I Don't Need To Log Out

Chapter 95 Trap

The copy and Wok were talking under the star-studded sky in the quiet of the night.

Though it was Arlon's time to rest and Wok's turn to keep watch, Arlon chose to stay up. Not for idle conversation, but to subtly extract information and set his trap.

Yet, as their conversation unfolded, Arlon quickly realized there might not even be a need for subterfuge.@@@@

"Arlon, are you married? Or do you have someone you value?" Wok asked suddenly, his pointy wolf nose flaring with each breath as he subtly checked the scents around them.

"No, I don't have such a person," Arlon replied evenly.

"Really? Not even a friend?" Wok pressed, his tone neutral but probing.

"My job requires me to travel," Arlon explained. "So, I don't get close to the people I meet. What about you?"

Wok's sharp features softened. "I have a wife and two daughters."

"That must be nice," Arlon said, his voice steady but genuine.

"It is nice," Wok admitted, his gaze distant. Then, after a brief pause, he sighed heavily. "But... Arlon, you must have realized by now. I don't like the saviors."

"I had a hunch," Arlon replied, carefully gauging Wok's reaction.

"Want me to tell you why?"

"If you want to tell me, I'm ready to listen."

Wok's shoulders sagged slightly as he began, his voice carrying a weight of suppressed grief and anger.

"Sigh... I had three children: one boy and two girls. My son was around your age and getting ready to be an administrator. He was a fox Beastman like his mother."

He paused, a faint growl underlying his words as he continued.

"You probably know the process—frontline assignments as a test to become an administrator. They need people with real experience there."

Arlon nodded. "I've heard of it."

"He was deployed to one of the frontline towns," Wok said, his claws digging slightly into the ground. "We were worried, of course. The frontlines are always dangerous. But death... death is normal in wartime. I've accepted that."

His voice hardened. "However... he didn't die in battle. At least, not the way you'd think."

Arlon remained silent, letting Wok continue at his own pace.

"This is second-hand information," Wok admitted, his teeth baring slightly, "but I learned that my son didn't die because of those damned Keldars' attacks."

His golden eyes burned with fury as he clenched his fists. "He was escorting a group of saviors. But those scumbags... they left him in the middle of a Keldar ambush to save their own skins."

Arlon had already suspected something like this. The players, especially in the early days of EVR, had a history of abandoning Trionians or treating them as disposable NPCs.

This wasn't news to him, but hearing it in such raw, personal terms was sobering.

Wok's voice broke slightly as he continued, his anger giving way to grief. "They didn't even bother to retrieve his body. My wife... she couldn't bear it. She still cries every night. And my daughters... they're too young to understand why their brother isn't coming home."

"Ready?" one of the dog Beastmen asked, his tail wagging slightly as he looked at the group.

"Yes, let's go!" Wok answered with a sharp nod.

The group set off toward a muddy area where they knew boars gathered to sleep.

The recent rain had left patches of thick, sticky mud, making their progress slower and more cumbersome.

The weather in Kelta itself was controlled by Maguses, keeping it perpetually dry and temperate. But out here, in the wilds, nature still reigned.

The rain had only stopped the day before, leaving the forest soaked and muddy.

Hunting wasn't something Arlon especially liked. But he wanted to tag along and see what this was about.

Normally, everyone there could single-handedly capture a dozen boar in the span of minutes.

But hunting as an activity was different. They were limiting themselves with crossbows and ropes.

So, it wasn't an activity to use abilities but one to have fun.

For the next hour, they crouched silently, observing the sleeping boars. The creatures were massive, their thick coats caked with mud as they dozed.

The tension in the air was palpable, but it wasn't the kind that came with danger. It was the quiet thrill of anticipation, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

When the boars finally began to stir, snorting and grunting as they stretched and shook off the remnants of sleep, the group prepared for action.

Wok raised his hand, signaling them to spread out and take positions. His demeanor was calm, almost jovial, as though the conversation from the previous night hadn't happened at all.

Arlon observed Wok closely as he led the group. His commands were clear, his movements efficient. It was obvious that Wok had experience, not just in hunting but in leadership.

The group worked in unison, moving silently through the underbrush. The first boar was taken down with a well-placed rope snare, its squeals quickly muffled as two Beastmen held it down.

Arlon joined in, helping to secure another boar. His movements were precise and controlled, though he kept his strength in check. The goal here wasn't to show off—it was to blend in.

Hours passed as they continued their hunt. The group laughed and joked quietly among themselves, enjoying the camaraderie of the shared activity.

By mid-morning, the group had successfully captured several boars. The animals were tied securely and would be transported back later.

Arlon noticed Wok glancing toward the edge of the clearing every so often, his ears twitching slightly as if listening for something—or someone.

Finally, just as they were preparing to head back to their camp, the long-awaited guest arrived.

A tall, imposing figure emerged from the shadows of the forest. A female Beastman with feline features and piercing green eyes strode into the clearing.

Her steps were confident, her gaze sharp as it scanned the group.

"Good timing," Wok said, his tone casual but respectful.

The woman nodded, her eyes briefly meeting Arlon's. She said nothing, but the intensity of her gaze made it clear that she was here for more than just a hunt.

Arlon straightened slightly, preparing himself. This was the moment he'd been waiting for.