He said he wanted to see you," Carlos reported, and Cristine just smiled beneath her mask.

"Tell him I'll meet him soon. I just need a bit of help with my sister, and I'll meet him by tomorrow night," she said, and Carlos looked at her, confused by her next words, "I think it's time for you to leave..."

"What do you mean, leave?" he questioned.

"The guild is going to end soon... I'm giving you a heads up so you can prepare. Deliver the message to Strax and get out of the city..." Cristine said as she began to remove her mask.

"I'm giving you this chance because I'm the one who recruited you, so replace something else to live for and forget the guild." Her words slowly instilled fear in him.

"I'm going to wipe out the entire guild, leaving not a single high-ranking member alive," she declared, her dark face revealed to Carlos, making him tremble...

That woman... despite being beautiful... seemed like the embodiment of evil, her eyes so indifferent...