Chapter 159: Mission One

"What will be the nature of the mission, miss?" Filmos asked with as much respect as he could muster, standing at rigid attention.

Nair’s sharp eyes fell on him directly before she replied, her cold gaze piercing right through his composure.

"The mission is simple. You will participate as a support unit. You will not engage in any direct confrontation with anyone in Suran City. You should remember that no one should know that you are from Nara City at all costs."

Filmos nodded slowly, absorbing the strict warning. "And if they discover who we are?"

Nair smirked at how innocent Filmos was. Beside him, Trillo shoved him with an elbow at how obvious the answer was to his question.

"You should escape," Nair said flatly. "And as I said, do not engage in direct confrontation."

Nair continued explaining the mission in detail.

The two of them were being sent to act purely as observers. Their fake identities were already fully prepared as interns from Hibiscus City, participating in a joint clearance activity with the Hanging City.

Since the Beast Shop and its enigmatic owner had caused countless political problems in the past up until now, the two cities had convinced the city administrator of Suran City to shut down the shop entirely.

However, considering how ridiculously profitable and economically helpful the shop was for the local market, the authorities reached a compromise: they would seize ownership and put the city administrator’s staff in charge instead. In that way, they wouldn’t destroy a massive source of funds for the city.

But despite that smooth plan the three city administrators had crafted, they were terrified of retaliation when the original owner returned. So, they had come fully prepared for violence.

Hence, Filmos and Trillo had to remain stationed at Suran City until the owner, Terrence, finally returned. Their real mission parameters would then be delivered directly to them when the right time came.

Until that moment arrived, they had to observe the shop and ensure that the three cities’ takeover plan resulted in total success.

Within the past few days of frantic preparation, adapting to the conditions of their fake identities, Filmos and Trillo were officially set for the mission.

Arriving back at Suran City, Filmos felt an unfamiliar, uncomfortable pang in his heart.

Could it be because the thought of bringing down the very Beast Shop where he had bought his Green Anaconda was bothering him?

He wasn’t entirely sure. To be honest, deep down, he still wanted to know his beast’s real identity as a creature and why it was so important that the Anti-Nustra Legion was actively hunting for it.

As they walked side by side down the busy cobblestone streets, Trillo noticed his lingering hesitation.

"Don’t be afraid of the Anti-Nustra," Trillo said softly, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. "Just like you, I’m in the exact same situation. They were hunting for my beast, too."

Filmos looked over, surprised. "And why is that?"

"Well... the Beast Shop owner had announced it before that the beasts he sells are strictly limited," Trillo explained. "But even if they were limited, each beast could only ever be sold once to one person."

"And... what’s the problem with that?" Filmos asked.

Trillo turned his head and looked at him with sheer disbelief, unable to fathom how Filmos was completely ignorant of such crucial news.

It was infamous information across the region—the very reason why, despite how promising and life-changing buying a powerful beast was, not everyone dared to buy from that Beast Shop.

Trillo let out a long sigh, shaking his head.

"In the past, the Legion tried to bypass that rule the shop had made. They sent bought citizens or paid proxies to buy beasts in their stead so they could hoard them. In the end, they planned to monopolize all those powerful beasts for themselves. But the shop owner took notice of this trick and took ruthless action against them. Since then, the Legion couldn’t penetrate or buy from the shop directly anymore. So, they hunt down anyone who buys from the shop instead."

Filmos felt like his entire world was about to spin out of control. Why was he only learning this terrifying truth now, after spending two whole months with Trillo?

But there was nothing he could do about it now. The contract was already bound, and his identity was already exposed. Even though he understood the reality now, it was still terrifying to realize how blindly he had walked into danger.

Was it an impulsive decision because of his dire situation back then? Was it pure desperation?

"It was desperation," Trillo interjected quietly, breaking into his internal thoughts as if he could read Filmos’s mind directly.

"You were thinking about why I bought a beast from that shop despite knowing the deadly situation, right?" Trillo asked.

Filmos shook his head, as his thoughts had actually been about his own past choices, but Trillo completely ignored the gesture. While walking down toward the hidden residence where they would be staying for the duration of their mission, Trillo began sharing his past.

"I needed revenge," Trillo murmured, his knuckles clenching into tight fists at his sides. "There was no other way for me to get strong enough in a short amount of time. So, despite knowing the risks, I bought from that shop anyway. In return, I got the strength and the revenge I wanted... but still, the Anti-Nustra retaliated and kidnapped my family. Since then, I haven’t heard a single thing about their whereabouts."

Filmos swallowed hard, feeling a heavy weight settle in his chest. "So... joining the Lady Commander’s program was also a result of desperation?"

Trillo struggled to form the words, his throat tightening before he answered.

"Well... maybe because I started this whole path with desperation and impatience. This is just the consequence of it. And all I wish for every single day is that they’re still alive. I’m just hoping that after we complete this mission, the commander’s program will finally give me information about where my family is being held."

Filmos didn’t know what to say to comfort him. He remained completely silent until they reached the quiet, secluded residence where they would be staying.

The next morning, however, Filmos watched in utter shock as things turned completely unfair.

Walking near the central district, he saw what had become of his former refuge. The city administrators of the three allied cities had completely seized the Beast Shop, throwing out its original purpose and turning it into nothing more than an exclusive, snobbish playground for wealthy elites.