CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: TENSION IN THE AIR

Zerra perked up her ears to hear Cassias’ next words.

"You were polite. It seems that when the world changes, you do too." His tone was flat.

"Humans aren’t static creatures." Nyra retorted. "Well, it already happened anyway. You can explain yourself if you want. Or maybe there is nothing more to explain?"

Explain about what? The more Zerra listened, the more bewildered she became. It wasn’t a secret meeting between two people, like she originally thought.

Nyra... she could tell it in her eyes that she somewhat admired Cassias. She just would never admit it.

As for Cassias? It was hard to read him. She could never tell what he was thinking. That lukewarm attitude toward Nyra told her that she hadn’t conquered him yet.

"Forget it." His tone shifted, more icy. "She already knows that her parents are in the capital, anyway."

Zerra’s eyes were as wide as saucers. They were talking about her parents? Why did she have a feeling that Cassias somewhat had a hand in it?

It should be him who arranged that his parents invited hers so that they would come to the capital.

Her heart tightened. She was really conflicted and confused right now. Then she had a flicker of realization. Since she didn’t actively hinder the male lead and female lead’s relationship progress...

The plot must have been helping her, putting the credit in her name. That must be it!

"It’s just surprising." Nyra continued, a thin smile plastered on her lips. "You used this information so that we don’t need to go to the capital too soon. It’s as if you already know something, Cassias."

The man clenched his jaw.

Zerra blinked a few times, her hands clenched. She clamored in her heart: hurry up and... fight! Fight! Fight!

Just as Cassias was about to open his mouth again, the door creaked open.

It was Laziel. And he also dragged Zerra inside. The girl’s heart thumped loudly. Then, she heard his mocking words, "What are you doing standing at the door like that? You haven’t done something wrong, have you?"

In the last sentence, suspicion laced his words. Zerra’s heart beat erratically against her chest, silently cursing this buffoon.

She lifted her head, forcing her eyes to meet their expressions. Nyra’s eyes flickered with some discontent, while Cassias had his curious gaze directed toward her.

"You were eavesdropping?" Nyra asked, her tone slightly interrogative.

Zerra jolted and shook her head frantically. "You two are so far away from the door. How can I hear what you two are saying?"

Then, with a convincing gesture, she pointed to Laziel. "It was him who interrupted you two. I saw the two of you seemed to be engaging in some serious discussion, so I intend to wait until you finish."

Laziel widened his eyes, stunned. His gaze shifted alternately between Nyra and Cassias, pointing at himself. "Have I really interrupted an important discussion?"

Yes, and just in time to stop their first fight. Zerra grumbled with a mind of villainess.

Nyra coughed. "It’s nothing. We are just talking about our next plan for survival."

The idiot Laziel nodded upon hearing that, not even doubting Nyra’s answer in the slightest. Especially when Cassias was also quiet.

Zerra rolled her eyes. His sidekick aura had always been strong, anyway.

Nyra and Cassias noticeably restrained themselves during the meal. The atmosphere was a bit uncomfortable during the meal.

Zerra thought that she would vomit the delicious smelling human food again. Fortunately, she didn’t. Even with such unbearable tension hanging in the air, the food still tasted delicious...

Because Cassias took it out from his secret stash. Super spicy and fulfilling, directly satiated her craving.

Nyra had a surprised look when Cassias revealed his secret in front of Zerra. She squinted her eyes thoughtfully; her eyes deepened.

Meanwhile, Zerra didn’t care. She had been wanting those spicy noodles ever since Cassias showed it off in front of her...

"Many people are really missing." Laziel made some effort to lighten up the mood. "That man named Daniel seems to be gone as well."

They became a bit quiet. When Laziel realized that he had chosen the wrong topic, it was too late. Zerra narrowed her eyes and asked, "Did they manage to dig his corpse?"

Well, that wasn’t some kind of topic that should be discussed for dinner either. Laziel nudged her, but she only glanced at him and snorted. Her eyes told him that she was seriously waiting for an answer.

Since he was the one who brought up the topic, Laziel couldn’t help but had to answer it. He shook his head. "No, all those who fall into the underground place and never successfully made it out alive are declared dead."

Zerra pouted slightly, disappointed. Daniel brought her a lot of troubles, and she had taken no revenge yet.

She hadn’t shown him the dancing zombies. It would have been very effective in scaring him; she was sure of it. Too bad he would never have the experience.

"What do you think, Cassias?" Nyra asked in a deliberate tone.

"What does that have to do with me?" Cassias raised his eyebrows. He went back to focusing on his food. His eyes flickered with a thoughtful light.

For the next half month, every time Zerra turned into a fox, she would run into Cassias and ask for crystal cores.

Her appetite was enormous. Each meeting with him, she’d sell her cuteness for a small hill of crystal cores. She thought that he would soon go bankrupt because of how he always gave her those things so generously, but he truly hid himself deeply.

Before she held out her paw, he would already have waved his hand. The small hill of crystal cores would make her busy processing them then. The soft marshmallow...

Thanks to her effort of squeezing Cassias off his wealth, Zerra found out that she was very close to level three zombie now. She just needed a slight chance for a breakthrough.

"Oh, the fox is here again?" Nyra entered with Laziel.

A flash of dislike crossed her face. Zerra shuddered slightly, and she nearly choked on the crystal core upon sensing Nyra’s emotion.

She lifted her eyes, looking at Nyra with puzzledness in her eyes. The woman reached out, brushing her head against her hand. Zerra quickly recovered her senses.

She hissed loudly in alarm, her mouth opened in order to bite Nyra. The latter evaded in time, pursing her lips and squinting her eyes.

"Don’t disturb her. She is very protective of her food." Cassias spoke. His hand reached out to soothe Zerra’s nerves. She bit him, but he didn’t withdraw.

After a while, it was Zerra who grew bored. Withdrawing her teeth from his hand, she went back to her important business, making crunching sounds as the crystal cores went to her stomach again.

She was convinced that Nyra was just jealous. Those crystal cores were money in her eyes and she was eating money right now. Her heart must have hurt so badly!

Not long after the Sylvaris siblings entered, Darren knocked.

"What’s wrong?" Nyra asked him.

He sent a fleeting glance at Cassias. In a slightly embarrassed tone, he told them. "I want to ask for help. Because of the incident half a month ago, most of the ability users in our team were wiped out."

"Even though we have been frugal with the supplies, the number of people in our shelter keeps increasing. Our supplies have dwindled down for the past month."

"Some people told us that there were some supplies. The problem is that the location is very far away. The Brown family has sent the list of people, but on our side, they are lacking," Darren explained.

"You want us to go there?" Cassias asked. He seemed to be contemplating something.

"If you are all willing... the four of you." Darren glanced around, realizing that someone was missing. "Where is Zerra?"