Seeing Simon draw his blades, both Strangers moved carefully—then slowly pulled back their hoods.
The first was a young woman, no older than him, strikingly beautiful with jet-black hair that fell in soft waves to her lower back. Her eyes were an icy blue, sharp and clear, carrying herself with calm confidence, her posture straight, yet graceful. There was no fear in her face—only composure, and curiosity.
Beside her stood a middle-aged man in his fifties, tall and broad-shouldered, his body built that stood like that seasoned warrior. His hair was white, cut short, and his eye—steel grey—held decades of experience. He didn't speak, but his presence alone was enough to command respect.
Simon could feel it clearly.
But even that man, seasoned and powerful as he was—a 5-star Astral Lord, no less –felt a slight threat from Simon's blades.
Simon though he never fought against 5-Star Astral Lords, his unmatched physical strength covered for his weak Astral Strength.
More over his killing intent, training under the intense fight in the night changed from the wild and uncontrollable to cold and focused. Aimed like a drawn arrow.
"We're not here to fight," the young women said calmly, raising one hand into sky, showing surrender gesture.
"We are here to make a deal because we need your help" the young women said calmly.
Simon didn't lower his weapons, but he still listened.
"there's a Dreadbeast," She continued. "Level-5 Kimodo"
Kimodo.
A monstrous Dreadbeast that mutated from Komodo dragon, the closest thing in the world to dragons than any other Dreadbeast in the godforsaken land they had hard scales that made it near impossible to break.
Even though they can't breathe fire like dragons they could spit out poisonous saliva to kill their pray and enemies. And they release poisonous gas from his body into the atmosphere making it difficult for any beast or human hunt them.
His eyes lit up hearing the name.
A level-5 Dreadbeast.
He'd scoured through the whole forest for days to hunt something like that, only to be met with packs of weaker beasts and in night a group of poisonous wolves that only gave him threat of death only because he was poisoned and his wish to not use his antidot shot understanding what needs to be done.
It did give him what he wanted but the thrill of fighting a strong beast was nowhere to be found which made him disappointed.
So, he asked. "Location?"
Short but most important question.
Though they are called themselves Astral Lords a glorified title, but at the end of the day they are just hunters that hunted and killed monsters.
and for a hunter the most important information was the environment they hunt in.
The young woman understanding it said. "Its nest is near the cliff on the eastern edge of Mount Draeven."
Hearing it Simon slowly turned to east toward the Mount Draeven without saying single word in excitement.
The young woman blinked. "Wait—where are you going?"
Simon didn't answer at first. Then, glancing over his shoulder with expressionless face, he replied in a dry tone, "Where else would I go? I am going to hunt it"
The young woman furrowed her brow, caught off guard by his matter-of-fact attitude.
"You didn't even agree to the deal!" She called after him. "And are you going hunt it solo?"
To her question Simon replied with a short answer. "Yes."
Young woman can't help but feel amused because even a team of 5-Star Astral Lords have hard time facing a Kimodo, here a 3-Star Astral Lord was saying he was going to face the Kimodo that to alone.
"Okay…let's consider that you do hunt it, how are you planning to close the agreement? You're not thinking that we will stay in the middle of nowhere!"
Simon froze.
Right.
He'd gotten so caught up in the excitement that he'd forgotten the most basic part of a contract: the reward.
He didn't need payment. The battle itself was reward enough.
But still… no man would turn down a good deal if it was on the table.
Before he could ask, the young woman stepped forward and lifted a transparent container from her Space bag. Inside, a white blue flame floated, flickering gently, but the power it radiated was undeniable.
Simon's eye widened.
"Cold Flame?" he breathed.
He recognized it immediately—registered on the Company Market for 350 million credits. A flame of mutated beast called Frostfire Wraith that could burn and freeze anything it touched.
"Hunt down the Kimodo," She said, "and this is yours."
She smiled at the stunned look on his face, her tone slightly teasing.
Simon narrowed his eyes. "Bringing something that valuable into the wilderness… not smart. You know that, right?"
Her smile didn't falter. "Who'd be stupid enough to try and take it from me?" She asked playfully. "You?"
He smirked faintly. "Maybe I could just kill you both and take it right now."
The air turned sharp.
The young woman blinked in surprise at these words, then glanced at the man beside her—her uncle, Lucien.
Her amusement vanished when she saw his hand on the hilt of his sword, face stone-cold and serious.
Simon wasn't bluffing. He meant what he said.
And for Lucien—a man who only ever drew his blade against true threats or when guarding her father—to react like that...
She realized something.
This wasn't just some arrogant 3-Star Acting tough.
This boy could kill them.
And he might've, if the deal wasn't worth his time.
She swallowed, then steadied her tone. "So? Do we have a deal?"
Simon's gaze lingered on the Cold Flame for a moment longer, then back at the two of the them.
His grip on Ignis Fangs loosened.
"For that," he said, "you've got your hunter."