Chapter 187: Lita’s small bribe.

Malia blinked, leaning in with genuine curiosity. "How huge are we talking? Draw a picture or compare it something we can actually visualize."

Zyra was thinking the exact same thing. She didn’t want one beast to crowd the domain.

"Twenty times the size of Tyrant. Or put six large buildings together. Or get a herd of sixty mutated elephants and add them together to make one." Achilles replied gravely. "And one sting? Boom. You’re dead before you even hit the floor."

"And that’s not even the main problem," Hunter added, rubbing his temples. "There’s only one queen in the entire farm. She does all the heavy lifting_ laying eggs, keeping the hive together, monitoring for threats, maintaining the quality of the honey. There is only one venomous queen bee at Bandaris. If anything happens to that queen, the farm goes completely out of the honey business forever. Do you really think they aren’t guarding her like their own lives depend on it?"

Achilles nodded in agreement. "Now do you see why it’s insane? You can’t even get close to the thing, let alone kidnap it!"

Zyra slowly lifted her teacup and took a quiet sip. With her secret Beast Dominion ability, stealing an oversized insect was practically a walk in the park. She could walk it right out the front door without a single guard realizing what happened.

Setting her cup down, Zyra looked around the table. "So_ can you guys find a way to get me inside or not?"

Achilles let out a low, frustrated growl, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Before he could throw a proper fit, Zyra shot him a sharp, icy glare_ a look that practically screamed, You better stop throwing a tantrum and start speaking useful words right now.

Achilles choked back his growl, running a hand through his messy hair in annoyance. He huffed loudly. "Fine! Look, I have a connection who can get us inside. But honestly? You’d be way better off going after a python instead. You are not getting near the bee."

"He’s right," Hunter piped up immediately. "If it’s poison you need, Moonfall Dungeon has to be practically crawling with giant pythons by now. Its breeding season for them. It’s way less hassle than stealing an elephant-sized bee."

Zyra gave a small nod. "Fair enough. Hopefully, the dew fruit is hiding in Moonfall as well." She paused, curiosity getting the better of her. "Why was Moonfall Dungeon abandoned in the first place, anyway?"

Bianca shivered, pulling her black shawl tighter around her shoulders. "Because it’s a absolute nightmare. The ground there is so soft, it’s basically one giant sinking mud pit, and it’s infested with way too many damn poisonous snakes. Going in there is a one-way ticket to the afterlife even if you are fully covered in armor. Very few people ever make it back out. It is not child’s play like the other dungeons.

"Don’t forget the quicksand," Hunter chipped in helpfully with a grim smile. "It’s everywhere. One wrong step and you’re swallowed whole."

Achilles picked up his cup, took a slow, relaxed sip and flashed a brilliant, unhelpful grin. "Well then," he said cheerfully, "I wish you all the best of luck!"

Zyra waved dismissively "Ah! The coward comes forth again."

Everyone laughed lightly.

Hunter pointed at Achilles, "You need to see a therapist, you seem traumatized."

"Hell no!" Achilles shouted, "That is not my type of thing. I would rather have leeches cut out of me."

The women began to tease him while Hunter laughed.

***

At the Kaelion estate, Lita stood outside the door to Sabrina’s office, holding a tray with two cups of freshly squeezed orange juice. Her ear was pressed flat against the wood, straining to catch every single word echoing from inside the room.

Inside, Sabrina was practically shrieking. "He is completely unfit to be the heir!" Her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "If Derek shows up to the clan meeting as the Grand Patriarch’s representative, everyone will take it as an official declaration! It’s basically telling the entire world that the old man supports that weak fool!"

A loud crash echoed through the door; something expensive made of porcelain meeting a sudden, violent end. Lita shuddered, clutching the tray a little tighter.

"Calm down sweetheart." Horas said to her. "You already have a lot on your plate, the company, the guild..."

"Ah the guild! don’t get me started on Kalinda!" Sabrina began, her rant escalating. "She couldn’t even track a simple batch of new supplies! Everyone in this household is completely useless except for my Elliot. Just wait until Elliot gets back_ he’ll handle everything properly."

Lita shook her head slowly. Yeah, definitely not a good time to offer refreshments, she thought to herself. Unless I want a glass thrown directly at my face.

She was just about to quietly back away when she heard heavy, stomping footsteps echoing down the hallway. Each step hit the floor like a wooden paddle slap. Lita didn’t even need to look up to know who it was. Only one person in the entire residence walked with that much unearned arrogance: Apofia.

"I would not go into mother’s office if I were you!" Lita hissed, rushing toward her with the juice tray balanced carefully in one arm. "Now is really, really not a good time."

Apofia stopped, squinting suspiciously at the office door, then down at Lita. "And why is that?"

"She’s furious," Lita whispered dramatically, rolling her eyes toward the door. "Things are already flying."

Apofia flinched slightly. She knew better than to test Sabrina when she was in a rage_ Lita’s quick warnings had saved her from a sharp slap across the face on more than one occasion.

Huffing loudly, Apofia clicked her tongue, threw her chin into the air, and turned on her heel to walk away in a huff.

"Wait!" Lita called out softly.

Apofia whipped around, glaring. "What now?!"

Lita reached deep into her apron pocket and pulled out a glittering hair ornament. It was polished silver, crafted in the delicate style usually reserved for high-born young ladies of privileged clans.

Apofia’s eyes widened, her angry expression melting into curiosity.

"I_ I wanted to apologize for any trouble I’ve caused you lately," Lita said, putting on her best timid, submissive voice. "I was hoping_ maybe you could teach me how to be better? I know how important you are in this household, Apofia. I just really want to be on your good side. I want you to look out for me too."

A smug, satisfied smirk spread across Apofia’s face. She snatched the ornament from Lita’s hand, admiring the shine.

"Well," Apofia purred, tossing her hair back. "That is all we ever want, for our value to be noticed. It’s good for you to finally know your place." She turned and strutted down the hallway, holding the hairpin up to the light like a grand treasure.

The moment Apofia’s back was turned, the meek expression vanished from Lita’s face, replaced by a cold, mocking sneer.

"Stupid bitch," Lita muttered under her breath, blowing a hot puff of air from her nose as she watched her go. "Where are you even going to wear that? You’re a maid in this family as well, not a clan princess."

Carrying her untouched orange juice, Lita turned around and casually strolled away. She took satisfaction in knowing that at least she had more value to Sabrina and Trinity compared to Apofia. A day would come when Apofia would be the one trying to get on her good side.