True Tycoon Her Empire, Her Rules

Chapter 199

The villagers stood in stunned silence, feeling the sting of an injustice they couldn’t fathom.

They hadn’t done a thing.

The chief had heard the creature before them, a Werewolf, no less, had been denied some mystical title because of someone’s blunder, and he’d called the culprit an absolute fool, nearly fainting in disbelief.

“My lord, who are you referring to? Who’s this person?” he asked, despite having a sneaking suspicion of the guilty party.

It was likely the descendant of the hunter who once brought wealth to their little hamlet.

Almost reflexively, the chief’s eye’s swept over the crowd of villagers, searching for a particular face among them.

He remembered that family had come to the gathering that day.

Some of the older folks seemed to grasp the situation as well, their gazes falling on a pale–faced young

man.

Aleck Lane, his family was among the wealthiest in the village.

After all, it was the Lane family whose fortunes had spurred the local economy, owning almost half of the mandrake farming contracts.

The Lanes were well–regarded in the village, and Aleck had lived a life of luxury since birth, moving to the city and only returning to his roots during the holidays, carrying with him the airs of a spoiled rich kid.

He was popular with the village youth, loved his liquor, and was known for his drunken rants.

Today, he’d come to the mountain seeking excitement and a glimpse of the rumored Werewolf, never imagining it would all come crashing down on him.

As the accusation sank in, Aleck vaguely remembered something absurd he’d once said, something he’d dismissed as a drunken dream.

He’d never connected it to the odd occurrences plaguing the village.

If only he’d known…

But how could he have confessed?

his thoughts as a swift kick landed on his behind, sending him tumbling to the

him space to fall.

a painful twist on his ear. It

to the mountain.

recent misfortunes, and Cox was determined to see

me. Look at the mess you’ve made. I told

hardship and knew

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the forests, and with a deep respect for the spirits of the woods,

would’ve thought his son

protected the village for years, and it wouldn’t have been too much to build a shrine in

have meant a windfall for the Lanes and the village.

now, all was lost.

hesitate to discipline Aleck on the

and, half–fearing, half–ashamed,

it. Please don’t hold the village accountable. Just say the word,

not entirely selfless, was

the Werewolf, the village had benefited from his family’s fortune for years.

just say

to resentment, focusing on losses

Cox demanded the village to share the consequences, it would

blame and earn their gratitude. After all, the family’s roots were still in the village, and he had no desire to

Cox’s words softened the villagers‘ stance, even earning the chief’s

the whole village. We can’t let your family shoulder this alone. We’ve all prospered

to the

its protection, only that it would spare them further

get a thrashing from Cox, feeling some of the

penalty, whatever it wished, but

a cunning Werewolf. If it truly sought vengeance, it could claim

think of it.

hopes on Winnie from the television crew nearby.