The Villainess Winning Back Her Beast Husbands-Chapter 36 - 316: I Only Want Thorne’s Beast Crystal

Chapter 36: Chapter 316: I Only Want Thorne’s Beast Crystal

While Evangeline waited, ripples suddenly began to spread across the pool.

At the same time, a thick, pungent stench, carried on the damp air, assaulted her senses, instantly filling the entire cave.

Evangeline stared at the pool and frowned. ’Elias Moretti really is a handful,’ she thought.

The once-clear pool, still steaming from the explosive talisman, transformed in a matter of moments as if under a vile curse. It became a viscous, toxic mire, its surface sporadically bubbling with a ghastly, sizzling sound.

In the next instant, the pool churned violently as a giant, crimson python burst from the water!

Its body coiled and twisted, every inch of its musculature rippling with immense power. Its scarlet, slitted pupils glowed with ferocious brutality, and its forked tongue flicked in and out, locking onto Evangeline.

Evangeline remained perfectly composed, her eyes betraying no fear. She leisurely sized up Elias Moretti in his giant python form, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority as she spoke. "Shall we sit and talk?"

’It wasn’t her intention to antagonize Elias Moretti. Thorne was a member of the Grymdale Tribe, after all. A "friendly negotiation" over Thorne’s Beast Crystal would be ideal. He gives it to me, I take it. The perfect outcome.’

Of course, if Elias Moretti didn’t know what was good for him, she wouldn’t mind a little exercise either. She’d taken a disliking to him long ago, and she hadn’t forgotten his transgression of cutting her with his scale during the earthquake.

Elias Moretti’s serpentine eyes stared at Evangeline. With each flick of his forked tongue, he could smell the scent of blood on her.

Suddenly, he shapeshifted, landing steadily at the edge of the pool in his human form.

Elias Moretti stood there without a stitch of clothing. His pale skin gleamed coldly in the gloom, every line of his physique radiating power. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He strode brazenly toward Evangeline, his manhood swinging with each step. He had the look of an utter libertine, his every move exuding a sinister, roguish arrogance as he fixed his gaze on her.

"Little maiden, why have you come chasing me to my lair instead of my little brother?"

Elias Moretti’s tongue darted out to lick the corner of his lip. Drawing closer, he sniffed her lightly. He lowered his gaze, and it felt tangible, brazenly invasive, as it roamed over every inch of her body.

Evangeline raised an eyebrow. Her gaze dropped to his groin, and a mocking smile touched her lips. Her voice, laced with contempt, drawled, "Are you sure you want to negotiate like this?"

She hadn’t said anything cutting, but her expression made her disdain perfectly clear.

Elias Moretti froze for a moment before fury consumed him. He was so enraged that he laughed, a vicious glint in his eyes as his arm shot out to grab Evangeline.

’He had to teach this audacious little maiden that a male’s pride was not to be questioned!’

But Evangeline was completely unflustered. She simply watched him with a placid smile.

Elias Moretti froze mid-lunge and even took two steps back, staring at her warily. A fireball had materialized in Evangeline’s palm, and its scorching heat made him uncomfortable.

The air in the cave suddenly grew taut with hostility.

Elias Moretti’s brow was tightly furrowed, his eyes sinister. He was seething with an anger he couldn’t vent.

Evangeline gently tossed the fireball in her hand. "Let’s have a proper talk," she said in a mild tone. "It’ll be better for both of us."

Elias Moretti’s chest heaved. He took a sharp, deep breath, then turned and walked out of the inner cave.

Seeing this, Evangeline’s lips curled into a smile, and she followed at a leisurely pace.

Once outside, Evangeline casually took a White Tiger Skin from the wall, spread it over a stone seat, and sat down. Once settled, she got straight to the point. "You have Thorne’s Beast Crystal, don’t you?"

Elias Moretti, who had been about to scoff at her audacity, froze when he heard her question. The smirk vanished from his face, and his narrow eyes slowly constricted, his gaze turning speculative. "Where did you hear that?"

"Let’s cut to the chase and make a deal," Evangeline said, ignoring his question. "What do you want? Or rather, what will it take for you to hand over Thorne’s Beast Crystal?"

Elias Moretti’s eyes darkened as he studied her. "Why are you so intent on helping Thorne?"

"I don’t want to waste time. You can name your price, or..." Evangeline tilted her head, a cold glint in her eyes as she seemed to contemplate the alternative. "I could just kill you and find it myself."

’Killing Elias Moretti would be a hassle, of course. It would provoke retaliation from the entire Grymdale Tribe.’

’Elias Moretti wasn’t just some nobody; he was the future leader of the Grymdale Tribe.’

’But that wasn’t her real concern. The real problem was that to prevent any future trouble, she might have to go as far as wiping out the entire Grymdale Tribe, which would in turn attract the attention of the so-called Beast God.’

Elias Moretti’s lips curled into a sneer at Evangeline’s brazen threat. He wanted to laugh at her for so blatantly overestimating herself, but when he met her sharp, cold gaze and remembered her supernatural abilities as a Witch, he hesitated.

"With your abilities, you’d be better off helping me than Thorne."

"What do you say, little maiden? Consider this: I can form a Contract with you. In the future, the Grymdale Tribe will rule Norfell and cross the Triangle Sea. We can conquer vast new territories and rule the entire Beastman Continent together!"

"Aren’t you curious about the world that lies beyond the Triangle Sea?"

Elias Moretti stared intently at Evangeline, his expression bewitching, his voice laced with temptation.

Evangeline shot Elias Moretti an indifferent glance. ’I have to admit,’ she thought, ’he’s a talented man, both ambitious and strategic. While other Beastmen are still worrying about their next meal, he’s already plotting to expand his territory beyond Norfell.’

’She was certainly ambitious herself. If she were just an ordinary person thrust into this world, she might have given in to his temptation without a second thought. But she wasn’t.’

Evangeline looked up, her expression flat. "I just want Thorne’s Beast Crystal."

Elias Moretti faltered. His expression was difficult to read—a mixture of disappointment from his dashed hopes and a silent, mocking sneer.

After a long moment, he moved back and sat down. His roguishly handsome face turned sinister and cold. When he spoke, his voice was like ice. "His Beast Crystal isn’t with me."

Evangeline had expected this excuse. She met his gaze. "A mutated Thunder Beast Crystal from a Five-star Pattern Peak Beastman. Even if you weren’t willing to take the risk of becoming a Fallen Beastman, you wouldn’t have disposed of it lightly."

At the mention of "Fallen Beastman," something flickered in Elias Moretti’s eyes, and he turned to stare at Evangeline.

A strange, unnerving smile twisted Elias Moretti’s lips. His voice was sinister and chilling. "You want the Beast Crystal? Fine. But first, you have to answer a question for me."

Before Evangeline could respond, he continued, "You don’t have a Star Pattern. You’re not a Witch. You’re one of those females from the bottom of Thorncliff, aren’t you?"

His gaze was a sharp hook, trying to snag any hint of a reaction from her.

Evangeline: "???"

She remained outwardly calm, though she could only respond to his theory with a look that screamed ’idiot.’

’Fallen Beastmen were the public enemy of the entire Beastman Continent. Not that she was one, but even if she were, she would never admit it.’

’Females don’t have Beast Crystals, so they can’t become Fallen Beastmen. However, the Fallen Beastmen at the bottom of Thorncliff have their own society. It was conceivable they could produce female offspring, and those children would be considered Fallen Beastmen as well.’

’Abandoned by the Beast God, Fallen Beastmen were treacherous and unscrupulous. They devoured the Beast Crystals of their kin to gain immense power, which made them the most mysterious and dangerous beings on the Beastman Continent.’

’So, it was understandable that Elias Moretti would be suspicious of her.’

’After all, there was no wandering female in Norfell known as "Flora" who had so many tricks up her sleeve.’

’Her appearance was too conspicuous. It was inevitable that people would associate her with the Fallen Beastmen hidden at the bottom of Thorncliff.’