"This..."
Altaïr's sudden leap in reasoning left everyone exchanging bewildered glances.
As a rule, when dealing with incidents involving Elder Dragon-level creatures, every effort had to be made to keep them from coming into contact or conflict with other powerful creatures, lest the confrontation enrage them and trigger an even wider disaster.
But now that an attack on the city was all but certain, such concerns no longer seemed particularly relevant.
So what if it became enraged? Even if it remained perfectly calm, it would not simply retreat.
According to the scholars' assessment, Loc Lac's rocky plateau had ample water, abundant "food resources," and was one of the few broad rocky plateaus deep in the Desert capable of providing extensive shelter from the wind and sun. For a Guanzorumu leading a retinue of underlings, it was an ideal nesting site.
All the evidence suggested they had come to claim the territory and would not relinquish it easily.
Moreover, when hunting a powerful Monster, Hunters often lured another Monster into fighting the target, weakening it before beginning the Hunt in earnest.
After a brief moment of shock, interest, even excitement, appeared on many Hunters' faces as they began whispering among themselves. The three High Rank Hunters were no exception.
The discussion quickly grew heated.
Until now, few Hunters had known much about the Grimclaw Tigrex.
Thanks to the Guild Master's deliberate briefing, however, everyone now knew it was a terrifying Tigrex classified by the Guild as an 8★ threat, with power that might even surpass some Elder Dragon species.
If they could truly force the Grimclaw Tigrex to fight to the death against the unseen Monster suspected to be a Guanzorumu, the best possible outcome would naturally be for them to destroy each other. Having the Grimclaw Tigrex kill the other Monster outright would be just as welcome.
After all, the Grimclaw Tigrex's strength lay chiefly in its sharp fangs and claws, its wealth of combat experience, and its terrifying muscular power. It was like a thug armed with deadly weapons.
The Guanzorumu described in the Guild's letters, by contrast, was more like a sovereign descending upon ancient ruins amid countless Egyurasu guards.
If the "thug" could break through to the "emperor," there was a real chance it could kill the latter in just a few strikes.
If that happened, Loc Lac's crisis would be over. Even the most battle-hardened "thug" would be powerless against the city walls and pose no threat to the city itself.
Even if it failed to go that far, landing a few bites and raking the Guanzorumu with its claws would still be extremely welcome.
If the Guanzorumu continued its attack on the city while wounded, the threat it posed would be markedly reduced. If it chose to recuperate instead, that would buy the city more time, perhaps enough for additional High Rank Hunters to hurry back.
It was a winning prospect from every angle.
The Guild Master stroked his slightly unkempt beard, now several days overdue for a trim. "I support the strategy itself. The Egyurasu swarm and its mastermind have yet to leave that rocky plateau, so we can take advantage of that and lure the Grimclaw Tigrex into attacking them.
"The question is how we carry it out."
Haifa added, "A Grimclaw Tigrex is no ordinary Tigrex. Its speed, stamina, and aggression far exceed those of the base species.
Even High Rank Hunters like us couldn't reliably lure it. Once it detects you, escaping unscathed is extremely difficult.
So, what's your plan?"
"A small Sandship?" Kane, the High Rank Hunter wielding a Heavy Bowgun who had proposed letting the Egyurasu attack the city to mislead the Guanzorumu and buy time, was clearly intrigued by Altaïr's plan.
He rubbed his chin. "With favorable winds, a small Sandship can exceed seventy kilometers per hour across the sand sea, perhaps even more.
It wouldn't immediately leave the Grimclaw Tigrex behind, but the beast would have a hard time catching a small Sandship traveling at full speed."
"It probably wouldn't work," another Hunter objected. "As you just said, a small Sandship needs strong enough winds to reach that kind of speed.
That's far too unreliable. If the wind weakened or shifted direction, the Grimclaw Tigrex could suddenly surge forward and smash the Sandship to pieces."
"What about the Dragonship Hozan-maru? Even if the Grimclaw Tigrex caught up with it, that ship should be able to put up a fight, right?" another Hunter suggested.
"No." This time, the objection came from Lamarck, a scholar with the Royal Paleontology Scriveners. "The Hozan-maru is far too large, and its keel is made from the bone of some unidentified Monster. That would make it an even more enticing target for an Elder Dragon species than the Grimclaw Tigrex.
If we used the Hozan-maru for the luring operation, once it reached the target area, the Egyurasu swarm and the suspected Guanzorumu would be more likely to attack the Hozan-maru than the Grimclaw Tigrex."
"Damn..."
After listening to the lengthy discussion without hearing a single workable solution, Altaïr raised his hand again.
"Not long ago, Nymera escaped the Grimclaw Tigrex's pursuit with the help of a Palamute.
Compared with a small Sandship, which is unreliable and highly dependent on the wind and terrain, wouldn't a Palamute be the better choice? They can accelerate rapidly, have tremendous endurance, and move with remarkable agility."
Nymera, unfamiliar with the Desert and largely silent throughout the discussion, heard her name and instinctively leaned forward, pointing at herself.
Me?
The memory of those crimson eyes and that terrifying, bloodstained maw, large enough to swallow both her and Hibiki in one gulp, made Nymera's heart tremble. Even so, she gritted her teeth and said:
"I'll do my best..."
"I'm not saying you should do it," Altaïr cut in. "You don't know the Desert terrain or the surrounding area, so you aren't suited to acting as the lure.
But Hibiki is essential. Hmm... Give him two good meals first."
Standing behind Altaïr, Sajji couldn't help looking up at him and thinking, Good thing Hibiki is dozing outside the Guild Hall and didn't come in. Otherwise, he'd be bolting for the door right about meow.
"Using a Palamute for the luring operation? Now that's a good idea!"
Haifa clapped her hands together in excitement. "Let me go. When Karin and I visited Yukumo Village, we met a Kamura Hunter with a Palamute. I've ridden Palamutes once or twice, so I have a rough idea of how to handle one.
And I'm a High Rank Hunter, after all. Even if it caught up, I wouldn't be completely defenseless."
"You won't do." Altaïr shook his head decisively. "If the Grimclaw Tigrex catches up, the result will be the same whether you're 5★ or 6★. You can't beat it either way.
And this won't be a leisurely Palamute ride. You'll be racing through the dunes, fleeing the Grimclaw Tigrex while remaining close enough to keep it from losing interest and leaving. Your meager riding skills aren't nearly good enough.
There's another major problem: you're too big and too heavy. You would seriously slow the Palamute down.
Aside from knowing Tigrex habits fairly well thanks to Madam Marydan, you're useless in every other respect. You are in no way the right choice for the luring operation."
"You little...!" Stung by Altaïr's rapid-fire dressing-down, Haifa was livid.
Altaïr ignored Haifa as she rolled up her sleeves and glared furiously at him. He turned to the Guild Master, met his gaze, and calmly said:
"The ideal candidate for the luring operation must meet every one of these conditions: intimate familiarity with the Desert terrain, knowledge of Tigrex habits, extensive experience riding a Palamute, a relatively small build, and no excessively heavy gear.
Setting personal feelings aside and looking at this as rationally as possible, the best candidate is–"
"Meow, that would be me!" Sajji climbed up Altaïr's back and onto his shoulder.
"...You? Why are you butting in?"
Sajji shot him a sidelong glance. "I was born in the Desert too. I know its terrain just as well as you do, Boss, meow. As for Tigrex, you go on about them all day long. My ears are callused from hearing it, meow.
I get along great with Hibiki and ride him everywhere whenever the mood strikes me, meow. Our teamwork and my riding skills are both better than yours, Boss, meow.
As for my weight and my gear, together they're less than one-fifth of yours, Boss, meow. I'd be no burden at all to Hibiki, meow.
If the worst happens and we get caught, I can cover Hibiki's escape, then burrow into the sand and get away on my own, meow. The Grimclaw Tigrex can't do a thing to me, meow.
Setting personal feelings aside and looking at this as rationally as possible, Boss, what makes you more suitable than me, meow?"
Altaïr had no answer.
(Translated by yourtl.app)