The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 97: Rune Cave

And the five of them were currently rushing toward the Naji District in the south of the city.

War Tiger drove fast. His fingers tapped on the driving wheel rhythmically while he hummed an upbeat tune. Anyone could tell that he was in a good mood.

In the passenger seat, White Rabbit was talking into her phone, reporting to the headquarters.

In the back, Gao Yang, Officer Huang, and Qing Ling exchanged a look of befuddlement. None of them knew what was going on.

Gao Yang couldn’t take it any longer and raised his hand to ask, “Would you please explain what a Rune Cave is, Teacher?”

After a pause, War Tiger chuckled. “I was wondering why the three of you didn’t react at all. It turns out you didn’t even know what it was. You should’ve asked earlier.”

“We didn’t want to be a bother when you two seemed to be in such a rush,” Officer Huang said with a smile.

“Put simply,” War Tiger said, “A Rune Cave is a cave where Rune Circuits may be found.”

White Rabbit had just ended the call, and she added, “It isn’t always a cave. It’s just named that way since the very first Rune Circuit was found in a cave. Think of it as a special subspace of sorts.”

“Got it.” Gao Yang nodded. “So the Gu Family’s Village was a Rune Cave as well.”

“Correct.”

“Then why did the Hundred Rivers Union tell us about it?” Officer Huang asked. “Why would they share the pie?”

“Well, have you considered this possibility?” White Rabbit opened her eyes wide and put on an innocent look. “Maybe the Hundred Rivers Union doesn’t have the appetite to finish the pie on their own.”

“Right.” Officer Huang chuckled self-deprecatingly. “That was a stupid question.”

Gao Yang nodded.

According to Wu Dahai, the Hundred Rivers Union was a group of nobodies. A suspected Rune Cave didn’t guarantee a Rune Circuit. It was a safer choice to seek help from a more powerful faction, such as the Twelve Zodiac Signs.

“We’re here.” War Tiger pulled up by the road.

The five of them put on their masks and got out of the car. Then they opened the trunk and grabbed their respective weapons. Gao Yang didn’t forget to grab a mission pack too; inside were the regularly used medicines and supplies.

They found themselves on an old street in the Nanji District. Most of the residents had moved away, leaving the neighborhood empty and bleak.

Across the street was the entrance to a subway station, the Cattle Farm Station. It was said that this used to be an area for cattle husbandry, hence the name.

Three years ago, there was a collapse at the station, and many people were killed. It had remained untouched for a good while. Then it was decommissioned due to the population outflow.

Now, there was a young woman in a fitted skirt suit standing at the entrance to the station. Although she had sunglasses on, Gao Yang recognized her immediately as the female representative of the Hundred Rivers Union from the deal they made at the Qilin Guild.

Gao Yang and his companions crossed the road and walked up to her.

“You didn’t bring more people?” The woman seemed disappointed. Gao Yang could sense her urgency.

“This is quite a lot,” War Tiger responded in a relaxed tone. “This is half of our organization.”

After some hesitation, the woman offered War Tiger a hand. “Well met. I’m the leader of the third team at Hundred Rivers Union, Chen Ying.”

War Tiger took her hand and gave it a polite squeeze. “Vice-captain of the Twelve Zodiac Signs, War Tiger.”

Chen Ying couldn’t hide her surprise, and she looked at the man with wavy hair in a new light. “You, you’re the ninth ranking awakener, Mr. War Tiger?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“But,” Chen Ying started awkwardly and then said in a serious tone, “Isn’t your mask of an orange tabby cat?”

“Huh? Is this a cat? I thought it was a tiger.” War Tiger scratched his head.

“I told you it was a cat, but you didn’t believe me.” White Rabbit made a jab at him.

“Well, tigers are just big cats.” War Tiger didn’t dwell on it. “Let’s get to business.”

“Of course.” Chen Ying’s face turned serious. “I’ve talked to our boss, and I’m here to relay the response word by word. ‘The Hundred Rivers Union found a Rune Cave. We invited the Twelve Zodiac Signs to help us look for the Rune Circuit. As a show of our gratitude, the Hundred Rivers Union will allow the Twelve Zodiac Signs to loan the Rune Circuit for a month.’”

“That’s it?” War Tiger gave her a pointed look, wordlessly questioning if she was joking.

“Yes.”

“You said you were Chen Ying, right? Nice to meet you, but goodbye.” War Tiger turned to leave.

Gao Yang and the others knew that it was a negotiation tactic, and they followed War Tiger without so much of a glance back.

“Wait!” As expected, Chen Ying called out to War Tiger.

War Tiger lazily turned around with his hands in his pockets, waiting for the woman to continue.

“Three months. Three months of free loan,” Chen Ying said through clenched teeth. “That’s the best we can offer.”

“Nice to meet you. Goodbye.” White Rabbit repeated what War Tiger had said.

War Tiger shrugged. “See? Even if I accept your condition, my brothers and sisters won’t.”

Chen Ying asked with difficulty, “Then what do you want in return?”

War Tiger didn’t even stop to think, “Once it’s done, the Twelve Zodiac Signs will be the co-owner of the Rune Circuit with the Hundred Rivers Union. And we have the priority. We’ll take turns using the Rune Circuit every three months.”

Chen Ying fell silent. It was obvious that the demand crossed the line she had in her mind.

“Take it or leave it.”

War Tiger smiled shrewdly. “Since you initiated the contact, you must have weighed the different options. Twelve Zodiac Signs are known for our strength and credibility. If you look to other organizations for help, they may agree to your condition first, but then they’ll surely go back on their word once it comes time to split the spoils.”

Chen Ying pursed her lips. War Tiger was spot on.

“A moment, please. I have to take this to our boss.” Chen Ying took out her phone and walked out of their earshot, talking in a low voice.

War Tiger was confident. “Just you see. They’ll say yes.”

“How are you so confident, Teacher?” Gao Yang was a little worried. “Won’t they turn to the Qilin Guild?”

“The Qilin Guild isn’t as friendly as you think they are.” White Rabbit snorted. “They may play nice, but they are adept at all the ways a mega group may exploit their clients. Doing business with them always puts you at a disadvantage, and you don’t even know who you should take the complaint to.”

“What a waste of time. Why don’t people just grab the Rune Circuits?” Qing Ling sounded impatient.

War Tiger sighed. “Girl, you’re too pretty to talk like a thug.”

Qing Ling said icily, “The strong eat the weak. That is the way of the world.”

“That is true,” said War Tiger. “But look at it in the long term. If you take someone’s Rune Circuit by force, do you think they’ll ask you for help the next time they find a Rune Cave?”

Qing Ling didn’t answer.

White Rabbit patted her on the shoulder. “Wu Dahai looks down on the Hundred Rivers Union and calls them useless, but they aren’t useless at all. For one, they have a lot more members. While their Talents may not be that strong, there is a great variety, which allows them to do all kinds of things. For example, they are the go-to experts in finding Rune Caves, making items, and collecting intel.”

“That’s right.” War Tiger nodded. “Every organization is built differently, and we differ in our strengths and means of survival.”

Gao Yang summarized in understanding, “They’re like the villagers in Werewolf. Just as important as those with special roles.”

“That’s a good analogy.” War Tiger smiled in approval.

“I understand,” Qing Ling said. “Grab the Rune Circuits after they’re all found.”

“Understand my ass!” War Tiger rolled his eyes and almost blacked out. “Teach her properly, Gao Yang. This girl has strayed too far from the right path!”

...And how am I supposed to do that? I don’t have a death wish.

Having finished her call, Chen Ying quickly walked up to them and cleared her throat. “I’ve talked to Boss. We’ll accept the conditions.”

War Tiger didn’t immediately speak up. He knew more was coming.

As expected, Chen Ying continued after a brief pause, “However, there’s an added condition: you have to save our members from the Rune Cave.”

War Tiger crossed his arms and said like he had expected it. “I knew things wouldn’t be that simple.”