Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 284 The Beast Folk 'Hospitality'

The two wolf guards gracefully descended from the walls, landing on the ground with a soft thud. Despite the considerable height of their fall, the ground beneath them remained unscathed, a proof of its remarkable sturdiness.

"My name is Thalagar," one of them introduced himself, while the other added, "Mine is Thalagor."

Thalagar stepped forward, his posture confident as he spoke. "Our liege instructed us to expect your arrival. He had the beast folk prepare a proper resting place for the King of the Leonheart nation before his arrival at the capital."

Oliver nodded, taking in the information. "Is that so?" he remarked.

Thalagor confirmed with a nod. "Yes, indeed. You both can go ahead and report to him. We'll take care of guiding the king to where he will spend the night."

Oliver narrowed his gaze, a sense of caution prickling at the back of his mind. Despite the warm welcome from the beast folk guards, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their behavior than met the eye. However, he decided to keep his suspicions to himself, opting instead to offer a faint smile.

Turning to Leona, he suggested, "Since things seem to be in order here, let's head over to the ant city."

Leona nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan," she replied.

As Oliver uttered those words, Thelagor and Thalager exchanged a knowing glance, their fangs glinting slightly as they both smiled.

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Undeterred, King Leonheart continued, his voice filled with uncertainty. "I'm not sure how you understood what the monsters said," he admitted, his gaze searching hers. "But it seems what that man said back in the castle was true." The mention of Oliver's revelation about Akun's claim on Hestria hung heavily in the air.

Hestria's voice trembled with emotion as she replied in a hushed tone, her words laden with sincerity. "I swore my loyalty to you," she murmured, her eyes pleading for understanding.

King Leonheart's expression remained hardened, his resolve not yielding. "Your oath must have meant nothing," he replied bitterly. "After all, in the end, it was you who led the intruders to our doorstep, leading to the loss of countless lives."

At his accusation, Hestria fell silent, her shoulders slumping under the weight of his words.

Summoning her courage, she managed to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had no choice," she protested, her gaze pleading for compassion. "The ruler of this nation is a god."

King Leonheart's response was laced with sarcasm as he scoffed, "And my grandfather had a bunch of god friends when he was alive, and my grandmother once ate dragons for breakfast." The he clearly didn't believe her.

King Leonheart's words cut through the air like a sharp blade, each syllable carrying the weight of his disappointment and anger. "The only reason you're still breathing," he continued, his voice cold and unforgiving, "is because that man requested your return to this nation. If you were still within the borders of the Leonheart Empire, you would have faced the executioner's blade by now."

Hestria's heart sank at his words, her breath catching in her throat as she processed the harsh reality of her situation. The gravity of his threat hung heavy in the air, suffocating her with its sheer finality.

As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of what appeared to be an inn, Thalagor gestured towards the entrance, indicating that King Leonheart could disembark. With a heavy sigh, the king pushed open the carriage doors and stepped out onto the snow-covered ground, his breath misting in the chilly night air.

Thalager then turned to the coachman, his voice firm but not unkind. "Follow me," he instructed, leading the way towards a nearby stable where the coachman could safely leave the horses and carriage.

The coachman nodded nervously, his hands gripping the reins tightly as he guided the horses after Thalager. The flickering light of lanterns cast long shadows across the snow-covered ground as they made their way towards the stable, the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet echoing in the night.