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

villagers parted, giving him

his ear. It was Cox Lane,

to the mountain.

recent misfortunes,

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 knew the value of

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

thought his son

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

it gain its title could have meant a windfall for the Lanes and

now, all was lost.

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

until Cox finished and,

Lane family will bear it. Please don’t hold the village accountable. Just say the word, and we’ll do whatever we can to make

though not entirely selfless,

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

couldn’t just say that.

resentment, focusing on

share the consequences, it would only breed bitterness.

were still in the

expected, Cox’s words softened the villagers‘ stance, even earning the chief’s approval, who added,

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

and together they all bowed to the

that it would spare

of the resentment fade, yet it wasn’t ready

offered punishment or penalty, whatever it wished, but he was secretly

this was a cunning Werewolf. If it truly sought vengeance, it could claim his

dared not think of it.

on Winnie from the television crew