The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 222: Bounty

The streets of Ether Town had taken on a darker tone as the night deepened.

The once-lively market square was now quiet, the only sounds the faint rustle of wind and the occasional creak of a sign swinging in the breeze.

For most people, this was the time to lock their doors and settle in for the night.

But for Rem, it was the perfect time to explore the shadows.

Hood up, mask securely in place, he slipped through the quieter streets with ease.

Ether Town wasn’t big, but every settlement had its underbelly.

The black market here was whispered about in taverns and among traveling merchants — a shadowy network tucked beneath the town’s unassuming facade.

If one needed something rare, forbidden, or dangerous, it was the place to go.

Rem wasn’t interested in trouble — he had plenty of that already. What he sought was information.

His students were resting safely at the inn, and he intended to keep it that way.

But staying ahead of danger meant knowing where it was coming from, and if anyone in Ether Town had their ear to the ground, it would be the brokers in the black market.

The entrance was hidden in plain sight, behind an unassuming butcher’s shop.

Rem had overheard two merchants whispering about it earlier in the day, and now he stood before the shop’s narrow back door.

He knocked three times, then twice more, as instructed.

The door creaked open, revealing a burly man with arms thicker than most tree trunks.

His eyes narrowed as he took in Rem’s hooded figure.

"Password," the man growled.

"Rotwood," Rem replied without hesitation, remembering the word he’d overheard.

It was a gamble, but one that paid off. The guard grunted and stepped aside, allowing Rem to pass into a dimly lit corridor.

The air inside was thick with the scent of damp stone and old wood.

A staircase led down into a cavernous space bustling with activity.

Dozens of stalls lined the walls, each manned by a different vendor hawking wares that ranged from enchanted trinkets to rare herbs and illegal weapons.

The faint hum of hushed voices and muffled laughter filled the room.

Rem kept his head low, moving through the crowd with practiced ease.

He ignored the merchants who called out to him, their voices dripping with temptation.

He had no need for what they offered — not tonight. Instead, his sharp eyes scanned the crowd, noting the faces, the exchanges, the subtle shifts in body language.

This was a place where secrets changed hands, and if he watched carefully, he might glean something useful.

It didn’t take long for something to catch his attention.

At the far end of the room, a large wooden board was mounted to the stone wall, covered in scraps of parchment.

People clustered around it, whispering and pointing. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

A bounty board.

Rem’s interest piqued. He approached slowly, keeping his movements casual.

The closer he got, the more he could make out the details of the posters — each one bearing a crude sketch of a face, along with the reward offered for their capture.

Most of the bounties were small — a few silver coins here, a dozen there.

Petty criminals, deserters, minor nuisances. But as his eyes moved to the center of the board, where the most valuable targets were displayed, he froze.

There, staring back at him from the parchment, was his own face.

The sketch wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough to be unmistakable.

The hood and mask he wore now were nowhere to be seen in the drawing, leaving his features bare for all to see.

Beneath the sketch, bold letters spelled out his name: Rem. Wanted Dead or Alive. Reward: 1000 Silver Coins.

For a moment, Rem just stared at the poster. Then, to his own surprise, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

His gloved fingers reached out, tracing the edge of the parchment as if it were a long-lost friend.

"One thousand silver," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible above the noise of the market. "I’m worth more than that."

The words came out dry, almost amused. He couldn’t help it.

A thousand silver was a lot for most people — it was enough to buy a small house, to start a new life.

But for him? It was a paltry sum. An insult, really.

He had faced down monsters that could level cities, battled against forces that most couldn’t even comprehend. And this was all they thought he was worth?

The thought made him chuckle softly, though the sound was swallowed by the hum of the room around him.

"Something funny, stranger?" a voice drawled from behind him.

Rem turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing beneath the shadow of his hood.

A wiry man with a sly grin stood a few feet away, a blade hanging loosely at his hip.

His clothes were plain, but his posture screamed opportunist.

"Not at all," Rem replied evenly, his voice calm and measured. "Just admiring the art."

The man’s grin widened, revealing crooked teeth. "You’ve got an eye for quality, then. That one’s been up there for a while. A big shot, from what I hear. Dangerous, too."

"Is that so?" Rem said, turning back to the board. "And yet no one’s claimed it."

"Not for lack of trying," the man said, stepping closer. "The stories say he’s some kind of monster. The kind that walks among men, you know?"

Rem tilted his head, as if considering the words. "Then why keep the bounty up?"

"Because someone’s bound to get lucky eventually," the man said with a shrug. "And until then, it keeps the hunters busy."

"Interesting strategy," Rem murmured. He let his hand drop from the poster and turned away from the board. "But I think I’ve seen enough for tonight."

The man’s eyes followed him as he moved toward the exit. "You’re not interested in trying your luck? A thousand silver’s a lot of coin."

Rem paused at the base of the stairs, glancing back over his shoulder. "I prefer to avoid unnecessary risks."

The man chuckled. "Smart choice. But be careful out there, stranger. You never know who’s watching."

The words hung in the air as Rem ascended the stairs, slipping back into the cool night.

The door to the butcher’s shop creaked shut behind him, and he stood for a moment in the alley, letting the darkness wrap around him like an old cloak.

A bounty on his head. It was the first, and it wouldn’t be the last.

But seeing it there, bold and public for all to see, was a stark reminder of the reality he lived in.

He couldn’t afford to stay in Ether Town for long. It was only a matter of time before someone recognized him, hoodie and mask or not.

With a deep breath, Rem pulled his hood tighter and began the walk back to the inn. The streets were empty now, the town quiet under the watchful gaze of the stars.