I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 59: CP: Information Gathering

They found what they were looking for under a huge banyan tree.

It was a communal eating place—a large open space where many beastmen where chomping onto whatever they brought for their meals and laughing and talking.

An elderly rabbit-kin server brought them stew and some fresh fruits, his long ears twitching with curiosity and cautiousness at the two apex predators and their unusual mate.

"Heading into bear territory?" He asked, noting their packs and the direction they’d been shopping.

"Thinking about it," Leo said casually.

"What’s the news from the mountains?"

"Oh, they’re grumpy," he said, one ear flinching at Leo’s unintended growl.

"Just came out of hibernation two weeks ago, and apparently it was a rough winter. Food stores ran low, couple of the cubs got sick—they’re all recovered now, praise the First Beasts—but Chief Granite is in a mood."

[Chief Granite! That’s the bear leader. Filing this away!]

"Granite?" Alex asked.

"Big old bear, dark brown fur like soil, temperament to match. Fair leader, but stubborn as bedrock. He’s mateless, he said he hasn’t found anyone he can be interested in and sadly— he’s been... difficult since."

He leaned in conspiratorially. "Between you and me, the bears are hoping he finds a new mate soon. Someone to soften those edges. If this goes on he might die without any mate to carry his cubs. "

[OH NO. OH NO NO NO. I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.]

"We’re just passing through," Alex said quickly.

"Looking to trade for something specific."

"Mmm." The rabbit’s eyes landed on his belly.

"Expecting, aren’t we? The bears love cubs. You’ll be welcomed, don’t worry about that. Just—bring gifts. Food gifts. They’re always hungry after hibernation, and good food puts them in generous moods."

"We have crystal sugar syrup," Naga offered.

Her ears shot straight up. "Crystal sugar syrup? Oh, you’ll be fine then. Granite would probably trade his favorite sleeping cave for crystal sugar syrup."

He paused. "What are you trading for, if you don’t mind my asking? "

Silence.

Leo and Naga looked at Alex.

Alex weighed the risks—then decided honesty might serve them better than mystery here.

"The Bronze Stone," he said quietly. "The divine artifact. We need it."

The rabbit’s expression shifted—surprise, then understanding, then something almost like pity.

"The Vitality Stone," he murmured. "Been in Bear Mountain for five generations. It’s their most sacred treasure." he studied Alex thoughtfully. "You’d have to offer something pretty special to make them part with it."

"We have something special," Alex said, touching his belly meaningfully.

[WAIT. WAIT WAIT WAIT. Are you planning to offer HEALING? Like you did with the wolves?]

"Maybe," Alex thought at the system. "If it works."

[IT WORKED ONCE. But unlike wolves, bears—both males and females hibernate in burrows in winter, that’s also where they give birth to cubs. They don’t have to worry about their females and cubs dying in winter. Nor they lose their fertility due to extreme cold. ]

[You can’t use the same strategy here!]

"I know," Alex whispered under his breath.

The rabbit was still watching him with those knowing eyes.

"What do the bears need?" Alex asked directly. "If not healing or fertility... what would make them willing to trade their most sacred treasure?"

The rabbit’s ears twitched thoughtfully. He glanced around the eating hall—checking for eavesdroppers—then leaned closer.

"Strength," he said quietly. "Always strength. Bears respect power above all else. But not just physical strength—they value endurance, resilience, the ability to weather hardship."

He tapped the table thoughtfully. "Chief Granite... he’s been challenged three times in the past year. Won every time, but each fight took more out of him. He’s getting older, and there’s no clear successor. The tribe is... anxious about his mateless life. "

[OH! OH I SEE IT NOW! (¬◡¬)✧]

[ It’s a job only you can do, host. ]

" Shut up. I’m not having another mate. " Alex screamed in his head.

[I wasn’t going to suggest THAT! Geez, Host, not everyone wants to marry you!]

[I was going to say: What if you could help him find someone? Or strengthen the tribe? Or—]

"Or help with a successor," Alex muttered, mind racing.

The rabbit’s ears perked. "What was that?"

"Just thinking out loud," Alex said quickly. "Thank you for the information. It’s... very helpful."

The rabbit nodded, collecting their empty bowls.

"Word of advice? Don’t go in claiming you can solve all their problems. Bears don’t like people who talk big. They like people who DO big things. Show them what you can offer before you ask for anything."

"Good luck, bearer." He flipped his ears gently.

"You’re brave, traveling in your condition. I hope you find what you’re looking for."

He shuffled away, leaving them with the weight of new information.

"So," Leo said slowly. "We can’t use the healing angle. What’s the plan?"

Alex drummed his fingers on the table, thinking.

[Current Assets:

Crystal honey (valuable!)

Three divine stones (proof of legitimacy) 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

System shop (various useful items)

Your impressive track record (stone stealing, wolf salvation, etc.)

Pregnancy (bears love cubs but this won’t sway them alone)

Two apex predator mates (strength recognizes strength)]

[Potential Strategies:

Offer something that strengthens the tribe

Help resolve succession crisis

Prove your worth through action, not words

Find what Granite actually NEEDS, not what you assume he needs]

"We need more information," Alex said finally. "We can’t go in blind like we did with the wolves. The rabbits knew enough to warn us, which means the situation is common knowledge."

"Agreed," Naga said. "We should spend tomorrow gathering intelligence. Talk to more traders, listen to gossip, maybe find someone who’s recently come from bear territory."

"And we definitely don’t intervene with his mateless life," Leo added firmly, giving Alex a pointed look.

"No matchmaking. No romantic intervention. No—"

"I get it," Alex interrupted. "I’m not trying to set anyone up. I learned my lesson with Lucas."

[Did you though? Because he’s still waiting for you and you didn’t exactly discourage—]

"System, I swear—"

[Fine! Fine! Focus on bears, not wolves. Got it.]

"Thank you," Alex said sincerely.

[CURRENT MISSION STATUS:

Objective: Acquire Bronze Stone from Bear Tribe

Obstacles:

Grumpy chief fresh from hibernation

Tribe recovering from rough winter

Sacred artifact = hard to part with

Possible romantic interest from said grumpy chief (AGAIN)

Assets:

Crystal honey (bear-crack)

Healing abilities

Adorable pregnancy belly (bears LOVE cubs)

Two very protective mates who WILL start violence

Track record of successful negotiations]

[Odds of success: 60%

Odds of romantic complications: 95%

Odds of Leo starting a fight: 73%]

"I heard that percentage estimate," Alex muttered.

[IT’S ACCURATE.]