The Dark Guild. They were one of the remaining Kings in the city, but unlike the others, they rarely interfered with the affairs of the world around them. They didn't claim territory. They didn't fight for dominance. They simply existed in the shadows. Gary had even met them once. They had paid him a visit and offered a mysterious gift, a gesture that, at the time, felt strange. But now? It made a lot more sense. "Wait, are you saying the Dark Guild was involved in all of this?" Marie asked, her voice sharp with disbelief. She turned to Gary. "I thought something felt off. When you were telling us about the Ironfang you fought… the one Blackjack and the others went up against, the weapon he was using. Wasn't that one of the weapons the Dark Guild offered you?" Gary paused. Back when the Dark Guild had approached him, they had given him a choice between three powerful weapons, but he could only select one. The system hadn't told him much at the time, and without it, the others hadn't been able to sense what those items were capable of. But now, with Marie pointing it out… There was no doubt. That weapon had come from the Dark Guild. "What exactly are you talking about, Midwak?" Gary asked. "I'll explain," Edvard said, stepping in. "Because yes, we knew about the relationship. The Dark Guild and the Lupus Pack… they've been connected for a long time." He leaned back, gathering his thoughts. "In the past, Werewolves used to supply humans with unique types of crystals, materials that could only be harvested through certain transformations or beast evolutions. They gave them to talented forgers to craft powerful tools. But the relationship wasn't one-sided. "There were artisans, craftsmen, and forgers among the Werewolves too. They created things no one else could, items that only they had the strength or understanding to build." He looked around the room. "That's why the bond between the Dark Guild and the Lupus Pack grew strong. Over time, they became allies, sharing weapons, resources, and power." Two Kings working together wasn't unheard of… but it didn't sit right with Gary. If they were allies, then why had the Dark Guild approached him in the first place? Why offer him something? "A smart move," Kai said. "They offered us a gift and earned our trust. It worked. We assumed they were neutral, above the conflict. We didn't think they'd pick a side, and so we left them alone." He clenched his fists. "If we had known about their connection to Lupus, we would've struck first." "And it's also why the vampires moved the way they did," Edvard added. "The alliance between the Dark Guild and Lupus… it's not something we could handle alone. Even with our strength, fighting both at once would have been a mistake." "That's why you roped in the Altered Hunters," Kai said, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "And us. Because you didn't trust us either." Too many people had made calculated moves with the full picture. Meanwhile, Kai and the others had been fighting blind. And now, things were even more complicated. If they went after the Lupus Pack again, what then? Would the Dark Guild retaliate? Would they strike from behind? Even facing Lupus on their own was risky. Fighting both would be suicide. The group began asking more about the Dark Guild. How strong were they? How many members did they have? But the truth was… no one really knew. They didn't seem to operate out of any major city. They were the most mysterious King of them all. The conversation began to shift, curiosity turning toward the vampires themselves. Edvard had called himself one of the originals. What did that mean? He explained that there were thirteen founding vampire bloodlines, thirteen families, each with their own powerful leader. Those leaders had once shaped the direction of vampirekind. Now, most of them were either in slumber or being controlled by others who had taken their place. He mentioned that the vampires rarely interfered directly, instead living in the shadows and resting in silence. But when asked about the location of the settlement or the deeper history between vampires and werewolves, Edvard became vague. Some questions weren't answered. It wasn't out of malice, it was caution. The room still lacked full trust. And no one, not even Edvard, was ready to open every door just yet. Eventually, the conversations started to split off. Individuals began chatting in smaller groups. Kai and Midwak remained close, speaking in hushed tones. "Are you going to tell him?" Midwak asked. Kai nodded. "I will. But not now. Not while people from the settlement are still here. This is something only the Howlers need to know." ***** Elsewhere in the club, Gary and Edvard were seated at the counter, enjoying a drink together. Gary took a sip of the whiskey. It burned a little more than he liked. Meanwhile, Edvard drank it like it was water. "I've lived a long time, Gary," Edvard said, his voice distant. "I've seen a lot." "Then… do you think it's true?" Gary asked. "That two Alphas are destined to fight? That it has to end that way?" Edvard exhaled and took another long sip before answering. "Let me tell you something about history," he began. "It doesn't repeat itself. Not exactly. But it rhymes. The same patterns show up again and again, conflict, peace, conflict again. "There's no stopping it. I've learned that. But sometimes, even if you know the bad times will come, it's still worth fighting for the good ones." He glanced over at Gary. "Fifty years of peace… is better than ten. And ten is better than none. So no, I don't think it's pointless to try. I think it's worth everything." Gary smiled. It was the first time someone had given him that kind of answer, one that didn't feel like a war cry or a plea for revenge. Just… clarity. And it might have been exactly what he needed to hear. "Gary," Edvard said after a moment, setting his glass down. "After all this, I've made a decision." His voice was calm. Steady. "I don't want to be a part of this anymore. Not the politics. Not the schemes. Not the power plays." He turned to Gary. "I'm going into slumber." ***** For updates on MWS and future works: Instagram: [@jksmanga] *Patreon: [jksmanga] Get early chapters, exclusive lore, and behind-the-scenes content. I try to reply whenever I can!