Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger—that was this white tiger’s name. A high-tier Beastmonster, it was the most handsome in the monster world. Such creatures couldn’t be tamed; you had to bond with them from cubhood to make them your partner. Why untamable? Because they were extremely intelligent. An adult wild Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger, upon seeing humans, would either kill you with a single roar or crush you under claws thicker than a bowl’s mouth.
Incredible! No wonder this employer dared to explore a Bipedal Wyvern’s nest. With a high-tier Beastmonster like the Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger, she was fully qualified to have some fun in a Bipedal Wyvern’s lair. The phrase “dragon versus tiger” wasn’t just talk—an adult Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger could truly rival a Bipedal Wyvern!
The Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger let out a roar that killed the last five burly men. It turned and padded over to Verris, rubbing its huge head against her body.
“Alright, Little Bai, I know you did well,” Verris said, stroking the tiger’s head with a gentle smile. “When we get back, I’ll have Maria give you extra portions of your favorite roast meat. Happy now?” Her Little Bai loved showing off. Whenever she gave it an order, win or lose, it would always come nuzzle her afterward.
The Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger nodded its massive head. Then its body dissolved into particles of light and vanished.
“Little Bai is my partner. We grew up together and share a deep bond,” Verris told Alan and the other five. She didn’t reveal her true identity—no need to. After all, they were just a temporary team, weren’t they?
“Verris, your family must be incredibly wealthy,” Alan said, eyeing her. “First a griffin, now a Sky-Soaring White Demon Tiger. If your family’s so rich, why explore a Bipedal Wyvern’s nest in the Degenas Mountains? Is there treasure there? Or something vital to you?” They still didn’t know Verris’s real reason for coming to the Degenas Mountains. All six knew was her target: the Bipedal Wyvern’s nest. Honestly, if it was abandoned, the lair wouldn’t hold much treasure. Bipedal Wyverns moved everything when they relocated. So if their nest was empty, there’d be little to find.
“I need the Dragon Crystal Herb!” Verris looked around slowly at Alan’s group.
“Dragon Crystal Herb?” Alan frowned. He knew it—a plant of immense value. But since it only grew in dragon lairs, it rarely appeared on the market.
“Yes. Someone in my family is ill. Only the Dragon Crystal Herb can cure her. Without it, she might not survive this summer.” Verris’s voice was firm. “Don’t worry—I stand by my earlier offer. I only want the herb. Everything else in the Bipedal Wyvern’s nest is yours.”
“Hahaha, employer, we’re not greedy people,” Barbarian Ramza said, shaking blood off his axe with a grin. “If there’s treasure, we’ll only take what’s useful to us.”
“Exactly,” Faro agreed.
Alan wiped blood from his rusty greatsword. “You’re overthinking it. If the nest is abandoned, we’ll find nothing but Dragon Crystal Herb and droppings. If it’s active, we’d better prepare to fight for our lives. Bipedal Wyverns don’t welcome intruders.” He glanced at the still-rusted blade, then tossed it into his spatial ring with a sneer. What divine weapon? It couldn’t even absorb blood automatically. Nonsense.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if the nest is abandoned,” Verris admitted. “My family bought this tip from a mercenary at great cost. The nest exists—I guarantee that. But whether it’s empty? That’s up to luck.” She didn’t hide it. With her family’s influence, she still wouldn’t risk the Degenas Mountains lightly. That’s why she’d posted the commission. And she’d chosen the three guilds in Newdali City on someone’s recommendation—a tip to keep this quiet. She had a guess why. Her gaze drifted to Alan Renas. He was the youngest in their group, yet his actions held a maturity beyond his years. At his age, she couldn’t have killed so dispassionately. It wasn’t that Alan was cruel—he just had a decisiveness uncommon for his age. Besides, none of the dead were innocent. Killing them was justice.
“Let’s go. Leave this area first,” Faro said, sheathing his greatsword. “The blood scent will attract beasts or Beastmonsters soon. Staying here means more fighting.”
Verris nodded. “Right. We move out.”
As the employer spoke, Alan’s group didn’t linger in the bloody zone. Before leaving, Alan had Crimson Cherry use magic to cremate the corpses. He just didn’t want them devoured by wild animals. Cremation was better than that.
“Why not use magic earlier?” Crimson Cherry asked curiously as they walked beside Alan.
“We’re a temporary team. This was a chance to test our coordination and understand each other. It’ll help us later,” Alan explained with a smile. Since they’d taken the commission together, playing lone hero was pointless. Showing off only bred resentment.
“But that was underhanded. You wore robes and carried a staff, yet killed him with a sword. Knights would call that dishonorable.”
“I’m no knight. And chivalry depends on the person, don’t you think?” Alan mused. True knights upheld noble virtues—honesty, compassion, protecting the weak, no dirty tricks. They lived by the Eight Virtues: humility, honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, spirit. Many real knights existed; best to show your sincere side to them. Too slick, and they’d despise you. Then again, Verris was supposedly a knight. As for those Eight Virtues? Alan hadn’t seen a trace of them in her.
