Just before the raid on Ket Nya.
A fence resembling a makeshift barricade was erected around the perimeter of Ket Nya.
"Gyahaha! What a joke! Those monsters really think this crap can keep us out!"
A man in a filthy hood clutched his belly, roaring with laughter.
"Seriously, how pathetic can you get? I'll give 'em credit for noticing us, but this is the best countermeasure they could come up with? Guess they're just brainless beasts after all."
A man with black hair grown long only at the crown of his head nodded along with his hooded companion.
"Cat-faced monsters, huh? Once we round 'em up, wouldn't hurt to have a little taste, would it?"
At the hooded man's suggestion, the topknotted man stared blankly for a second, caught off guard.
"Are you out of your mind? They're monsters."
His face twisted into an expression of sheer disgust as he asked.
"Yeah, but they're female. So normally, you'd help yourself, wouldn't ya?"
"Look, monsters don't have males and females. No normal guy would touch that."
The black-haired man shrugged in utter disbelief, prompting the hooded man to spit back:
"Now that's just plain stupid! We're bandits. Without perks like that, this gig ain't worth the trouble. Especially since this job is a raw deal to begin with."
"Can't argue with that. The boss takes the lion's share of the payout anyway."
Both men's faces darkened with bitter resentment, and then—
"Hey... what do you really think of our current boss?"
The hooded man muttered under his breath.
"...That's a dangerous question. What are you getting at?"
"Exactly what you're thinking. The one we swore loyalty to was the old boss who died of illness, not that brat of a daughter he left behind. Am I wrong?"
"...No, you're not. Well, it's about time to get out of this racket anyway. Retiring after this job might not be a bad idea. If we split the take among ourselves, we'll walk away rich."
"Which means she's in our way, ain't she?"
"Yeah. Totally in the way."
They exchanged vile smirks and nodded, but then—
"What about the other guys?"
"No need to even ask. Everyone's sick to death of that woman's bossy attitude. They're bound to be thinking the exact same thing we are. Once we make a move, they'll fall right in line."
"Then there's only one problem left."
"That Sugar guy, huh..."
"If we offer him more than what she's paying, he'll switch sides in a heartbeat. He's a pro at his trade, so he won't care about loyalties."
"Alright! Alll-right! So, when do we pull the trigger?"
"How about when we grab the cat monsters and bring them back to the boss? She seems pretty wary of Sugar, too. Conveniently enough, she's keeping her distance from him."
With thick, unvarnished greed smeared across their faces, the two broke through the barricade and made their triumphant way into the monster settlement.