"Yes. Now it's up to you whether you want to risk everything to put an end to me. You would be putting me out of my misery too actually. I would have done it myself if I didn't promise my mother that I'd never kill myself..." Tracy replied.

"...." Layla looked on speechlessly.

The two were so focused on each other that they didn't notice the barrier around them disappearing.

Soon Muku appeared beside Layla with the friendliest smile he could master while looking at Tracy.

"I'm sorry for my friend's rudeness Ms Tracy. If I had known that she was targeting you esteemed self, I would have stopped her. As an apology, please allow us to host you for a few days?" Muku spoke in a professional tone.

Layla was surprised by his sudden appearance and words. And how could he casually throw her under the bus like that?!

But she didn't say anything and let him do whatever he was doing. She knew him well enough to know that he always had a plan, so there was no need to get ahead of him.

".... So you heard what I said huh? And let me guess, it scared you so much you don't feel safe with having me outside where I can get killed at any moment. So you want to keep me close so that you can keep an eye on me..." Tracy replied after a moment of silence as she looked at Muku who didn't release even the faintest trace of energy.

"I..." Muku didn't know what to say since the dino had hit the nail on the head. Who knew that it would be so smart and cunning?

After all, one has to have a certain level of cunning to understand when someone was trying to be cunning with them...

"There's no need to say anything. We both know it's true. And luckily for you, I don't mind hanging around you for now. It's not like I have anywhere I have to be or anyone I have to see. I was also afraid that I could randomly get killed one day. So this is also to my advantage. While I can't sense even an ounce of strength from you, I can confidently say that right now... On the planet, you're probably one of the beings standing at the peak..." Tracy spoke after interrupting Muku.

Muku's eyes glowed in keen interest. He was quite impressed by the Dino. It was like he was speaking to an elder who knew quite a few things about life.

Nothing like Iris who lived for who knows how long but still acted like a rebellious teen most of the time.

Hell, even Mrs C didn't give off such a mature air... Then again, that lady was mysterious, so he couldn't judge her based on the little information she chose to expose him to.

"I don't know if I would say I am at the peak. But I can confidently say that if I go all out, few would dare stand in my way... And thank you for understanding. We'll make sure to treat you as best as we can in our time together" Muku replied while taking a little bow.

As for whether that meant anything to a beast, he didn't know. But it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

"Thank you. I will also try my best to be the best guest I can be... However, I do have one request..." Tracy spoke.

"Please, go ahead..." Muku replied.

He had no issue with going along with whatever she wanted as long as it was reasonable.

It was for his group's safety after all...

"It's nothing much. I just want that one to be the host... You know, the one who will tell me about your group and how you do things. I'll also tell her about anything related to me that you might want to know. I feel that we have an affinity with each other so I'd feel more comfortable talking to her..." Tracy explained.

"Oh, is that so? That can be arranged... However, that's only if she's willing" Muku replied positively as he saw no issues with it. But of course, it was Layla's decision at the end, so he let her decide.

"Sure. I don't mind" Layla who still wanted to know more about the weird beast named Tracy agreed.

The Dino's situation intrigued her quite a bit. And just like Tracy said, she also felt like there was some invisible link between them. Like they were the same in some way...

"Great!... Then I'll leave you ladies be. Layla knows the way back home" Muku spoke then after a nod from Tracy he left.

What Tracy didn't notice was that he was hovering a few metres above her, with Raya as they sat on some comfy-looking chairs and ate some meat.

Layla who could see everything rolled her eyes and ignored them.

She wondered what Tracy would think if she found out that the seemingly gentlemanly and respectful human was actually just a poser who treated her like a free live TV show.

....

On the invisible platform...

"So, what's the plan here? Are we going to look for a way to kill her without triggering the causality law, or?" Raya asked while looking at Tracy emotionlessly.

You'd think that as a fellow beast, she would be sympathetic to Tracy, but no, the dragon girl was just as uncaring as she would have been if Tracy were a human.

But then again, that's the same with how humans generally don't give a damn about unrelated people. If Tracy had some sort of self-harming curse, then maybe Raya would care. But Tracy's curse or whatever it was posed danger to her. And for that reason, she wanted Tracy gone!

"Wow. What a ruthless child! Anyway, no, we're not going to do that. Instead, we're going to look for a way to send her back to the beast world! We cannot keep a ticking time bomb here. She's way too dangerous. And looking for a way of killing her without triggering the ability seems risky and unlikely. After all, even Monarchs couldn't do anything to this beast..." Muku replied calmly and calculatively.

"Hmm. You're right. Your plan is way safer and doable... To think the "Sudden Death Plague" from a hundred years ago I heard about in the Beast World was actually caused by the death of this one's mother. Truly a crazy world..." Raya replied then brought up some valuable information from her past.

"Did any Monarchs die?" Muku asked curiously.

"I'm not sure. I heard that a couple of Monarchs died but it wasn't confirmed since any beast which tried to dig into the matter would disappear... Now that I think about it. That was probably the indirect confirmation of something happening. Otherwise, why would they all disappear?" Raya replied.

"Yeah... To think that even the Beast World has such problems. But then again, I guess that's the messed-up way of doing things brought by having intelligence. Though I think it's understandable. It was probably the way for the Monarchs to protect themselves from anyone who might try to target Tracy as a way of taking some of them out..." Muku spoke after thinking about it for a bit.

"You're probably right... Now can we stop talking about it? I'm bored. See you later. I think it's time I devour that shark corpse. I should have built up enough appetite" Raya replied then disappeared before Muku could say anything.

".... Sigh. I guess sometimes I forget that despite being smart, she's just a child..." Muku spoke to himself as he continued following Layla and Tracy.

...

Below Muku...

"So... Aren't you going to say anything?" Layla asked after a few minutes of walking in silence.

She didn't expect Tracy who suggested wanting to talk to her would just remain quiet and focus on walking.

Normally, she wouldn't mind and would happily welcome the silence. But this time. She was genuinely curious to hear what Tracy wanted to say.

Maybe something Tracy says will reveal to her why she feels a kinship with Dino.

"Why rush it when we have all the time in this world? And aren't you the quiet type anyway? Shouldn't you appreciate my silence?" Tracy spoke in her calm and wisened voice.

Her words seemed simple and straightforward but Layla couldn't sense a hint of teasing. And she didn't like that.

For that reason, she didn't reply and chose to walk in silence... Well, Tracy was walking and she was flying but still, the point stands...

Tracy wasn't offended by her silence. In fact, her Dino mouth curled up a bit to form a feint smile before returning to normal.

Layla missed it but Muku didn't. He didn't say anything though. He wanted to see where the Dino was taking things.

And there was something he also noticed. And that was Tracey's big eyes. Before they looked super lonely and pained... Now, although they still looked mostly the same, the look seemed to have dimmed down a bit.

This didn't happen after he invited her to come stay with them, but when Layla agreed to be her host.

And as much as he didn't want to admit it. The lonely look had played a part in his invite...

After all, keeping an eye on her secretly was also an option even if it would be a bit troublesome...

...

A while later....

Everyone was up minding their own business at the mansion when suddenly... They sensed a strong and unfamiliar presence approaching.

Without a second thought, they all ran outside...

Even Jade who had finally received Hope's healing.

She was actually having a hard time explaining to Hope why the healing glow was focused on her lower region when the strong presence emerged.

So she was the first to bolt out with a look of relief and gratitude on her face.

She was even thinking of sparing whatever was approaching after beating it up a bit as a thank you for getting her out of the troublesome situation.

Then she saw what it was...

"What the hell?!"