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?

swift

parted, giving him space to fall.

his ear. It was Cox Lane, his father,

to the mountain.

Lane family had suffered most from the recent misfortunes,

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 business, not waste your days drinking and

knew the value of hard–won

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woods, passed down! from the elders, they were always

his son would ruin everything?

it wouldn’t have been too much to build a

have meant a windfall for the Lanes and the

all was lost.

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

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

offended you. Whatever punishment you see fit, the Lane family will bear it. Please don’t hold the village accountable. Just say the word,

not entirely

for years. If it all ended now, they had

couldn’t just say

focusing on losses rather than

to share the consequences,

their gratitude. After all, the family’s roots were still in

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

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

bowed to the Werewolf, asking how

no longer expected its protection, only that it would spare

from Cox, feeling some of the resentment fade, yet it wasn’t ready

whatever it wished, but he

this was a cunning Werewolf. If it truly sought

dared not think

Cox pinned his hopes on Winnie from the television