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?

swift kick

giving him space to fall.

felt a painful twist on his ear. It was Cox Lane, his father,

to the mountain.

the recent misfortunes, and

me. Look at the mess you’ve made. I told you to focus on your business, not waste your days drinking and gambling with your fair–weather friends. See the trouble you’ve brought on everyone?”

and knew the

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a deep respect for the spirits of the woods, passed down! from the elders, they were always

his son

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

its title could have meant a

all

hesitate to discipline Aleck on the spot, with none of the

watched coldly, silent until Cox finished and, half–fearing, half–ashamed,

Whatever punishment you see fit, the Lane family will bear it.

not entirely selfless, was

had benefited from his family’s fortune for years. If it all ended now, they had no right to

just

quick to resentment, focusing on losses rather

the consequences, it would only breed

family’s roots were still in the village, and he had no

the villagers‘ stance, even earning the chief’s approval, who

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

they all bowed to the Werewolf,

its protection, only that it would spare them

get a thrashing from Cox, feeling some of the resentment fade, yet it wasn’t ready to let bygones be bygones.

punishment or penalty, whatever it wished, but he was secretly terrified.

Werewolf. If it truly sought vengeance, it could claim his son’s

think of it.

pinned his hopes on Winnie