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

parted, giving him space to

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

to the mountain.

most from the recent misfortunes, and Cox was determined to see things

at the mess you’ve made. I told

had experienced hardship and knew the value of hard–won

11.40

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

thought his son would

and it wouldn’t have been too much to build a

a windfall for the

all

on the spot, with none

Cox finished and, half–fearing, half–ashamed,

family will bear it. Please don’t hold

not entirely selfless,

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

he couldn’t just

resentment, focusing on losses rather than

to share the consequences, it would only breed

were still in the village, and

stance,

for the whole village. We can’t let your family shoulder this

agreed, and together they all bowed to the Werewolf, asking how they could

only that it would spare them

from Cox, feeling some of the resentment fade,

offered punishment or penalty, whatever it wished, but

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

not think

Winnie