Chapter 142: First move to get power.

Achilles didn’t just fall_ he flew. He sailed through the air like a discarded sack of rice, traveled a good twenty yards, crashed through a decorative bush, and hit the dirt out cold.

Silence descended over the courtyard.

Every single person remained frozen in their hiding places. Their jaws literally dropped. Even the beasts stopped growling and stared at Zyra’s tiny fist in utter shock.

And then, they started to defrost and come out of hiding, one by one, with wide eyes and slack jaws.

"See?!" Scotty yelled, breaking the silence with a huge, proud grin. "I told you all! The Divine Maiden is super powerful! You guys didn’t believe me!"

Everyone had the same question on their mind. Was this what mattered most at this moment? Zyra hitting Achilles was more important, surely.

Hunter slowly turned his head from the knocked-out Achilles back to Zyra. His eyes wide, he subconsciously reached out and touched her shoulder, thinking of throwing her over his shoulder after breaking her hand. Then, realizing what he was doing and who she was. He flinched and quickly took two big steps back, holding his hands up. This was not an enemy, it was his wife.

"Uh_ Zyra?" Hunter swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "What... what was that for? What is going on?"

Zyra huffed, pointing a finger at the smoking pile of ash where the box used to be. "Your idiot cousin brought a tracking device into our valley!"

Hunter frowned, his worry turning into confusion. "A tracking device? But_ Achilles is always so careful. How could he let his guard down like that? He double checks all cargo before we transport it and takes three detours before following the road to his true destination. You must be mistaken."

Armillo ran over to the unconscious Achilles, poked his swollen cheek, and sighed. "Boss is out like a light. I’ll take him to the medical room."

Hunter waved his hand quickly, not taking his eyes off Zyra. "Yes, go, go! Take him fast before she hits him again!"

Zyra put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. "Beauty, scan the whole place. Is there anything else?"

A second later, Beauty’s cheerful voice rang in her head. [All clear, Host! No more trackers detected!]

Zyra let out a loud breath and looked at Hunter. "We’re clear for now. But we have to wait for Achilles to wake up so he can tell us who was tracking him. Let’s just hope whoever sent it hasn’t figured out where this valley is yet."

********

From the Mystic Sanctum, Lita made a quick detour through the bustling local mall. She headed straight for the restaurant and did exactly as Trinity had instructed. She ordered for a deep fried fish and other meat dishes. She bumped into a waiter delivering sea food porridge, enduring the sting as some of it poured on her hand.

Better safe than sorry, she thought. Maybe, she could even use the injury to get out of work for a few days.

"Do you know who I am?" She screamed. "I am Lita Kaelion. Do you know how much my dress costs?" Her intention was to cause a scandal and make sure her face was seen. Her name needed to be remembered.

If Sabrina investigated her need for a shower and change of clothes, everyone in the restaurant would remember her. Naturally, the restaurant manager rushed to her side. She was taken to the VIP bathroom, and given a change of clothes.

To cover her tracks, after leaving the restaurant, Lita went to the mall and bought a few random personal items and a cheap phone_ basically a budget phone. It wasn’t half as nice as her old one with the cracked glass screen, but it would do.

After that, she intentionally browsed every single shop in the mall, buying cheap trinkets, dawdling until the sun went down. Going home early meant being forced to cook teas and chop vegetables for dinner, and she wasn’t about to be anyone’s servant tonight.

By the time she stepped back into the Kaelion compound, it was nearly six in the evening. Dinner was about to served.

According to her ally Trinity, this was the exact time the Grand Patriarch liked to relax by the back courtyard’s pond, feeding his precious mutated Arowana fish. Lita deliberately took the scenic route past the water. Sure enough, the old man was sitting on a carved stone bench, tossing glowing bits of food into the water while the giant, whisker-faced fish splashed happily.

Lita took a deep breath, put on her best dutiful-daughter-in-law face, and walked over. "Greetings, Grand Patriarch_"

She pulled off a masterclass dramatic fall. She tripped over her own feet and hit the dirt with a loud thump, scattering some of her shopping bags and the box everywhere. Dried persimmons rolled across the paved path.

The Grand Patriarch gasped, startled out of his wits. He immediately stood up and walked over. Lita mentally smirked, expecting the old master to offer her a hand and ask if she was hurt.

Instead, the old man completely ignored her sprawling body, bent down, and delicately scooped up the dried persimmons. He brushed the dirt off them with his sleeve as if he were holding ancient, priceless gems.

Only after securing the fruit did he glance down at her. "Ah_ are you alright, girl?"

Lita dusted off her knees, forcing a pathetic, tired smile. "I’m okay, Grand Patriarch. I was just too careless_ my body is so exhausted from running errands."

The Grand Patriarch handed the fruit back to her, eyes wide with awe. "Where did you get these? Dried persimmons are such a rare fruit! They only grow beyond the veil!"

Lita acted totally clueless, blinking innocently. "Really? I was just walking through the mall and luckily came across a tiny store selling them."

The old man’s wrinkled face lit up like a festival lantern. "Quickly! Give the stall’s directions to Maverick so he can buy the whole store!"

"Oh_ I wish I could," Lita sighed, shaking her head sadly. "But those were the very last ones they had. The owner was closing shop forever so she was selling off everything. She mentioned that she is moving to another country tonight to live with her new husband."

Instantly, the Grand Patriarch’s bright smile melted into pure, heartbreaking disappointment. He looked at the fruit in his hands like a sad child.

Seeing her moment, Lita offered the rest of them forward with both hands. "Grand Patriarch, if you like them so much, please take them! I bought them for you anyway."

The old man’s eyes sparkled. "For me? Ah, what a generous, dutiful heart you have!"

Without waiting another second, he grabbed a dried persimmon, dipped it into the fish pond to wash off the remaining dirt, and popped the whole thing into his mouth. He chewed with supreme bliss.

Lita cheered wildly in her mind. I have got him! This old man is so easy to please.