Gu Mengmeng didn’t look surprised at all. On the other hand, both Elvis and Lea looked rather shocked.
“You already guessed that?” Knowing that Peter was outside, how could Elvis allow Gu Mengmeng to come out alone to meet him? That was why less than two seconds after Gu Mengmeng had just stepped out, Elvis was already right behind her. Seeing her expression, he knew that she had already expected that answer. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said things like “My hands are tied if you don’t tell me the truth” to Peter.
He knew that this girl had long ago made up her stubborn mind to save Natalie.
So even if Peter didn’t say anything, Gu Mengmeng would never really stand by and do nothing.
Gu Mengmeng nodded. Without denying anything, she said, “The ending of the monsoon season, stray beasts and Natalie’s hunger strike. When you think of these things in relation to one another, it’s not difficult to guess.”
Lea rested one lazy arm on Elvis’ face, as if he hadn’t fully woken up. His slanted eyes still held the vestiges of sleep as he said with a raspy voice into Gu Mengmeng’s ear, “Yeah, let me think… you mean that the stray beast attack on our way back from Sauder to Saint Nazaire—Cole had instigated the stray beasts from here?”
It sounded like a query but Lea was stating it as a matter-of-fact.
Without waiting for Gu Mengmeng’s answer, Lea hooked her face and kissed her brow. He said in a low, hoarse voice, carrying with it traces of delight and much affection, “It looks to me that you are the real little fox. You managed to surmise all that from so little clues.”
Lea and Gu Mengmeng’s interaction was as fluid and quick as a Taiji match. But Elvis and Peter were no fools. There was no way they could have been leaders of their tribes for so many years if they weren’t smart enough to follow their line of thought.
Peter frowned deeply. His eyes were full of a sharp malevolence. “Do you mean that it was Cole who made Natalie like this?!”
Gu Mengmeng sighed. “Yes, and no.”
Peter glared angrily at Gu Mengmeng. He was unhappy with her tone.
Elvis stepped forward to cut off his glare. With a thick, murderous aura, he warned. “You better control the look on your face. Otherwise, your female will be the one to suffer.”
At the mention of Natalie, Peter instantly deflated as if someone had gotten hold of his weak spot. He could have answered back sarcastically and thrown the same words back at his opponent.
Threatening someone was a natural ability possessed by stray beasts.
The opponent was a female whom he could clearly crush with one hand, but also a female whom he desperately needed help from.
Averting his gaze, Peter said in a cold voice. “That’s your mother.”
Elvis chuckled. “I don’t care.”
“You…!” Peter was enraged. Not for himself but because his heart ached for Natalie who had quietly suffered so much for Elvis, while Elvis didn’t appear grateful at all.
Elvis raised his head and looked scornfully at Peter. “It is unwise to wantonly challenge someone you can’t afford to offend. Peter, have you really gone stupid with age?”
Peter clenched his fists, but didn’t continue going against Elvis. He just gave a long exhale before speaking. “Great Messenger, please tell me how did Natalie become like that. Is it because of Cole?”
Gu Mengmeng hung onto Elvis’ arm as she allowed him to draw her into his embrace. After gazing steadily at Peter for a long while, she finally spoke. “Cole is one of the reasons, but at the root of it, you are the true crux of the matter.”