Chapter 251: You Have to Treat Lachlan Well

Evangeline looked at Galen. Instead of answering, she asked, "Are you the leader of the Frost-plain Tribe now?"

Galen gave a bitter smile and bit her lip. "Leader? I’m just helping the tribe where I can. The position of leader should be..." She paused, looking up at Evangeline before lowering her voice. "It should be Brother Lachlan’s."

Lachlan had always been the most talented warrior in the Frost-plain Tribe. If he hadn’t been targeted by the daughter of the Oasis Tribe’s leader at a tribal gathering, he never would have ended up a Beastman with a shattered Star Pattern. The Frost-plain Tribe wouldn’t have suffered such a cruel fate and endured so many terrible things. Now, so much had changed.

Although Brother Lachlan had reforged his Star Pattern and recovered his strength, he had also left the tribe.

He wanted to follow his female. He had no need for the position of leader of the Frost-plain Tribe.

Evangeline remained impassive, her face showing no emotion.

She scanned the caves of the Frost-plain Tribe and spoke calmly, "You’ve seen it for yourself. Norfell has been plagued by frequent disasters lately, affecting nearly every tribe. Even the Marine Beastmen have been forced to leave The Deep Sea and come ashore to survive. You can’t stay here any longer. In the face of these calamities, no Beastman will be spared."

"Of course, I didn’t come to force the Beastmen of the Frost-plain Tribe to leave their homeland and travel beyond the Triangle Sea."

"If you wish to stay, I can set up a Protective Array for you. It can at least provide you some shelter within this small territory. But if you leave the bounds of this Array, accidents could happen at any moment. Understand?"

Evangeline’s voice was steady and unhurried, and hearing it calmed Galen’s wildly pounding heart.

Her expression grew heavy. After a long moment, she glanced cautiously at Evangeline and asked in a low voice, "May I ask why Brother Lachlan didn’t come? What are his thoughts? Does he want the Frost-plain Tribe to follow you and leave Norfell?"

For a tribe to leave the land they had lived on for generations required immense courage.

At the mention of Lachlan, a faint, enigmatic light flickered in Evangeline’s eyes.

She looked up at Galen, her bewitching features betraying no emotion. "Lachlan will respect your choice."

’Traveling beyond the Triangle Sea isn’t necessarily the right choice; it might be the start of something even crueler. But staying in Norfell doesn’t mean they’ll be completely consumed by the disasters, either. After all, once the objective is complete and The Beast God’s affliction is resolved, these disasters will vanish. And with the Protective Array I can set up, I can at least ensure the Frost-plain Tribe won’t be completely annihilated.’

This was the only thing she could do for Lachlan before she left Norfell.

The rims of Galen’s eyes turned red. She lowered her gaze and said softly, "I need to discuss this with the tribe."

Evangeline gave a noncommittal nod, then mused, "What about Lachlan’s mother?"

Galen faltered for a moment, then silently led Evangeline to a remote cave.

The cave was quite far from the center of the Frost-plain Tribe’s territory, almost at the edge of the Spirit Stone boundary she had previously set up.

Evangeline frowned slightly. Noticing her gaze, Galen immediately explained, "Gamar chose to live here herself. Brother Lachlan knows about it, too. The tribespeople haven’t bullied Gamar."

As she spoke, a frail, old female emerged from the cave.

Her expression softened when she saw Galen, and she was about to speak when she noticed Evangeline standing beside her.

Gamar’s pupils constricted, and her hands clenched into fists.

Of course, she recognized this female who had both harmed Lachlan and given him a new life.

Galen stepped forward and said softly, "Gamar, this is Brother Lachlan’s female. She came to the tribe specially to see you."

Evangeline gave Gamar a slight nod, then said to Galen, "You go on ahead. Give me an answer as soon as you can."

At the mention of the important matter, Galen’s expression grew serious again.

She pressed her lips together and gave a grim nod. Then she turned and hurried away, her retreating figure seeming rushed.

Gamar stared at Evangeline, her body tense. She didn’t know how to act around her.

"Don’t be nervous. I only came to see you on Lachlan’s behalf." Evangeline stepped forward, studying the old female who had once protected Lachlan with her frail body. She wasn’t actually that old, but years of sickness and hunger had worn away her youthful beauty, leaving her as withered as dry kindling. And her male, it seemed, had also died from the plague.

From that perspective, "Evangeline" was, in fact, her enemy.

Gamar was indeed cold and distant. "There’s no need," she said calmly. "As long as you treat Lachlan well, I am content. If there’s nothing else, you should leave. It isn’t convenient for you to come inside."

With that, Gamar turned and walked back into the cave.

Evangeline’s gaze was calm from beginning to end, and she wasn’t angered by Gamar’s attitude.

After Gamar had gone inside, Evangeline took a few steps closer. With a wave of her slender hand, a large amount of long-lasting and easily digestible food appeared on the ground. She then called into the cave, "Lachlan asked me to bring these for you. Please take care of yourself."

With that, she turned and left.

Not long after Evangeline was gone, Gamar slowly emerged from the cave.

She stared at the food covering the ground, her eyes wide with surprise. Then she recalled the small pouch Lachlan had shown her, one that could store a great deal of food. All of this was from Evangeline. She was a witch favored by The Beast God.

A complicated expression crossed Gamar’s face as she pressed her lips together.

*

Evangeline had been sitting in Galen’s cave for a short while when she heard footsteps approaching from outside.

Galen arrived with several older Snow Leopard Beastmen, looking a bit embarrassed. She said in a low voice, "They have some questions for you."

Evangeline arched an eyebrow and nodded. "Ask."

An old Snow Leopard Beastman with a graying beard and hair spoke up. "Witch, I want to know, if the Beastmen of the Frost-plain Tribe leave Norfell for the Triangle Sea, will Lachlan agree to be our leader? Will he lead us?"

They could trust Evangeline, and they could follow her, but they didn’t want her to lead the Frost-plain Tribe.

The Snow Leopard Beastmen were a proud people at heart. Furthermore, Evangeline had once harmed the Frost-plain Tribe. Even though she had atoned for her mistake and become Lachlan’s beloved female, it didn’t stop them from having their own private thoughts on the matter.

Evangeline looked at them and said lightly, "He won’t."

Lachlan had already been taken beyond the Triangle Sea, so of course he couldn’t personally come and lead the Frost-plain Tribe.

Hearing this, the Snow Leopard Beastmen looked at one another in dismay, their expressions souring.

Galen, too, fell silent, her fingers clenching at her sides.

Evangeline watched their expressions change drastically, then quietly added, "Although Lachlan can’t be your leader, I can guarantee your safety on the journey to the Triangle Sea."

Her words, however, did not ease the tension on the Snow Leopard Beastmen’s faces.

After a moment, they made their decision.

"We don’t want to leave the tribal lands we have lived in for generations."

Evangeline nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.

She stood and walked outside. Galen followed closely behind her and said hesitantly, "You just said..."

"Don’t worry. I will set up a Protective Array in the Frost-plain Tribe. As long as you don’t leave its range, your safety will be guaranteed. I don’t want Lachlan coming home to find his tribe gone, either."