Chapter 325: Infiltrating the Hunters' Den

Axel's POV

I sat in the darkest corner of the bar, nursing my beer as I watched the door. The place reeked of cheap liquor and cigarettes, but it was perfect for what I needed. This tavern was known among hunters as their unofficial meeting spot, and tonight I was hoping my intel would pay off.

I'd been waiting for nearly two hours when the door swung open around ten o'clock. A group of ten or eleven men and women walked in, their movements synchronized in a way that screamed "team." They claimed a cluster of tables on the far side of the room, creating a semi-private space for themselves.

The bartender greeted several by name, confirming my suspicion – these were the hunters I'd been waiting for. I watched as they ordered several bottles of beer and whiskey. Their voices were low, but their conversation seemed animated. Time to make my move.

I reached into my backpack and pulled out the silver rings I'd collected from the hunters I'd eliminated earlier. Finding one that fit, I slipped it onto my finger, suppressing my reaction to the burning sensation as the silver touched my skin. "Burns so good," I muttered to myself, smiling through the pain.

After considering my approach, I decided buying them a round would be the most natural way to introduce myself. I walked to the bar, ordered a round of ice-cold beers for their table, and kept my eyes alert the entire time.

As the bartender delivered the drinks, a large hunter stood up. He was built like a linebacker, but still half a head shorter than me.

"We ain't finished our first round yet," he said, eyeing me suspiciously. Several of his companions were also giving me doubtful looks.

I held up my hands in a placating gesture. "Just trying to be friendly. Name's Axel." I gestured to my tall, muscular frame. "Been hunting since I was sixteen." I pointed to my dark skin. "Pretty conspicuous in this white-bread town, makes tracking harder sometimes."

The big guy didn't back down. "What brings you to our table, Axel?"

"Heard you're planning something big—vampires, werewolves, witches, the whole supernatural package," I said casually. "Haven't heard of anything this ambitious since the Blood Claw incident. Got me interested."

"You're not old enough to have been at Blood Claw," the hunter challenged. "That was 2010."

"Black don't crack, buddy," I replied easily. "That was one of my first official hunts. The name's Axel, but in the circle, they call me 'Crazy Axel.'"

I unbuttoned my shirt enough to show the silver ink tattoo on my chest. It glittered dangerously against my dark skin. "Insurance policy," I explained. "Any wolf that tries to bite me gets an immediate taste of silver."

I took off my shirt completely and turned to show them my back, covered in dense patterns of "trophy" tattoos.

"The fangs represent vampires," I explained, pointing to different symbols. "Wolf skulls for werewolves. The bullet designs represent hunter brothers I've lost."

"That's a lot of lost companions," one of them remarked with concern.

I shrugged casually. "They couldn't follow the plan strictly or watch their backs in battle."

The big guy extended his hand. "I'm Gideon. Have a seat."

I shook his hand firmly and sat down. Gideon poured a glass of whiskey, and I immediately noticed the colloidal silver he'd added as a test. I almost laughed at the pathetic attempt. I'd prepared for this, having built up tolerance through careful exposure.

Stupid white boy, I thought, but kept my face neutral.

I drank it down without hesitation. "I can smell the colloidal silver you added. Nice formula."

I reached into my pocket and handed Gideon a small vial. "This is a better colloidal silver formula. Wolves never detect it."

Gideon nodded appreciatively and accepted my gift. "So what brings you to our territory, Axel?"

"I'm tracking an ancient vampire master who's shacked up with a witch. They call him 'Death,'" I said.

The hunters exchanged glances before one spoke up. "Our target is 'the Arbiter,' the master of this territory. Word is he's living with a witch and has wolves working for him."

"Different target," I clarified. "Mine doesn't use servants. I'm hunting Theodore Windsor, 'Death' himself."

Their eyes widened with interest. The female hunter moved closer to me.

"After this," she whispered, "we're planning to clean out the town. Every supernatural creature. Not leaving a single one."

I nodded appreciatively. "The Arbiter, also known as Sebastian Astoria, hunted and killed one of my mentors and his apprentice."

"You seem to know about all the dangerous targets in the area," Gideon noted.

"I've researched every dangerous target in this region," I boasted.

The female hunter pressed against my arm. "Perhaps we could help each other complete our missions."

I frowned, appearing concerned. "Hunting Death requires following a strict plan. I can't be responsible for unreliable people."

"We have forty hunters total," Gideon revealed. "Various ages and specialties. Killing Death would make you famous in hunter circles. You could pick any partners from our team."

I pretended to be persuaded. "Alright then. Another round for this alliance."

Gideon filled everyone's glasses, looking pleased. I raised mine. "To a successful hunt!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically. The female hunter settled onto my lap, clearly attracted. I made sure everyone noticed the silver ring on my finger, confirming my hunter credentials.

As the night progressed, I systematically gathered information about their numbers, plans, and intelligence. Maybe before eliminating these threats, I'd have some fun with the female hunter.

I smiled at her, thinking how useful this information would be to Sebastian and Karina. These hunters had no idea what was coming for them.