Chapter 257: Female version of the devil.

It was always bustling when Achilles returned to the valley. Aside from the simple fact that the man couldn’t speak below a cheerful shout, he always came back with crates loaded to the brim with fresh supplies.

The children anticipated his arrival the most. To them, Achilles wasn’t an ordinary trader_ he was the magic man who brought free candy and shiny trinkets and lots of toys. His voluminous orange hair also played a role in the attraction they had towards him. It was safe to say he was the supermodel of the Beast valley.

It was happening at the moment, little girls touching his hair, little boys running around with toy guns. It didn’t matter that most were sick or recovering from the flu. They were out to play.

"Run along, you tiny things," He shooed them away when he saw the couple he wanted to meet the most coming toward him.

Zyra and Hunter walked up to meet him as he dusted off his traveling googles. Achilles took one look at Hunter, completely bypassed him, and threw his arms around Zyra. "Ah, my dear sister-in-law! I missed you!" Achilles declared, giving her a tight, bone-crushing hug.

Hunter’s eyebrows twitched. He grabbed Achilles by the back of his collar and tugged him away, his face darkening into a deep scowl. "It’s inappropriate to be so touchy with another man’s wife, Achilles. Keep your hands to yourself."

Achilles rolled his eyes and smoothed his robes. "Oh, please. Zyra is my family too, Hunter, not just your wife. Stop being so possessive of our treasure."

Before Hunter could retort, Achilles’ gaze drifted to the tall, quiet figure standing right behind Zyra. His eyes lit up. "And who is this beauty?"

Ignoring Hunter’s stern warning of "Take it easy," Achilles stepped forward with his usual theatrical charm. He gently took the woman’s hand, bowed his head, and pressed a dramatic kiss to the back of her knuckles.

Crack!

"Aaagh!" Achilles shrieked, his voice dropping three octaves as he dropped to his knees.

Elfy was squeezing his fingers with enough raw force to crush steel. Her deep blue eyes narrowed into cold slits. "I do not like to be touched by strangers," she said calmly, her tone completely devoid of mercy. "You seem harmless to my mother master though not like the other one." She glanced at Hunter suspiciously.

"Elfy, stop! Let him go!" Zyra gasped, hurriedly pulling the girl back. "He’s family! He’s really harmless!"

Elfy instantly released her grip, bowing her head submissively toward Zyra. "I apologize, mother master. I did not know that human bones are very brittle."

Achilles stumbled backward, cradling his throbbing, bright-red hand against his chest. He looked back and forth between Elfy’s innocent face and Zyra’s exasperated expression. "She does not know that human bones are brittle? Zyra, what in the world does that mean? What is she if she is not human?"

Zyra shook her head with a weary sigh. "It’s a long story. But she is human." Not all of her, but some DNA. But that part, she would not share with anyone carelessly. If she did, Elfy could end up becoming another wanted woman or alien.

Achilles waved his uninjured hand wildly in the air, dispelling the dozens of burning questions rising in his head. "Never mind! I don’t even want to know. My life is short enough as it is."

He turned away and bellowed out, "Bullet! Get over here!"

A broad-shouldered man named Bullet charged forward, leaving Nero, who was busy supervising the unloading of the supply crates. Bullet bowed with utmost respect toward Zyra. "Young Madam." He then looked around "And who is my protege? I was told you have one for me."

Hunter beckoned a young man that was moving a crate over. "Koji! Come here a second."

Koji wiped the sweat from his forehead and trotted over. He looked at everyone with suspicion, which was his nature.

"Koji, this is Bullet," Hunter said, clapping a hand on the boy’s shoulder. "He’s going to be your martial arts and shooting master from now on. He is as good as me. Learn well from him."

Koji’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He bowed deeply to the veteran warrior. "Thank you, Mr. Hunter! Thank you, Master Bullet! I won’t let you down!"

Bullet grinned, clapping the boy’s back so hard Koji nearly ate dirt. "Good spirit! We’ll make a true fighter out of you yet."

Hunter turned back to Bullet, his expression settling into a serious tone. "Bullet, are you keeping an eye on the families I told you about?"

Bullet nodded gravely. "I am. They’re stirring up quite a storm."

Zyra blinked, looking between the two men. "What families?"

"The families of your ex-fiancés," Hunter explained softly, meeting her eyes. "They haven’t stopped hunting for you. Especially the Duggar family. Hans’ sister, Candy Duggar, is currently leading a specialized search team through the outer territories in the wild lands."

Zyra raised her brows, a cold smile touching her lips. "Candy Duggar? I never expected them to give up the hunt easily. Well, good luck to them. They’ll need it. The wild lands are vast and dangerous."

Elfy tapped Zyra’s shoulder, her voice completely serious. "Mother master, even if they do find you, do not worry. I will break their necks before they take a breath."

Achilles opened his mouth to crack a joke, looked at Elfy’s deadpan expression, and promptly snapped his mouth shut. He took a slow breath and rubbed his temples. "I swear, I came to the mountains to get away from the drama, but there’s even more drama here."

"What drama at home?" Zyra asked, catching the hint in his voice.

Achilles flicked a glance at Hunter, hesitating. "Uh_ am I allowed to talk about that?"

Hunter crossed his arms and gave a slight nod. "Go ahead. I already told her who I really am."

Achilles’ eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. "Really?! You actually told her?!"

"Yes," Hunter sighed.

Achilles placed a dramatically heavy hand over his heart, exhaling a massive breath of relief. "Oh, thank the heavens! You have no idea how exhausting it was walking on eggshells around Zyra every time the family was mentioned!" He shook his head, his tone turning gossipy. "Well, if you want the truth, my mother is the new family head and we moved to the Kaelion estate, and it has been absolute chaos ever since. A complete nightmare. Your mother and mine quarrel at every single opportunity. The roof practically blows off the manor twice a day. By that I mean with explosives or something similar."

Hunter’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Aunt Alessa should be careful or soon it will not just be the roof that blows off but her."

Zyra’s brows drew together in confusion as she looked at Hunter. "Is your mother really that bad?"

"My mother," Hunter said flatly, "is the female version of the devil."