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

parted, giving him

lash out, he felt a painful twist on his ear. It was Cox Lane, his father, who’d come with him

to the mountain.

family had suffered most from the recent misfortunes, and

to contribute. But to discover that the source of all this trouble was Aleck. “You’re gonna be the death of 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

and knew the value of hard–won

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

his son would

the village for years, and it wouldn’t have been too much to

gain its title could have meant a windfall for the Lanes

all was

a fit of rage, Cox didn’t hesitate to discipline Aleck on the spot, with none of the villagers raising a voice in

coldly, silent until Cox finished and, half–fearing, half–ashamed, bowed deeply before the

bear it. Please don’t hold the village accountable. Just

though not entirely

had benefited from his family’s fortune for years. If it all ended now, they had

just say

quick to resentment, focusing on

to share the consequences, it would only breed

to take the blame and earn their gratitude. After all, the family’s roots were still in the village, and he

words softened the villagers‘ stance, even earning the

can’t let your family shoulder this

they all bowed to the Werewolf, asking how

protection, only that it would

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

it wished, but he was secretly

all, this was a cunning Werewolf. If it truly sought vengeance, it

think of it.

his hopes on Winnie from the television