Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Ingrid rolled her eyes. Before anyone could make another comment, she moved closer to Lysander and wrapped both arms around his arm, holding him with a happy smile as she fluttered her lashes.

"It doesn’t matter. He’s my man anyway."

Lysander lowered his eyes towards her. A faint smile appeared on his face, and he didn’t make any attempt to pull his arm away.

Freya burst into laughter. "Well, that settles it!"

Maya shook her head, while Lanxiang covered her mouth with a small smile. Ingrid merely lifted her chin, completely unbothered by their reactions.

"Let’s go. We’ve spent enough time here."

They left the store together, with Lanxiang remaining behind the counter for a moment to lock the door. She checked the shelves and made sure the few items she still had were properly covered before following them. Ingrid glanced back at the store as they walked away, taking note of its position and the surrounding corridor. She didn’t know whether they would need to return there before escaping, but it was better to remember every place they might find useful.

Freya walked ahead, humming a tune under her breath, while Maya followed beside Lanxiang. Lysander stayed close to Ingrid, his arm still in hers. The matching outfits made them look more like a couple who had deliberately chosen to dress alike, and Ingrid found herself smiling at the thought.

They hadn’t gone very far when someone suddenly bumped into them. Ingrid stopped and looked up.

It was Jowe.

He looked displeased to see them, and his expression became even more unpleasant when his gaze landed on Lysander. However, he quickly turned towards Freya.

"Freya." His greeting was gruff, and he seemed to expect a response. Freya didn’t even look at him. She simply continued walking, leaving him standing there with his words hanging in the air.

Jowe’s brows drew together. "Hey, I’m talking to you."

Freya kept walking and Ingrid glanced at him. "What do you want?"

Jowe finally shifted his attention to her. His eyes moved briefly over her new clothes before settling on her face.

"My grandfather wants to see you."

Ingrid crossed her arms. "Then he should come and see me himself. I don’t have anything to discuss with him."

"You’re not in a position to decide that."

"Really? And why is that?"

Jowe’s expression hardened. "He’s giving you an opportunity to cooperate. You should be smart enough to understand that refusing him won’t benefit you."

Ingrid almost laughed. "An opportunity? Is that what you call it?"

"Watch your tone."

"Or what?"

Jowe’s jaw tightened. He wanted to take a step forward, but Lysander was beside Ingrid, and Jowe seemed to remember that the last time he had tried to intimidate him, things hadn’t gone particularly well.

Instead, he forced himself to remain where he was. "My grandfather also asked me to pass a message to you if you refused to come to him," he said. "He said that if you refuse to come, he’ll make sure those foxes suffer for it."

Ingrid’s expression changed. Her eyes narrowed, and the faint amusement that had been on her face disappeared. She looked at Jowe for a few seconds, taking in his serious expression and the confidence with which he delivered the threat.

Then she smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant smile. "You’re really a very good messenger, aren’t you?"

Jowe frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that it’s such a pity."

"What is?"

"That the person you’re idolising so much is someone who deserves to burn in hell, yet you’re the only one who seems too blind to notice it."

Jowe’s face darkened. "Explain what you mean."

Ingrid tilted her head. "Do I really have to explain everything to you? I thought someone who was so devoted to his grandfather would at least be intelligent enough to understand the kind of person he is."

"Watch your mouth!"

"Or what? Will you run to your grandfather and tell him I said something unpleasant about him?"

Jowe’s hands curled into fists. "You don’t know anything about my grandfather. You have no idea what he’s done for this Guild or how much he’s sacrificed to protect us. You only arrived here recently, yet you think you can judge him based on a few things you’ve heard?"

Ingrid stared at him. There was no point wasting her breath on someone who had already decided that his grandfather could do no wrong. Jowe wasn’t simply unaware of Berthanon’s actions. He had chosen to reject anything that contradicted the image he had built of him.

Even after Freya had told him about Hunter G’s poisoning, he had refused to listen. He had defended Berthanon without even considering that the person he trusted might have deliberately tried to kill one of the Guild’s strongest Hunters.

If someone like that couldn’t recognise the truth when it was placed right in front of him, what could Ingrid possibly say to make him understand?

"Move," she said.

Jowe looked at her in disbelief.

"What?"

"You’re blocking the way. Isn’t your grandfather looking for me? I’m going to see him so be a good dog and stop blocking the way."

Ingrid stepped around him, and Lysander followed. Maya and Lanxiang also began moving, while Freya was already a few steps ahead.

Jowe’s expression twisted. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Freya had ignored him, Ingrid had insulted his grandfather, and now they were all walking away without giving him the respect he believed he deserved. He had come to deliver a message from Berthanon, yet they were treating him like he was nothing more than an inconvenience.

His gaze followed Freya. "Wait!"

Freya didn’t stop. Jowe hurried forward and reached for her arm, but before his fingers could touch her, Freya turned sharply and slapped his hand away.

"Don’t touch me!"

The sound of her palm hitting his hand was loud enough to make everyone pause. Jowe stared at her, stunned. "What is going on with you?"

Freya looked at him with open disgust. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you acting like this? You’ve been avoiding me, refusing to speak to me, and now you won’t even let me touch you. What happened? Did I do something to offend you?"

Freya let out a short laugh. For a moment, she simply looked at him, and the expression on her face made it clear how little patience she had left.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Of course I do! I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t."

"Then find out yourself."

Jowe frowned. "Freya, stop playing games. Just tell me what’s wrong!"

"What’s wrong?" She repeated his words, shaking her head. "You still don’t understand, do you?"

"Understand what?"

Freya’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Maybe you should take a good look at yourself. If you still can’t figure it out after everything that’s happened, then maybe you’re not supposed to be the Beast type you are."

Jowe’s expression changed. "What does that mean?"

Freya scoffed. "You’re supposed to be a Mole." For a second, Jowe looked completely bewildered. Then his brows pulled together in anger.

"Are you insulting me?"

Freya rolled her eyes. "No. Calling you a mole is an insult to the actual mole type beastmen, because even moles are smarter than you."

She turned away before he could respond and continued walking. Ingrid followed her, and the others quickly caught up.

Jowe remained where he was, staring after them. "Freya! Freya, come back here! What is that supposed to mean?"

Behind them, Jowe stood with his fists clenched, his face filled with confusion and anger. He had no idea why Freya was treating him like an enemy, and he couldn’t understand why she had suddenly begun speaking badly about his grandfather. But like Ingrid said, he wasn’t willing to believe anything that contradicted the image he thought of Berthanon.