Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"Wait." Winters's spirit lifted, interrupting the old hunter, "You found footprints?"

"Yes, sir."

Then why are you talking so much nonsense? Winters couldn't help but criticize inwardly, immediately commanding Hunter Ralph, "Where? Take us to see!"

Under the guidance of the hunter father and son, Winters, Gerard, and Sergei advanced deeper into the forest.

This was truly a place where few people tread; the deeper they went, the quieter and more profound the forest became. Not even the chirping of birds and insects could break the endless silence of the forest; only the rustling of leaves as the wind brushed through them could be heard.

Looking back, Winters could no longer discern the path they had taken to come here.
Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

But the hunter father and son were as familiar with this forest as the backs of their hands. Hunter Ralph, who appeared to be at least forty years of age, strode with vigor through the woods, quickly locating the spot he remembered: "This is it!"

It had been sunny since the rain three days ago, and the footprints in the mud were preserved.

Clearing away the ferns that blocked their view, a terrifying paw print was revealed.

Upon seeing the paw print, the three men who were not hunters all gasped in shock. With five claws on one paw, the entire print was nearly twice the length of Winters's shoe.

Hunter Ralph was right; no beast that could leave such a print could possibly be a wolf. Wolves were merely food in front of such an enormous creature.

Mere glimpses of the paw print transformed the previously serene and tranquil forest in Winters's eyes into a place of lurking danger and omnipresent threats.

The horses began to grow restless. The two terriers that Gerard brought with him tucked their tails and whimpered softly.

"Vicious beasts will urinate everywhere to warn their own kind," Ralph stated with absolute certainty, pointing to the shaking, tail-tucked hunting fox terriers, "These two definitely smell the stench of urine; they wouldn't be this scared otherwise!"

"Holy smokes!" Sergei exclaimed up close to the paw print, "What kind of creature can grow this big?"

"Are there other footprints?" Winters asked.

Ralph shook his head, "No, this is the only one we found."

"Then it's best we don't linger here; let's head back to Ralph's house first." Winters, who had brought no weapons, didn't want to stay a second longer. He looked at Gerard, "Mayor Mitchell, what do you think?"

"That's right, let's leave this place first."

Leading the way, the hunter father and son escorted the five men back to the hunter's log cabin.

Though Gerard and Sergei were both men in their fifties and had grown somewhat weary from trekking through the woods for so long. In contrast, the hunter father and son remained nimble, their faces unchanged.

Gasping for breath, Gerard asked the old hunter, "What exactly is it? Can you tell from the footprints?"

"Five claws, by the looks of it, should be a bear," Ralph replied gravely, "But the paw print is too big, so big that I don't know what it might be."

"Do you think we'll have another wolf calamity?" Gerard pressed further.

Ralph pondered for a long time before saying, "Wild beasts usually avoid human activity, let alone come near the forest area close to human habitation. But this big guy's range of activity has been getting closer to the edge of the forest. I think it's bound to encounter people sooner or later. Once it tastes human blood, it will definitely start hunting people. But it might turn back into the deep forest instead. Sigh, but Sir, you ask me, and I really don't know..."

After hearing the hunter's words, Gerard looked at Winters, "Lieutenant Montaigne, I think we might need to call up the militia."

Winters was initially taken aback, then came the realization: the handling of militia affairs was part of his duties as the stationed officer.

"Do you think we need to form a hunting party?" Winters asked in return.

Gerard silently nodded.

Sergei slapped his thigh in excitement, "Exactly! Screw it, whatever it is, if it can eat a bullet, it can be killed!"

Winters Montagne had never regarded himself as one of the Paratu People, but in that moment, he truly stepped into his role as the officer stationed in Wolfton.

His brows furrowed, "Calling up the militia would at least give the villages some ability to defend themselves, which I think is feasible. But before dispatching anyone to hunt this wild beast, I would like to hear the opinion of the professionals."

"Mister Ralph," Lieutenant Montaigne locked eyes with the old hunter, speaking earnestly, "Don't worry about what you have to say, I'll take responsibility for it. But tell me the truth... as a hunter, do you think enlisting the militia to hunt down this beast is feasible?"

Montaigne Lieutenant's words were heartfelt, and Ralph, after gritting his teeth and mustering courage, replied, "Respected Sir. You honor me, so I can't refuse. I'll tell you the straight truth; the forest is simply too vast and we have no idea where that thing is. If we truly wish to kill it, the whole village would have to come out for a concerted hunt, and even then, the slightest mistake could allow it to escape.

Beasts have a sense of spirit. If we fail to kill it, it will harbor resentment and be even harder to deal with later. Moreover, it hasn't harmed anyone; there's even less reason to provoke it. I think it's enough for everyone to be cautious for now. If it does harm someone, then we can hunt it. And if it retreats back into the depths of the forest on its own, all the better."

After listening carefully, Winters turned to Gerard, "What do you think?"

"This seems like a prudent plan," Gerard also agreed, "Then let's leave it at that for now."

With nothing more to say, Winters, Gerard, and Sergei prepared to leave the hunter's cabin.

"Mister Ralph, I think you shouldn't stay here these next few days either; go to the village and stay with family or friends for a while," Winters specifically advised before leaving, concerned that the hunter father and son might come to harm out of complacency.