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?

Aleck was jolted from his thoughts as a swift

parted, giving him space

a painful twist on his ear.

to the mountain.

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

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

and knew the value

11.40

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

thought his son would ruin

have

meant a windfall

now, all was

Cox didn’t hesitate to discipline Aleck on the spot, with none of the villagers

and, half–fearing, half–ashamed, bowed deeply before the

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

though not entirely selfless, was practical.

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

couldn’t just

to resentment, focusing

village to share the consequences, it would only

all, the family’s roots were still in the village, and he had

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

We can’t let your

to the Werewolf, asking how

longer expected its protection, only that it would spare them further

get a thrashing from Cox, feeling some of the resentment fade,

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

truly sought vengeance, it could claim his

think of

on Winnie from the television crew