Chapter 37: Ch 37. Fried Chicken
Vee asked from where she was standing, not daring to get any closer because Selena was holding some dangerous powder. She was afraid she might get poisoned, since she was small and frail.
"I don’t know if he’s evil or not, but he’s arrogant, cruel, and has no regard for others. I also don’t know if he truly hates me or if that’s just a suggestion planted by Briella through this powder and black light. He isn’t himself anymore, so I can’t be sure if what he’s doing is really his own fault or the result of someone else controlling him," Selena said deliberately.
In any case, she didn’t want to jump to conclusions before the man confessed. Although, Selena was beginning to realize that the man didn’t necessarily hate her 100%.
It was Briella who hated her, because she felt threatened by the woman Vylen Roxy had married.
A poison expert pitted against Eldoria’s Healer—who was appointed by the gods—would, of course, have no chance of winning. That’s why she immediately sent the Old Fox King when Selena’s execution was called off.
The Old Fox King was already 95% under Briella’s control; he was sent directly to kill Vylen Roxy—or the current Fox King—to bring Selena back to face the demands of the Fox clan, who were furious over the loss of their king.
No one would believe that the Old Fox King was the one who killed his own son.
Damn, so that’s how it is... Selena smiled cynically, understanding her tactics.
"It looks like I’ll be conducting a thorough investigation," Selena said suddenly, causing Vee to look at her. "There’s no way this woman would settle for just subduing the Old Fox King when she has the chance to gain even greater power by subduing the Beast Kings or the beastkin leaders."
Vee began to understand what Selena was saying, until she spoke up. "So you suspect the other Kings are also starting to be influenced? Are there any signs they’re using that powder, Your Majesty?" she asked, causing Selena to shake her head.
"No, at least not yet. But it seems that among the members of the Eldoria World Council and the Eldoria Court Council, there are already one or two who have been influenced by Briella—my intuition is quite strong this time," Selena said with conviction.
There’s already evidence, right? Amena Cots, who knows quite a bit about the Eldoria Court Council’s decisions, is one of them.
"I’m sure it won’t be that easy to find out, Your Majesty. It’s already difficult enough to interrogate the Old Fox King, who is clearly part of Briella’s scheme—and we still can’t interrogate Briella herself to get the full picture. "You’ll face quite a difficult journey if you make this decision," Vee said, looking somewhat reluctant.
"You don’t want me to do this?" Selena asked, looking at her as she immediately shook her head. "Give me one reason."
"The kings who have been your husbands and the court of Eldoria have already nearly killed you once. I don’t think it’s worth it for you to go through such a complicated and exhausting journey just to find out the truth about this. Your Majesty, you’ll only make things hard on yourself, while they probably don’t care all that much," she said, making Selena smile slightly.
"It’s precisely because I was once targeted for assassination that I’ve now risen to become the healer of extinction—the one who holds the lives of all Eldoria’s inhabitants in my hands," Selena said, making a dramatic gesture as she clasped her own hands.
Vee fell silent, trying to understand. This prompted Selena to sit back comfortably and smile again.
"Just imagine—I’m the only healer of extinction in this world. The kings, the members of Eldoria’s council, and all the people depend on me. It’s time to take control of the world, to hold everything that once nearly killed me right in the palm of my own hand," Selena explained at length, causing Vee to furrow her brow.
"You mean... you want to be the sole ruler?"
Selena smiled. "You’re smart. Since I happen to have the chance to become the ruler of Eldoria, why shouldn’t I take it? Consider it atonement for the sins they’ve committed by nearly killing me," she replied, making Vee smile and nod in agreement.
"I understand; they do have to atone for this sin with something significant. But, Your Majesty, I hope you’ll be a just ruler. After all, not all the people of Eldoria are to blame for what happened yesterday," she said, making Selena smile calmly.
"Don’t worry, I’m a good woman."
***
"Your Majesty, I’ve looked into it. So far, Briella’s closest associate is Amena Cots. She made Amena Cots her friend and confidante because she’s been good friends with you for years. I found this out from these notes," reported a Phoenix guard who had participated in the search of Briella’s house.
Selena took the notes and read through some work records that hadn’t yet been destroyed. As a poison expert, Briella had hired quite a few relatively unknown residents of Eldoria. She used them as dealers of poisons and addictive powders.
"Damn, it’s like I’m back in the human world seeing this kind of drug trafficking going on here," Selena muttered, causing Vee to look at her with raised eyebrows.
However, since she hadn’t quite caught what Selena had said, Vee didn’t dare ask—especially since Selena didn’t seem to be speaking to them.
"Besides Amena Cots, look into these names—find out which beast clans they belong to and whether they’re still alive or not. If they’re still alive, detain them for me," Selena said as she handed the note back. "Find out where they’re distributing all this powder and these dangerous drugs. I need to know who’s been consuming this powder."
The Phoenix guard nodded obediently. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Selena watched him leave, then sighed softly and looked out the window. The sun was getting higher in the sky; Selena didn’t know what time it was, but she remembered she’d been here far too long, concocting various medicines, antidotes, and herbal powders.
"Your Majesty, are you hungry? I remember earlier the Phoenix King called me out for a moment and said if you wanted to eat something, you could tell him. You haven’t had lunch yet—you’ve been busy with these medicines and powders the whole time. If you want to have lunch, it’d be best to step out of this room so it’s safer," Vee said as she saw Selena staring out the window.
"I want fried chicken," Selena muttered without realizing it, then immediately looked at Vee, who was already smiling.
"Fried chicken?"
Selena looked at her with a calm expression at first. "Yes, I want to eat that. Fried with salt and seasoning—it’ll be delicious. Make me a serving—"
Selena suddenly realized where she was. Oh my gosh, she was in the animal world now. Did she look like a cannibal or a gluttonous creature for wanting to eat one of the animal groups in Eldoria?
Wait, is there a chicken clan here? Oh my gosh, how was she supposed to explain this? Glancing at Vee, who was furrowing her brow, Selena swallowed hard.