Hellbents
Chapter 25: The Land Shark

Ava decides to help Selena treat the wounded, not with a magic skill of course, but an ointment she had already made a dozen or so. Through her observation, Selena's strength seemed to be running out, so she bowed in gratitude when getting an extra hand.

A few minutes later, River returned with a yellow-clad little girl in his arms. After disembarking, the man was immediately greeted by the mother who practically grabbed his child. The mother and child couple embrace each other, but things are still not completely safe. So they immediately set out to follow the crowd to evacuate after saying dozens of sentences of thanks to Ava's entourage, especially River.

Several city soldiers are now engaged in calming the population, organizing traffic as they do while sharing maps showing nearby refugee locations. Their response was too slow, Ava commented inwardly.

"Do we already know what kind of monsters appear?" Ezra asked one of the soldiers.

The soldier answered straightforwardly and respectfully, perhaps honoring him for the help they provided right after the situation turned chaotic due to the outbreak, or simply assuming that Ezra was high-leveled due to his still calm demeanor. "I heard the information from the front lines, the monster that exists to date is Sharktooth. The number of looks 25."

Sharktooth, a monster whose lower body resembles a human, while the upper part is a shark that has hundreds of rows of large and sharp teeth. This monster can swim freely in the water, but can also walk on two feet on land. They are not fully amphibians because they have to keep breathing in the water, which is why every 20 minutes they have to go back into the ocean.

"Gee!" Roy was shocked.

"Levels them?" Ezra asked again, making sure.

"It's not certain yet."

The prince thought deeply, perhaps cooking up a plan to include this incident into his first credits on the Maturite journey. Question is, who can she wear?

Ava looked at the prince's skepticism, if only he would have told her to fight the monsters, of course she would have refused, subtly. The proper response actually, because fighting monsters of unknown level would be considered foolish. After all this is not the responsibility of passers-by or tourists like him, but rather the authorities who are supposed to govern the city.

So Ava can't be forced.

But apparently realizing the same, Ezra this time glanced at River and Lig who were still busy guiding the residents along with the soldiers who looked a little afraid of being nearby.

Oh, naw.

Although only recommended, the obedient man will advance to the front row, right?

Or maybe not? Given the behavior of River who continues to invite him to run away whenever there is a problem, plus the existence of Ava who the man considers as a substitute for a sister that he can not protect when the outbreak a few years ago occurred.

From the looks of it, Selena only has the ability to heal, almost exhausted, telling the woman to fight monsters will actually be detrimental, priest is more suitable to be a support in the back line.

Al, although high-leveled but still seems to be on a mission to cover up his original strength by acting like an ordinary person.

Meanwhile, Roy ... relied on a coward who had already quivered just by hearing the name of his opponent would only ensure their death.

"Maybe it's best not to fight directly, just survive until the monsters retreat because they need water," Ava finally suggested.

"But just surviving is hard enough with the human resources we have," the soldier again said sternly despite being a little embarrassed by their side's plight.

"Just use this," Ava opened the inventory, showing three puff flowers that had been filled with anesthetic powder between her fingers.

"Oh!" Roy exclaimed, his finger eagerly pointing at what was in Ava's grasp. Ezra also nodded in agreement.

"It can help, but I don't want to give it away for free."

"Basically this powder-shaped dope, just throw it at the enemy and they'll fall asleep."

"I'll tell my boss."

Ava turned back to her group after the soldier left. "Sell at a time like this? You'll be branded shameless." Ezra blocks Ava's path with his sturdy body along with sharp arguments.

"I could have run away, taken refuge with others, nothing to lose to me. If they don't want to spend money to save the safety of their own townspeople, they're the shameless ones who dare to blame me" Ava replied as stabbing.

Iris coke challenged the golden bead, "Or indeed if your altruistic taste is that big, you can buy it from me, then give it to them for free."

Building such a selfless image does it not benefit the prince who seeks credit for ascending the throne?

Although ironic, it is only a mere guise, as well as hypocritical.

Well, there would be no problem going forward if no one brought it up.

Ava's smile lengthened as Ezra frowned, satisfied with the expression shown honestly by the prince.

If Ezra did choose to pay for the dope he sold, his true identity as the third prince of the Igoceleon kingdom would eventually be revealed.

If not, then the income comes from the city government Englerock.

And in the scenario if this business does not continue, the powder can still be used to hunt monsters later on.

Whichever side he won't lose.

"... I've had your money drained on gambling yesterday, remember?"

Ava shrugged both of her shoulders, "Look, everyone despite wanting to do good must have a barrier. So do I, if I give all this for free, then how can I kill monsters or protect myself without money?"

Ezra finally gave up imposing a moral view on Ava that clearly put forward capitalism.

"Miss, you were called by the captain." Another soldier came to pick up Ava.

"All right." Only River waved him away. Selena was busy panting, the woman was too imposing. Al and Ezra whispered to each other, Ava's growing senses unable to catch their conversation amidst this crowd. Roy decides to resume his duties after a few seconds of uneasiness to hear the argument between Ava and Ezra.

Ava is guided into a three-story house, which she can see on the street has installed a makeshift wooden fence to seal the monster's road access to the settlement. So far 30 monsters can only get to the coast and port, but only wait for their defense time to collapse if not immediately handled.

"I've heard your offer." A middle-aged man with a thick mustache greeted him after the door on the third floor opened. Ava could still see a red line soaring into the sky through the large window that led to the ocean.

"But we still can't accept a tool that isn't even known for its exact effects and time frame."

"Then I'll show you."