Chapter 87: The Cooper Clan
There has always been a saying circulating in the local circle of demon hunters:
"The Cooper family's hounds are your last guarantee in the Plague Zone."
This shows the status of Cooper hounds in the hearts of Southern demon hunters.
The special ammunition improved by the Allard clan holds a similar position locally.
Although the businesses of these two families both target monsters, there is no direct competitive relationship.
Of course, there isn't a "Romeo and Juliet" type of development either.
Looking at it this way, the two families seem to have no reason to be hostile.
But the reality is—
Although the Plague Zone is full of danger, there are also many opportunities, such as "resources" scattered everywhere.
Special herbs, ores, and even monster corpses are extremely valuable materials.
Demon hunter equipment made from them is feared even by evil spirits and demons from the outside world.
Therefore, many demon hunters arrive in Saint Frian every day to explore the Plague Zone.
Local taverns also post many bounty commissions to meet the various needs of employers.
Under these circumstances, the Cooper family obviously has a huge advantage.
With just dozens of Cooper hounds, they can traverse the Plague Zone at will.
Water monsters, poisonous bees, mutant humans.
Although these monsters have strong individual combat capabilities, the hounds win by sheer numbers.
Just by using a war of attrition, the Cooper clan can remain invincible.
In contrast, the Allard family still needs to face monsters directly.
And due to the particularity of the modified ammunition, these bullets make a lot of noise when fired, far exceeding ordinary ammunition.
Every time they hunt demons, gunshots can be heard throughout the Plague Zone.
This is undoubtedly telling others—I have treasure here.
Therefore, the Allard family has always adopted a "blitzkrieg" strategy.
Solve the monster as quickly as possible, then withdraw from the scene.
But they just happen to run into the Cooper clan.
The latter, on the grounds that "hounds are not easy to tame," rarely fight monsters head-on.
Instead, they choose to wander on the edge of the monster's lair.
As long as a demon hunter successfully kills the target, it becomes the Cooper hounds' turn to appear.
Many demon hunters have suffered losses because of this, losing the "resources" they risked their lives to get.
But they rarely resist.
After all, you never know when you might need a Cooper hound.
Therefore, Southern demon hunters both respect and hate the Cooper clan.
Among them, the Allard family feels this the most.
Every time they enter the Plague Zone, the Cooper family doesn't need to inquire specifically.
Just wait for the gunshot, and they can find the Allard family's location.
Therefore, the latter is often "visited" by the Cooper clan.
Back and forth, the two families forged a grudge.
Unlike ordinary demon hunters, the Allard family naturally does not fear the Cooper clan.
Therefore, the conflict between the two families extended from the Plague Zone to the outside world.
Violent conflicts often broke out in the town over the past few decades.
Only because evil spirits and demons have significantly increased in recent years has the confrontation between the two families decreased somewhat.
And now that the seal reinforcement ritual is about to begin, the Plague Zone will be more dangerous than ever.
The resources within will also be richer.
Therefore, Ophelia planned to research special ammunition to deal a heavy blow to the Cooper family's hounds after the ritual begins.
This seems understandable.
But hounds have always been the most important resource of the Cooper family; every sold hound has a unique number.
They will even be retrieved after death.
That's why Skoll was worried; his youngest daughter got a hound's corpse so easily.
Is there a trap in this?
After listening to her father's words, Sadie also realized something was wrong.
"Who did Ophelia turn?" She frowned.
"Gavin."
"The Cooper family's bastard son?"
Sadie narrowed her eyes.
This person has always been infatuated with her sister; presumably, his feelings were used by her.
Skoll nodded; he had the same thought as his eldest daughter.
"But Ophelia did complete the improvement; this is the reason I have been hesitating."
Skoll had tried those bullets, and they indeed had good effects.
Seeing this, Sadie hesitated to speak.
She saw her father was moved; if they could really find a way to restrain the Cooper hounds, she would naturally be happy to see it happen.
But after the trip to Ambrose, Sadie obviously thought more than before.
At such a critical juncture, the possibility of the Cooper clan making such a mistake is very small.
At the same time, if her father really agreed to Ophelia's plan.
Then Sadie might not be able to let William enter the Plague Zone.
That place is filled with poisonous gas; it is difficult for ordinary people to stay in it for long.
Ordinary demon hunters will stuff "Swamp Leaves" in their mouths and noses before entering the Plague Zone.
This thing can isolate the invasion of poisonous gas for a short time.
They grow deep in the Plague Zone and are very expensive.
The Allard family is more special.
They will hold a stone named "Heart of Blackwater" in their mouths. This item allows ordinary people to stay in the Plague Zone for a whole day!
But the "Heart of Blackwater" only exists in a few fixed locations, and it usually takes several years to produce one.
Therefore, the Allard family only possesses a small amount.
If Ophelia acts as the leader for this trip to the Plague Zone, she will naturally occupy the slot Sadie reserved for William.
Sadie thought for a moment and decided to discuss it with William first.
She looked at her father: "Ophelia mentioned just now that she wants to complete the 'final experiment' today?"
Skoll nodded: "Gavin helped her steal a hound."
William rubbed his chin upon hearing this. After listening for so long, he already knew this woman was set up.
Sadie obviously thought the same as him.
"Where is Ophelia's experiment site?" Her tone was a little anxious.
"Just near the 'Dead Dog Saloon'."
Just as Skoll finished speaking, rapid knocking sounded in the room.
The butler, Basel, looked anxious. Seeing the priest present, hesitation flashed in his eyes.
"Mr. Basel, he is my friend; there is nothing he cannot hear."
Sadie spoke at the right time.
Skoll looked at his eldest daughter upon hearing this, and finally said nothing.
"Okay, Miss Sadie."
Basel bowed slightly.
"Miss Ophelia was reported for 'raising monsters'. She is blocked near the tavern at this moment, and the Demon Hunter Association has also sent people there."
Skoll's face changed instantly upon hearing this: "What!"
Sadie also opened her mouth wide: "Impossible!"
William raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is this behavior very serious?"
Sadie nodded and explained:
"Monsters themselves are full of ominousness. Transporting them out of the Plague Zone may likely lead to pollution in the surrounding areas."
"It might even cause the seal to break prematurely."
"This is a very serious crime; in Saint Frian, it is punishable by hanging."
Sadie looked at her father after speaking.
"I'll go to the tavern first; please prepare to save people in advance, Father."
Her face was serious, deliberately emphasizing the words "save people."
Raising monsters concerns not only the lawbreaker themselves but even the power behind them will be implicated.
Sadie's eyes were full of worry.
If the seal ritual is delayed because of these things, the entire Louisiana will face a storm.
"Father William, shall we leave now?" She looked to her side.
"Let's go."
William nodded. Since he accepted the commission, he would naturally fulfill his duties.
The two took a carriage to the center of the town.
The flow of people on the street was converging in the same direction, so they found the place quickly.
At this time, a warehouse not far from the Dead Dog Saloon.
People formed a circle but kept a certain distance from the warehouse.
And most demon hunters took out their firearms, showing grave expressions.
William followed everyone's gaze.
He saw a man dressed as a cowboy lying on the ground at the warehouse entrance.
The other party's hands and feet were bent at unnatural angles.
And there were no pupils in his eyes, only the whites remaining, looking quite eerie.
At this time, someone in the crowd suddenly spoke:
"He's hopeless; an evil spirit has taken his soul."
William raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"Evil spirit?"
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