Another Stupid Isekai

Will came and sat next to me with a full glass of some brown stuff, smelling like alcohol.

– Isn’t it a bit too early to be drinking?

He sighed slowly, taking his time to inhale, and then exhale through the mouth.

– I don’t give a fuck –  he said and leaned a bit towards me to whisper. – But I gove a fuck about you being a dick towards Hatta. Seriously, Peter? The guy was almost killed by him and constantly has to deal with his shit. Give him a break, will you? We constantly come and go, while he stays and holds the fort. The guy deserves some respect, and you know it, so stop being a little shit, ok?

– Ok mom.

– Listen to your mother. He knows the best.

I just couldn’t take it anymore, and a laugh escaped my mouth even while I tried my best to hold it.

– I’ll apologize later.

– Good boy – and he took a big sip from the glass.

The alcohol twisted his face.

– Uhh…

[0)ᴠʟ – That bad?

– It tastes like shit. It’s perfect.

I laughed again.

Then the conversation kinda died down. Hatta kept meditating until the door to the office finally opened up. Blue entered with a serious face, followed by Amit.

– Gentlemen.

– Come, sit with us. We have a few things we would like to discuss with you – said Wil, while standing up, then he pointed with his hand at the table.

Hatta opened his eyes, but just like me didn’t greet our guest.

– I’ve been informed by Amit already. Wery well…

And he came closer to sit on the opposite side of us. Amit followed him but remained standing. He crossed his arms on his chest, while Hatta finally got up, and came closer.

– I won’t beat around the bush. What we found out yesterday is at the very least worrying, so we want to know your plans – stated Will.

– My plans?

– Yes. Your plans. You are strengthening your forces at a disturbing rate. We want to know whats your next move, isn’t that reasonable? – asked Amit. – You have a history of betrayal with most of us.

He sighed.

– Fine. My goal didn’t change. There was an opportunity for quicker progress, so I took it, and of story. If you are worried that I’m preparing an attack, then stop. I don’t want war, I don’t want any conflict even. I want progress, that’s what I want.

– Then prove it – Amit wasn’t backing down. – How the hell else are you gonna make us believe you?

He let out a short chuckle.

– I can’t possibly do anything to make you believe my words. I knew it’s gonna come to this all along, that’s why I tried to keep it all secret, unfortunately, there were complications…

– Seriously? You are trying to play the victim here or something? – asked Will, clearly not amused.

– No – he took a deep breath. – After me and my men managed to kill the werewolf I discovered it unlocked a special class for me. Just like the rat boss does, but this was the first time I could put my hands on one, so obviously, I did. You can’t blame me for that. Anybody of you would do the same.

He especially looked at me, making others do the same. I endured his gaze.

– And after lots and lots of work, I finally acquired it. Then I bought all of the class skills, tested them to find answers, with different results of course. There was especially one skill I couldn’t understand. A skill called ‘Bloodline’. Fortunately for me, one of my men got injured by me during a fight with the boss, and with that, I finally discovered the skill’s purpose. It’s to share a bit of power with others.

– How does it exactly work? – asked Hatta.

– Exactly? I don’t know that, but I happy to share what I know. After being bitten, others get the ability to transform into something lesser than the original class. They cant upgrade it as far as I know.

– Can they spread it further? – asked Amit.

– No. Only the original owner of the class can. We have tested that and confirmed it.

– Who else has this class? – Amin continued with the questions.

– Only two people. Me, and Stephen Williams.

– How many people can turn? – asked Will. – Seventy percent of your guys or more?

– Actually, a bit less than seventy, but definitely more than half.

I caught with a corner of my eyes Hatta’s uneasy movement he tried to hide assuming the same position as Amit. Crossing his arms on the chest. His hands were shaking.

– We all know how it looks on our side. I don’t think you require any explanations – said Amit. – So… How do you plan on defusing the situation?

– And what would be required on my part to do so? – asked Blue.

– How about you stop hunting for a while, and give up your territory solely to Wuxia? – proposed Amit. – That would be certainly a gesture of goodwill, that, I believe, we all would take as a sign of you doing your part to de-escalate the conflict.

– We all know I can’t do that. We already are sharing the territory with you.

– Then share more – I joined.

He sighed.

– I’ll give you a week on top of what you are already getting, but that’s all I can do. Not a single day more, and not permanently.

– I’m not convinced – said Hatta.

– Look… – Blue raised his voice. – If any of you were in my position, you all would do the same. I didn’t do it to prepare to fight you. I did it to quicken the process of us spreading further to new territories. A month more, and my men could clear up the canyon by themselves. You can’t say the same about Wuxia.

He looked straight at Hatta. This was the first time I witnessed him like that and just couldn’t stop my curiosity.. Was this an act? Or perhaps there was something hidden before me, something I didn’t know about? I couldn’t get those thoughts out of my head.