Chapter 295: Is There Something Wrong with His Head?

"Is there something wrong with that guy’s head?" The Everwake stood beside Evangeline, his colorful eyes shooting a sideways glance at Riley Atwood.

For the first time ever, Thorne nodded in agreement with The Everwake, lowering his voice to say, "He seems to... toward Eva..."

His expression was vicious, killing intent glinting in his dark green, slit pupils, yet there was also an undisguisable strangeness to it.

’It’s normal for a male to show interest, or even possessiveness, toward a beautiful female. But for a male from this New Continent to completely disregard the female and instead be so respectful to us, her Beast Husbands... he really must have a few screws loose.’

Evangeline lifted her gaze and looked around, her eyes sweeping over the timid Beastmen on the docks. She shook her head. "There’s nothing wrong with his head. The problem is the system here. If I’m not mistaken, females have a lower status than males in this place."

Hearing this, the males all looked astonished. They exchanged glances, finding it hard to believe.

Ever since they were old enough to understand, they had been taught by their elders that females shouldered the heavy burden of propagating the tribe and were therefore incredibly precious. They were to treat females well, protect them, and never, ever harm them.

Although they were all males with tragic pasts and didn’t act as subserviently toward females as others did, they knew with absolute clarity that a female’s status was always higher than a male’s. Otherwise, why would the rule of one female having multiple Beast Husbands exist?

Who would be willing to share their partner? Even if they were Wild Beasts, they still felt possessiveness.

But in the age-old traditions of the Beastman Continent, this was simply an unwritten rule.

’A female’s status being lower than a male’s? Is that even possible?’

Evangeline lifted her chin slightly, and the males followed her gaze. They were all instantly stunned.

Under the scorching sun, the wooden planks of the dock were baked until they were searing hot.

Male Beastmen in ragged clothes were hard at work, sweat carving glistening trails across their dark skin.

And not far from them, by the shallows, rows of simple, small boats bobbed gently with the waves.

On each boat, beast skins and dried fish were laid out, forming makeshift "homes" that could barely provide shelter from the elements. And inside these "homes" floating in the shallows, they could see frail, huddled figures—all of them were females.

The females of Norfell always got to wear the softest beast skins, eat the most tender meat, and enjoy the sweetest wild fruits.

But the females here were practically naked, their messy hair stuck to their sweat-drenched necks and shoulders.

They leaned over the edges of their boats, mechanically processing freshly caught sea fish. Their fingers were bleached white from the seawater. The most tragic part was the look in their eyes—timid and numb, a world away from the proud, flamboyant females of Norfell.

Such a lifeless expression should never have appeared on the face of a female.

Thorne’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His brow furrowed as he said in a low voice, "They’re like the females in The Females’ Den."

In Norfell, The Females’ Den was a place used to imprison females who had committed crimes. There, a female would be reduced to a sexual outlet for the tribe’s un-Contracted male Beastmen. Only by conceiving and giving birth to a cub could she ever leave.

He had once seen the females in the Grymdale Tribe’s Females’ Den, and they all wore the same expression.

The Everwake’s brow twitched slightly. He indifferently withdrew his gaze and moved a little closer to Evangeline.

’I have no interest in other females, and I don’t care what kind of life they lead on this New Continent. As long as Eva is all right, that’s enough. I will protect my female and my cubs.’

Danton pressed his lips into a thin line. The two cubs hugged his legs, blinking their light blue eyes as they stared around curiously.

Loras held Bunny and exchanged a glance with Drake. Both were at the Nine-star Extreme Realm, and their perception of their surroundings was incredibly sharp. They could sense that the nearby Beastmen were also watching them, and their gazes were far from friendly.

Drake took two steps forward, positioning himself to shield Evangeline. His golden-red eyes were as sharp as blades.

Riley Atwood watched this motley group. Then, another crowd of Beastmen disembarked from the airship. Their scents were a chaotic mix, a clear sign they weren’t from the same tribe. Moreover, they were all Low-Marked Beastmen, the kind only fit for manual labor.

’He started to grow suspicious again. A Great City-State going to battle, but instead of bringing its Warrior Corps, it brings laborers?’

Riley Atwood sensed something was very strange about this. His eyes darted around before landing precisely on Evangeline.

Even an idiot could see it now: the one in charge of this strange federation was this beautiful female.

With this in mind, Riley Atwood gave a light cough, respectfully squeezed through the crowd, and cast a cautious glance at Evangeline. An imperceptible flicker of contempt still flashed in the depths of his eyes. He then said hesitantly, "This... ah..."

He truly didn’t know how to address Evangeline. After all, in the Beastman City-states, females were the most insignificant of beings.

"Get lost!"

Thorne’s eyes narrowed, his dark green pupils filled with cold viciousness. He stepped directly in front of Evangeline, blocking anyone from getting near her.

Riley Atwood stumbled back half a step, looking at Thorne’s fiercely protective stance with unconcealed annoyance in his eyes.

His expression turned cold. He retreated a few more steps, moving to the other side of the dock.

At his movement, the male Beastmen working on the dock all stopped what they were doing and gathered behind him. Pairs of eyes stared intently at Evangeline’s group, and the atmosphere instantly shifted from polite to hostile.

The Beastmen of the Grymdale Tribe and the Fallen Beastmen immediately raised their bone knives, staring back at them nervously.

A glint flashed in Elias Moretti’s crimson eyes. He stepped out from the crowd to stand at the very front, a playful smirk on his devilishly handsome face. He said to Riley Atwood, "What’s this? Your Commander hasn’t even arrived, and you’re already planning to make a move?"

He crossed his arms. Despite only having the power of a Seven-star Pattern, the aura of a superior he exuded was incredibly potent.

Hearing his words, Riley Atwood’s eyes flickered. He glanced at Evangeline and her companions before finally raising a hand. The crowd of Beastmen behind him slowly dispersed, but their eyes remained locked on the newcomers, their expressions extremely wary, as if they would attack without a second thought at the slightest provocation.

Although these Beastmen were just laborers working on the docks, the weakest among them was a Five-star Patterned Beastman!

If the two sides were to truly fight, the outcome would be uncertain.

Riley Atwood had only acted so forcefully because he saw that Evangeline’s group had brought a crowd of Low-Marked Beastmen with them.

’Our Otterhaven City-State may only be a small city-state, but we’re backed by the Lion-Salt City-state—and that’s a Medium-sized City-State!’

’I see it now,’ he thought. ’This bizarre tribe that just showed up in our territory probably isn’t here for the Sharp Teeth Judgment. They’re most likely here to cause trouble! But with their level of strength... Hah.’

Riley Atwood relaxed completely, his gaze shifting to fixate on the magnificent airship before him.

’If our Otterhaven City-State could get its hands on this ship,’ he mused, ’we might be able to advance even further in this year’s Sharp Teeth Judgment, become a Medium-sized City-State, and then change our subordinate relationship with the Lion-Salt City-state into a stable and friendly alliance!’