Desolate World

But, Aprilia didn't give up. She tried everything that she could think to 'conquer' the wolf, but to no avail. As it had been 15 minutes, She felt pity for the elf. 

"Captain. May I talk to him?" Geo then said, as he approached the elf.

Cloud smirked. She thought, 'Here, it comes.'

Aprilia became stiff. She then gritted her teeth and said, "Wait! I'm not done yet. Give me 5 more minutes."

"O-okay," Geo said and gave up right away.

The other elves started to smile secretly. However, it was just for a few seconds. As Aprilia looked at them, They wore poker faces once more. 

She then took a long stick. It seemed she had lost her patience. She then changed her strategy from 'bribing' to 'threatening'.

Geo wanted to say something, but Cloud pulled his shoulder and shook her head. 

*Clang*

She hit the bar of the cage. She then looked to try to communicate with the wolf once more. However, it made the wolf stand up and bared his fangs on her.

Aprilia didn't budge. She then tried to intimidate the wolf with several attempts. But it only made the wolf angrier.

Finally, after five minutes passed, Aprilia put the stick inside her inventory. After sighing, she turned her body to the six-year-old boy, Geo.

"Take your time. I will give you an hour. If you also can't subdue him. Unfortunately, we must get rid of him," Aprilia said in a helpless tone.

"Why?" Geo asked while showing a startled expression.

"Because if the alpha of the pack is not dead. It was impossible for the rest of the wolves to give in. I entrust the wolf to you. You can make him your pet or to domesticate him. It's all up to you," Aprilia then moved to the corner and waited for Geo's performance.

Geo then looked at Cloud with an unsure expression. Cloud then smiled and said, "You can do it. I believe you can do it."

Geo's face then became serious. He then approached the cage that imprisoned the wolf. He then looked at the wolf and was silent for a minute, as he tried to communicate with it. He then looked at the elf not far from him.

"Can you open the cage? I want to enter the cage," Geo then said.

The elves were startled. The elf that Geo looked at then asked, "But it's dangerous. He was so strong, you know."

Geo then said, "But I am stronger."

The elves were astounded. The elf then turned his head to Cloud.

Cloud then said, "Don't worry. Once the wolf tries anything funny, it will die."

The elf was startled. However, he then showed a bitter smile. It seemed he had remembered. However, he was still unsure. He then looked at Aprilia.

"Captain…?" He asked.

"As you know, he has 'the ring'. So let him in," She said flatly.

"Okay…," The elf said. He then took a bunch of keys. After selecting the right key, he then approached the cage. 

His movement made the wolf cautious. He bared his fangs once more and glared at the elf. However, the elf was indifferent to his warning. After the gate of the cage opened. He then stepped back and said, "Geo, you can enter now."

Geo immediately entered. And then the gate was closed. All the people then waited for a good show. 

Geo didn't disappoint them. As he entered, he took a bowl beside the plate with a slice of meat that seemed to be prepared by the elves. He then poured out the water in the bowl and took his own water bag and poured the content into the bowl. After that, he pushed the bowl to the cautious wolf.

At first, the wolf didn't want to drink it. Then, Geo drank the water from his water bag and showed a satisfied expression after that. 

Cloud saw everything that Geo did and wondered how he could do that. Where he learned to do that. Then she saw her son-in-law's shadow on her grandson. Yes, the little kid always looked at what Ace did all the time. 

Maybe he was just a bronze citizen. But, he could earn a million credits in one night. He could also turn 'undead' into living people, just by his reasoning. Although she hated to admit it, the former gambler had given her an excellent grandson.

The wolf then licked the water in the bowl although with suspicion. After the first lick, he couldn't stop. Cloud wondered what kind of water that her grandson had given him.

Then she saw Geo rub the wolf's neck softly. At first, it made the wolf stiff. Then it let Geo do that. After that, Geo said, "From now on, your name is Silver."

Everyone was surprised, including Cloud. Just like that!? Only by entering the cage, giving water, and then a few rubbing made the stubborn wolf to be that calm. They were seeing a genius in the making.

Cloud then found that the elves were stunned with their mouths opened. It was so funny, she wanted to laugh. She also felt proud of her grandson. Although she didn't know how he did it, it just showed that Geo was the best monster tamer in the town, despite his age being only 6 years old.

Geo then put a carcass of a rabbit in front of the wolf. The wolf then ate it with gusto.

"Please open the door! You don't have to worry anymore. He has become my pet," Geo said.

The elf then opened the gate. He then asked, "How? How can you do it?" 

Getting such questions, Geo appeared to be confused. It seemed the kid didn't understand what the elf tried to ask. 

As Cloud was also curious. She then asked, "What he meant is, how could you tame it?"

The elf nodded. 

Geo then said, "Because he was wary that you put poison in the water and the meat again, so he refused. And he didn't trust you because you were outside and he was inside the cage. So I decided to enter the cage and gave him water that I had drunk and gave him the carcass of a flash rabbit."

Everyone then nodded. It was so simple. 

"But how could you know that?" Aprilia finally couldn't help but ask.

***