The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 330

NARRATOR

"I'm no spy. I can go and be of help," Elliot immediately showed interest.

He needed to know exactly what was happening here.

Despite Tomas’s protests, he ended up following them through the forest.

They moved fast, running with agility.

Elliot never lagged behind. This level of speed and endurance couldn’t be sustained by a normal elemental.

None of them were normal.

*****

They crouched behind large rocks at the edge of a cliff.

Below, a deep canyon stretched out, with the wide river marking the border between the two Duchies.

"Elliot, can you hear us?" Aldo tried once more to speak to him telepathically, but nothing—Elliot didn’t even acknowledge it.

Aldo frowned.

This guy was either playing dumb or truly had no knowledge of his supernatural abilities.

Regardless, the sounds of horse hooves, creaking wagon wheels, and water splashing made them refocus on the scene unfolding a few meters ahead.

"Down there," Tomas whispered as the riders who had reached the shore raised their torches to scan the perimeter.

Through the cracks and gaps between the rocks shielding them, they watched as boats arrived and were pulled onto the shore.

They were loaded with heavy crates and guards from the other Duchy.

"I told you, I heard correctly. That loudmouth Peter let it slip. Look at him there, hauling crates," Elliot listened to the conversation, his frown deepening as he spied on the smuggling operation happening at his very borders.

"Those are the same crates we packed with sacks of grain," Aldo muttered through clenched teeth as they watched large boxes being unloaded from the carriages and transferred onto the boats.

At the same time, smaller crates were being taken off the boats and loaded onto the carriages.

"What are they bringing in?" Elliot asked.

"Call me crazy, but I’d swear those are the pests ruining the Duke’s crops," Aldo replied.

Everything was so meticulously planned, step by step, to drive him to ruin, to turn his own people against him over the food shortages.

Elliot had to find a way to dismantle everyone involved.

"Do you think there’s a way to investigate further?" he suddenly asked Aldo.

The man looked at him thoughtfully.

"A few days ago, a guy approached Tomas and me, offering a deal—workers in exchange for more grain. We turned him down, but now I think it was for this, to work for them and haul those crates. If we accept, then…"

"Aldo, are you insane? That’s way too dangerous. I’m not getting involved just to snoop around. And even if we found something, what would we do with that information? The Duke doesn’t give a damn—"

Aldo just raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed, as dramatic as ever.

Beside them, Elliot hadn’t even broken a sweat during the chase.

"Go home, Tomas. It’s too late. Make sure no one sees you wandering around," Aldo clapped him on the shoulder.

In the end, the worker left, glancing at Elliot once more—still unconvinced.

Aldo and Elliot walked to the small gate leading to the orchard, pushing it open to enter the safety of the house.

"What I said about infiltrating, I know it’s dangerous. You don’t have to trust me, but…" Elliot stopped him at the doorstep, speaking in a low but deadly serious voice.

"I think you already know we’re nobility. We really were attacked. I have close ties to the Duke, and I can assure you he knows nothing about this situation. There must be traitors close to him."

He spoke with the certainty of someone who was the Duke himself, though he didn’t dare reveal it.

"I’ll be returning home soon. I’ll make contact with the Duke of Everhart. It would be best to uncover what’s really going on and capture everyone involved at once. Aldo, the town’s situation will improve."

The strong worker studied him, searching for any trace of deception in his words.

Thousands of doubts clouded his mind, countless unanswered questions.

But something in Elliot’s deep eyes made him believe.

The raw power hidden beneath his skin, the instinct of his wolf—it told him this risk was worth it.

"Alright, I’ll do it. I’ll risk my life for your promise. But if you betray me, know this—you’ll be leaving a widow and two children without a provider, and the Goddess will not let you die in peace," he declared, pressing his hand to his chest, in the old warrior’s vow his father had taught him.