You Won't Take the Peaceful Offer? Fine. Don't Blame This Wise Wolf for Showing No Mercy

Hogg had just finished his conversation with Murphy, which had spanned half a continent. He was about to leave his tent for a walk when he suddenly felt something in his pack vibrating.

Curiously, he opened his pack and found the blood crystal he used to contact the Thorn Grand Duke trembling. That meant Lady Shani of the Thorn Clan was reaching out to him.

The Wise Wolf was very puzzled.

He had never had much to do with Grand Duke Shani. He had only needed the Thorn Clan's intelligence network before, and had also asked them to invite a few assassins along on his "expedition." Still, even Hogg had heard the players' exaggerated accounts of Lady Shani and knew she was an outstanding vampire leader in every respect.

Someone like her wouldn't call a gnoll out of the blue just to bother him. Something must have happened.

He immediately activated the blood crystal, and Lady Shani's psychic projection appeared in the tent. Hogg was stunned.

The background behind the projection showed a building in flames. Grand Duke Shani stood coldly before the burning blaze, dressed in blood-red assassin's leather armor and wearing a mask that covered most of her face. Behind her, several Thorn Nightwalkers hunted down goatfolk fleeing the fire.

There was no need to guess: the foremost assassin among the vampires had just finished a job.

"I'm in the Dark Mountains right now, some distance from the Broken Fang Clan's territory, but I should be able to get there within twenty-four hours. Murphy asked me to contact you. He said you needed my help.

"Tell me, Wise Wolf. How can I help?"

Shani casually asked as she toyed with the crystal-thin vampire dagger in her hand.

Hogg's heart leaped with joy. Then he thought, As expected of