Chapter 28: This Wolf Beast Has Bad Eyesight

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: This Wolf Beast Has Bad Eyesight

The flickering orange firelight in the stone house illuminated the young male’s chiseled face. His sharp jawline tightened as his amber eyes intently scrutinized the small female sitting across from him.

The small female had rosy lips and a radiant smile, accentuated by two adorable dimples on her cheeks. Her expression was relaxed and natural, completely devoid of any fawning or calculation, as if she were genuinely just making a calm trade with him.

"Alright." He then untied the animal skin pouch from his waist and tossed it lightly into Ophelia’s lap.

Ophelia weighed the pouch in her hand. It made a clinking sound, like stones knocking together. She opened it right in front of everyone. Inside were ten Orange Crystal Stones and four Yellow Crystal Stones—a one-time payment for the five hundred pounds of grain.

No one expected her to count the payment right in front of him. Leon, the Clan Leader of the Golden Dragon Clan, raised a fist to his mouth and let out a light cough, while Laxus secretly winked at his younger sister. Tyler remained expressionless; he supported whatever the Princess did.

A smile crept onto Klein’s cold face. This small female was becoming increasingly interesting. Not only did she possess a massive amount of grain and fruit, but her personality was completely different from any other small female he had ever met.

Ophelia took out the ten Orange Crystal Stones and held them in her palms. Generously, she said, "I have less than four hundred and twenty sacks of grain on hand, so four Yellow Crystal Stones are enough. Consider the extra grain a friendly gift from me, a welcome present for visiting the Golden Dragon Clan."

Klein chuckled softly. His slender fingers plucked the ten Orange Crystal Stones back from the small female’s soft palms. "Very well. I look forward to a long-term partnership with Princess Ophelia."

"Sounds good, you’re more than welcome," she replied. She thought to herself that there was no reason to refuse Crystal Stones delivered right to her doorstep.

Leon and Laxus chatted with Klein for a few more minutes before an elder arrived to announce that the bonfire party was ready.

Since it was a welcome banquet after all, Ophelia found an opportunity to slip back into her stone house. She took out all her Shine Muscat grapes, along with five watermelons and a hundred lychees. Since Klein could ask for five hundred pounds of grain in one breath, he might be interested in fruit, too.

"Wow, our Clan Leader is really going all out to welcome the White Tiger King."

"I wonder how much prey it cost to trade for all this fruit."

All the members of the Golden Dragon Clan attended the bonfire party. They stared in amazement at the mountains of grapes and lychees piled high on the stone tables.

Ali had been disappointed earlier today when she couldn’t get her hands on any grapes or lychees. Now that they were right in front of her, she unceremoniously grabbed a handful and started eating.

"Brother, this fruit called lychee is so sweet! It’s as good as a watermelon.

"These grapes are delicious, too. The texture is completely different from any fruit I’ve ever had.

"Brother, why don’t you become partners with Ophelia? I feel like she has a lot more delicious food hidden away."

Ali was growing fonder and fonder of Ophelia. She felt the other female was a magical treasure trove for being able to discover so many tasty things.

Klein narrowed his sharp eyes. His expression shifted unpredictably, as if he were genuinely considering the feasibility of his sister’s suggestion.

Ophelia, who was in the middle of eating a grape, nearly choked upon hearing this. She hurriedly spat the fruit out. Tyler handed her a waterskin to rinse her mouth and thoughtfully patted her back.

Wiping a stray tear from the corner of her eye, Ophelia said, "Little Ali, I’ve already been partnered before. I’m not a worthy match for Clan Leader Klein."

Hearing her self-deprecating words, Tyler gripped her shoulders. "Princess, I will not allow you to put yourself down like that," he said, his voice deep. "You deserve the very best." His face bore an undeniable resolve, yet his brown eyes were as gentle as water, making no attempt to hide his deep affection.

Ali looked as if she had just stumbled upon some juicy gossip. Covering her mouth, she gasped, "Oh! So you two are an item!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Klein glanced at Tyler and scoffed internally. He was just an ordinary Dragon Beast, yet he dared to compete with him for a female? As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he realized something was wrong. Why would he, the dignified Mine Master and White Tiger King, want a small female who had already been partnered and subsequently broken the bond?

Klein flicked Ali on the forehead. "Don’t spout nonsense."

Ali stuck out her tongue, grabbed a handful of grapes, and stuffed them into her mouth. Ophelia was amused by her adorable behavior. It was wonderful that the dignified White Tiger King’s sister hadn’t been raised to be arrogant and domineering.

"Ophelia."

"Mother."

Right at the height of the bonfire party’s festivities, three uninvited guests arrived. Loki was holding Amy in his arms and leading Miche by the hand, looking for all the world like a happy family of three.

"Loki, who gave you permission to enter the Golden Dragon Clan?!" Laxus immediately shielded Ophelia behind him the moment Loki appeared. Tyler also shifted into a combat-ready stance.

Klein cast a sideways glance at Loki. Upon seeing the miniature version of Ophelia in his arms, Amy, he immediately understood the man’s identity. He figured this must be the Wolf Beast who broke his exclusive partnership bond with Ophelia. He then looked at the small female standing next to him—outwardly delicate, yet with eyes full of calculation.

Ophelia was a vibrant, fiery rose, while this newcomer was a seemingly innocent flower that was rotten to the core. This Wolf Beast truly had terrible taste in women, he mused. However, this was someone else’s family matter. It wasn’t his place to interfere, nor did he have any need to.

"Laxus, please don’t always harbor so much hostility toward Loki. Amy simply missed her mother, which is why we came to the Golden Dragon Clan," Miche said gently.

"That’s right," Loki chimed in. "Ophelia, no matter what, you are still Amy’s mother. Is it a crime for her to miss you and want to see you?" As he spoke, Loki shoved Amy into Ophelia’s arms.

He then turned to Klein. "You must be Clan Leader Klein of the White Tiger Clan. I am Loki, son of the Snow Wolf Clan’s leader. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

"Mhm." Klein nodded indifferently, the expression on his face not changing in the slightest.

Loki felt a bit awkward, but he braced himself and continued, "I heard you came here to choose a partner. Our Snow Wolf Clan also has quite a few small females coming of age today. If you don’t find anyone to your liking in the Golden Dragon Clan, you’re welcome to visit our Snow Wolf Clan and take a look."

Loki felt a surge of excitement. If he could invite the White Tiger King to the Snow Wolf Clan, he would have a much better chance of securing the position of Clan Leader for himself.

Ali, always outspoken, didn’t hold back. "What makes the Snow Wolf Clan think they’re worthy of a marriage alliance with the White Tiger Clan? Have some shame."

Bending down to set Amy on the ground, Ophelia let out a laugh. This girl Ali was truly to her liking; she looked even more adorable when she was mercilessly shutting people down.

Seeing the freezing expression on Klein’s face, Amy was too timid to speak. Miche, however, didn’t know Ali’s identity. Putting on a slightly lecturing tone, she said, "Small female, that’s an incorrect way to speak. No one is inherently nobler than anyone else. Choosing a partner is a lifelong commitment and shouldn’t be decided casually, lest one regrets it later. Isn’t that right, Clan Leader Klein?"

Miche shifted her gaze to Klein, wearing a serene, non-threatening smile she had practiced countless times.

Klein beckoned with his hand. "Come here."

Miche’s heart leapt, thinking he had taken a liking to her. Wearing a shy expression, she stepped forward. However, a blur of yellow moved much faster than she did, and a small female’s slender, fair arms wrapped securely around Klein’s arm.

Miche frowned slightly. "Small female, what do you think you’re doing?"