Sitting on the sand with a mournful face, Rick glared resentfully at Moya. "It's all your fault! You made me a peeping tom! What kind of idea was that? If old Nanze finds out I spied on his granddaughter peeing, he'll kill me!"
"How is this all my fault?" Moya rubbed the bump on his head, whining. "Who knew she was cross-dressing and being so secretive? Any smart person would be suspicious! Not all my fault!"
"You're still arguing!" Rick pounced, grabbing Moya's throat. "You ruined my good name! What am I supposed to do? She must have a terrible impression of me now!"
"Terrible impression? Oh... cough... Don't tell me you have a crush on her?"
"Who said that!" Rick blushed, shoving Moya away. He glanced worriedly at the woods. "Why hasn't she come out? She wouldn't... do something stupid, would she?"
"Bullshit! You so have a crush!" Moya 趁 (took advantage) of Rick's distraction, throwing sand in his eyes and tackling him.
Soon, Lav finally emerged from the woods. She'd changed back into women's clothes: golden hair tied back with a ponytail, a frilly blouse replacing the heavy robe, and light-colored riding pants. Leaving the woods took huge courage—she'd never been so embarrassed.
Just thinking that Rick had seen everything made her grit her teeth. But then she thought: her disguise was full of holes; it was natural for him to be suspicious. Besides, he did save her life. If he apologizes sincerely, I'll forgive him.
But seeing Rick and Moya roughhousing instead of repenting made her furious. "Rick!—" Her shriek was ear-splitting, leaving Rick dazed.
He turned, eyes lighting up at Lav in her dress. Ditching Moya, he ran over, scratching his head. "You finally came out! I was about to go find you."
Rick meant he was worried, but Lav misinterpreted—she'd been changing clothes. If not angry, she might have understood, but now... He wasn't satisfied with the peeping? Now he wants to see more!
Furious and ashamed, Lav grabbed Rick's ear. "You ill-mannered brat! Do you know what you did? I'm a girl! How could you—" Tears welled up again.
Rick feared nothing more than girls crying. Ignoring the pain, he fumbled to comfort her—but the more he tried, the harder she cried, making him want to die of embarrassment.
"Hey, girl—you're Nanze's granddaughter, right?" A cold voice cut in.
Lav stopped crying instantly at Shust's voice. "You know that?" Rick turned, staring blankly at Shust.
"Hahaha!" Shust laughed, a wicked killing intent flashing in his eyes. Sensing the danger, Rick yanked Lav behind him, glaring at Shust. "What do you want?"
"What do you think?" Shust sneered, eyeing Lav behind Rick. "Rumor has it the old man dotes on his granddaughter. If I take you both for the antidote to my poison, do you think he'll agree?"
The air froze. Even the sound of a pin dropping would have been deafening. "Rick..." Moya worried—even injured, Shust was no match for Rick.
"What if I say no?" Rick said firmly after a long silence. He might have stayed out of it before, but now he felt indebted to Lav.
"Are you serious?" Shust's pupils narrowed, murderous intent rising. "I can't stand bullies picking on the weak—no matter the reason."
"Stupid boy..." Shust sighed, tearing off his bloody shirt. Spinning blades sprang from his forearms.
Moya jumped between them, glaring at Rick. "What's she given you? You'd die for her?"
"Should we let her be taken hostage? Maybe teaming up with Shust could get our pardon revoked?"
Rick stiffened his neck, resolved. "You fool, if he revokes one pardon, he'll just issue another! A man keeps his word—I won't go back on mine."
Moya knew Rick's stubbornness—once set, not even ten oxen could change his mind. Tensions mounted as Moya paced, helpless. Maybe his prayers worked—Shust suddenly stumbled.
"Now!" Rick seized the chance, elbowing Shust to the ground. "So weak?" He gaped at the unconscious man.
"His poison must have flared up," Lav said, clutching her chest.
"Right—he hasn't taken the antidote since leaving Terry County. Lucky break." Rick wiped sweat—he'd prepared to die.
"Will he die without the antidote?" Moya knelt by Shust.
"Grandpa said the poison's modified to sever insect-human bonds. He'll live, just lose strength and insect powers."
"What do we do with him?" Moya asked. Rick hesitated: leave the ticking time bomb, or keep him as backup? "Tie him up. Without antidote, he can't break free—if he does, I'll handle him."
Moya and Lav agreed, wrapping Shust like a mummy and tossing him in the cart. Next came Lav. Rick dreaded traveling with a pampered princess, but the thought of a beauty by his side thrilled him. Yet recalling the leech, he sighed: "We should send you back."
"I ran away for a reason—don't even think about it!" Lav read his mind.
Moya held out his hand: "Give us the antidote and pardon, then we'll escort you back."
"Nope! If a weakling like you can go, why can't I?"
Moya forced a smile: "I'm a guide—just weak from the egg. In three days—"
"A guide who doesn't know his insect's powers?" Lav grinned.
"I do know! It's an auxiliary... I'll figure it out!" Moya's voice trailed off—he still didn't know his insect.
"Easy to figure out? Yours is a modified test egg—I know its powers best."
"Test egg?!" Moya shrieked. "That old fox Nanze! What if something goes wrong?"
"I'll keep you safe."
"You?" Moya laughed bitterly.
"Don't look down on me! I'm a top insect expert!"
"Insect expert?" Rick guffawed, rubbing her head. "You don't need to lie to tag along."
"I'm not lying!" Lav swatted his hand, hurt to be treated like a prankster.
"Sure you aren't."
"You... Offend me and you'll regret it! It's day two—you'll see reactions soon. Then you'll beg me!"
Lav ignored Rick and stormed into the cart to sulk.
"Heh, what a feisty little miss." Rick and Moya dismissed her threats—just a spoiled rich girl throwing a tantrum.
"She won't leave. What now? Take her with us?"
Rick had secretly hoped Lav would stay. "Let her tag along. She'll never survive the adventure. Once she's had enough, we'll dump her at a local insect shop—they'll send her back to Terry County."
"Sigh... Guess we have no choice. Hope nothing goes wrong." Moya groaned—babysitting Lav meant Nanze's WANTED poster might never be lifted.
Inside the cart, they shared waterlogged rations with Lav and studied the map. Attacked by the Wolf Pack, they'd veered off course. Two choices remained: backtrack and risk capture, or cross the mangroves—unknown terrain teeming with danger.
"What do we do?" Moya searched Rick's eyes. Both routes were risky, especially with so many to protect.
"Rather fight insects than people." As the sole fighter, Rick's word was law.
"Sure?" Moya put down his ration. "Mangroves are unavoidable. We might face both wolves and insects. Backtracking could work—only one threat if we're lucky."
"Our luck's run out." Rick stretched, clapping Moya's shoulder. "Mangrove insects attack everyone. Once inside, it's a race. We survived two forbidden zones—no one outruns us."
"Right! Through the mangroves!" Moya hesitated, but Lav cut in—she'd snuck out for adventure, and forest danger thrilled her more than last night's bloodshed.
"Amateurs stay out of this." Moya pushed her head back.
"Who are you calling amateur, lousy guide?!" Lav jabbed his nose.
"Wanna bet? Without me, you'll be bug food." Moya sneered. "Next time, pick a safe spot to pee—don't let little bugs make you cry."
"..." Rick stuffed cotton in his ears as Lav shrieked: "I'll kill you, lousy guide!"
Amidst squawking birds, the plump cart wobbled into the woods.
Shortly after, a white wake split the Walter River. A figure leaped from the water, landing on the shore—Balzac the Diving Beetle, the proudest of the Wolf Pack's Four Pillars.
A lone wolf, he'd spent five years under Kahn's shadow, craving the Pack Leader title. Now, opportunity knocked.
"Gone already..." Balzac smirked, touching deep tire tracks. His gold-black armor retracted with a click. Wandering the shore, he found a bloody bandage—Shust's.
Witnessing the bridge battle, Balzac admired Shust's similar ruthlessness. He'd resisted the urge to fight then, but now... "Your blood smells sweet, Shust. I'll add it to my collection."