Dungeon Raider System
Chapter 740 - 740: Old friends Part 1

Alice remained stunned in place opening and closing her mouth yet failing to utter a single word, though the same could be said about everybody else present on the scene as they were impressed, shocked or frightened by the power of the apparently harmless bow.

"Don't stand there like a goldfish, answer!" Uriel snarled.

"I- I borrowed it." Alice replied.

"We'll talk about that later. Now tell me, why did you want to kill them?" Uriel questioned.

"I wasn't, I just didn't expect it to be so powerful." Alice earnestly replied.

"Is that really you?" Hazel asked as she took off her mask, revealing that the only sharp feature on her face were her eyes. Her factions were soft and harmonious, her delicate lips curling up in a smile. "I thought you were dead."

"Same, I didn't expect you guys to make it this long." Uriel said with a soft smile as he extended his hand. Hazel replied the gesture. When it was Marina's turn she went for a hug instead.

"I don't like that woman." Luna fumbled under her breath jumpscaring Nika who didn't know she was even present.

"Are they friends?" Bella asked, unsure about whether or not she should continue channeling flux energy. Her power was on a completely different level from any wind user, but if she wanted to overpower an enemy she needed to channel her flux for longer than the enemies.

"Guys, these are 'The defenders'. They're a powerful hunting party that's helped me in the past."

"Don't say it like we're just business partners, we are friends!" Marina stated, prompting Uriel to check on the system app only to be left disappointed when they didn't add to his 'nearby friend' count.

"But you did make business in the past and continue with the disposition to make business in the future, that is the definition of business partners." Luna explained in a clear attempt to create some distance.

"Then what would it take to be friends?" Asked Hazel as a faint glimmer of greed appeared in her eyes.

"Not trying to kill us would be a good start." Nika blurted out.

"You did?" Uriel lifted an eyebrow in disbelief.

"No, it was just a squabble to determine which party was chosen as security for the trip. If anything, that girl was the only one who made a move with killing intent." Hazel pointed towards Alice who now seemed embarrassed.

"I apologize on behalf of my employee," Uriel said politely, then turned his head to glare at Alice. "I'll have to discipline her better it seems, but she's a new hire, so..."

"Let's leave all this in the past. Had I known they were the actual Dungeon Raiders and not copycats, I would have taken a step back instead of challenging them." Hazel explained.

"I don't mind if you guys tag along, but why are you trying to go to Europe anyway?"

"It's because of Miss Medusa," Marina butted in. "we remained in touch for a while after what happened at your apartment, but then the city fell. We remained here defending the city from looters and cryptids while looking for her to no avail."

"I'm guessing you weren't looking for her just out of the kindness of your heart." Uriel said to which Hazel replied.

"Of course not. We want her to build a zeppelin for us. We now have the money and the materials, but we lack anyone with the knowledge or skills to build it. We were hoping she would build one for us, you know, for the old times." Hazel replied.

"Would you consider joining us?" Uriel asked.

"Absolutely not. You've made it clear our interests don't align when you decided to leave the city instead of joining the defense even though unlike us, you're a ranger. I'm not saying this to be mean and we won't be holding the fact that you're a shitty ranger above your head.

We'll continue working alongside you if the need arises, but that's pretty much the reason why we can't join you." Hazel's straightforward reply informed Uriel of everything he needed to know.

Uriel didn't particularly liked the idea of another company getting a zeppelin from Medusa, but agreeing to build it or not was ultimately Medusa's call and Uriel had no say in it. If she felt indebted to them enough to build them a ship, then that was on her.

"Everything's loaded in the ship." Nika informed.

"Good job, let's set off." Uriel said as he climbed on board of the Sparrow.

"Hang on, you can't just hop in and ignore me. I'm the captain of this ship and I decide who goes and who doesn't. We need a few hunters for security, but you can't expect us to pay for two hunting parties. Besides, who allowed you to just load your shit into my ship without paying the fare for transport." Captain Roberts snarled as he blocked the ship's entrance with both arms crossed.

"And who's going to stop me?" Uriel asked and pointed at his friends, both from the Dungeon Raiders and the Defenders.

"Well, tough luck. We won't be going anywhere." Captain Roberts said with a smug.

"Guys, have I ever told you about the privateers of the old time? They're similar to pirates but there's a difference. Unlike pirates who would steal and plunder, breaking any or most laws in the process, privateers would respect the law and acted only in times of war. Nika, would you say this is a time of war?" Uriel asked with a cunning smile.

"Yes, Boss, we are waging war against cryptids." Nika replied.

"I don't like where this is going," Captain Roberts muttered to his first mate while sweating buckets, then turned to Uriel. "do you even know how to fly a zeppelin? Do you have a crew?"

"Of course, our company owns a zeppelin. Retrieving it is part of the reason why we're going to Europe." Uriel replied nonchalantly.

"Welcome aboard then, Sir." Captain Roberts said with the same respectful tone he would use with the authorities of whichever city he visited.