Chapter 96: The Festival’s Boon
Bai’s plan was simple: “blend in.”
Although she felt a bit guilty about using Dorothy, she needed a place to blend in.
To avoid drawing attention at the “Festival of the Wild God’s Return,” joining an organization was a good idea.
But…
She felt sorry for the low-level beastkin who were hoping to advance through this “boon.” With her spirit-gathering and amplification circles, there wouldn’t be much bloodlust left for them.
Dorothy, after a moment of stunned silence, finally recovered. “You… you don’t need any special procedures. If you want to join, I’ll handle the paperwork. And besides…”
She scratched her head. “We don’t have many members, so there aren’t many rules. We just… help each other out.”
“…How fitting,” Bai said, at a loss for words. She hadn’t expected to find such a laid-back organization in the Savage Lands.
But it was for the best. If there were too many complications, she would have reconsidered.
“And Miss Lino?” Dorothy asked, looking at Eleanor.
“She’s with me,” Bai said, and Eleanor nodded, hugging her arm. “I’m with her!”
“…” Bai wanted to shake her off, but decided against it.
(Isabelle, in her shadow, glared at Eleanor.)
“I see… no problem,” Dorothy said, a look of relief on her face.
She and her friend had started this association, but they had struggled to recruit new members.
Now, with two new recruits, she was quite pleased. She was already planning a welcome party for Miss Hong and Miss Lino.
But she didn’t say anything, wanting it to be a surprise.
Unfortunately, Bai’s mind was elsewhere. If she had known, she would have done everything in her power to avoid it.
“Well, I won’t disturb you two any longer,” Dorothy said, standing up. “No need to see me out. I have some other business to attend to.”
“Alright. Take care,” Bai said, watching her go, then turned to Eleanor.
“It’s almost time. Let’s go to the tavern and gather some more information about the festival.”
Eleanor nodded, but Bai hesitated. “Actually, I’ll go with you today.”
“Hmm?” Eleanor’s eyes twinkled. “Great! Let’s go together!”
…
“Is everything arranged?”
In a room in the Crimson Nest, Diana looked at Brute, her expression serious.
“Yes,” he nodded, taking a seat.
The room was a small conference room, mostly used by Diana.
Besides Brute and Diana, Kemlin, the Serpentkin, and Volker, the Plague Rat beastkin, were also present.
Yes, the same beastkin squad from the capital five years ago.
During the chaos of the Imperial Festival, they had mostly… stayed out of the way.
But because they hadn’t been involved in the fighting, they had been able to return to the Savage Lands after the Battle of Vikarn.
Now, Diana had reassembled them, to prepare for the Festival of the Wild God’s Return.
Although they weren’t particularly strong—none of them were at the Calamity Class level, and they were no match for Rex—they were a well-rounded team, with a combination of combat, intelligence, and strategic abilities.
That was why Diana had chosen them for her mission in the capital.
“This festival is very important. Mother is taking it very seriously. She has even decided to intervene personally,” Diana said, her gaze sweeping across the room. “You all know what that means.”
They were silent, their expressions grim.
It meant there could be no mistakes. Otherwise, they would face the Queen’s wrath.
And Queen Arachne was not like the Emperor of the North Empire. She was notoriously cruel, even to her own children.
And they had all witnessed the chaos in the capital. If something similar happened here… the consequences would be unimaginable.
For the Wild God Altar, and for them.
“So, what do we need to do?” Kemlin asked, his forked tongue flicking nervously.
“Our primary objective is… to find a fox-kin,” Diana replied, her expression serious.
“A fox-kin?” they all asked, surprised. Even Brute looked confused.
“Why… a fox-kin?” Volker asked. “We’re mobilizing all our forces just to find a slave?”
“This fox-kin is no slave…” Diana said, taking a deep breath. “Her power… even my mother fears it.”
“A fox-kin that powerful?”
They exchanged glances. They had never heard of such a thing.
There were few in the Savage Lands who could make the Queen wary, and none of them were fox-kin.
“You don’t need to know the details. Just find her,” Diana said, though she herself was a bit confused.
Her mother hadn’t told her much, only that this festival was to deal with the fox-kin.
But strangely, if this “little fox” was already in the Wild God Altar, why not just launch a city-wide search? Why all the secrecy?
Even if they couldn’t find her, they could at least… make her wary.
Of course, she wouldn’t dare to question her mother’s orders.
“By the way, I heard there’s a ‘boon’ at this festival? A tenfold increase in bloodlust for the beastkin on the outskirts…?” Kemlin asked, confused.
Volker also looked at Diana curiously. He had heard the same rumor.
Diana and Brute’s expressions turned strange.
“There is no boon. And no tenfold increase in bloodlust,” Diana said.
“Then why… is there such a rumor?” Kemlin frowned.
“Because I started it,” Brute said.
Diana’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“The festival… requires many offerings.”
