Chapter 137: Nanny comes to the valley.

When they surfaced, Zyra splashed water on Hunter, hissing like her snake. Her narrowed eyes almost poked holes into his body. "Why would you do that?"

He shrugged, running both of his hands through his hair. He had a charming, roguish, grin on his lips. "It’s hot. It was the only way I could think of to celebrate your generosity." His face suddenly changed. The charming grin was replaced with a solemn look. "You can’t tell anyone about this. If it gets out, many powerful clans, Trinity, guilds and other people will try to take you so that you can help their beasts evolve. They will hold you prisoner and charge a fee for your talent."

She shuddered. "Thanks for the reminder."

Hunter’s gaze shifted down to the unique tattoo etched onto Zyra’s skin. There were two distinct glowing triangles cleanly inked there, representing the hidden dungeons yet to be conquered. A flicker of deep curiosity and excitement flashed in his eyes. He wondered when she would ask him to go to another dungeon. He was incredibly curious about what bizarre treasures and entities they would find next.

Suddenly, a loud, chaotic commotion erupted from somewhere in the the shelter. Heavy footsteps, shouting, and the distinct sound of growls echoed through the air.

Hunter and Zyra instantly exchanged sharp, alert gazes. The lazy atmosphere evaporated in a second.

"Achilles?" Zyra muttered.

"Let’s go check," Hunter said, his hand instinctively dropping to his gun.

They rushed out of the pavilion and hurried toward the main courtyard. As soon as they stepped into the open air, they saw winged lizards and a lot of cargo boxes. Achilles was there, looking exhausted but triumphant from his journey.

But he wasn’t alone. Standing right beside him, dusting off her skirt with a stern look on her face, was an old woman Zyra mistook for a refugee like Malia and the others.

Zyra’s brows lifted, wondering if the extraction service Achilles had claimed was on hold was active again.

Hunter, on the other hand, smiled. Without a word, the two of them picked up their pace, moving quickly down the courtyard steps.

The moment they got to the inner courtyard, Nanny Rosita, whose eyes had been wandering around the shelter, finally spotted Hunter.

She froze. Then, she dropped her worn-out cloth handbag right onto the ground and ran to him_ well, if that desperate, limping, slow shuffle could be called running.

"My boy! My sweet boy!" she wailed. She opened her arms wide.

Hunter didn’t care that he was a powerful fighter feared by many; he ran to her and caught her in his arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. A blinding, genuine smile broke across his face_ a look so pure that Zyra had never seen anything like it on him before.

"Is that the Hunter we know?" Big Vince asked, they were all looking on with shock.

Zyra muttered, "I have the same question." This woman was not a refugee; she was probably family.

Nanny Rosita’s face was drenched in tears. The moment her feet touched the ground she grabbed Hunter’s face with both hands, pinching his cheeks and turning his head side to side to inspect him for old and new wounds. "Look at you! Are you eating? Are these people treating you badly? You look thinner!"

Zyra pressed a hand to her lips. The scene was incredibly emotional, like watching a mother and son reunite after a lifetime apart.

Achilles quietly crept up to Zyra’s side, leaning in to whisper, "If you want to win him over, you must get on Nanny’s good side. She is the supreme ruler of his heart."

Zyra shot him a look like he was speaking absolute nonsense. "Why on earth would I want to win him over?" she muttered back, keeping her voice low. She shot him a pointed glare, silently reminding him of the rigid, strictly transactional relationship she and Hunter actually shared.

Achilles merely grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "For now, my dear sister-in-law. For now."

Zyra turned her attention back to the duo, only for her jaw to drop. Hunter was currently being smacked right on the buttocks like a naughty toddler.

"Ouch! Nanny, stop!" Hunter yelped, jumping around in circles to avoid her wrath. And yet, he did not go far, or avoid her hand, even though he could. Clearly, this was a habit with them.

"Stop? I should beat you until your legs break!" Nanny Rosita scolded, her voice cracking with emotion. "You stayed away from home for so long! Do you have any idea how much pressure I was under? Worrying if you were dead or alive in some dangerous place? Not even one missed call from you for all this years?!"

"I’m sorry! Nanny, I’m truly sorry!" Hunter apologized frantically, hopping from foot to foot.

She spanked him again. "Sorry does not bring back my once black glorious hair which turned grey. It doesn’t take away my wrinkles. I look like an old crow now."

Up on the pavilion balcony, the beasts were having the time of their lives. A group of beasts were leaning over the railing, cheering wildly.

"Hit him harder, Old lady!" Spice hissed.

Squirrel perched on the railing, clapped her tiny paws together. "Oh, I like this old lady already! Give him another one for making us train without mercy!"

"I hope she is staying." One of the ducks said, "to spank him some more."

The beasts made sounds in agreement, even Tyrant!

Once the chaotic reunion finally settled down, Hunter approached Zyra and Achilles. He refused to let go of Nanny Rosita’s wrinkled hand, holding it like a safety blanket. He looked at Zyra, clear affection in his eyes. "Nanny, I want to introduce you to someone."

Achilles’ brows danced up and down suggestively. He nudged Hunter with his elbow and chimed in, "Yes, someone very special."

Nanny Rosita’s sharp eyes caught on immediately. Hunter was a strong, handsome young man, it was only natural that he finally had a girlfriend. She beamed, looking at Zyra expectantly.

"This is my wife," Hunter said clearly.

Nanny Rosita’s smile faded faster than a melting snowflake. "Wife?!"

Her intense, curious gaze jumped from Achilles to Hunter, then to Zyra, and back again. "Wife? Are you boys playing a prank on this old woman? Did you hire an actress from the capital to trick me? Achilles always does this and I still don’t find it funny."

Zyra stepped forward, offering a gentle, respectful bow. "No, Nanny Rosita. We are truly married. I am Mrs. Hunter Magnus, the woman who controls his movements and wallet now. It is an honor to meet you." She laughed lightly, hoping her joke had broken the ice.

Hearing the confirmation, tears welled up in the old woman’s eyes all over again. Before Zyra could even react, Nanny Rosita lunged forward and pulled her into a tight, fragrant hug that smelled of old herbs and home-cooked meals.

"Oh, bless the heavens!" the nanny wept into Zyra’s shoulder. "Thank you. Thank you for being Hunter’s companion, my dear. Thank you for loving him and taking care of him in all the places where I couldn’t be. At least now, he has more than just one old woman worrying about his stubborn soul. Now, I can die."

Suddenly, her head fell back and her limbs slacked.

Zyra could not hold back the scream which came from the deepest parts of her throat.