Elain had managed to avoid the reception for the Dwarven emissary that had arrived today. Albrot was unhappy until she showed him the message she had just received, and he told her to deal with it as fast as possible. Guild rules were clear, and he asked her no more until this situation was resolved. She had only heard rumours of these orders she had just given out.

Several days before, Gran and his team had returned from completing a job in the Skaald lands and were looking for a well-earned rest before trying the Dungeon again. They were travel-weary but still elated from a well-done job, eager for a bed and good food. Elain had dissuaded them of these notions as she had an urgent job for them.

She was sure that someone was manipulating the local job and quests to have a small valley to the north viewed by everyone as uninteresting. She wanted to know why. Gran was the only person she trusted to see this done, as her relationships with the other high-level groups in town were not as developed as his. This made them her first choice, much to their unhappiness.

This was no small feat and the Guild would be very interested in knowing who was behind it and why. The Guild broke no outside interference with its operations and normally expressed its displeasure in the most violent terms.

They had left quickly as the weather was soon worsening. She had made sure they had a message scroll supplied so they could immediately contact her with what they found. For the next week, she waited until the message arrived.

They found a hunter encampment preparing for a large hunt.

Gran found this odd and instructed his team to observe for a few days. This proved fortunate, as they realised that the prey they were getting ready to hunt were Pixies. This became clear when they spotted the nets and storage lanterns. No other creature, animal, or monster called for them.

She looked back over the conversation on the scroll.

Can you break the group, Gran?

Yes, they have a few that can match us, but their numbers will mean we might miss a few.

Are you sure you can get the group leaders?

Kill them, yes. Capture uncertain.

Capture them if possible; eliminate them otherwise. The Guild calls a Blood Quest Order.

Understood.

Albrot had given his blessings to the order and she had set Gran and his team to their grisly work. The Adventurer Guild gave simple instructions to all its members. Any part of Hylonia's Kiss production found was to be engaged and destroyed with maximum effort. The maximum effort part was highlighted as the fight would be nasty at best.

Even a tiny amount of Kiss would devastate a community within days. The Guilds had been forced to create and enforce strict rules governing the drug. All linked would be captured and interrogated, then killed if they were not outright. Those involved in the trade knew the risks and fought accordingly.

This was going to be bloody.

She was going to have to inform Ranus and Danrum of the find. Danrum would swear up a storm and back her actions. He had seen the results of Kiss on a community close-up and personal. This had left him with a strong dislike that bordered on hatred for all those involved. This included the church of Hylonia, but he was professional enough to obey his Lord's orders regarding the church. However, she had heard of the constant surveillance of the temple in the town.

For now, she had to wait.

## ## ## ## ##

Gran lay in the damp, long grass overlooking the camp they had been observing. His armour and clothing kept him dry, but the cold was seeping into him. The valley was far narrower and the forest in the distance was more tightly packed with trees than the other areas.

His team was getting into position and would be moving soon. The Blood Quest Order had been expected as soon as Kimor confirmed the nature of the hunter equipment. They all knew he was going to have to report it.

They were not surprised when it came but were not eager to see it done. Completing it would give them a significant boon debt with the Guild as well as a hefty payout. The issue was it would be a bloody event as they sought to capture the leaders and kill the rest. In many ways, this was a mission to murder everyone down there.

Then why do it? Well, that was what made it possible for them to do it. Eradication of Hylonia's Kiss. They had been lucky and not to lose anyone to the drug, but most had seen communities where it had spread without check. Gran had seen monster attacks do less damage to the people. What he saw in one was…

He pushed the memories aside, hardening his heart to the task at hand.

His team motioned with hand gestures that they were ready.

He breathed, closing his eyes and focusing for a moment.

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They snapped open and he motioned to go.

They rose almost as one and began moving in. The camp before them was focused not on their rear but on the forest before them. They had scouted out several magical alarms. Kimor had cut them off without alerting the guards; then, she had eliminated them. Gran planned the attack after the shift change as night was falling. They had the setting sun behind them as they attacked.

Without the alarms or sentries, they were on them before the alarm was raised.

Nilus fired arrows with his usual precision, killing the few who spotted them before they could cry out in alarm. Once they reached the tent line, things got bloody and the camp was alerted to the attack by the noise. The camp was organised better than most and Gran's team could advance along clear lines through the tents.

These were not warriors or even high-level adventurers. They were hunters, scavengers, and other lowlifes who made up the camp. They were dying, but Gran was no fool, knowing that the group would have some high-level individuals somewhere in the camp. They would be in charge of the group and because of what they were here to do, they would be the most dangerous and difficult.

The alarm was now raised and the camp exploded into activity, but Gran's team was among them. Hena and Mags held back. Hena was supported while Mags had been exempted from the job by Gran, for he knew her Path would not tolerate being a part of what was happening.

Fighting was happening now as the hunt group rose to the challenge. More were taking up arms and clashing with the adventurers, slowing them but not stopping them. Further back with the better-quality tents, three figures emerged armed and studied what was happening.

Gran and Tobar advanced towards them, both recognising the camp leaders. Two were fighters and Gran was unsure of the third. Men and women charged Gran and Tobar but were cut down. Both men were saving their skills for the fight about to start.

The two opposing fighters advanced to meet them but clashed only after a few strides. Gran was facing off against a slightly shorter but armed woman, similar to him. Sword and shield with a mixture of plate and leather armour designed with mobility in mind while giving the best protection. This alone told him she knew how to handle herself in a fight and body posture only reinforced this to him. She was moving light on her feet while watching from over her shield rim to block any quick attacks on her body.

Gran started the dance with a quick strike that was blocked and he, in turn, blocked the counter. Both fighters were feeling each other out and not rushing in. Around them, the battle was continuing, with Hena casting several spells into the growing confused mass of the low-life flunkies. Nilus and Kimor were still moving amongst them. Tobar and his opponent were trading heavy blows. What concerned him was the third figure was missing.

The woman quickly drew his attention back as she attacked with more confidence and vigour. The blades clashed, causing sparks as they impacted. The shock from the impacts travelled up his arm from his wrist. They were minor but annoying.

The woman triggered the first skill in the fight. The skill affected her blade, causing it to glow slightly. She blurred as she attacked again. The skill was some form of attack accelerator. Gran blocked it with his shield as the blade cut deep into the wood. He grunted as the force transferred through the shield into his other arm.

Time to reply.

Speaking the skill would give it more power but would alert his opponent to what would be coming.

[Multi thrust- 2 strikes]

His blade glowed in return, and he attacked. The woman raised her shield, but his blows cut even deeper into it, pushing her back. He pressed on with the advantage, continuing to attack. The skill had taxed him, but his recent experiences with the trips into the Dungeon had helped sharpen him.

She was back peddling on the defensive, trying to get back into a solid offensive position. Several attempts were made to counter his attacks, but he was able to halt them and keep up the pressure.

After overbalancing from an insufficient thrust, Gran got the opening when she opened her guard. His blade slid through her defences and cut through her leather arm armour. Her armour protected her from the worst of the blow that left a shallow wound.

She gritted her teeth but never relented, continuing to fight. Her blade glowed again as she triggered another skill, attacking again. She was too close and Gran used his shield to divert the sword in a different direction. This opened her up again and Gran thrust his sword forward with a low strike on her abdomen. His blade made contact again but slid off an iron plate as she twisted to avoid being cut open.

Gran knew he had to finish this quickly.

He charged forward and collided with her, knocking her back. This broke her defensive stance and he triggered another skill.

[Multi thrust- 3 strikes]

His arm blurred and he pushed past the pain of the skill. The first strike was blocked, but the other two found their marks and punched through her armour. The third went deep into her stomach, causing her to throw up blood. The wound would kill her unless treated soon. Gran pulled the blade out and his hand, as well as the blade, were covered in blood.

She fell forward to her knees and he stepped back to avoid her. Gran knew not to leave even a wounded opponent to his rear. He finished her off with a strike to the neck. Looking around, he gauged what was happening.

The camp was starting to burn as his team tore through it. Hena was using spells liberally to finish off the remaining occupants of the camp who were not running or dead. Tobar was beating down his opponent, Nilus and Kimor were moving amongst the rest. Gran was alert, looking for the third figure who emerged from the tents, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Let's finish this!" He yelled, getting his people's attention and they moved faster.

The few remaining were now running in all directions. Gran counted seven but suspected there were more. Three times that lay dead around the encampment, any wound would be finished off in time.

Gran left the finishing off to Nilus and Tobar. He motioned to Kimor to join him at the largest and most opulent tent. Like him, she was covered in blood but showed no emotion as usual.

"Take the lead." That was all he needed to say. Kimor nodded and went to work.

She uncovered several alarm triggers and a few traps as she worked her way into the tent. Gran stood, looked out and watched the fight as it died down as his team broke the last resistance. Their orders were clear: no prisoners and none were taken. It was a controversial order as they could be interrogated for information. Those behind the trade ran a tight ship; little was usually discovered.

"Clear." He heard from behind him, turning he entered the tent.

It was more significant than the rest by a wide margin. The space was covered in rich furnishings and smelled of expensive perfume.

"Not the typical fare for a hunter encampment." He muttered. Looking around, he noted that anything of import had been removed in haste. "Find anything?"

"Nothing. Whoever was ever here cleared out fast." She said, still looking around.

"Take anything valuable or looks important. We will let the Guild sort it out and burn the rest. I will message Shadow Vale and tell them to be on the lookout for the survivors."

He returned outside and relayed the same orders to the rest of his team. The day was not over yet. The camp and bodies were searched and then gathered. Hena got the fire started after they added lantern oil to the bodies. The remaining tents and supplies were also destroyed.

They were glad to leave this place.