The story begins with Joe setting off toward the capital, a journey that would take him about half a day. On that same day, Yory and Tyva anxiously awaited Risa's return.

Joe walked in silence, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of something—or perhaps someone. His face betrayed a mix of emotions, as anger, sadness, and a host of other feelings seemed to battle for dominance.

As he made his way along the dusty road, Joe eventually reached a small hill that offered a clear view of the path ahead. He stopped for a moment, catching his breath while taking in his surroundings. Dense clusters of trees flanked both sides of the road, and ahead, a crossroads spread out into four different directions leading to various cities. A weathered signpost stood at the junction, its faded letters barely legible but still marking the destinations along each path.

After a long pause, Joe sighed, his eyes settling on the road to the capital. "I'll probably reach that cursed city by nightfall," he muttered to himself. "Not that I have to worry—bandits and thieves aren't much of a concern this close to the capital. Patrols are everywhere, wiping out any Marauders they come across."

With another sigh, Joe continued toward the old signpost, his gaze drifting back to the horizon. "When did worrying about thieves and bandits become my only concern?" he wondered aloud.

An hour later, he came upon a small tavern nestled by the roadside. He paused at the entrance, taking a moment to assess himself. He scanned his arms and legs for any signs of injury or strain, and though tired, he was otherwise unharmed. Satisfied, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Joe scanned the tavern, taking in the diverse group of patrons scattered throughout the room. By the window, three ghouls sat talking quietly in their native tongue. They cast a brief glance at Joe before returning to their conversation.

Near the counter, two humans stood talking, each holding a large goblet. One, wearing light armour and equipped with two daggers, appeared to rely on agility and stealth. The other, in medium armour and carrying a wand—unusual for a sorcerer, who typically favoured lighter gear.

To the right, a female wood elf was absorbed in a book. Clad in heavy armour, she had a long, lightweight sword resting beside her, with a short sword sheathed at her hip. Despite her battle-ready appearance, there was a sense of speed and precision in the way she carried herself.

Up on the second floor, there were nine tables, but only one was occupied—a young dwarf with a small orange beard, engrossed in reading a scroll. Though his beard had barely begun to grow, he carried himself like a scholar, likely a magic apprentice from a university. His manner radiated knowledge and sophistication.

At a table in the far corner of the tavern, a solitary lizardman sat apart from the rest. Joe recognized the distinct features of his kind—green scales, yellow eyes with blue markings around them. He likely hailed from the Land of Sand, the ancestral home of many lizardmen. Joe was unfazed by the sight; he'd grown accustomed to such creatures, having known one in his home town who had helped shape his understanding of the world around him.

Joe made his way to the tavern's owner, a human woman who greeted him with a nod. "Well, well, if it isn't the Honest One. You're looking quite well," she said.

Joe met her eyes with a neutral expression. "Eli, it's been a long time. Is it ready?"

Eli's smile faltered, her eyes narrowing at Joe's harsh tone. "After all these years, is that really the first thing you say to me?" she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment. "What happened to our friendship? I’ve missed you."

Joe’s forceful entrance had already drawn the attention of everyone in the tavern, but as Eli spoke, Joe cut her off with a sudden burst of rage. "Listen carefully, YOU DAMN WHORE! Where is my money? You’ll pay back every copper coin, or I’ll make sure you regret it!"

A wave of tension filled the room. Eli’s expression hardened, a mix of anger and annoyance crossing her face, but no fear. The wood elf nearby rose from her seat, hand on the hilt of her sword, while the three ghouls at the window stopped talking, one of them speaking in a deep, gravelly voice, "Eli, is everything alright?"

Joe, irritated by the interruption, turned his fury on them. "Friends, I suggest you keep to your own business. This one's between me and her."

The ghoul regarded Joe with a curious expression, recognition dawning in his eyes. "Honest One? The same man who fought against the ghoul invasion? I imagined you... bigger."

Joe ignored the remark, his cold gaze sweeping across the room before shouting, "This is between me and Eli! Anyone not involved—stay out of it!"

One of the humans near the counter, the sorcerer, gave a mocking smile. "And what if we *are* involved with her?"

Joe’s eyes locked onto him, his voice low and threatening. "Then you’ll wait your turn."

Before tensions could escalate further, Eli stepped in, raising her hands as if to defuse the situation. "Joe, whatever happened is in the past. We’ve all made mistakes, but we’ve moved on. You're the only one still clinging to it. Maybe it’s time you did too."

Joe’s expression darkened, his voice cracking with raw emotion. "THE WHITE FANG STOLE MY GOLD! I HAD NOTHING! I was young, naive... You and your father, Cetus, promised to help me, to save me from the hole I’d fallen into. After a year of back-breaking work, doing jobs that destroyed my dignity, I trusted you with everything I had. And what did you do?"

Eli stood silently as Joe's words reverberated through the tavern, capturing the attention of nearly everyone—except for the young dwarf, who remained absorbed in his reading.

Joe’s voice seethed with anger. "You stole it! And then had the nerve to lie to my face—the face of the man who treated you like family! You said you lost the money, and I believed you, desperate and naive as I was. I trusted you, Eli! Years later, I find out the truth: the White Fang first, then you. I was forced into slavery, clawing my way out of debt because of YOU!"

Eli met his rage with an unflinching gaze, her voice devoid of regret. "We were desperate. You were a young merchant, but my father, Cetus, was an old thief, broken by a world that turned its back on him. Once, he stole from the rich to give to the poor, but in the end, the people he helped betrayed him, turning him in to the knights. We had no future, Joe. You were our last chance. We did what we had to, and I’ve never regretted it. In the end, we simply took from a foolish noble kid, like we always did."

The wood elf, sitting nearby, glanced at Eli with sorrow in her eyes. She wasn’t just a patron—she was a friend who knew the weight of Eli’s past. Eli’s voice rose sharply as she turned back to Joe, shouting, "GET OUT NOW! Or the knights will throw you out themselves!"

A thick tension settled over the room, and for a moment, Joe stood in silence. The wood elf, hand gripping the hilt of her sword, stepped forward. "It’s time to leave, friend," she said, voice steady despite the tense air.

Joe nodded, seeming to agree. But in an instant, his hand shot out, grabbing a wooden goblet and smashing it against the elf’s head! Blood splattered as she dropped to one knee, clutching her head in shock. Joe moved swiftly, vaulting over the tavern counter. He grabbed Eli by the hair and slammed her head hard against the wooden surface.

The wood elf, wounded but determined, staggered to her feet, pulling out her short sword. Blood ran down her face as she squinted through one eye, making a desperate lunge at Joe, who stood on the counter.

Joe moved with ruthless precision, rolling away from the elf’s strike as her dagger buried itself in the counter. He reemerged, his eyes sharp and cold, and hurled a chair at her. The elf dodged with practised ease, leaping over the counter in pursuit. But as she landed, her eyes caught the sight of a scroll in Joe’s hand. Her face shifted in realization—it was a magical scroll.

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Joe smirked darkly, taunting her, "Farewell, WHORE!"

In an instant, a gust of powerful wind surged from the scroll, sending the wood elf hurtling towards the tavern entrance. She slammed into the doorway with a sickening thud, then crumpled to the ground outside, dazed and bleeding.

Without hesitation, Joe vaulted over the counter and rushed to the entrance, where the elf weakly attempted to rise. He kicked her brutally in the face, forcing her back down. She tried once more to stand, but Joe grabbed a large rock and brought it down viciously on her head, knocking her unconscious.

Joe reentered the tavern, now eerily silent. The three ghouls and the other patrons watched, shocked and uncertain how to respond to the brutality they had just witnessed. Calmly, Joe took his seat again, picked up a drink, took a sip, and then tossed the goblet aside with casual disdain.

"Are you awake now?" Joe called out mockingly, his voice cutting through the silence. "Or do you need a hand?"

Eli, still on the floor, groaned in pain, struggling to lift herself up. Her head throbbed from the earlier blow, but she fought to stand. Joe approached her slowly, a cruel smile tugging at his lips.

"What happened to your strength, Eli? Your cunning? That silver tongue of yours?" Joe taunted, looming over her. "You look pathetic!"

Eli, her face flushed with fury, spat blood onto the floor and glared at Joe. "You’ll get nothing from me!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "I have nothing to give you! And if you were in dire need, you could ask your—"

Before she could finish, Joe cut her off with a savage headbutt. The crack of bone echoed through the room as Eli crumpled to the floor, blood gushing from her nose as she clutched her face in agony.

Joe gripped Eli by her dress and neck, yanking her upright as she weakly tried to maintain her balance. With no mercy, he drove a punch into her stomach, followed by a vicious strike to her face, sending blood splattering from her mouth. He grabbed her head, smashing it violently onto the counter, the force of the impact leaving a bloody smear.

"You stole years from me!" Joe roared through clenched teeth, his voice raw with pain and fury. "It's coins or your soul! There’s no forgiveness!"

Across the tavern, one of the ghouls, the one who had previously spoken to Joe, began to rise from his seat. His companion reached out and held him back, his eyes flicking to the backdoor. "She's coming. Stay put," he whispered.

Reluctantly, the ghoul sat down again, though his expression remained furious. Watching the brutality unfold, he muttered to his companions, "Eli may be stubborn, but no one deserves to be beaten like this."

By now, Eli had collapsed onto the floor, her face swollen and bruised, blood running down her chin. Her body lay limp amidst the bloodstains covering the counter, floor, and Joe's hands. He stood over her, his chest heaving from exertion and anger.

Just then, the tavern’s back door swung open. Joe turned, his gaze meeting that of a female ghoul guard. Her eyes took in the scene—Eli’s bloodied form, the carnage, and Joe. The guard was clad in gleaming silver armour, heavier than typical gear for adventurers or guards. She had a massive axe strapped to her back and held another in her hand.

Locking her eyes on Joe, she spoke with an even, controlled tone. "Step away from her."

Joe, still panting heavily, raised a hand, his voice desperate. "I’ve got history with this whore. Leave us be, PLEASE!"

Eli, barely conscious, spat a tooth onto the ground, struggling to move. The female ghoul kept her gaze steady, her voice firm but calm. "No history justifies this. Let’s talk. No more bloodshed."

Joe let out a short, mocking laugh, his voice filled with anger yet eerily calm. "This woman is a thief, a lowlife. Why shouldn't I beat her to a pulp? Since when did the guards become the moral authority? One of your own stole my gold years ago. You’re no beacon of virtue. You’re the same people who dragged me into a war with the ghouls. Morals? In a world that spits on them? I’m just an honest merchant, and I won’t harm you. But if you get in my way, I’ll crush you. Neither of us is perfect, so step aside. Gather your friends and arrest this woman. It’s not that hard."

The guard’s expression softened, her eyes filled with sadness. "Eli and her father helped us when we were struggling. I can't bring myself to arrest her, not after what she did for me. When I was just a young ghoul, Eli, barely 14 moons old, shared what little she had with me. She fed me when no one else would. I may not have faced racism, but I lived in poverty. I’m sorry, my friend, but If you’re willing to be patient, I’ll work hard to repay you. I’ll return your money."

Joe locked eyes with the ghoul and said coldly, "She’s not getting off that easy, not after everything! No, no, no! She will pay, and her father’s next. Get out of here, or I’ll drag you out myself. Your choice!"

The guard inhaled slowly, then raised her axe and charged at Joe. He barely dodged her swing, quickly grabbing for a scroll to counter, but Eli, summoning her last bit of strength, staggered up and snatched the scroll from his hand.

Taken by surprise, Joe hesitated. The guard seized the opportunity, swinging her axe again. Joe dodged the blow, then grabbed Eli and shoved her toward the guard. The ghoul, quick to react, pulled back her axe to avoid hurting Eli, who stumbled into her armour. At that moment, Joe pushed Eli aside and threw a punch at the guard’s face.

The ghoul staggered back, just managing to glance up as Joe grabbed her by the hair and delivered another punch to her face. Dazed and disoriented, she could barely react as Joe seized her head and armour, driving her headfirst into the back door. Her skull collided with the wood, and she collapsed to the floor.

Seeing Eli reaching for the axe, Joe moved quickly, wrenching it from her grasp and striking her hard on the head. She fell unconscious in an instant, crumpling to the ground.

Catching his breath, Joe was suddenly grabbed from behind by the ghoul guard, her arms tightening around his throat in an attempt to choke him. Joe struggled against her grip, fighting back with everything he had. In a swift move, he leapt onto the counter and used his legs to launch himself backwards, slamming the guard into the wall with a heavy thud. The impact loosened her hold just enough for Joe to grab her and throw her over the counter.

The other ghouls sat in stunned silence, unable to believe how Joe had overpowered the ghoul guard. Joe advanced on the fallen guard, grabbing her armour and pinning her to the wall. He unleashed a brutal flurry of punches and kicks, blood pouring from her nose and mouth. Without hesitation, Joe hurled her toward the window, sending her crashing through the glass and into the outside.

Joe calmly sat down in a chair beside the other ghouls, picking up a drink from their table. The ghouls remained silent, their eyes locked on him, wary of what he might do next.

After a moment, Joe stood and approached Eli, who lay groaning in pain on the floor. He roughly pulled her up into a chair, her weak cries of pain barely audible.

With a booming voice, Joe shouted, "YOU THINK THIS IS OVER? YOU WILL PAY! NO FORGIVENESS FOR THE WICKED AND THE WRETCHED!"

Without hesitation, Joe began pounding on her again, his fists relentless as blood splattered across his arms, his curses mingling with the sound of his blows, his rage consuming him like a wild beast.

Suddenly, the elf reappeared, launching herself at Joe and locking her hands around his neck in an attempt to choke him. Eli remained unconscious in the chair. Unfazed by the elf's grip, Joe clawed at her face, digging his fingers into her eyes. Her agonized screams filled the room as she let go, but Joe wasted no time. He grabbed her and flung her toward the door, her body crashing into it. With a swift motion, Joe yanked open the door and tossed the unconscious elf outside.

The ghouls, along with the two humans, stood up, ready to step in and help Eli. But they froze as a small girl suddenly rushed in through the backdoor. She ran to Eli, wrapping her tiny arms around her mother while trying to push Joe's leg away.

The little girl, barely four years old, began to cry out in a trembling voice, "Leave Mama alone!"

Joe stopped mid-motion, his face still red with fury, but something shifted. The girl's innocent cries pierced through his anger. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she begged, "Please! Leave Mama alone!"

Joe stepped back, the rage slowly draining from his expression. At that moment, the injured ghoul guard staggered back into the room, her face bloodied and her movements slow. She shouted, "Foty, get away from him! He'll hurt you!"

But little Foty clung tighter to her mother, her tear-filled eyes locked on Joe. "Mama took your coins?" she asked, her voice soft and trembling. "I can help you!"

Foty wiped her tears and hurried outside, returning moments later with her small purse clutched in her hands. She approached Joe and gently gestured for him to kneel.

Reluctantly, Joe knelt down, watching as Foty opened the purse and pulled out a single copper coin, old and dirtied with time. She placed it in his hand, her voice soft and innocent. "Will this be enough? I have another one saved to buy a small cake for my mother if you need it."

Joe stared at the coin, his eyes closing as memories overwhelmed him. Images from the past flashed through his mind—Eli and her father, The White Fang, his own father, and the town he once called home. He remembered a young boy, dressed in ragged clothes, playing joyfully with a tarnished copper coin. The boy had looked up at Joe, smiling, as if the world was full of joy.

Joe opened his eyes, surveying the aftermath of his fury—the blood, the wreckage, and the battered forms of Eli, the elf, and the ghoul. Though his anger was fading, the sting of betrayal remained, with thoughts of Cetus, Eli’s father, weighing heavily on his mind. Turning his gaze to Foty, he spoke in a quiet, softened voice, "This is enough. The... debt is settled."

Foty, her face lighting up with joy, bowed and then ran to Eli, wrapping her arms around her mother. Eli, still weak and in pain, lifted Foty into her arms, tears streaming down her bruised face. The ghoul guard, nursing her injuries, glanced at Joe before sinking into a chair, exhausted and defeated.

In the midst of the silence, the lizardman stood from his table and walked over to the counter. He cast a long look at the wreckage, at Joe, and then at Eli, before quietly placing three golden coins on the counter. Without uttering a word, he turned and left the tavern.

Eli, her voice faint and filled with gratitude, whispered after him, "Thank you."