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?

a swift kick landed on his behind, sending him tumbling

villagers parted, giving him space to

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

to the mountain.

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

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 the trouble you’ve

experienced hardship and knew

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spirits of the woods, passed down! from the elders, they

thought his son would ruin everything?

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

could have meant a windfall for the Lanes and the village.

now, all

to discipline Aleck on the spot, with none of the villagers raising a

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

will bear it. Please don’t

not entirely selfless, was

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

just say that.

to resentment, focusing on

to share the consequences, it

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

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

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

agreed, and together they all bowed to the

its protection, only that it

the

penalty, whatever it wished, but

truly sought vengeance, it could claim his son’s

dared not think

on Winnie from the television crew nearby.