Alliance of Gold and Claws
Jack Goldfred observed Ironclaw's earth‑wolf bestial girl talons with clear satisfaction. The girl lounged beside Andras in the armchair—lazy, yet radiating a quiet, regal presence. One arm hung over the side so Jack could better examine the stone‑reinforced claws, now grown to griffin size by the power of the earth element. The soft daylight slid across their hardened surface as if the strength of the earth still pulsed within them.
Leaning forward from the opposite armchair, Jack studied the girl's natural weapon with professional curiosity. Once finished, he leaned back and casually picked up a pastry from the table.
"Not bad at all," he remarked after taking a bite. "A Wolfwood delicacy? Might become popular back home."
Andras watched him with folded arms.
"Forget the pastries for now. You gained a lot from marrying into House Wolfwood, but what will the other three merchant guilds do? What if they unite against us?"
Jack's smile remained, though his eyes sharpened.
"Two reasons make that unlikely.
First: with the Hero and the Demon King appearing, the Empire will be forced into an alliance with the Kingdom. That peace could last fifty—maybe even a hundred years. The Demon King isn't a game. The world is at stake. The Emperor knows it… and so do the merchants.
Second: the four families can't stand each other. With relations to the Kingdom being restored, none of them will dare scheme against us. Right now, we're the only link to the Hero. It's far more likely that one guild will try to ally with us against the other two. Especially if we win the Gladiator Tournament."
Andras tilted his head.
"And you? Do you want to crush the other guilds? Or at least that one you absolutely can't stand?"
At the word crush, Ironclaw's ears twitched—an instinctive reaction to the promise of a hunt. Her bushy wolf tail began to sway against the side of the armchair in a slow, satisfied rhythm, signaling that the bestial girl's instincts had latched onto the word immediately.
Jack shrugged lightly.
"The Empire has countless merchant guilds. Our city, Ferenz, just happens to have these four major ones. If one vanished, another would take its place. Trying to destroy each other isn't worth it—it would cost more money and effort than healthy rivalry ever would."
"Fine." Andras nodded. "I'll gather my elite team. We can leave for the Empire in a week."
Jack set down the pastry and sighed with mild regret.
"Unfortunately, I'm a very busy man. I'd love to enjoy the hospitality of the wolves, but I must return to Ferenz immediately."
"Not even one night with us?" Andras asked.
"What lamb would dare sleep among wolves?"
"The one whose wool is made of gold."
Jack burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha! And with moldy bread stuffed where its brain should be?"
Andras allowed himself a small smile.
"It doesn't matter. Mutual trust will grow over the years."
"No objections on my side," Jack replied. "I'll head out ahead of you. I don't mind if you only follow a week later, but keep in mind the journey takes two weeks. I said the Gladiator Tournament begins in a month… but to be precise, we still have six weeks. A little more than a month."
"Then we're fine. We leave in a week."
Jack rose, adjusted his cloak, and for a moment his expression softened.
"I'm glad I finally got to meet you, my dear grandson. We'll see each other again in three weeks. Until then—good health to our family."
Jack Goldfred did not linger long in Wolfwood. Once the negotiations were sealed, he hurried back toward Imperial territory. As a merchant, he calculated everything carefully—even the possibility that his daughter might be so furious with him that she would try to have him killed. Carla had no such intention, of course, but Jack couldn't know that for certain, and he never gambled with survival. Foresight and self‑preservation had always been the virtues of the Goldfreds.
As for Young Wolf, the extra week was not for preparing the journey. If it had been up to him, he would have left for the Empire alongside Jack. The delay had an entirely different reason.
Wolfwood had sent a raven to the royal capital—the fastest, cleverest black raven the wolves had ever trained. The bird swiftly delivered the letter to the Princess. The message spoke of establishing contact with the Goldfred merchant guild, the upcoming Gladiator Tournament, and Young Wolf's planned visit to the Empire next month.
The raven reached Royal Whitefort without issue.
The reply, however… simply refused to return.
Nearly a week had passed. On the seventh day, the elite team stood ready in the castle courtyard: horses saddled, packs secured, weapons and supplies checked. Every member of Wolfwood's elite unit waited in tense silence.
Only the reply failed to arrive.
Young Wolf grew increasingly restless. He paced back and forth across the courtyard like a caged predator. His cloak flared with every turn, and his gaze darkened each time he lifted his eyes toward the sky.
The young mage muttered under his breath in growing irritation. The raven still hadn't returned with the reply. The team was ready to depart, time was pressing, and the Princess remained silent.
Everything in the castle courtyard was prepared—only the decision was missing, the one that would open the road toward the Empire.
A tense stillness hung over the courtyard, broken only by the snorts of horses and the occasional clatter of gear. Andras scanned the area impatiently before finally speaking.
"The Princess still hasn't replied. Or perhaps she doesn't even know how to send a letter with a raven."
Carla folded her arms with a sigh.
"Obviously the Princess isn't the one sending the raven. She just orders her people to handle it."
Andrea turned toward them, worry clouding her eyes.
"Could something have happened in the capital?"
"We would know by now," Andras answered firmly. "Lazuro would have informed us."
Anita glanced toward the packhorses, then back at Andras.
"We should leave soon."
Master Florian stepped closer, leaning on his staff, his face carrying its usual calm, seasoned wisdom.
"We haven't even appointed the new Lieutenant of the Wolf Knight Order. Have you decided whether Anita or Andrea will take the position?"
Andras fell silent for a moment, then nodded with certainty.
"I decided long ago. Starting today, Jula—you are the new Wolf Knight Lieutenant."
Jula froze.
"What?! But Anita and Andrea are both much stronger than me. Why me?"
Andras stepped closer, his voice steady but resolute.
"Because you are my mother's personal bodyguard. And it's not that you're weak—Andrea and Anita have simply become very strong. You're more than qualified to be lieutenant.
Besides: Anita is already a demon hunter. She won't have time for a lieutenant's duties. Her cursed dark sword will always push her to hunt demons.
Andrea will inherit the Captain's title from her grandfather once we defeat the Demon King. Until then, she remains my personal bodyguard and comes with me to the Empire.
The Captain and the Lieutenant will stay here in Wolfwood and protect my mother and the region while I'm away."
Master Florian smiled, the familiar, slightly weary warmth appearing beneath his beard.
"I'll almost be bored while you're off in the Empire. But I'm far too old for such adventures now. You can count on me as well in defending Wolfwood."
While the team waited impatiently for the raven to return with the Princess's reply, it became increasingly clear that they might have no choice: they would have to depart for the Empire without it. The horses—strong, enduring beasts bred for carrying heavy loads—were already saddled, and every member of the group stood ready to leave. The air vibrated with tense anticipation.
But then a rider appeared in the distance, coming from the direction of the Royal Capital. A cloud of dust followed her, and soon the gleam of armor emerged from the haze. This was no ordinary rider: Eris Scarlett, the Hero herself. As she reached the gate, she swung off her horse in one fluid motion. Her golden knight's armor blazed brightly among the darker, more somber armor of the Wolf Knights.
Andras waited with folded arms until Eris reached them.
"A simple raven with a simple letter would have been enough. Instead, the Princess sends the Hero herself as a courier."
"Hello to you too, Young Wolf." Eris's eyes flashed. "I see you're as welcoming as ever."
"What did the Princess say?"
"Princess Anabella offers you her full support. She expects you to establish good relations with the Empire, and she's cheering for Ironclaw to win the Imperial Gladiator Tournament."
Andras let out an impatient sigh.
"And this couldn't have been sent by raven? We could've been on the road days ago."
"Well… I'm coming with you to the Empire."
Andras raised an eyebrow.
"The Princess gave up her personal bodyguard that easily?"
"Her personal bodyguard is now my father—John Scarlett, Captain of the Royal Knights. From now on, I have full authority to carry out my duties as the Hero."
Andrea stepped closer, curiosity lighting her face.
"So you'll travel across the continent and gather your team?"
Eris turned to her, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"Something like that."
Noelle stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Did the Princess forget something by any chance?"
"No." Eris pulled out a pouch. "She sent you what she owed. All 150 gold, just as she promised."
"I hope not a single silver is missing."
"There's no silver. Exactly 150 gold coins."
Noelle narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"And how would you know? Don't tell me you looked inside."
"I received 300 gold myself for my Imperial expenses. And Anabella told me that if I see a nice sword or anything I want, I should feel free to buy it. If the money isn't enough, then…" Eris glanced at Andras. "I can always borrow from Young Wolf."
Andras waved a hand tiredly.
"You already have a legendary sword. Anything else you find will be far weaker and probably overpriced. But it's your money. If you like a sword, feel free to waste your gold on it."
Andrea tapped her foot impatiently.
"Then can we finally leave."