Chapter 152: Probational stay.

Zyra scoffed under her breath at the system reward, then narrowed her eyes at the two beasts. "Listen to me closely. From now on, you two are my eyes and ears. You spy on your masters. If they pull another stunt or do anything unforgivable, you’re both out. Got it?"

The two beasts vigorously nodded their heads, instantly turning on their owners.

"Stupid humans," one leopard grumbled, shaking its feathered head. "Always getting us into trouble with their dumb decisions."

"Right? bad decision makers, the lot of them," the eagle grunted in agreement.

Zyra turned around and swept her cold gaze over the surrounding humans, raising her voice so everyone could hear. "I think that some of you have a misunderstanding about the rules here. You think they can be broken as you wish and this is some kind of resort where you can walk in and out as you please, bringing back all sorts of dangers because of carelessness.

The wild lands are a hub for criminals. This is not the city where soldiers and police offers are always crawling to maintain law and order. Nobody should contact any communities and villages near us randomly. Don’t make any promises. Don’t just bring back anyone here without knowing their intentions.

If you go out and bring back danger, don’t expect me to run out blindly to save you. Vince and Daniel brought a bandit to our doorstep. I am only forgiving them this once. This warning goes to the rest of you! I am not taking any more careless stupidity in this valley. Consider this your only warning."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked back into the medical room.

She walked straight up to Bianca, who was currently sipping water, and crossed her arms. "You can’t stay here," Zyra said flatly. "Early tomorrow morning, you’re leaving."

Bianca froze, the cup halfway to her lips. She looked completely confused, glancing back and forth between Hunter and her brother. "Wait_ who are you to say that?"

Hunter stepped forward, touching Zyra’s shoulder. "Bianca, this is Zyra. She’s, my wife."

Bianca’s eyes went wide. "Your_ wife? You are married? Wait...Zyra! As in hunted Soul maiden Zyra Scorpion the daughter of Zena Scorpion!"

"And," Hunter added, dropping the second bomb, "she’s the owner of this entire valley."

Bianca blinked, swallowing hard. She quickly composed herself and shook her head vehemently. "Then we are family. Why would she want to kick me out? Look, I_ I really can’t leave right now. I need to lay low. I came here because of the Divine maiden--"

"The Divine Maiden is at the Mystic Sanctum, not here," Zyra interrupted coldly.

Achilles stepped closer to his sister, frowning deeply as he looked at Bianca. He had known her for years, and he had never seen her look this rattled. "What do you mean that you need to lay low? You do not even come home for holidays because you are busy with your guild affairs. Bianca, what did you do? What’s going on? Are you in danger?"

Hunter’s face darkened instantly. "If you brought trouble to our doorstep, Bianca, you’re leaving tonight. Not tomorrow morning. Tonight."

Tears suddenly welled up in Bianca’s eyes. The tough, sharp-tongued woman looked genuinely terrified. "I have nowhere else to go!" she choked out, her voice cracking. "I just need to hide for a little bit! The Black Flower Guild_ it’s not what I thought it was. It’s...." She chewed on her bottom lip to stop herself from saying anything further.

Achilles gasped. "What do you mean?"

"It’s better if you don’t know," Bianca whispered, trembling. "If they find out_"

"Nero will find you a safe house somewhere else," Hunter asserted, his tone unyielding. "But you cannot stay here and put this valley in danger."

"Come on, cousin, be realistic!" Bianca pleaded, stepping closer to him. "Danger is already coming. All the nations have locked their borders! You can’t just cross in and out easily anymore! There are soldiers and security measures everywhere!"

"I repeat, you cannot stay!" Hunter insisted. His mother would track her here. "Go to our other shelters."

Seeing that Hunter was a stone wall, Bianca quickly pivoted. She turned her tear-streaked face toward Zyra, clasping her hands together in a desperate plea.

"Please sister-in-law!" Bianca begged Zyra. "Look, I’m a great helper! I can heal, I can fight, I can cook, I can clean_ I’ll do whatever you want! Just let me stay until the tension dies down in the guild. The second it’s safe, I swear I’ll leave!"

Zyra looked at the woman pleading before her. If she was allowed to stay, maybe she could copy some of her skills. Besides, she had stepped in to save Vince and Daniel so she could not be chased away so easily. Zyra pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

"Fine," She grumbled, pointing a stern finger at her. "I’ll be watching you. Every single step you take. One mistake_ just one_ and I throw you to the wolves myself."

The dramatic tears on Bianca’s face vanished in a flash. A triumphant grin spread across her face. She turned toward Hunter, stuck her tongue out like a petty five-year-old, and made a childish face at him.

Hunter closed his eyes, pinching his temples as he looked away. Great, he thought to himself with a massive internal groan. This woman is going to give me a permanent headache.

The medical room was thick with tension, but Achilles didn’t care. Unlike Hunter, who looked like he’d just swallowed a bitter toad, Achilles was practically beaming. His sister was being allowed to stay for now. That meant she was safe from whatever she was running from.

"Thank you, Zyra," Achilles said, his eyes bright with relief. "Thank you so much, I will pay double Bianca’s rent, and I will make sure that she is on her best behavior."

Zyra rubbed her temples, letting out a heavy sigh. "Don’t thank me yet, Achilles. Bianca is on a probational stay. One wrong move, and she’s out."

Satisfied that she’d delivered her warning, Zyra turned on her heel to leave. But before she could take a single step, Bianca reached out and yanked her sleeve.

"Um_ sister-in-law? We have a tiny problem," Bianca whispered with a sheepish grin.

Zyra stopped dead in her tracks. She slowly folded her lips into a tight line, her eyes narrowing into slits. She was already regretting every single life choice that had brought her to this moment.

"What now?" Zyra asked, her voice dangerously calm.

"It’s about the transport beast which followed your men." Bianca admitted, shrinking back a little.

Zyra’s eyes widened as the realization hit her like a splash of cold water. "It escaped?!"

Everyone knew that transport beasts weren’t just flying animals_ they had terrifying memory. Once a transport beast visited a place, it would never forget the path back. That beast would be back sooner or later.