Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was calm.
Tina ran around the living room, laughing as she played by herself, her energy filling the space.
Not far from her, Kaito sat quietly, carefully cleaning his knife. The blade gleamed under the light as he wiped it with practiced ease.
Upstairs, inside the office—
Saito leaned back in his chair, looking at Takashi.
"So, how's the plan I proposed yesterday?"
Takashi adjusted the files in his hands. "Your herbs and crops plan is working well. Outside merchants are giving better feedback. Trade has already started improving."
A small smile appeared on Saito's face.
"Good… glad it worked."
Takashi nodded. "If there's nothing else…"
He placed another stack of files on the desk.
"Here's the latest report. Let me know if you need anything."
Saito gave a short nod. "Got it."
Takashi turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Silence settled in.
Saito slowly turned his chair toward the window, gazing outside at the peaceful village.
"…So the plan worked, huh."
The door suddenly burst open.
A villager rushed in, breathing heavily.
"Sir Saito! There's a group of wolfbeasts causing trouble at the village center!"
Saito's eyes sharpened. "Wolfbeasts?"
The villager nodded quickly. "Yes! They've taken a man hostage!"
Saito stood up immediately, grabbing his sword.
"Stay here," he said firmly before heading out.
He moved downstairs and found Kaito already looking up from his seat.
"We've got business," Saito said.
Kaito smirked, standing up and gripping his knife.
"Roger that."
Without another word, the two of them walked out together.
At the center of the village, tension filled the air.
A wolfbeast—half wolf, half human—held a trembling man tightly, a knife pressed against his throat.
"Where is your mayor?" the wolfbeast growled. "I want to see him."
Three other wolfbeasts stood nearby, circling the area.
Village guards surrounded them cautiously.
"Let him go first," one guard said. "Then we can talk."
The wolfbeast's eyes flared. "Are you playing with me? You think I won't kill him?"
He pressed the blade closer. The hostage whimpered.
Suddenly—
"Hold it!"
Takashi rushed into the scene.
The wolfbeast turned. "Who are you?"
Takashi stood firm. "I'm the mayor of this village."
The wolfbeast narrowed his eyes. "You're not the mayor… The mayor was older. He had a scar on his face."
"…That was my father," Takashi replied calmly. "He passed away a year ago."
A brief silence followed.
"So… you're the new mayor," the wolfbeast said. "Then tell me—do you recognize us?"
Takashi took a step forward. "You were once villagers here."
The wolfbeast let out a bitter laugh. "Yes… until your father banished us. Threw us out of our own home."
Takashi walked closer, steady and unafraid.
"I know my father made many mistakes," he said. "But I'm here to fix them. Let that innocent man go… and we can talk."
The wolfbeast's grip tightened. "He should've said that before he cast us out."
Takashi nodded slowly. "He hated beastmen… but I don't. I want to restore peace."
The wolfbeast stared at him for a moment, then scoffed.
"Then tell that to our leader."
Takashi didn't hesitate. "Fine. But release the man first."
Just as the situation reached its peak—
"Hey, hey… what's going on here?"
Saito's voice cut through the tension as he stepped into the scene, Kaito beside him.
"Sir Saito! Sir Kaito!" the villagers called out in relief.
Saito's eyes quickly landed on the hostage.
"Kaito."
"I know," Kaito replied calmly.
In the next instant—he vanished.
A blur.
Then he reappeared beside Saito, the hostage safely in his arms.
The wolfbeast's eyes widened in shock.
"…What?"
He looked at his empty hand, realizing the man was gone.
The wolfbeast turned toward them, expression darkening.
"So… you two are the gangsters."
Saito shrugged slightly. "Yeah. So what's your business here?"
"We want our land back."
Saito frowned. "Your land?"
Takashi stepped forward. "They were once villagers here… before my father cast them out."
Saito nodded slowly, then looked back at the wolfbeasts.
"…I see."
He took a step forward.
"Then welcome back to the village. This is your home, right? You're always welcome here."
The wolfbeast froze for a moment.
"…Just like that?"
Saito tilted his head. "What? It's your home."
A bitter laugh escaped the wolfbeast.
"…Too late."
Suddenly—he lunged.
Saito raised his sword, blocking the claw just in time.
"Man… I tried to talk nicely," Saito said, pushing him back.
"Kill them!" the wolfbeast shouted.
The other three charged forward—
But Kaito stepped in front of them, spinning his knife with a smirk.
"You'll have to get through me first."
Behind him, Saito spoke again, his voice calmer but firm.
"You should stop this. I know your past was harsh… but dragging innocent people into your pain won't fix anything."
The wolfbeast's eyes burned with anger.
"Humans always hate us! They call us monsters because we look different!"
His voice trembled with rage.
"We tried to live… but now they'll pay for what they've done!"
The wolfbeast lunged again, raising his claw high—
Saito stepped aside just in time, the attack slicing through the air where he stood moments before.
"Watch out, Saito!"
Kaito's voice rang out as he blocked attacks from the three other wolfbeasts, their claws clashing against his knife in rapid succession.
"These beastmen have more stamina than humans!" Kaito called out, pushing one back with a swift kick.
Saito nodded, eyes focused. "Got it!"
The lead wolfbeast charged again, faster this time—
Saito raised his sword and blocked the incoming strike, the force pushing him a step back.
The clash echoed through the village as the fight intensified.
Takashi watched the battle unfold, his expression tightening.
"All villagers—get inside your houses, now!" he shouted.
The villagers didn't hesitate. They nodded and rushed away, scrambling toward safety.
But suddenly—
From the east side of the village, more wolfbeasts appeared.
Dozens of them.
They charged straight toward the fleeing villagers.
"They're coming!" someone screamed.
At the restaurant—
"Everyone, hurry inside!" Pyvi called out, ushering people through the door.
She glanced up—
Her eyes widened.
Wolfbeasts were already leaping toward them.
Before they could strike—
A surge of cement shot upward, forming a thick barrier over the restaurant.
"Barrier Cement!"
Takashi swung his arm, controlling the flow as it hardened instantly, shielding the building completely.
Claws slammed against the surface—but couldn't break through.
Takashi clenched his jaw.
"Hurry inside!" he shouted again.
Saito glanced at the scene behind him.
"Well done, Takashi," he said, blocking another incoming claw from a wolfbeast.
He pushed it back, then leapt beside Kaito.
Kaito smirked slightly. "So… should we kill them?"
Saito shook his head. "Not now. There are too many. We need a better way than just killing them."
Kaito nodded. "Got it."
He dashed forward again, holding the line.
Saito paused for a moment, thinking—then suddenly slammed his fist into his palm.
"…This might work."
He turned toward Takashi.
"Takashi! I need you to trap them with your cement. Can you cover them?"
Takashi nodded without hesitation. "I can."
He stepped forward and slammed his palm onto the ground.
"Jail Cement!"
A surge of cement burst from beneath the earth, spreading rapidly toward the wolfbeasts.
It wrapped around their legs and bodies—
Locking them in place.
Several wolfbeasts were caught, the cement hardening around them as they fell to the ground, unable to move.
The remaining wolfbeasts froze for a second—
Then their leader clicked his tongue.
"Tch… fall back!"
The others obeyed immediately, retreating into the distance.
Before leaving, the leader shot Saito a cold glare.
"We'll be back."
Then they vanished.
Silence slowly returned to the village.
Saito let out a breath and looked at the captured wolfbeasts.
Takashi, breathing heavily, stepped beside him.
"…So what should we do with them?"
Saito's expression turned serious.
"Take them to jail. We'll interrogate them."
Nearby guards rushed forward, carefully loading the trapped wolfbeasts onto carriages.
One by one, they were taken away toward Lorum Jail.