Chapter 138: Why Won’t You Let Me Team Up with Lam?

Demanding that Ophelia provide 3,500 pounds of grain to the White Tiger Clan within a year had originally just been an excuse for Klein to become her mate.

Now that they were mates, she no longer needed to supply the remaining grain to the clan.

Therefore, Ophelia decided to sell the leftover grain at the Wall Shops.

The person in charge of selling this grain was none other than Lam.

One day, Lam came to Ophelia to purchase a new batch of grain.

Ophelia’s eyes instantly lit up when she saw him.

“Ophelia, I’ve already traded away all two hundred pounds of rice I stocked up on previously. I want to trade for another two hundred pounds,” Lam said, taking out two Yellow Crystal Stones.

Seeing business knocking at her door, Ophelia naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Over this period of time, the Wall Shops had fully taken shape, and the males trading there mostly used Crystal Stones.

As her system leveled up, it required increasingly more points. Ordinary animal skins simply couldn’t satisfy the points needed for the system’s upgrades anymore.

Thus, the fastest and most efficient way was to trade using Crystal Stones.

“Yes, of course. But you have to control the volume you sell. Don’t let it affect the Mountain Goat Clan’s rice trades.”

“I know. The prices I’m selling at right now are identical to the Mountain Goat Clan’s.”

Hearing this, Ophelia felt relieved.

She couldn’t let the Mountain Goat Clan suffer a loss just for her own selfish gains.

Looking at Lam’s handsome face, an idea popped into Ophelia’s mind.

“Lam, is there any young female you like?”

Lam didn’t know why she was asking, but he answered honestly.

“I don’t have any female I like, and I don’t plan on taking a mate anytime soon.”

“Then do me a favor, will you?” Ophelia said immediately.

Lam was a bit confused but nodded in agreement. “Alright. As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll definitely help.”

Ever since joining the Fuzu Tribe, Lam had become even more determined to maintain a good relationship with Ophelia.

He always had an inexplicable feeling that Ophelia’s achievements wouldn’t be limited to just growing crops.

Perhaps she could even lead the Fuzu Tribe to greater heights, eventually rivaling the High-level Tribes.

“I want you to help me put on an act.”

Lam didn’t ask too many questions; he would do whatever Ophelia asked of him.

Two days later.

By the Wall Shops, two young people—one tall and one short—were browsing the stalls.

Meanwhile, Laxus had received a message from Ophelia saying she needed to see him about something and asking him to make a trip to the Fuzu Tribe.

Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Fuzu Tribe, he spotted two familiar figures: Lam and Ali.

Watching the two interact so intimately, Laxus felt puzzled.

He hadn’t realized when Ali and Lam had become so close.

Seeing them laughing and talking together left an indescribable feeling in his chest.

Catching sight of Laxus, Lam secretly gave Ali a meaningful glance.

Ali understood instantly.

Following that, Lam began walking faster and faster, completely ignoring Ali as she dragged her injured foot behind him trying to keep up.

Suddenly, Ali lost her balance and was about to crash to the ground.

In the next second, a pair of large hands gripped her waist tightly.

“AH!”

“Laxus? Why is it you?”

Laxus set Ali down on the ground and glared furiously at Alam.

“Didn’t you know her foot is injured? Why were you walking so fast?”

Lam leaned against the wall, crossing his arms uncaringly. “Injured? So what?

“That’s just my speed. If she can’t keep up, that’s her problem.”

Hearing Lam’s words, Laxus clenched his fists in anger.

“Is this how you treat a young female?”

Without another word, Laxus turned and grabbed Ali’s arm, ready to leave.

Trailing behind him, Ali wore a reluctant expression, constantly turning her head to look back at Lam.

“Lam.”

Seeing Ali act like this, Laxus clenched his jaw.

He bent down, scooped her up into his arms, and strode purposefully into the Fuzu Tribe.

“Let me go! What gives you the right to take me away? I still want to browse the Wall Shops with Lam!”

Before Laxus could speak, a dark figure blocked his path.

“Laxus, don’t you think what you’re doing is a bit unreasonable?” Lam blocked their way with a smirk on his lips.

“Someone like you who disrespects females—I won’t let Ali stay with you any longer.”

“You’re being far too overbearing, Laxus. Taking Ali away against her will—isn’t that also disrespecting a female?”

Hearing Lam say this, Laxus frowned and looked down at Ali in his arms.

“Do you want to stay?”

Ali nodded. “I want to be with him. Put me down.”

The veins on Laxus’s forehead throbbed at her words. “He doesn’t respect you at all! Why do you still want to be with him?”

“Because I like him, of course! I want him to be my mate.”

“Your mate? No way. I forbid it.”

Lam found Laxus’s refusal somewhat amusing.

“You forbid it? What gives you the right? Who are you to her anyway?”

Laxus paused for a moment before speaking. “She is my mother’s adopted daughter, which makes me her brother. I have an obligation to watch out for her.

“A male like you, with no real strength and no respect for females, isn’t fit to be her mate.”

Originally, Laxus hadn’t thought much about wandering merchants like Lam.

But now, standing from the perspective of Ali’s family, he realized that a lifestyle devoid of strength and reliant solely on bartering as a wandering merchant was completely unsuited for her.

Ali was the younger sister of the White Tiger King. She had grown up pampered and couldn’t endure hardship.

Besides, such a wonderful young female shouldn’t have to suffer anyway.

“What kind of brother are you, Laxus? She has her own biological brother.

“Moreover, she’s the one who likes me. She insists on making me her mate. I couldn’t refuse even if I wanted to.”

Hearing Lam say this, Ali’s cheeks flushed slightly.

She stole a quick glance at Laxus’s expression. Seeing that he wasn’t entirely indifferent, a sliver of hope secretly bloomed in her heart.

“No matter what you say, I will never agree to Ali becoming your mate.”

With that, he pulled the girl in his arms even tighter and shoved Lam aside with his shoulder.

Watching their retreating figures, Lam didn’t bother to keep pestering them.

He curled his lips into a smile as he gazed after them, thinking to himself that this was getting quite interesting.

Outside her stone house, Ophelia was playing with the little dragon cubs. Her eyes lit up when she saw Laxus approaching with Ali in his arms.

By the time they reached her, she had regained her composure. “Laxus, what happened to Ali? Is her foot injured again?”

Ali struggled to jump down to the ground. Pouting, she complained, “Ophelia, you have to do something about Laxus!

“Lam and I were having a perfectly good time at the Wall Shops, but he insisted on dragging me back here and won’t let me take Lam as a mate.

“Who is he to me anyway? What right does he have to stop me from taking Lam as my mate?”

Feigning surprise, Ophelia looked over at Laxus.

“Why won’t you let her become Lam’s mate? I think Lam is quite nice.

“Even though he can’t hunt, he still manages to trade for quite a few Crystal Stones over the course of a year.”

“What’s the use of earning Crystal Stones? When a disaster year hits, no amount of Crystal Stones will be able to buy even a single piece of prey,” Laxus replied, his face dark and his tone grave.