“I… I didn’t know that. Sorry.” Lucy finally apologized after hearing Sokram’s explanation.

She realized that her earlier actions could have spelled her own doom.

The Call of the Blood was the name given to the effect caused by both the Curse of the Blood and the Curse of Lust.

If triggered, it would make Sokram irresistibly attractive to Lucy while amplifying the effects of both curses exponentially.

Worse yet, the feelings wouldn’t fade over time but would intensify with every passing day they spent together.

This system-enforced punishment was devised by Nhiria and her siblings as a safeguard, ensuring severe repercussions for anyone attempting to manipulate underage individuals in vile ways.

“It’s alright,” Sokram replied with a calm smile.

“It’s not exactly common knowledge. I read about it in Tales of Calamity. That happened during that age, you know? Some hormone-driven teenage dragons found ways to force the awakening of the curses prematurely. Their punishment? Receiving an eternal charm, quite the poetic justice, don’t you think?”

Lucy listened intently but found herself blushing at the way Sokram smiled.

His demeanor carried a maturity and confidence that felt strangely alluring to her.

Timothy, however, noticed her reaction and didn’t like it one bit, glaring daggers at Sokram.

Savannah, catching the brewing tension, intervened, “Alright, folks. Let’s sit down and wait for the rest of the team to arrive.”

Then, turning to Sokram, she said with a knowing smirk, “As for you, little Agent of Chaos, could you stop trying to stir the pot?”

Sokram grinned mischievously. “I’m not stirring anything! But even if I were this so-called Agent of Chaos, didn’t Nhiria herself say, Chaos pushes order, order pushes back, and evolution is pushed forward? If you think about it, doesn’t that mean my presence here makes us all grow and evolve?”

“Haha! You’re just like Moira said: a troublemaker,” Savannah chuckled, shaking her head.

But Kazzah, still seething with jealousy, growled, “Savannah, come with me. We need to discuss something.”

Sokram settled onto one of the benches while the two couples retreated to opposite corners of the room, quarreling in hushed tones.

Before long, the rest of the team arrived: two wolf-kins, two lion-kins, and a human girl.

The wolf-kins were cousins from the Gray Hunters pack.

Both were in their early twenties, showcasing remarkable talent in cultivation.

Sokram observed their energy flows and discerned that they were Tier 4, matching Kazzah and Savannah.

The female wolf-kin, Kiana, was a Shieldmaiden.

She was a striking young woman with light brown skin, green feral eyes, and long, wavy black hair.

Her athletic figure, highlighted by a toned build and pronounced curves, was complemented by her dark-gray-furred ears and tail.

The male wolf-kin, Kan, was a Blade Dancer.

Standing taller than Kiana, he had short dreadlocks, the same feral green eyes, and a lean yet muscular frame.

He wore light leather armor and a pair of kukri blades strapped to his back, completing his rogue-warrior appearance.

The lion-kins were twin sisters, Nora and Lara.

Both had golden, mane-like hair reaching the middle of their backs and amber eyes reminiscent of Sokram’s master, Leona.

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Their bodies, though not as muscular or voluptuous as Leona’s, were still striking. Both were Tier 3 Berserkers, with Nora wielding a battle-axe and Lara a war hammer.

Lastly, there was the human girl, Amber.

She looked shy but was a very charismatic Tier 3 Mage, her petite frame hidden beneath a loose mage’s robe.

Her long brown hair, glasses, and curious blue eyes gave her a studious, librarian-like appearance.

Once the introductions were complete, Kazzah, followed by a much more cheerful Savannah, stepped forward.

Savannah chirped, clearly excited, “Well, now that everyone’s acquainted with our new little brother, let’s discuss the mission.”

Kazzah’s expression turned serious as he began the debriefing. “Our objective for this commission is to hunt five Four-Armed Boars. Individually, they’re not a major threat. The issue is that it’s mating season, so they’ll likely be traveling in groups.”

Sokram’s eyes widened momentarily but quickly concealed his excitement.

Internally, he thanked fate.

Boar meat was one of his weaknesses; he could never get enough of it.

But it wasn’t just the potential feast that excited Sokram the most.

The Four-Armed Boars were known for their unmatched strength and ferocity at the Uncommon level.

A fight with one would provide him with the perfect challenge to test his abilities.

That is, assuming he fought alone.

With the group, it would be too easy unless Kazzah’s leadership turned out to be as terrible as Sokram remembered.

Still, Sokram raised a question: “Do we have a specific gender preference for the targets?”

The group looked puzzled, and Kazzah frowned. “What do you mean? Is there even a way to tell them apart?”

Sokram sighed inwardly and explained, “Females are stronger, with stockier builds and thicker, shorter bristles,” Sokram explained.

Kiana raised an eyebrow, her tail flicking in curiosity. “And why does that matter?”

“The best part,” Sokram said, his smile growing mischievous, “is that their meat is twice as tasty and nutritious.”

The memory of the flavor made him gulp involuntarily, and he wasn’t alone.

His sharp eyes caught the subtle twitch of ears and tails as the ferals in the team swallowed in unison; even Kazzah couldn’t hide the faintest flicker of anticipation.

“Their bones and tusks,” Sokram added, recovering his composure, “make excellent mana conductors, while the males’ are better suited for Aura.”

Savannah giggled. “Moira wasn’t kidding, you really are a walking encyclopedia.”

Kazzah, still bitter about earlier, grumbled, “That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t help us kill them faster or more efficiently.”

Sokram smirked. “Actually, it does. Males are resistant to magic because their bones and tusks absorb Chaos Energy, converting it into Aura. Females, on the other hand, are weak to magic attacks, especially lightning. Their bones conduct mana but don’t absorb it.”

Amber, adjusting her glasses, nodded eagerly. “Right! Monsters with mana-conducting bones typically lack the intelligence to form a mana heart, so they can’t absorb elemental mana properly.”

“Exactly,” Sokram affirmed with a calm smile. “If we can identify their genders, we can tailor our strategy accordingly.”

Inwardly noting how his words shifted the group's focus to him. He couldn’t help but relish the subtle manipulation, earning their trust one step at a time.

While most of the team appreciated Sokram’s insight, Kazzah and Timothy grew increasingly resentful.

The admiring glances cast by the girls only deepened their bitterness.

Kan, however, was genuinely impressed. “You sound like a seasoned hunter, young dragon. My Alpha always says: Knowledge is the foundation of evolution. Without understanding the wild, you can’t hunt good prey.”

Kan finished his speech, doing his best impression of the old wolf-kin. Which made his cousin giggle.

"Haha, you flatter me, big brother Kan. How can I compare to the Alpha of the Grey Hunters, the famous Grey Fang?" Sokram replied humbly, though he had his own reasons for building a strong relationship with the Grey Hunters.

If things went as planned, they’d soon become his loyal and lucrative allies.

Kiana's feral eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, you know my grandpa? Kan, did you hear that?” she exclaimed, nudging her cousin, who grinned back with evident pride.

Before Sokram could respond, Kazzah stepped forward abruptly, cutting Sokram off mid-sentence by placing himself between him and the cousins. “Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s stay focused. Sokram, how confident are you in your ability to discern the boars’ genders?”

Sokram didn’t mind the interruption, as the journey to the hunting spot was the best opportunity to know his team better.

“Confident enough to tell just by their tracks,” he answered calmly.

Timothy, bristling with impatience, snapped, “How could you possibly know that? You’ve never even been on a hunt before!”

Sokram tilted his head, puzzled by Timothy’s hostility. “I’ve never hunted alone, true. But I’ve accompanied my Master, Leona, on several occasions during my training.”

At the mention of Leona, the team’s reactions were immediate and awe-stricken, especially Nora and Lara.

“You’re her disciple?!” Nora gasped.

“How did you get her to accept you? Do you know the Killing Blade Art? I’m so jealous!” Lara exclaimed, bombarding Sokram with multiple questions.

It had slipped Sokram’s mind just how famous and revered his master was, particularly among the lion-kin.

Kazzah, cutting through the commotion, declared, “Alright, kid. I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. But if you’re trying to show off to impress the others, I’ll make sure you regret it. There’s no room for deadweight on this mission.”

“We’re leaving in half an hour, we'll meet at the southern gates. If you don’t have a mount, request one at reception. And don’t be late,” Kazzah ordered curtly, his tone sharp as he sought to regain control of the conversation.

It was clear he was cutting Sokram off deliberately, not wanting to give him another chance to flaunt his knowledge or charm the group further.