Chapter 99: What is His Motive?

VIVIAN

The Lotus sounded as though it hadn’t eaten in a hundred years.

GIVE THEM TO ME! ALL OF THEM!

Vivian nearly choked.

No!!

I WANT TO EAT!

There are too many people here! We can’t!

The Lotus continued whining.

I DON’T CARE!

Vivian’s temple twitched.

You should care! Do you want everyone to discover my secret?

Beeny’s voice suddenly entered their mental conversation.

Shut up, Lotus! Do you want to get us into trouble?

The Lotus went silent for half a second.

Then it started screaming again.

I’M HUNGRY!

Vivian closed her eyes. This is a nightmare.

Beeny suddenly spoke in a much calmer tone. Actually, I have an idea.

Vivian opened one eye.

What idea?

We can poison them.

Vivian blinked.

What?

We poison them until they fall asleep. Then we eat the beasts.

Beeny sounded increasingly pleased with herself.

When everyone wakes up, you can pretend you don’t know where the Beast corpses went and act like you have fallen asleep too.

Vivian stared at the ground.

Then she rolled her eyes.

Thank you for the suggestion, Beeny.

She paused. "But I’m not participating in any of this."

The Lotus screamed in protest.

VIVIAN! No! YOU’RE CRUEL!!

And you’re hungry enough to get me arrested.

Vivian sighed. She was surrounded by lunatics.

One was a Lotus that wanted to eat everything.

The other was a bee who suggested poisoning an entire team.

What had she done to deserve this?

"Everyone!"

Serial’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

Vivian looked up.

He was staring toward the other side of the forest.

"I heard something over there."

Herbert immediately raised his weapon. "Another beast?"

"I’m not sure," Serial replied. "Let’s go check."

He turned toward Vivian.

"You can wait here. We’ll be quick."

Vivian stared at him. "Me?"

"Yes. Your shoulder is injured. Rest for a while."

Before she could protest, the others began moving. Ariel followed Serial closely.

Herbert hurried after them.

Eric was the last to leave.

He glanced at Vivian.

Then he smiled. "Don’t go anywhere, little cousin."

Vivian’s expression stiffened. Eric turned and followed the others.

Within moments, everyone had disappeared between the trees.

Vivian stood alone in the clearing.

She slowly looked around. The six dead beasts lay scattered across the ground.

The forest was silent.

Then she smiled. "It seems the heavens are finally on my side."

She rubbed her hands together.

"Finally, I can....."

She suddenly stopped.

Her smile faded.

Wait.

Isn’t this strange?

Why would Serial leave her alone with six dead beasts when he knew how much spiritual energy they contained?

And why had Eric looked at her like that before leaving?

Vivian narrowed her eyes.."Something isn’t right."

Beeny’s voice sounded inside her mind. "What’s weird about it?"

Vivian frowned.

Beeny answered.. "Serial knows you want the beasts...."

She froze. Slowly, she turned toward the direction the others had gone.

What do you mean he knows?

Beeny went silent.

Vivian’s eyes widened.

"Beeny."

No response.

"Beeny!"

Still nothing.

Vivian gritted her teeth. "Come out and explain yourself!"

A small bee flew out from her hair.

It landed on the ground and transformed into her little-girl form.

Beeny rubbed her hands together nervously.

"Um..."

Vivian folded her arms. "Talk."

Beeny looked away.

"Well..."

She scratched her cheek. "I forgot to tell you something."

Vivian’s expression darkened.

"What?"

"The first day we met..."

Beeny hesitated.

"I wasn’t the only one who saw your Lotus the Beasts in that Forest."

Vivian froze. "What?"

Beeny continued quickly. "He was there before I arrived."

Her voice became quieter. "So he ran away when he saw you eating the beasts."

Vivian’s entire body stiffened.

She slowly clenched her fists. "So you’re telling me..."

Her voice became dangerously calm.

"Serial saw me eating the beasts with my Lotus before you even met me?"

Beeny nodded.

Vivian’s face darkened.

"And he deliberately approached me afterward? How did our relationship become this close? "

How he had invited her into the team.

How he had always been there whenever she needed assistance. How he suddenly wanted to be her beast Husband. Was that all an act?

She remembered how Serial had helped her. How a video of them got viral in school. She once wondered who did it? But now it is getting clearer!!!

Her expression became colder. "What is his motive for getting closer to me?"

She took a step forward.

"Why didn’t he report me?"

Beeny shook her head. "I don’t know."

Vivian stared at her. "I knew someone was watching me that day."

Her heart began beating faster. "I thought it was you."

She looked toward the forest.

"But when I returned, Serial was resting."

Her eyes narrowed. "So he already knew my secret."

She swallowed. "Why didn’t he tell anyone?"

Beeny shrugged. "Why worry about the details?"

Vivian slowly turned toward her.

Beeny pointed at the six dead beasts. "He left them here for you, didn’t he?"

She smiled innocently. "Maybe he wants to stay by your side."

Vivian stared at her as if she had just lost her mind. "That’s not comforting!"

She suddenly looked around.

"What if he left a drone here?"

Beeny blinked. "What?"

"What if he’s recording me right now?"

Vivian quickly scanned the trees. "Check everywhere!"

Beeny immediately transformed into a bee and began flying around the clearing.

Vivian looked toward the corpses.

Her stomach growled.

The Lotus began screaming again.

EAT! EAT! EAT!

"Shut up!" Vivian whispered furiously.

Just then...

A familiar voice sounded behind her. "Little Cousin Vivian."

Her entire body froze.

She slowly turned around. Eric stood between the trees.

His hands were tucked into his pockets, and a pleasant smile rested on his face.

He walked toward her leisurely. "I came back for you."

Vivian stared at him. Her instincts screamed. Something was wrong.

Eric stopped a few steps away.

His gaze shifted toward the six dead beasts.

Then he looked back at her.

His smile widened.

"Now..."

He tilted his head. "Why don’t we have a little chat, dear cousin?"