Chapter 2: The Bear Clan’s Turmoil

Hearing the voice, Mels glanced up, startled. In the spacious conference room, a grizzled bear elder, accompanied by three generals in military uniforms, was smiling at Mels and the others. Before Mels could even ask, the elder spoke again: “I am Duke Mast. You can call me Mast. Come, sit down quickly!” At Duke Mast’s enthusiastic urging, Mels and the others sat bewildered around the circular conference table. Soon, several attendants brought out glasses of vibrant red wine.

“Everyone, thanks to these young men diverting the attention of the traitor’s subordinates and those greedy thieves, we were able to successfully obtain the token proving the clan leader’s true identity. Let us raise a toast to the heroes who saved the bear clan from internal strife,” Duke Mast said, lifting his glass toward the three generals and Mels’ group.

“Your Grace, I apologize for interrupting, but I truly don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Mels said respectfully, standing up before Duke Mast could finish his wine.

“Ah, my apologies. I forgot to explain things clearly,” Duke Mast replied without taking offense, setting down his glass and smiling as he explained to Mels: “Before I begin, I’d like to apologize for Lubit’s deception, but I can assure you it was a decision he made out of necessity. Now, let me explain the whole situation!

Five months ago, our bear clan’s previous clan leader suddenly died, and along with him, two young masters also passed away. In our bear clan, only these two young masters were the legal heirs. With both gone, the bear clan lost all its successors. To continue the bear clan’s history and prevent the entire race from splitting, several important ministers in the court, including myself, agreed to let the clan leader’s youngest son, the eleven-year-old ‘Lord Zhenyuan,’ ascend to the throne.

Originally, everything was proceeding smoothly. Unfortunately, three months ago, the scheming Prime Minister Duke Gilu found so-called ‘evidence’ claiming that Lord Zhenyuan—no, I should say the clan leader—was not the biological son of the previous clan leader, and he tried to use this to force the clan leader to step down. Everyone knew that if the bear clan lost its leader, the prime minister would benefit the most. To thwart his conspiracy, a few of us old-timers searched for months and finally found the blood-stained garment that could prove the clan leader’s identity. However, the secret leaked, and the prime minister’s faction discovered the blood-stained garment. They sent out a large number of assassins and incited bandits everywhere, attempting to destroy the garment before it could return to the capital.

Just as you arrived in our bear clan territory, the blood-stained garment had already been transported to Yakesai City. At that time, almost all air and land routes were blocked by the traitor’s subordinates. To ensure the garment’s safe return to the capital, Lubit had no choice but to use you, the skilled warriors from the Five Clouds Cave of the Lion-Tiger Clan, as a diversion to draw the enemy’s attention. Then, yesterday, he used an air route to safely transport the garment to the capital. Because of this, in court today, we were able to expose the prime minister’s conspiracy and force him and his traitorous followers to flee in disgrace. Although we haven’t captured him yet, I believe there’s no place left for him in the entire bear clan, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s apprehended.

Even though you were unaware of the entire affair, your contributions cannot be overlooked. That’s why I specifically waited here to meet you—to see for myself how impressive the younger generation of the Lion-Tiger Clan truly is.”

After listening to Duke Mast’s lengthy account, Mels and the others finally understood that, without realizing it, they had been drawn into an internal power struggle within the bear clan. Although Mels still didn’t know whether Duke Mast was loyal or treacherous, he could be sure that Duke Mast had emerged victorious in this power struggle, and the convoy that had fled the city earlier must have been the prime minister’s subordinates.

“So that’s how it is. There’s no need for such formalities, Your Grace. We were completely unaware of the details of this matter, and our help was merely fortuitous. Our only goal is to obtain permission to travel to the Eagle Clan. If Your Grace permits…” Mels clearly had no interest in getting involved in the bear clan’s internal conflicts and stated his purpose within three sentences.

However, Duke Mast seemed exceptionally pleased. Raising his glass, he said, “Permission to leave is, of course, not an issue. But you young heroes have helped our bear clan so much; how can I not show my gratitude? Although our bear clan has had some past conflicts with the Lion-Tiger Clan, that’s all in the past. Now, your deeds must be publicly celebrated—not only to show that our bear clan repays kindness and avenges wrongs but also as an opportunity to rebuild friendly relations between our two clans. Well, let’s not talk about such complicated matters for now. For the next few days, you’ll stay in the guesthouse in Mofalak City. After we capture all the traitors and publicly honor you, I promise to personally escort you to the border, with no further delays to your journey. That’s settled!”

It was clear Duke Mast had no intention of giving Mels and the others any chance to object. After downing his red wine in one gulp, he cheerfully had his attendants take Mels’ group to settle in, repeatedly promising to find time to personally host a banquet in their honor.

Although Mels was reluctant to leave like this, under Duke Mast’s enthusiastic and determined gaze, he couldn’t bring himself to speak up. In a daze, he followed the attendants out of the conference room. As soon as Mels and the others left, the warmth and smile vanished from Duke Mast’s face, replaced by an inscrutable, profound expression.

“Your Grace, these Lion-Tiger Clan kids were just pawns in Lubit’s plan. Logically, sparing their lives is already a favor to Lubit. Why treat them with such courtesy?” a tall officer beside Duke Mast asked.

“Daya, you’re thinking too simply. If these kids are really from the Five Clouds Cave, even the clan leader wouldn’t dare harm them, let alone us. Besides, we still have a use for them,” Duke Mast sneered coldly.

“The Duke is right. If these kids are truly from the Five Clouds Cave, we definitely can’t touch them lightly. Those old monsters from the Five Clouds Cave have been feared and respected for centuries. If we harm their descendants, the entire bear clan might disappear from the continent. However, they don’t bear the Five Clouds Cave mark, so whether they’re genuine still needs verification,” another bear clan general, of medium build and the youngest-looking, added after Daya.

“Kelt is right! But regardless of whether they’re disciples of the Five Clouds Cave, given the current situation, we can’t touch them. Heh, that fool Gilu thought he could force the clan leader to step down with some fake evidence. He really underestimated us. If he can forge things, can’t I do the same?

However, Gilu’s subordinates haven’t been completely eliminated yet, and it’s hard to tell who in the court is truly loyal to us. So, we need to push these kids into the spotlight—not only make them the key figures in retrieving the blood-stained garment but also spread the word that they were the ones who found it.

Heh, this way, those who doubt the garment’s authenticity and the traitors lurking in the shadows will target these kids. Then, we can manipulate things from behind the scenes and seize the opportunity to wipe them all out!” Duke Mast chuckled sinisterly.

Unaware that they had become pawns in someone else’s game, Mels and the others, now led to the guesthouse, were mesmerized by the luxurious decorations of the Mofalak guesthouse. Surrounded by glittering ornaments and seeing the various advanced and convenient technological products in the spacious rooms, the youths acted like country bumpkins visiting the city for the first time, touching everything and looking around with great delight. Only after the attendants left and everyone had freshened up did they set aside their initial excitement and gather in Mels’ room to discuss their next steps.

To avoid being overheard by the bear clan, Sol set up a magic barrier around them. Once that was done, Mels spoke with relief: “You all saw what happened earlier. What do you think of this Duke Mast?”

“He seems fine. Although a bit old, he’s like a kind elder. He doesn’t seem bad,” Sha Luo said.

Hearing Sha Luo’s words, Kaslo shook his head slightly. “I don’t think so. A few days ago in Yakesai, we already learned that although the bear clan lives in communities, their clan leader is essentially an emperor. If not for the suppression of the Sub-Human Alliance Council, not just the bear clan but other races would have declared themselves emperors and kings long ago. Think about it—a duke of an empire, and a powerful one at that—which one is a simple character? If I’m not mistaken, this Duke Mast must be hiding a dagger behind his smile. Who knows what he’s really planning…”

“Hmph! I think you’re the one with a hidden agenda! A petty mind. Confess, are you also a schemer? That’s why you think everyone is like you!” Sha Luo retorted angrily, annoyed that Kaslo had completely dismissed her opinion.

“Sha Luo, stop it. I agree with Kaslo. Actually, I think the duke is suspiciously nice. Think about it: given the current situation in the bear clan, Duke Mast has won the power struggle, and his master is just an eleven-year-old kid. It seems he can now control the child ruler to command the nobles. Under such circumstances, logically, Duke Mast would claim all the credit for himself to gain more benefits. Why would he give up such a great opportunity to clear his master’s name?

And even if Duke Mast doesn’t care about fame, what about his subordinates? Would they all agree with his approach? So, I believe Duke Mast has a reason for treating us so well now. But I can’t figure out why he wants to give us the credit. What benefit does that bring him?” Mels frowned, growing more and more puzzled as he spoke. After hearing Mels’ words, even Sha Luo realized how naive her earlier thoughts were. Her pretty face now wore a deep frown, as if troubled by an unsolvable dilemma.

Just as everyone was lost in thought, Green Hair suddenly flew onto Mels’ shoulder and tapped his head with a wing. “Kid, you’re not stupid, but you lack experience in power struggles. Let me give you a few hints. First, given the current situation, if everything Duke Mast told us is true, who is the biggest loser in this struggle? Second, will the loser accept defeat? And will the loser’s followers immediately switch sides to Duke Mast? Third, to consolidate his victory, what is more important than claiming credit? Once you figure these out, you’ll probably understand Duke Mast’s intentions.”

After hearing Green Hair’s words, Mels and the others were stunned for a moment. Kaslo reacted first: “The person competing with Duke Mast for power is Prime Minister Gilu. Since Duke Mast won, Prime Minister Gilu is naturally the biggest loser!”

“Exactly. Although Gilu has lost, given the current situation, he managed to escape the capital. Since he could escape, it means he still has people in the capital. Otherwise, he couldn’t have breached the defensive walls and escaped while they were fully operational. Moreover, since Gilu dared to oppose Duke Mast and even the bear clan leader, he won’t admit defeat easily. As the bear clan’s prime minister, he must have many loyal subordinates over the years. It’s likely there are still high-ranking officials from his faction lurking in the capital, waiting for an opportunity,” Sol continued after Kaslo.

“Sol is right. But if even we can think of this, Duke Mast certainly can too. So, his top priority now isn’t to claim credit for clearing the clan leader’s name but to firmly control the capital, strengthen his faction, and root out any hidden hostile forces, thoroughly eliminating any chance of Prime Minister Gilu’s counterattack. But I don’t understand: even if Duke Mast wants to do these things, why give us the credit? Wouldn’t the prime minister’s faction target him regardless of whether he claims the credit?” Sha Luo asked, slightly confused.

After listening to the three of them, Mels fell into deep thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh. “I get it! Duke Mast wants to use us as bait to catch bigger fish.”

“Haha! Kid, you’re not too dumb after all. You can be taught!” Green Hair flapped his wings happily. Ignoring the bird’s chatter, the others immediately pressed Mels for details.

Under their questioning, Mels said gravely, “If I’m not mistaken, Duke Mast won’t just credit us with bringing the blood-stained garment back to the capital—he’ll even say we were the ones who found it. That way, to prove the garment’s authenticity, we become the best witnesses.

Think about it: although Gilu has fled, his subordinates, even his elite guards, are likely still in the capital. These people will do everything to capture us, interrogate us about the garment, find flaws, and launch a counterattack against Duke Mast.

And Duke Mast certainly won’t sit idle. What he wants now is to push us into the spotlight while he stays behind the scenes. Once the lurking prime minister faction starts acting, he’ll wield his sword and crush the hostile forces. That way, he can truly rest easy! Sigh… If I’m right, this blood-stained garment must be forged by Duke Mast. That’s why he’s confident the prime minister’s faction will act once they hear we found it.”

“What do we do then? Won’t we be in great danger? No! Boss, we should leave this place early to avoid being framed by Duke Mast,” Sol said nervously, standing up as if ready to leave immediately.

However, before Mels could speak, Kaslo pulled Sol back down. “It’s too late to leave now. Since we came here, entered Mofalak City through a secret passage, and met Duke Mast in secret, even if we run, Duke Mast can still say we found the garment and left without a word. If things really go that far, we’ll be in even greater danger.

Then, not only will Duke Mast’s subordinates want to kill us to tie up loose ends, but the prime minister’s faction will also want to capture us as key witnesses. Even bandits and bounty hunters everywhere will join the hunt for the high rewards offered by both sides. Although our martial arts and magic are unmatched in the Sub-Human continent, their beam weapons are something we can’t handle. Plus, our Summoned Beasts are sealed, so we can’t mount any effective counterattacks. Leaving here is the stupidest choice.”

“Then what? Do we just stay here and let Duke Mast manipulate us?” Sol slumped back into his seat, looking defeated.

“Kids, don’t panic. Even though Duke Mast is using you now, you’re not completely without a chance to fight back. Power struggles are tricky; there are both enemies and friends. Who is an enemy depends on how interests are distributed. If I’m not mistaken, as long as you play your cards right, Duke Mast could become your most loyal friend,” Green Hair sighed, comforting them softly as he saw their worried faces again.

Hearing Green Hair’s tone, Mels and the others seemed to find a glimmer of hope. Under their repeated urging and “gentle, polite” persuasion, Green Hair had no choice but to share his plan. Only after hearing all of Green Hair’s plan did everyone feel slightly reassured. Although the road ahead would still be difficult, Mels and the others unconsciously grew confident in Green Hair. Gradually, the youths opened up again, ready to give it their all in the Sub-Human world and show them the wisdom and capability of humans.

Over the next few days, Mels and the others gathered daily to discuss how to remove the metal rings restricting their Summoned Beasts. However, no matter how hard they tried, these bracelet-like objects couldn’t be removed. After many failed attempts, they temporarily gave up on removing the rings and quietly practiced their martial arts in the guesthouse.

On the other hand, Duke Mast was fully aware of Mels’ group’s activities. When he confirmed they had no plans to escape secretly, he felt much more at ease and even developed a slight fondness for them. He even personally visited the guesthouse three times to share drinks and conversation with them.

Time flew by, and half a month passed. On the sixteenth day after Mels and the others arrived in Mofalak City, Duke Mast held a grand celebration ceremony in the city’s central square. Although he still hadn’t managed to capture Prime Minister Gilu in the past ten-plus days, which he somewhat regretted, his plan proceeded smoothly.

A few days earlier, Duke Mast had hinted to Mels under the pretext of “boosting morale and creating bear clan heroes” that he intended to portray them as the heroes who retrieved the blood-stained garment. Although Mels understood his intentions, under Green Hair’s plan, he readily agreed. This made Duke Mast even more brazen. On the day of the celebration ceremony, he solemnly announced his carefully crafted lie to the entire bear clan, officially pushing Mels and the others into the spotlight.

Although the bear clan people didn’t have strong feelings toward the Lion-Tiger Clan, neither did they harbor great animosity. Under Duke Mast’s deliberate incitement, the tens of thousands of bear clan citizens attending the celebration ceremony almost treated Mels and the others as divine beings. Through the bear clan’s advanced media, within half a day, Mels and the others’ names became a topic of conversation among all bear clan citizens. Of course, alongside these heated discussions, some suspicious glances also appeared.

Bear Clan Territory, Southeastern Mountain Region.

“Prime Minister, did you watch the TV program just now?” a bear clan general in military uniform entered a dimly lit basement and addressed an elderly bear clan figure sitting in a soft chair.

“Bote, are you referring to the TV program about those Lion-Tiger Clan kids? Hehe, those kids are just puppets arranged by Duke Mast. The real blood-stained garment couldn’t possibly have been found and brought to the capital by them,” the narrowly escaped Prime Minister Gilu stated firmly.

“Prime Minister, you are wise. I also think so. In that case, perhaps our agents hidden in the capital shouldn’t act,” General Bote said with a slight smile.

“No. Since Duke Mast is giving us this opportunity, we must use it! Pass down the order: at any cost, capture those kids and bring them before me. This is our best chance to strike back at Duke Mast!” Gilu’s eyes suddenly gleamed as he spoke loudly to General Bote.

“Sir, I don’t understand. If they’re just puppets, what use is capturing them?” Bote asked.

“Bote, you’re excellent at warfare, but in power struggles, you’re like a child. Think about it: now, across the entire bear clan territory, who doesn’t know that the blood-stained garment proving that kid’s identity was retrieved by these Lion-Tiger Clan kids? And these kids are the very people Duke Mast personally pushed into the spotlight. If we capture them and force them to publicly admit this is Duke Mast’s scheme, those wavering individuals in the court will once again doubt that kid’s true identity. Then, no matter how eloquent Duke Mast is, it will be hard to convince the public. Once such an opportunity arises, it will be my chance to make a comeback!” Gilu grew more excited as he spoke, his face now flushed with a sickly red glow.

“I see. Prime Minister, you are brilliant! I’ll order the special forces of the First Army to capture them immediately!” Bote said.

“No! The First Army must not be moved. They are my last trump card and must not be exposed in any way that would make Duke Mast suspicious. Leave the task of capturing those Lion-Tiger Clan kids to our agents hidden in the capital. Let’s first see what tricks Duke Mast has up his sleeve!” Gilu smiled slightly, like a child who had just gotten a new toy.

“Yes!” With Bote’s firm reply, a new round of power struggle within the bear clan was about to begin, and the core of this struggle was five humans and a strange parrot who had only been on the Sub-Human continent for a few months. Since arriving in Mofalak City, Mels and the others rarely left the guesthouse. Even the usually restless Sol restrained himself this time, avoiding trouble. As Sol put it: “No matter how beautiful the scenery, it’s not as good as keeping your head; no matter how exciting the outside world, it’s not as important as your own life.” Adhering to this principle, Sol hardly ever stepped out, acting like a proper young lady from a noble family.

Mels, however, went out a few times. The day before the celebration ceremony, Duke Mast personally came to the guesthouse to take him alone to the central palace in the capital to meet the eleven-year-old bear clan leader he had heard about but never seen. Unlike the etiquette in the human world, the bear clan didn’t seem to practice kneeling. Several attending ministers also sat on chairs, though their chairs were slightly smaller than the clan leader’s. The bear clan’s audience hall wasn’t as grand as the main halls in human imperial palaces, nor were there imposing sculptures or decorations. Instead, there were many unknown instruments. It seemed the bear clan’s customs were more open-minded than the human world’s, and even the clan leader was pragmatic.

The brief audience naturally focused on praise. As Mels listened to the eleven-year-old’s precocious speech, he thought, “Being such a puppet clan leader must be hard, especially for a child barely over ten.” The more he thought this, the greater his pity grew, and unconsciously, a kind smile appeared on his face.

The bear clan leader’s rewards were nothing more than coins and objects. Rather than rewards from the clan leader, they seemed more like bribes from Duke Mast to win Mels over and ensure he wouldn’t cause trouble at the next day’s ceremony. Mels didn’t care either way; since he had decided not to turn against Duke Mast, he readily accepted all the gifts. However, Mels didn’t expect that the day after the celebration ceremony ended, the bear clan leader would summon him again—this time not at Duke Mast’s request, but on the invitation of the eleven-year-old bear clan youth.

Uncertain what tricks Duke Mast was playing, Mels boarded a high-class float car belonging to the royal family with uneasy feelings and soon arrived at the palace in the city center. On the way into the palace, Mels circulated his Qi energy, searching for any potential dangers, but he found the surroundings unusually quiet. Apart from the sounds of palace attendants working, he could hardly even hear the heavy breathing of any warrior. Just as Mels was wondering what to do, the palace attendant leading the way brought him to the young clan leader’s resting chamber, then respectfully excused himself and left, leaving Mels alone in the not-too-spacious chamber.

Mels had been sitting around, bored, for half an hour when, just as his mood was growing restless, the young chieftain's voice suddenly rang in his ears: "Are you Mels? I called you here for no other reason than to have you tell me about the outside world. If you're unwilling, I won't force you; you may leave immediately." Along with the voice, a bear clan youth in splendid attire strode into the bedchamber.

Hearing the voice, childish yet deliberately made to sound mature, Mels felt amused and couldn't help but smile slightly. "How could this humble subject dare refuse the chieftain's questions? I only wonder what you wish to ask about?"

"So, you're really willing to tell me? Everyone here only talks about state affairs; no one will tell me about the outside world. I truly want to go and see it." The young chieftain was just a child of ten or so, and within three sentences, his true nature was revealed.

"Haha, weren't you originally the Prince of Zhenyuan? Have you never left the palace?" Mels asked with a laugh.

"Although I was enfeoffed as a prince by my father, I have no fief of my own, so I can only live in the palace. My father and two older brothers always say the outside world is unsafe and that I'm still too young, so they never allow me out. How would I know about the outside world? Duke Master told me that once I took the chieftain's seat, I could do as I pleased, but I never expected even more people would forbid me from going out. It's really boring to death!" The young chieftain plopped down and exclaimed.

"Your Excellency's status is noble. The Duke and the various ministers act out of concern for your safety. Please do not misunderstand their good intentions." With Mels's abilities, he could naturally sense at least five people eavesdropping nearby. Under such circumstances, Mels naturally spoke casually, offering a few trivial words of praise for Duke Master.

"Alright, I know. By the way, you come from the Lion-Tiger Clan, right? Tell me about what you've seen and heard along the way." The young chieftain didn't seem interested in Mels's topic and, within three sentences, began pressing for information about the Lion-Tiger Clan. Fortunately, Mels had long anticipated this. To avoid exposure, not only Mels but even Sol and the others had worked hard to memorize details about the Lion-Tiger Clan. Today, Mels could finally use this knowledge.

With Mels's half-true, half-fabricated stories, skillfully avoiding key points and speaking freely, the young chieftain quickly became completely immersed, growing tense or relaxed with the story's ups and downs. This went on until a palace attendant came to notify him that it was time for lunch. Still eager for more, the young chieftain not only kept Mels to share lunch but also demanded that his "nonsense" continue afterward. After repeatedly trying to leave, Mels had no choice but to promise to return the next day, which finally made the chieftain reluctantly see him off.

In truth, Mels was eager to leave because he had sensed Duke Master had been waiting in the palace lounge for some time. Although Mels detested the cunning Mast from the bottom of his heart, he understood the consequences of angering this powerful duke. Thus, he didn't want Mast to wait until he reached a breaking point.

Just as Mels anticipated, the moment he left the bedchamber, he "accidentally" encountered Duke Master, who was "hurrying over." After insincere pleasantries, Duke Master quietly pulled Mels aside. "The young chieftain summoned you today. I wonder what he discussed?"

After hearing this, Mels inwardly cursed, "Old fox, every word I said probably reached your ears!" However, on the surface, Mels remained calm, bowing respectfully. "Your Excellency, the young chieftain was lonely, so he summoned this humble subject to tell him stories from the outside. This humble subject knows his place; I know nothing of state affairs or the people's livelihood, and I would never tell him any fabricated nonsense."

"Haha, I trust your character. I was just asking casually." Hearing that Mels's answer matched the facts he knew, Mast smiled slightly, then composed himself and feigned concern. "Mels, I came here today specifically to wait for you. Do you know an urgent matter related to you has occurred?"

"What matter could trouble Your Excellency to wait for this humble subject? I am truly unworthy."

"What kind of talk is that? Although I, Mast, navigate the political arena, I also know how to write the word 'loyalty.' The other day, you helped me conceal the true origin of the bloodstained garment; now it's my turn to help you, especially since this matter arose because of me.

Sigh... To be honest, it's my incompetence that I still haven't captured that traitor Jilu. Today, my spies in the city reported a group of mysterious armed individuals has appeared. Though they pose as merchants, their behavior is suspicious. They neither went to the merchant guild nor the market but kept inquiring about your whereabouts. If I'm not mistaken, they must be underlings of that traitor Jilu.

They must believe you ruined their plans and seek to harm you. You know Mofalak City is a free trade city; legitimate merchants can bring armed guards, so I can't detain them. I hurried to the guesthouse to find you, but you had come here."

Listening, Mels understood Mast was preparing to eliminate dissidents. Though he knew, Mels would not expose it. He put on a look of anxious fear. "Your Excellency, we have no friends here and can only rely on your prestige. If you cannot protect us, we are truly doomed. You must protect us!"

Observing Mels's reaction, Mast seemed satisfied. He patted Mels's shoulder. "Don't worry, I, Mast, am not someone who burns bridges. As long as I live, I won't let them harm you! But currently, I cannot act proactively. I must wait until they reveal enough flaws to capture them all. So, cooperate with me. Do not leave the guesthouse easily. I will triple your guards."

"Thank you, Your Excellency. This humble subject will never forget your kindness. In the future, if there is anything I can do, just say the word, and I will work like an ox or a horse to repay you." Here, Mels deliberately exclaimed, "Ah... I just promised the young chieftain to come tomorrow. It seems I must find a reason to decline, otherwise..."

"That won't be necessary. It's rare for him to engage with someone; we shouldn't dampen his enthusiasm. Starting tomorrow, I will select capable guards from my residence to escort you daily. This ensures your safety and keeps him happy." Mast clearly did not want his affairs brought before the chieftain.

"That would be wonderful! Sigh... troubling you again, I truly don't know what to say!" Mels said, "moved."

"Haha, as long as you understand I'm not deliberately delaying your journey to the Eagle Clan, nor having you monitored, I am satisfied. Mels, be patient for a few days. I believe these traitors will act soon. Once they do, I can rightfully capture them all. Then, wherever you go will be safe, and only then can I issue your travel documents. Otherwise, if you fell into their hands because of me, I'd never rest easy. Enough of this. Let me escort you back. I'll come tonight to discuss the next steps!" Mast intimately took Mels's arm and walked out.

At that moment, one of Mast's trusted aides ran up. Without bowing, he leaned close to Mast's ear and whispered. Though his voice was soft, Mels heard it clearly. After he finished, not only was Mast greatly alarmed, but Mels was also surprised. The former was shocked by the suddenness, while the latter was admiring Green Hair's divine foresight.