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Chapter 5

5: There is always rocks within diamonds.

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"A human leg?"

Dein asked in an unhurried manner then also tried to see the mangled leg.

"What do you think?" Fei asked her with a sense of unease. Dein stopped peeking and then stood straight.

"Let's go inside."

"What?"

Dein walked cooly to the door of the shed, where they found Ana looking strangely at the hemp rope.

"You know what, I think if it's a rabbit shed how come they're locking it like this? Even if the wolves didn't attacked, it'll all die out of hunger." Ana said, moving sideways as Dein strode forward. Dein summoned a small knife and skillfully cut the ropes without even a second thought. Ana looked baffled at what she saw and then looked at Fei who also wears the same reaction. The two of them exchange a look saying --what the heck?

The shed's foundation shooked when Dein deliberately kicked it open. Fei admit that she's not the type of person to judge someone easily...but Dein seems to be the type of person who loves to challenge the rules? She hope they won't trigger any punishment because of this.

"Let's go."

"Do we have to...do this?" Ana asked.

"Yes, it may give us some clue."

The three of them entered the shed. It's dark inside because the windows were blocked. Why would they do this? Since the shed was big, the three of people decided to split up. Ana wanted to protest at first but then gave up.

Fei's footsteps halted when she arrived at the area were hays are being kept. Something red was peeking out of the hays scattered on the ground. It's a human flesh! She shrugged of the disgust she felt then started searching the whole shed again. Just as she's about to turn over the block of hays a voice echoed inside the whole shed.

"What are you doing?"

Her body went tense for a moment before becoming alert. She didn't heared his footsteps. Amar just suddenly appeared startling her. There was a hint of anger in his eyes.

"Looking around? As a mercenary hired by the village chief, isn't this rightfully my job?"

Fei spoke loudly on purpose, so the two people with her would know that other than them... someone is there. Dein and Ana came out from different corners of the shed and also looked at Amar. When he noticed that there are other people with her the anger in his eyes became more intense.

"You are not allowed in here."

"Huh? But we're making sure the rabbits are safe and sound but---where are the rabbits?"

When Ana made that statement, Amar really got angry and scream at them.

"Get out!"

A while later after being kicked out, the three if them stood in a short distance away from the shed. Amar who tried to lock the shed again. When he found out that the rope can't be use anymore he glared at them hatefully before finding another rope to tie it in several knots. He then walked away after.

"Just as I thought, there really is no rabbit inside." Then why are they saying that wolves are attacking every midnight to take the rabbits away? It's not making any sense. Fei played on the hem of her shirt while thinking of any possible reasons.

"Maybe the rabbits are not really rabbits at all."

Both Ana and Fei looked at Dein who's gaze is following Amar's retreating back. After lingering there for a long time, they decided to go back to the hut to tell the others about what happened. When they arrived there everyone was silent.

"What's wrong?" Ana asked them. Steven fixed his glasses when he saw them, before giving everyone a solemn look.

"Yvonne and I found traces of the wolves around the village."

"so?" When Dein asked, Steven and Yvonne's faces became more grim.

"There are no traces of them going out nor entering the village."

Fei don't know who it is but she swear she heard someone's breath hitched. Fear crept into her as she realized where this convention is leading.

"The wolves are inside the village." Trevor nodded thoughtfully.

"What about the others? What clues did you find?" Steven then asked the remaining teams. Ryan shook his head and then told everyone that they found nothing unusual while observing the village people. Dein told them what their team encountered in the shed, the way that there's a mangled human leg and the strange actions of Amar leads to a conclusion.

"The village people seems to have a connection with wolves." Yvonne.

*Ting!

"The Players have successfully triggered the game conditions!"

At the familiar sound of the system, everyone quickly stopped conversing and listened to the game rules intently.

1. Help the village people.

2. Ensure the rabbits stay safe to avoid triggering the punishment.

3. The players only have 2 days to complete the task.

4. Failing the task means a horrible end.

"Good luck!"

The room became even more eerily silent and everyone are thinking the same thing. Where the damn hell are they going to find the rabbit? Someone knocked on the hut's door so their attention shifted into it. Ryan stood up and opened the door. A village woman stood outside the door.

"The village chief wants to invite the mercenaries for a simple dinner."

No one declined the offer. When they arrived in the center of the village everyone's already there. The village people just silently looked at them, only the village chief welcomed the players with enthusiasm. There are wild fruits and some root crops on the table. There are also a few slices of meat. The food are all placed in a big stone table while the people sit around the fire.

"Dear mercenaries, this is only what our village can offer you. Please help yourselves."

The players took that as a cue to eat, but everyone avoided the meat. After knowing about what's hidden inside the shed, they seemed to also doubt whether the meat serve at the table is that of an animal or humans.

Fei dryly looked at the food. What she saw earlier, is keeping her from eating. She didn't have any appetite at all. Fei look sideways only to see Dein munching on a piece of bread that surely don't belong to any food on the table.

Dein thought that Fei was looking at her bread, and offered her some but Fei quickly declined her offer. Ana took a seat in front of them. Then once again, Fei saw Dein draw a hat on the ground. This is the second time she did it. The first one was when they're on the way to the shed and now--here. Is this some kind of code? Fei's brain started a switch as Dein seriously looked at her face.

"I like to wear hats."

"What a surprise, I do love wearing hats too. A lot." Yvonne who's sitting next to Fei burst out laughing and then looked at the two of them weirdly.

"Are you two flirting? or something?"

Dein's eyes widened in shock. Where did that come from?

"No."

"Okay." Yvonne shrugged her shoulders, but she has this--'I'm not gonna buy that' look on her face and Fei suddenly felt uncomfortable. When the dinner ended, the village chief didn't forget to remind the players of their fear for midnight because the wolves are coming again.

"Rest assured, well subdue them." Steven replied and the chief let out a sight of relief before quickly leaving for his hut. Steven looked at everyone knowingly.

"I think the earlier team will not be much of a help since it's more dangerous at night. So let's just regroup again and divide it for the night shift. Everyone of us needs rest."

Ryan, Dein and Steven decided to take the first shift. While the rest of them returned to the hut. Before leaving, Dein and Fei exchanged glances.

"We'll, I'll be taking a nap. Wake me up when something big happened." Trevor let out a laugh before finding a spot to rest. Fei sat quietly in the corner while secretly observing the people with her. Yvonne refused to sleep, and just played on the pocket knife in her hand while Ana sat in daze staring at the moon.

A few hours after the clock hits midnight a piercing howl of beasts was heard everywhere in the village. Fei's drowsiness went away as she heard the sounds of fighting from nearby. It's coming from outside! The wolves really came! A sweating Ana ran inside the hut and quickly woke Trevor up.

"The wolves are here! Quick! We must help the otheres!"

They hurriedly ran outside to help the others. Fei and the others are almost nearning the shed where Steven and the others are but then Fei stopped midway as she realized something was amiss.

"Where's Yvonne?"

"Huh? Isn't she with us the whole time?"

*Ting!

"The wolves have successfully taken a rabbit! The players will face a punishment!"

The familiar sound of the system rang around. And Fei's eyes widened from shock and disbelief. Before she could ready myself, a huge beast lunge itself at her. This doesn't sound like a punishment! It's a death penalty!

Fei hurriedly summond the metal rolling pin and slammed it to the wolf's stomach --who's pinning her on the ground, ready to enjoy it's dinner. She's that f*cking dinner!

The wolf let out a pained howl as it move away from her. I guess that's a weak spot? It snarled angrily at me, showing it's razor sharp teeth glistening with saliva. Trevor is busy waving his chains around, fighting with the two wolves who's almost as big as him. Ana disappeared and have hidden somewhere safe--good for her.

The wolf who attacked Fei was much smaller than the others whose attacking Trevor but it doesn't mean that it's weak in strength. Fei is really not that good at fighting, she even got bullied at school for being a weakling but she's trying her best to survive since she don't want to become someone's food. Every time the wolf attack, Fei would defend herself with the rolling pin--striking and smashing every parts of the wolf that she could grasp. When the wolf leap towards Fei ready to bite her head off-- she didn't give it a chance. With all her strength, Fei smashed it's huge face. The wolf lost it's momentum and stumbled down, struggling to get up for a moment.

She may have broken it's jaw? Fei let out a strange laugh as she looked at the rolling pin with proud eyes. Kiko's mom's rolling pin is really good at beating people--and beast. Fei watched the beast ran away and after a few seconds it became a smoke and then disappeared instantly. The chaotic night went quiet again.