Chapter 606: Request

The moment Maximilian requested her to show her face, her grip tightened on her lap, her eyes trembling with visible distress. A flicker of panic danced within her pink irises, betraying a deep-rooted trauma.

"No," she muttered, firm and final. "I will never show my face to anyone."

Maximilian just looked at her nervous face for a few seconds, taking in the subtle quiver of her lips and the way she averted her gaze, before letting out a weary sigh. "Alright. I apologise if my question made you uncomfortable."

Gumiho was about to say something when a chariot landed on her front yard with a heavy thud, sending a cloud of dust into the air. It was Chitra’s chariot. Its door opened with a sudden shove, and from within, Vyaghra emerged, his amber-coloured eyes fixed intensely on Maximilian with barely concealed urgency. He reached them with quick, determined steps, his dual black and blonde hair swaying with every stride.

"Could you really cure my father?" He demanded, grabbing Maximilian by the collar and lifting him in the air.

’Hah... beasts really do lack respect for others,’ Maximilian sighed inwardly before replying, "I can."

’And here comes another wave of annoying questions of how and why,’ he retorted silently, barely suppressing the frown that threatened to appear on his face.

Vyaghra put him down, removing his hands from his robe. Contrary to what Maximilian had expected, Vyaghra bowed at a ninety-degree angle and pleaded, "Please cure him. As the temporary leader of the Tiger Clan, I will do anything in my power to return the favour."

"Young Master!" Chitra exclaimed, who had just come out from the chariot. "You are the current representative of the Tiger Clan. How could you bow to a human?"

"If a mere bow can heal my father, I will live my entire life keeping my head lowered," Vyaghra declared in a firm, unwavering tone. "His life is far more important than my dignity."

’Last time when I met him, he refused to bow to me because of his pride and dignity,’ Maximilian murmured inwardly, his golden eyes fixed on Vyaghra’s bowing figure. ’And today, he is throwing away that very pride to save his father’s life.’ Maximilian couldn’t help but smile. Both father and son kept impressing him with each meeting.

"I do have a request," Maximilian finally spoke up. His words caused an immediate frown to form on Chitra’s face, her jaw tightening with suspicion. She was about to voice her protest when he continued, tapping Vyaghra’s shoulder, "I wish to join the Tiger Clan."

A brief silence followed.

Gumiho blinked, tilting her head in bewilderment. Chitra was left with raised brows, while Vyaghra was a bit taken aback himself, his expression shifting from hope to cautious curiosity.

"What do you mean?" He asked, trying to find the hidden intent behind his words.

"Exactly what I said," Maximilian repeated, placing his tied hands on Vyaghra’s shoulders and lifting his head. "I only joined the war in the hope of improving the relationship between humans and beasts. In the end, I was just used by the higher-ups and almost died. Ironically, who saved me from the brink of death was not a human but a beast. Perhaps if I join the beast clan as a human, I might be able to lessen this deep-rooted hatred between the two races."

His words sounded noble, but obviously neither Vyaghra nor Chitra believed him. Even Gumiho seemed a bit skeptical, her pink eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him.

Nonetheless, there was nothing more important than saving Vyomendra’s life.

"I agree," Vyaghra declared firmly.

"Young Mast—"

’Don’t be short-sighted, Chitra,’ Vyaghra muttered at her before she could even voice her denial. "Free his hands."

Maximilian extended his hands towards Chitra, his face carrying a mocking smirk. "Here."

Her fists tightened at her sides, the look of frustration on her face blooming a deep satisfaction within Maximilian. She waved her hand, removing the rope that held his wrists together. His torn skin with dried blood was revealed beneath, to which he didn’t even bat an eye.

"Well then, we shouldn’t delay any further," Maximilian said, walking towards the chariot with an unhurried stride.

This time, he was the first one to enter the chariot, and no one dared to stop him. Gumiho, Chitra and Vyaghra followed, moving inside as well, the atmosphere within the enclosed space thick with unspoken distrust.

The chariot took off from the zenith, reaching deeper into the mountains, soaring over jagged peaks and misty valleys. After a few minutes, they reached the highest peak, where rings of multiple clouds shrouded the layers of the mountain in an ethereal veil. It was covered in green, lush forest. At its zenith, an ethereal eastern-style palace was built, its curved roofs and ornate pillars seeming to float among the clouds.

The chariot landed on the courtyard of the palace, where the five Greater Spirit Beasts and the elders of the Tiger Clan awaited them, their expressions ranging from wary to outright hostile. Obviously, Maximilian received unwelcome glares from them the moment he stepped out. It was as if they were barely holding themselves back from snapping his neck.

The tiger-beast that had saved Chitra from Maximilian’s sword formation was also present. He had a mature face with a short blonde beard and ear-length hair of the same colour that covered half of his forehead. He was Nakula, one of the six Greater Spirit Beasts of the Tiger Clan.

Maximilian shamelessly waved at him with a wide grin. He gave an instant reaction, veins bulging across his forehead from restrained fury, his claws twitching at his sides.

An elder from the group stepped forward and said, his voice laced with worry, "Young Master, are you really sure—"

"I have already made the decision, Elder Simha," Vyaghra cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "There’s no benefit in wasting any more time on it."

From the look of it, Maximilian could already guess that they had a long debate about whether to trust him or not. It seemed like everyone was against it, but as the acting clan head, Vyaghra had the final say in the matter.

The group entered the palace, followed closely by all the Greater Spirit Beasts and elders, their heavy footsteps echoing through the grand corridors. At the opposite wall of the grand hall, Vyomendra’s unconscious body lay on a wooden bed, his form still and pale beneath a thin blanket.

Only Vyaghra and Gumiho had stepped inside when Maximilian pivoted on his feet and muttered with a frown, "The hell are you coming in for? Is it a banquet or something?"

"Watch your words, human!" Nakula growled, baring his fangs.

"You watch your manners, beast," Maximilian snapped back, his face twisting in annoyance.l, leaving all the beasts exasperated.