After Lea prepared the meal, Auretin entered into a possessed state. His two eyes stared fixedly at the pot, a deep flush enveloping his entire face.
Gu Mengmeng felt that if she now suggested that Auretin could eat if he cut off one of his hands, he would immediately ask if she preferred his left or right limb, without even batting an eyelid.
Impishly, Gu Mengmeng made a great show of sampling Lea’s cooking. As if she was acting in one of those culinary variety shows, Gu Mengmeng heaped extravagant praises on the food, and even purposely passed the plates right under Auretin’s nose. Faking innocence, she said, “Smells so good. Auretin, take a whiff.”
Auretin really felt like hitting someone!
Gu Mengmeng set down her bowl and chopsticks. She propped her cheek on one hand as she looked at Auretin. “Answer a few of my questions. If I am satisfied with your answers, I will let you eat.”
Auretin’s expression didn’t change at all, but his eyes brightened noticeably.
Gu Mengmeng asked, “Why did you comply with Oakley’s arrangements and just left like that, without even saying goodbye?”
Auretin answered, “Oakley told Barete and I all about his arrangements.”
Gu Mengmeng nodded. “And so you also sympathized with Bloom and him. That was why you followed his plan?”
“No.” Auretin shook his head. “I don’t know anything about love, and have no interest at all. I will never sacrifice half a year’s worth of gourmet meals for something like that.”
Gu Mengmeng laughed. How disparaging to hear such words.
So that he could quickly start eating, Auretin revealed the entire story. “According to Oakley’s plan, it would be some time before you would be able to return. Meanwhile, it would be difficult for Ian to manage Saint Nazaire on his own.”
“Foremost was the preparation of foodstuffs for the winter season. Last year, there were already rumors swirling outside about how Saint Nazaire had a way of storing food without it turning bad. Since the start of the rainy season this year, the Saint Nazaire tribesmen have started hunting by the bulk, giving credence to those rumors. There would not be any problems if you were in Saint Nazaire, but if you were not around…”
Auretin paused to glance at Elvis and Lea, before turning back to Gu Mengmeng. “If another tribe had a food preservation method but Saint Nazaire didn’t—what do you think your two partners would do so that you wouldn’t starve over the winter?”
What would they do? Was there a need to even say it out loud? They would rob.
Gu Mengmeng had no doubt that Elvis would carry back all the foodstuffs of an entire tribe for her, so as to ensure she had enough to eat over the winter.
And no other male in the Beast World was as powerful as he was. But for their own females, they would fight to the death.
And Saint Nazaire would become condemned.
“Ha, an innocent man will be targeted just for possessing a valuable treasure.” Gu Mengmeng nodded her understanding.
Auretin didn’t understand what Gu Mengmeng was saying, and so didn’t answer. He just continued frankly. “You were not there. Elvis and Lea were also not around. There was a gaping hole in the protection of Saint Nazaire. As if there was a pot of freshly cooked meat with no one guarding it. The fragrance would attract other wild animals, who would naturally help themselves to it.”
Gu Mengmeng chuckled. Auretin’s analogy… was truly befitting his character as a greedy chowhound.
Unable to resist a sarcastic jibe, she commented, “So you came back to protect the food?”
Auretin nodded with just. “This is the foodstuff that will enable the entire Saint Nazaire tribe to survive through winter. Of course I must protect it at all costs.”