Chapter 182: Omen of an Impending Crisis

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Omen of an Impending Crisis

Moye stood by, trembling with fear as the males repeatedly brought up the Fuzu Tribe.

Brada stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Oh, they’re actually that cheap?"

"Who knows?" one of the males replied. "The Clan Leader of the Fuzu Tribe is just a little female. I heard she knows how to grow rice and some other crops. Maybe she even grows fruit, which is why they trade it so cheaply."

"Grows crops and even fruit?" Brada became even more interested in this Fuzu Tribe. "Moye, take me to see that Fuzu Tribe. I’d like to see what a little female who managed to become Clan Leader looks like."

It was his first time hearing of a little female acting as a Clan Leader.

Cold sweat broke out on Moye’s forehead. "Mr. Brada, it’s already getting dark, and the Fuzu Tribe is quite a distance from Ten Thousand Beasts City. How about tomorrow? I’ll take you to the Fuzu Tribe tomorrow. You should head back and get a good rest for today."

Brada looked up at the sky. It was indeed approaching evening. He ran a hand through his fiery red hair. "Alright, tomorrow it is."

Once back in Ten Thousand Beasts City, Moye served Brada dinner and personally escorted him back to his bedroom. Only then did his hanging heart finally settle.

Late in the dead of night, Moye ascended the city tower of Ten Thousand Beasts City.

He blew into a horn, and soon, a Winged Dragon flew over from the distance. The black Winged Dragon landed slowly on the city wall and transformed into a human.

"What is it?" the Winged Dragon asked.

"There are unusual movements in the Fuzu Tribe. Return to the Holy Capital immediately and pass this message to the young master."

"Understood."

With that brief reply, the Winged Dragon departed. Since Moye hadn’t elaborated, he didn’t bother to ask.

Glancing at the moon hanging high in the sky, Moye straightened his animal hide garments and descended the city wall. Instead of returning to the City Lord Mansion, he headed out of the city.

Hidden in the shadows, Kaka watched the direction Moye left in and ordered the males behind him, "Go and bring that Winged Dragon back."

"Yes, Chief Kaka." Several males from the Fire Phoenix Clan manifested wings on their backs and flew off in the direction the Winged Dragon had taken.

Kaka returned to the City Lord Mansion and reported the matter to Brada.

"He sent another message? What did he say?" Brada asked with mild curiosity.

Kaka shook his head. "They were too far away and kept their voices down, so I couldn’t hear clearly. However, I’ve already sent people to capture him and bring him back."

"Good work. I’d like to see what kind of petty tricks Moye is pulling behind my back."

The Fire Phoenix Clan males were highly efficient. It took them barely half an hour to capture the Winged Dragon. Unafraid of Moye finding out, Brada had Kaka bring the captive directly to the City Lord Mansion.

Brada sat upright in a chair, his legs crossed as he looked down at the Winged Dragon kneeling on the floor. "Speak. Why did Moye tell you to return to the Holy Capital?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about." The Winged Dragon kept his head lowered, his expression neither humble nor arrogant.

Brada shot a glance at Kaka.

Understanding implicitly, Kaka raised his foot and stomped hard on the Winged Dragon’s lower leg.

CRACK. The crisp sound of a fracturing bone rang out, and the Winged Dragon cried out in agony.

"Do you know who I am?" Brada asked.

His forehead drenched in cold sweat from the pain, the Winged Dragon gasped, "I only know that you are Mr. Brada of the Fire Phoenix Clan."

"And yet you still dare to keep secrets from me?" Brada laughed, amused by the Winged Dragon’s stubbornness.

"I am a male of the Winged Dragon Clan. I will not betray my master."

"Is that so?"

Kaka pulled a pill from the animal-hide pouch at his waist and shoved it into the Winged Dragon’s mouth.

The Winged Dragon clutched his throat in alarm. "What did you feed me?"

"A pill that forces partial beastification."

As Kaka spoke, a pair of wings burst uncontrollably from the Winged Dragon’s back. Stepping forward, Kaka grabbed the wings and forcefully bent them backward.

Veins bulged on the Winged Dragon’s forehead and neck from the sheer pain.

Brada’s voice softened to a gentle whisper. "If you behave and tell me now, I can spare your life."

Consumed by agony, the Winged Dragon paid him no heed. The Winged Dragon Clan took the utmost pride in their wings; to them, their wings were akin to their very lives.

As the pressure from Kaka’s hands intensified, the male finally caved. "Stop, stop! I’ll talk. I’ll tell you! Moye told me to go back and report to the young master that there is unusual activity in the Fuzu Tribe."

Brada raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised that this had to do with the Fuzu Tribe. His curiosity regarding the Fuzu Tribe—and the little female who had established it—was only growing.

Meanwhile, Moye traveled without stopping, finally arriving at the Fuzu Tribe around midnight.

Hearing the commotion, the male guards of the Fuzu Tribe were instantly on high alert. "Who’s there?"

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Moye called out clearly, "It’s me."

Moye frequently traveled to and from the Fuzu Tribe, so the local males recognized him. Seeing him arrive at this hour, the guards found it rather strange.

"City Lord Mo Ye, why are you here?"

"I have business with Ophelia. Let me in quickly."

Surprised by his urgency, one of the guards said, "But the Clan Leader is already asleep. How about you tell me the matter, and I will report it to her tomorrow?"

Moye shook his head. He didn’t completely trust these males. "This is very important. I must speak with Ophelia in person."

"Well..." The guards were caught in a difficult spot.

Moye was so frantic that his face changed color. "Just let me in. If anything happens, Ophelia won’t blame you."

Seeing how anxious Moye looked, the males didn’t dare hold him up any longer and allowed him entry.

Upon entering the Fuzu Tribe, Moye moved as if he had wings on his feet, hastening toward the three-story stone house where Ophelia lived.

The moment he approached the stone house, his scent was caught by Klein inside.

On the second floor, Klein opened his eyes. He glanced at Ophelia, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him, tossed the animal hide blanket aside, and leaped straight out the window.

"What are you doing here so late?" Klein blocked the doorway, stopping Moye in his tracks.

Moye jolted in shock at Klein’s sudden appearance. Only after recognizing him did he pat his chest in lingering fear. It had scared him half to death; he’d thought people from the Fire Phoenix Clan had tracked him down.

"I need to see Ophelia about something."

"She’s tired and already asleep. Come back tomorrow." Klein would be leaving in a couple of days and didn’t want to miss a single second with Ophelia.

"This concerns the three little dragon cubs. I must see Ophelia right now."

Seeing his grave expression, Klein maintained a cold face but let him inside.

Hearing that it was about the three little dragon cubs, Ophelia threw on some simple clothes and hurried downstairs.

"Moye, what exactly happened that made you rush over so late?"

"Someone from the Holy Capital has arrived. It’s Mr. Brada from the Fire Phoenix Clan."

"Brada of the Fire Phoenix Clan?" Klein, who had been leaning against the wall, instantly stood up straight at the sound of the name.

The Fire Phoenix Clan was the second largest noble family in the Holy Capital. Brada was a wolf in sheep’s clothing—a dangerous man hidden behind a pleasant facade—and possessed a meticulous mind. His visit this time was definitely not simple; it couldn’t be a mere coincidence.

"What does his arrival have to do with the three little dragon cubs?" Ophelia didn’t quite understand.

Moye pondered for a moment before deciding to tell the truth. "The young master and Princess Sophie of the Fire Phoenix Clan were arranged to be married since childhood. Mr. Brada’s visit this time might be related to the young master’s extended stay in Ten Thousand Beasts City."