Beast Slayer Online: Initialization
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 66
Ubank trusted his hounds absolutely.
His family had been dog handlers of Clan Udvík on the Skellige Isles. He had left the islands for the Continent because he had no wish to spend his life training dogs, but the craft itself was beyond question. Hounds trained by his house could even be offered as prizes in Skellige competitions.
The two at his feet were the result of two years’ work. Given the order, they would throw themselves at a griffin.
Yet today they had eaten properly, their bodies were sound, their tempers steady, and still they had lost control for no reason.
Ubank narrowed his eyes at the child thrashing through the seawater.
“Leave him. We can’t afford the delay. Keep rowing.”
A mile out, a merchant ship sat on the black sea with lanterns burning.
Head Devourer’s boat drew alongside it. Under the threat of blades and a storm of curses, more than twenty weeping children were forced aboard as cargo. Only after them did Ubank’s men climb up the rope ladder with practiced speed.
The deck was already crowded.
Armed men stood waiting, swords at their hips, armor well made, but stripped of any mark that might prove allegiance.
A bald man in light, close-fitting leather armor stepped out from behind them. A cloth covered the lower half of his face.
“Well, well.” His voice carried a clear edge of mockery as he walked toward Ubank, who was hauling his two hounds aboard. “If it isn’t our famous Head Devourer.”
“You said you could bring in a large shipment this time. At least eighty children. The lord was delighted. And now I see twenty.” His tone made it hard to tell whether he was sneering or warning. “Have you thought about how you’ll explain that?”
Ubank barely reacted, but the men he had brought with him began to shift.
Head Devourer knew this buyer’s lord. From the sound of it, he answered to him. If a job failed, he would have to explain himself. That meant superior and subordinate.
That was not shocking in itself. Nor was it unforgivable. What made these seasoned scum turn wary was that Ubank had never told any of them.
Not one.
For this job, Head Devourer had always said it was simple. Money in one hand, goods in the other.
But now the buyers were speaking openly, without the slightest intent to hide it.
Here, at this moment, that made the men’s skin crawl.
“Lord Saffra, I had poor luck. Nothing to be done.” Ubank finally pulled the hounds onto the deck and spread his hands. “If the lord insists on an explanation, I can only say I’ll work twice as hard next time. Pity is, the Man-eater cover won’t be usable after this. But that’s tomorrow’s trouble. Let’s clean up tonight’s loose ends first.”
The bald, masked man nodded. “Quite right. Loose ends first.”
As they spoke, Ubank’s men had already drawn into a tight circle. Some had knives in hand, murder in their eyes, edging toward Ubank as though to seize him for a hostage.
Old Hanson no longer cared about money. He swept the deck with a taut, frightened gaze. “Gentlemen. My lords. We’re small men. We heard nothing. We’ll even forgo our shares. Let us off the ship, and we’ll be gone.”
Ubank said nothing. He only smiled through narrowed eyes.
Waves slapped the hull. The air slowly drew tight with killing intent.
“Waste of time.” Saffra gave a soft sneer and lifted a hand toward the circle of thugs.
Magic flared in the reflections of their eyes.
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