A remote street in Helinks.

  Few people traveled here, and the street was cluttered with various debris that blocked the way. Basically, only unsavory characters frequented this place.

  At this moment, the mysterious man who had left Shiri’s house earlier arrived here.

  He walked up to an inconspicuous house and knocked on the door in a specific rhythmic pattern—a signal.

  Soon, the door creaked open a crack. A Wolf Beastman poked his head out cautiously, glanced at the man knocking, then scanned the surrounding area.

  "You weren’t followed, right?"

  "Of course not. Let me in first......"

  The Wolf Beastman opened the door, let him enter, then quickly shut it tight.

  Once inside, the mysterious man removed his disguise.

  Beneath the disguise was none other than James!

  "James, how did it go? Did those guys get poisoned?"

  The Wolf Beastman who had opened the door was Odo.

  In response to Odo’s question, James only shook his head coldly.

  "Failed? That woman you found is so unreliable?! "

  "No, it didn’t fail—not exactly. We just don’t know if it worked."

  "Huh??? What do you mean?"

  James didn’t explain immediately. Instead, he looked around the room.

  Right now, only the two of them were in the main hall.

  "Where’s Rajas?"

  "Tch, don’t even mention that fool. When he’s got nothing to do, he just drinks. He’s passed out drunk again."

  James frowned.

  "Didn’t I tell you two to keep an eye on that kid?"

  "Don’t worry, the kid’s fine. He’s just a bit unruly—tied him up and he quieted down."

  "I see......"

  James lowered his head, deep in thought.

  "What’s wrong? Do you have a plan?"

  "I do, actually......"

  James said slowly.

  "I just can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something......"

  "?"

  "No, we can’t rely on that woman anymore. We need to change our approach!"

  "Huh? Ditch the woman? What about the kid?"

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  James shot Odo a cold glance.

  "Get rid of him. And that woman—take care of her tonight too......"

  He paused, then added:

  "......Have Rajas do it."

  "Uh...... Rajas?"

  "Fine, I’ll do it your way. After all, you’re the craftiest one among us three."

  Odo sighed and walked toward the inner room.

  "Rajas, get up!"

  "What the hell? I haven’t slept enough yet!"

  Rajas’ roar came from inside the room.

  "Quit sleeping—it’s time to do what you love most. James wants you to get rid of the kid, and take care of that woman tonight too."

  "Oh, that’s what this is about? Why didn’t you say so earlier!"

  Boom——!

  Rajas kicked open the door and strode into the main hall.

  "I’ve been wanting to kill that brat since yesterday! His whimpering kept me up all night!"

  Boom——!

  With another kick, he smashed open the door to another room.

  Inside the dim, lightless room, an eight or nine-year-old boy lay tied up with ropes.

  When he saw Rajas enter, the boy scrambled backward in terror. But bound as he was, no matter how hard he struggled, he could only move a short distance.

  "Hehe! Kid, aren’t you lucky? You’re useless now. I’m gonna have some fun with you. When you got caught earlier, you were screaming your head off. I wonder how loud you’ll scream this time?"

  Faced with the terrifying Bear Beastman approaching with a sinister grin, the boy’s eyes were filled with fear. But with his mouth gagged, he couldn’t make a sound. He could only shake his head desperately, begging for mercy.

  "Hehe, begging won’t help. This lord never accepts pleas for mercy!"

  As he spoke, Rajas raised a massive hand and reached for the boy’s head. Their size difference was so great that he could easily wrap his hand around the boy’s skull. It wasn’t hard to imagine the boy’s fate if he was caught.

  Boom——!

  At that exact moment, the roof suddenly caved in, and a figure descended from the sky.

  "Wha—"

  Rajas looked up instinctively, just in time to see the sole of a small foot hurtling toward his face. His huge body was sent flying backward at an astonishing speed, crashing through two walls in succession. He rolled across the ground for a distance, then lay motionless.

  The sudden turn of events left James and Odo stunned.

  In the next second, the two reacted completely differently.

  "Bastard! Who are you!? "

  Odo roared and charged at the intruder.

  James, however, ran straight for the door.

  Just as his right hand touched the door handle and he was about to open it, a small hand suddenly reached out from behind and pressed against the door.

  "Where do you think you’re going?"

  "......"

  James froze and slowly turned around. Behind him stood a familiar girl. As for Odo, who had tried to stop her just seconds earlier, he had already suffered the same fate as Rajas—unconscious and lying motionless on the hall floor......

  "......It’s you!"

  James’ expression was a picture of shock and disbelief. He never imagined that their primary target would appear before them in such a way.

  "Mm, I didn’t expect it to be you either. So...... this is what you meant by ‘we’re out’?"

  "......"

  James had nothing to say.

  He knelt down silently and raised his hands in surrender......

  Boom——!

  After some time, the door to the house was smashed open, and a large group of guards poured in.

  Bars had never intended to let Hulim act alone. Besides keeping the main force on standby at a distance, ready to reinforce at any moment, he had also arranged a small team to wait for Hulim’s signal.

  When the lookouts noticed Hulim—who had been lurking on the roof to scout—suddenly rush into the house without warning, they immediately realized something had happened and rushed to notify the main force.

  Bars then led a large contingent of guards to the scene.

  But now that they were here......

  It seemed their presence was completely unnecessary.

  ......

  After James, Odo, and Rajas were arrested, they were taken back to the White Cat Clan’s mansion. Following a thorough interrogation, Bars learned the truth: the three had been hired by another tribe at a high price to deliberately lose to their opponents in the tournament, ensuring the White Cat Clan would lose their Upper Seat.

  While feeling a lingering fear, Bars was also grateful for Hulim’s arrival, which had averted a major crisis.

  "Hulim, no matter what, thank you for this. Not only did you catch the culprits, but your actions earlier also saved our White Cat Clan from disaster."

  In the mansion’s audience chamber, Bars solemnly thanked Hulim.

  "Mr. Bars, you’re overstating it. I didn’t do that much."

  "No, if what you did is considered ‘not much,’ then I have no right to be king. Please, name your reward. Whatever you want—if we can do it, we will."

  "Well...... I don’t really want anything right now. That magic tool is more than enough."

  Ps：Shoutout to fellow reader John O'Connor for your support! Adding an extra chapter today just for you!!