Chapter 37 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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Chapter 37: A Perfect Double Act

 

 

Ge Yan discreetly looked at Rex, his earlier fury at the note all but forgotten, and blinked in a plea, silently asking when Rex planned to get him out of this mess. Though he wasn't being mistreated, the pretense of loyalty to Alice felt exhausting.

 

Rex raised an eyebrow, signaling him to be patient. Then, glancing at the quarreling Locke and Heidi, he mouthed something silently and pointed in their direction.

 

Ge Yan, however, seemed to miss the cue, staring back blankly without responding.

 

Rex, hardly surprised by Ge Yan's cluelessness, thought it best not to expect too much. But just as he was lowering his expectations, Ge Yan suddenly seemed to grasp the situation, pulling Ted's hand and placing it firmly on his own arm, feigning captivity. With a loud shout, he called out to Captain Locke.

 

"Captain, Captain, have you come to rescue me at last? Ever since they took me, I've waited every day, hoping you'd come! They said you'd never come for me, that I was just a worthless pawn in Black Wolf, not even close to being as important as Captain Marvin. But I knew they were lying! I knew you wouldn't abandon any of us!"

 

The shout rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

 

Some were stunned; others wore dark expressions.

 

"Brother, you're too naïve. Your captain didn't come for you; he's here for the Dragon's Spit Fruit. Do you really think he cares whether you live or die? To Locke, the loss of a worthless pawn is hardly worth a second thought." The first to react was the fiery Heidi. Seeing the expressions on Taylor and the others' faces, she realized the man was lying. But what did it matter? Since the other party wanted to set a trap for Locke, she was more than happy to lend a helping hand.

 

"That's…not true, right, Captain?" Ge Yan looked to Locke with feigned heartbreak.

 

Locke's face flushed with anger as he shot Heidi a fierce glare. "Of course it's not true! Every member of Black Wolf is essential. I'd never abandon any of you!"

 

Heidi let out a cold, mocking laugh. "A nice speech. If his life was truly that important, why haven't you sent anyone to rescue him all this time? You know how merciless our Alice's mercenaries are. Didn't it occur to you that each day he was in our hands was a day his life was in danger?"

 

Ge Yan appeared devastated, muttering, "I don't believe the Captain would do that…"

 

"Stop fooling yourself, brother," Heidi interjected. "This is just who Locke Wilson is. In times of crisis, he'd sooner use you as a shield. Think back to the Tasha Forest, when a sacred beast appeared. He threw you all at it without concern. In the end, not only did he fail to catch it, but he also cost you many companions. Did he express any concern afterward? What's the point of following someone like that? Why not just leave the Black Wolf Mercenaries altogether?"

 

"Heidi Ferguson, if you continue to talk nonsense, I'll make you regret it!" Locke, now red-faced and fuming, glared at her, eyes blazing with anger.

 

Daniel stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Heidi, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he fixed it on Locke. "If you have a problem with my wife, you'll have to go through me first."

 

Heidi smiled icily. "Nonsense? Ask your own people. See if what I'm saying isn't true."

 

All eyes shifted to the members of Black Wolf, who wore uneasy expressions, each avoiding Locke's gaze. Their silence spoke louder than any answer.

 

Captain Locke shot a look back at his team, feeling as if anger were eating him alive. But amidst his rage was a small, unsettling pang of guilt—he had indeed overlooked that matter. So focused had he been on the mission's failure that he hadn't thought to check on the well-being of his subordinates or spare them a word of condolence over their fallen companions.

 

Though the Azelra Continent honored strength, loyalty to a leader depended on that leader's worthiness. For Alice's mercenaries, their reputation for being ruthless was countered by a fierce protectiveness toward their own, which was why so many chose to follow them.

 

"Everyone, don't listen to her attempts to sow discord," Captain Marvin quickly spoke up, stepping forward to shield Locke from further backlash. "This was my fault. The Captain had instructed me to see to it, but I got busy and forgot. The responsibility is mine."

 

Heidi chuckled, unimpressed. "Captain Marvin truly is Locke's worthy right-hand man. Cleaning up his mess has become second nature to you, hasn't it?"

 

Marvin's face darkened instantly.

 

"How dare you speak such nonsense!" Ge Yan stepped forward, defending Marvin with earnest indignation. "Captain Marvin doesn't just 'clean up' after our leader. He's only doing his duty."

 

Everyone froze for a moment, then struggled to stifle their laughter.

 

"Haha!" Heidi laughed openly, mocking him without restraint.

 

Marvin's expression soured further, and he shot Ge Yan a furious look.

 

Ge Yan, however, appeared blissfully unaware of his slip-up. Once the crowd's attention shifted away, he gave Rex a covert "V" sign, forgetting that Rex wouldn't understand the gesture.

 

A faint smile flickered in Rex's eyes as he watched. He had to admit—perhaps Ge Yan wasn't so dim after all; quite the opposite, in fact.

 

If Ge Yan had known Rex's thoughts, he would surely have retorted, "If I weren't clever, how could I possibly show you my worth?"

 

In the end, Alice's mercenaries didn't clash with Black Wolf or Raven, just as everyone had anticipated. With the Dragon's Spit Fruit nearly ready to be harvested, Heidi and Daniel worked in tandem, with her ridiculing their enemies and him playing the peacemaker, effectively forcing both mercenary groups to retreat in humiliation.

 

By then, the sun had already set, plunging the Magic Beast Forest into darkness, with the campfire serving as the lone beacon of light against the encroaching night.

 

Ge Yan decided to go find Rex, but before he could take a step, Ted spotted him.

 

"Where are you going?"

 

"Back to Black Wolf, of course," Ge Yan replied matter-of-factly.

 

Ted's face darkened. "After that stunt you pulled? You think they'll still take you back?"

 

Ge Yan looked sincerely offended. "I didn't trick them! I only spoke the truth."

 

Ted sighed, ready to reason with him, when Heidi appeared behind him, casting Ge Yan a meaningful look. "If he wants to go back, let him. He'll find soon enough that Black Wolf is no longer the place for him. Jimmy, was it? You're always welcome to join Alice. I rather like you."

 

Of course, they wouldn't want him back, Ge Yan thought wryly. He straightened up, putting on a look of fierce loyalty, and shouted, "Don't try to drive a wedge between us! Black Wolf is nothing like you say. Captain Locke treats us all as brothers. I'll always stand by him!"

 

With that, he squared his shoulders and walked determinedly toward Black Wolf's camp, his voice echoing through the night for the whole camp to hear.

 

Heidi leaned comfortably against Daniel's chest, a smile of admiration on her beautiful face. "I like him. He's got character."

 

"Careful, darling. Saying you like another man right in front of your husband might make me jealous." Daniel pulled her close, kissing her inviting lips.

 

She laughed, winding her arms around his neck and kissing him back without a care for who might be watching.

 

Their brazen display of affection cast a sensuous mood over the camp. Though it was just a kiss, the men around them—a group of strong, hot-blooded warriors—swallowed hard, though none dared look directly at them. After all, everyone knew that despite Daniel's gentlemanly appearance, he was fiercely protective of his wife.

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