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

him space to

could lash out, he felt a painful twist on his

to the mountain.

had suffered 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 your

and knew the value of hard–won

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

would’ve thought his son would ruin everything?

protected the village for years, and it wouldn’t have been too much to build a shrine in its honor.

meant a windfall for the Lanes and the

all

on the spot, with none of the villagers

and, half–fearing,

the ignorance of Aleck that offended you. Whatever punishment you see fit, the Lane family will bear it. Please don’t hold

though not entirely selfless, was

fortune for years. If it all

just say

focusing on losses

demanded the village to share the consequences, it would only breed bitterness.

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

Cox’s words softened the villagers‘ stance, even

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

together they all bowed to

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

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

whatever it wished, but he was secretly terrified.

If it truly sought vengeance,

not think of it.

Cox pinned his hopes on Winnie from