CHAPTER 2

Tavern Meet up

The moment Granger steps in all voices stop and everyone stares at him, only his footsteps can be heard other than the deafening silence throughout the room.

He walks up to the girl at the counter. She was turned around busy with the drawers, Granger places his guitar case onto the countertop.

It makes a loud thud catching the girl's attention. She turns around and instantly gets terrified by Granger's menacing aura.

Innkeeper-" h-how c-can I h-help you s-sir?" She was visibly shaking.

Granger-" I want a room, how much for a night?" The inn keeper, still shaking, nods and pulls out a paper from underneath the counter.

Innkeeper-" H-here's a-a list" she shakily hands Granger the list.

The innkeeper grew more and more anxious as Granger was checking the list.

Innkeeper-' god not another one!' she tries reaching for a gun under the counter but she flinches as Granger coughs to get her attention.

Granger-" Is this room available?" He says pointing at a specific room.

Innkeeper- "Y-yes i-it's available" the innkeeper silently gulps "this r-room c-costs f-f-fifty silver a-a night"

Granger reaches inside the sack lying on the floor, he takes out four gold coins.

He puts the money on the countertop.

Granger-" That should cover for a week and a day, i'll pay more if I stay longer" the innkeeper nods and takes the money and fearfully hands Granger keys to his room.

Granger-" Thank you" he gets his gun, guitar case and the sack full of gold. He took them up to his room.

He opens the door and places his belongings onto the floor and he lays onto the bed.

Granger sighs while looking blankly at the ceiling.

-Claude-

Claude was humming a tune as he walked outside of an animal day-care. He smiles as he stares upwards to the sky.

Claude- ' Dexter really seemed happy in there heh... guess i'll just pick him up later ' Claude chuckles to himself.

He puts his hands behind his head as he walked by, looking around. He spots Alucard looking bruised and beaten up. Claude raises an eyebrow and uses mirror monkey to teleport near him.

Claude- "Woah, what happened to you? Don't tell me you and Chou got in a fight again" Alucard looks at Claude with an irritated expression.

Alucard- "That chinaman didn't do this... It was someone... Else..." he said gripping the ice he was holding tightly.

Claude- "Let me guess, Wolf Dad beat you up... Again" Alucard gives Claude a death glare " I'll take that as a yes"

Alucard rolls his eyes and looks around. He suddenly stops with a horrified look, Claude takes notice and waves a hand in front of Alucard.

Claude looks where he was staring and saw Roger with a cigar in his mouth, he glared directly at Alucard.

Roger scoffs and goes inside the tavern.

Alucard shakes his head and puts on an irritated expression.

Alucard- "You know what, I'm not in the mood to have a drink " his eyes were half closed.

Claude- "Come on where's the fun in run- aaaand he's gone" Claude glances around only to see random people going about " Coward" he says in a monotone voice.

Claude sighs before shrugging and going in the tavern.

-Granger-

Granger exits the inn carrying only his gun, a leather side bag with a few gold and silver coins in it. He looks around for somewhere to go.

Granger saw a blue cat like person looking at the accessories shop.

Granger- ' Alucard always mentions he had a leonin living with him... ' Granger walks over.

Granger pokes the blue cat like person, it was Harith who instinctively flinched and dashed forward, Harith immediately looked back at Granger.

Harith- "E-excuse me?" Harith was intimidated by the aura.

Granger- "I was going to ask if you know a Demon hunter named, Alucard"

Harith- "Why? You're not hunting him down are you?!" Granger shakes his head.

Granger- "No. I just want to know where that good for nothi-" Granger's right eye begins to twitch "Extremely competent Demon hunter is" Harith tilts his head to the side.

Harith- "You both know each other?" Granger reluctantly nods.

Granger- "I used to work for the monastery but I left a few years ago. I take quests from a guild in a town a few miles from here" Harith nods in understanding.

Harith- ' This must be the guy Alucard says he admires... Now I know why, this guy's terrifying! '

Harith- "I-I see. Mind telling me who you are?"

Granger- "My name is Granger, nice to meet you" Harith nods and places his hand on his chest.

Harith- "My name's Harith nice to meet you too" Harith smiles " Sorry for the rude greeting earlier, it's just that seeing someone that looks like a..." Granger raises an eyebrow "uhh... N-Nevermind hehe..." Harith sweats nervously.

Harith- 'Probably shouldn't call someone a murderer right off the bat... that's just gonna get me in trouble' Harith scratches the back of his neck as he laughs nervously.

Harith- "If you're looking for Alucard, he's probably at the tavern by now" Granger nods

Granger- "Thank you, are you going to see him too?" Harith shakes his head.

Harith- "Can't. I gotta meet up with my friends today. Say hi to Alucard for me, alright?" Granger nods.

Harith waved goodbye as Granger walks away. Granger returns the gesture as something came to his mind.

Granger- ' Like a what?...' Granger shrugs it off and continues to walk to the tavern.

Before Granger went inside, another person went in. They had a Sheriff hat along with a western outfit, they also had a rifle strapped onto their back.

Granger- ' That outfit… Must be from the Drylands...' Granger pondered for a moment ' Why would someone travel that far though…' Granger shakes his head and goes in.

Once Granger goes in, it seems like his aura is blocked by someone else's... And they seem really pissed.

Granger looks around and sees a person drinking a milkshake with an advanced gun attached to his right hand, another person was on the other side of the table she had a rifle laying on the table top, and she seems to be fixing a little boy's hat.

Two people sit at the countertop, the person from earlier and someone with an intimidating aura.

No one seems to pay attention to Granger except the one drinking the milkshake which was Claude, who looked at Granger and the gun in his hand.

Granger sat at the countertop and placed his gun underneath the counter, the bartender looks at him.

Bartender- " What you having?" Granger paused and looked at the drinks.

Granger- ' I don't think I should drink alcohol it...messes with my accuracy ' he sees the only non-alcoholic choice.

Granger- "I'll have what he's drinking" Granger pointed to Claude who put a thumbs up.

Claude- "Wise choice" Granger raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly whilst giving Claude a confused look.

Bartender- "Alright. One milkshake coming right up" he went in the back room.

Granger faced forward and waited for his drink, He looked over to his right at the other two.

Roger downed a glass before sighing and looking down onto the counter. The man next to him chuckles as he too drunk a whole glass.

?- "C'mon partner, what's with the sour attitude?" Roger scoffs before tapping his empty glass onto the counter.

Roger- "Give me another one" The bartender heard it and replied.

Bartender- "Be right with you" The bartender returns and places the milkshake in front of Granger.

Bartender- "Here ya go" Granger nods and puts a few silver coins on the countertop.

The Bartender nods and takes the coins, he takes Roger's glass and fills to the brim with bubbling whiskey. He places the glass in front of Roger.

Granger opened his coat from the top until to his mouth.

The man next to Roger peeks and looks at Granger, he raises an eyebrow as he looks at Granger's drink.

?- " Ya sure ya ain't want anythin' stronger partner?" Granger looks at him.

Granger- "Do I know you?" Granger had a monotone voice when he said that, the man laughs and says.

Clint- "Well now, seems like someone's has the same attitude as Roger here "he says patting Roger on the back "My name's Clint nice to meet ya" Granger nods.

Granger- "My name is Granger, I don't like to drink alcohol often. It messes with my vision" Clint chuckles.

Clint- "Ease up partner! Doesn't look like we're gonna be shooting anythin' soon "Granger takes a sip and Clint shrugs "Fine, suit yourself"

A holographic monkey appears on the chair left of Granger, and Claude appears.

Claude- "See told ya! I'm not the only one who drinks this!" Clint rolls his eyes and smiles before tapping his glass on the counter.

The Bartender takes his glass and fills it with whiskey, Granger looks at Claude.

Granger- "And who are you?" Claude smugly chuckles.

Claude- "The name's Claude the greatest thief in the world!" Claude points his right hand on his left shoulder "And this is my most loyal partner Dex-..." He looks at his shoulder "oh yeah right, he's at daycare" Claude sighs.

Clint- "Well ya are good at stealin' everyone's attention, that's for sure" Claude nods triumphantly.

?- "Not only that. Once he starts talking, he doesn't stop" Granger looks at the woman in the back "The same goes for my brother, Harley" the little boy stomps his foot.

Harley- "I'm right here!" The woman smiles at the boy.

?- "Sorry, I didn't think you were listening"

Harley- " How?! I'm right next to you?" The woman chuckles.

?- "It's just that you were so busy talking about your friends, I thought you were drowned in your own voice" Harley looks at the woman with an annoyed expression.

The woman looks at Granger.

Lesley- "Pleasure to meet you Granger, My name is Lesley" Granger nods "And this is my boastful brother, Harley" she says pinching Harley's cheek.

Harley- "S-sis!" He had an annoyed tone as Lesley just giggles.

Someone bursts in panting excessively, Claude immediately turns and looks at the person.

Claude- "Alucard!" He stands up and leans for a hug.

Alucard steps to the side making Claude fall to the floor.

Claude- "ow..." Alucard walked past him and towards Granger.

Alucard- "Harith told me you were here, so I had to see it for myself" Granger stands up and looks at Alucard.

Alucard puts out his hand, as Claude from behind gets up.

Alucard- "Glad to have you back here" he says with a smile.

Granger puts out his hand to shake Alucard's. But instantly he makes a fist and made it go directly into Alucard's face. The force almost makes him fall.

Alucard puts his hand over the place Granger hit him in response to the pain.

Everyone in the tavern stares in shock, as an audible snort comes from Roger.

Granger- "How drunk were you, when you were talking with the Guild master?" He said with a death glare.

Alucard pauses before laughing, Granger stops his death glare and raises an eyebrow.

Alucard- "Hahaha! He actually made you go here?" He said as Granger still had a confused expression.

Alucard regained his composure.

Alucard- " The Guild master told me that he stumbled upon your record by accident and took notice" Granger looks with a annoyed expression " The guy asked me all about this place so I had to tell him. Hehe... Sorry, didn't think he had a plan to make you go here"

Granger sighs in defeat as Alucard laughs.

Alucard- "Well since you ARE here, I'll introduce you to everyone. C'mon get your gun, we have a long day of walking around and talking to random people "Granger looks on with an annoyed expression and takes his gun from underneath the counter. He zips his coat back up and walks out.

Alucard first waves goodbye and the others (except roger) return the gesture, he went out.

Claude teleports outside in the space between the two.

Claude- "Hey can I come with?" Alucard looks at Granger and he shrugs.

Alucard- "Yeah sure why not? The more the merrier" Claude smiles and follows the two as they walk.

Claude suddenly stops, the two take notice and stops as well.

Alucard- "Something wrong?" Claude stood still.

Claude- ' What about Dexter?... Meh he'll be fine!'

Claude- "Nothin', just a thought came to me"

Claude continues to walk with the two.

Claude- "Where to first?" Alucard looks up and shrugs.

Alucard- " Hmm... let's just go around and introduce Granger to anyone we know and happen to come across" Claude nods.

Claude- "Well let's go to the bakery first!" Alucard gives Claude an annoyed look.

Alucard- "You just want to eat do you?" Claude nods, Alucard sighs and smiles "Yeah sure, why not? Let's go!"

Claude- "To the bakery!" The two look at Granger and he sighs.

Granger- "Fine, Let's go." he says with a lackluster tone.

The two laugh and they all continue to walk.