Chapter 160: A transport defied all odds.

He muttered under his breath, looking at Zyra like she was a tiger waiting to devour him. Usually, he was the one who cornered helpless merchants and squeezed them dry! How in the world did he end up trapped in a corner in his own cousin’s house?!

And why was his sister was only making things worse for him? Didn’t she have any loyalty to family? She spent his money more than he did, helping poor people. How could she not see the opportunity to help him get bigger benefits?

Bianca smirked at her trembling, sweating brother. "If you think it’s too much, why don’t you go discuss it with Hunter first? See what he says. I am sure he will look out for his wife first. They are married and everything so what’s his is hers and what’s hers is his. Technically, Zyra is your boss."

Achilles let out a dry, disbelieving laugh. Discuss it with Hunter? Hunter would give her fifty percent as long as she asked for it!

Seeing Achilles squirm, Zyra wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. "Well, if you’re uncomfortable with my demands, I’m perfectly fine with keeping our current arrangement. It’s not a bad one actually, because it doesn’t tie me to one guild exclusively." Zyra said indifferently. She turned her eyes toward Bianca. "Bianca, if you have finished eating? Let’s go spar."

Bianca’s face lit up instantly. "Ready when you are!"

She jumped up from her chair, whipped her long ponytail back over her shoulder with a dramatic flip of her hair, and strutted right past her dumbfounded brother to follow Zyra out the door.

Achilles sat alone at the breakfast table, staring at his lukewarm porridge, wiping his forehead again.

"___She’s definitely Hunter’s wife," he muttered weakly to the empty room. "They’re both good at hatching plan B’s before plan A materializes." He was sure Zyra had not mentioned other guilds out of thin air. She had thought about it. In his eyes, this was a betrayal worse than an extra marital affair.

****

Regall Hill,somewhere deep in the extremely dry Wildlands.

The people that lived here were among the very first brave souls to clear out beasts and build a settlement in this dangerous region. They had accomplished it better than most and built what looked like a small town, over the years.

Today, the entire settlement was buzzing with noise. Music played, huge fires roared, and the smell of roasting meat filled the air. They were celebrating a giant haul from their latest hunting trip!

Inside the main wooden hall, Duncan Keystone, the leader of Regall Hill__ sat on a large, carved wooden chair. He slapped his thigh with a wide laugh, praising each hunting team as they stepped forward to present their loot.

"Good! Excellent!" Duncan roared, tossing a pouch of energy stones to a bruised hunter. "Five iron-clawed rabbits! Three are pregnant! You boys did well today!"

Another group came forward with their loot. "Sir, the wildlands are crawling with many people meaning that we get to loot more." One man displayed the energy stones that he had been able to steal.

"Good, Good. Ha-ha-ha, let them come." Duncan laughed.

The town was the bandit stronghold, one of the strongest in the wildlands and it was thriving. The bandits bowed and grinned, stepping back to grab their ale. But as the hall slowly cleared, Duncan’s smile began to fade. He stroked his small beard, looking toward the open wooden doors with a growing frown.

Where the hell is Kenan? he thought, his heart sinking bit by bit.

Normally, his spoiled, braggart son was always the very first to rush back, eager to show off his kills and loot in front of everyone. But the sun was already out above the sharp peaks of Regall Hill, and there was still no sign of his return.

Suddenly, the festive music outside smashed to a dead halt.

Loud shouts and panicked screaming echoed from the courtyard. A young man practically kicked the heavy wooden door open, tumbling into the room on his hands and knees.

"Boss! Boss! Bad news!" the young man shrieked, his voice cracking so hard it sounded like a dying duck.

Duncan stood up like a mountain, his face instantly darkening. "Speak properly! Did a beast wave attack?!"

"No! It’s___ it’s young master Kenan’s transport beast!" the hunter gasped, wiping sweat and dirt from his forehead. "It just landed in the courtyard__ alone! Kenan isn’t with it!"

A collective gasp of sheer horror swept through the room like a cold wind. Halfway across the hall, Kenan’s mother dropped her wooden cup, letting out a ear-splitting wail. "My baby! Oh heavens, my poor Kenan!"

Duncan didn’t waste a single second. He pushed past the crowd, his heavy boots booming against the ground as he stormed outside.

In the middle of the crowded courtyard, a flying lizard beast was collapsed on its side. Its wings were shredded, its tail was missing half its tip, and deep, bloody claw marks lined its ribs. It was gasping for air, trembling violently. Anyone with eyes could see this poor creature had dragged itself through hell and high water just to fly back home and it was on the verge of death.

Duncan marched straight up to the creature. He reached out, grabbed the dying beast by the spiky horn on its head, and yanked its snout up to his face.

"Where is my son?!" Duncan roared, red veins popping out on his neck. "Where is Kenan?! Speak, you stupid beast!"

The lizard opened its golden eyes weakly. It let out a pathetic hiss-cough, but it was so exhausted that barely a puff of air came out.

Seeing no answer, Duncan’s infamous fiery temper completely exploded.

"Useless brute!" Duncan screamed.

He let go of the horn and threw a heavy, fist straight into the lizard’s ribs!

He didn’t stop there. He kicked it in the chest, punching and cursing like a mad demon. "I fed you top-grade meat every single day, and you come back alone?! Where is he?!"

The poor transport beast groaned once, rolled its eyes into the back of its head, and went completely still.

The residents were already ducking into houses, behind barrels, diving under tables, or hiding behind stone walls. Nobody dared to take a single breath. Everyone in Regall Hill knew that when Boss Duncan lost his temper, he beat up anything that moved!

Crossing him right now was basically asking the King of Hell for an early ticket to the afterlife. The dead beast was a perfect example. It had defied all odds and returned, only to be driven to a near death state almost immediately.

"Druski!" Duncan roared, panting heavily as he wiped blood off his knuckles. "Get your skinny ass out here right now!" He had murder on his mind. Whoever had touched his son would pay in blood.