Chapter 515

Chapter 515 The Jackal’s Den
“I don’t want man–eaters like yours.”
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Sage swept his eyes over the stalls surrounding Theresa. “Drag every trader out and kill them. From today on, Dawnwatch Camp will no longer allow a meatfolk market. No eating people. Anyone who violates this can be killed on the spot, and they can come to me for supplies afterward.”
Theresa looked at Sage and felt no trace of mercy or liberation in his words. Sage was still Sage.
“You think saying that will wipe your camp clean?”
“Ms. Hall, you know better than I do–people only behave when their bellies are full. If everyone here could afford to eat, they wouldn’t have done this. Shouldn’t you be helping us instead?”
“You just said you weren’t short on supplies,” Tyger cut in, tearing through Sage’s excuse.
Sage lifted his head to glance at him a second time, and this time his eyes were heavy with impatience.
“I can agree to your terms,” Theresa spoke up. “But you’d better not be lying, and my people had better be unharmed. Otherwise, I’ll make you pay–worse than last time.”
She
gave her word. Graham and the others came first. Once she had them back, she would deal with Sage and his camp. Not one of her people could be left behind.
“Relax, I’m not lying,” Sage said. “But I don’t know what state they’re in. It’s late. Why don’t you stay here tonight?”
“No. Take me to where Graham and the others went missing. Now.”
“Fine.” Sage agreed immediately and led her outside.
Meanwhile, the traders who had run the meatfolk market were dragged forward by Sage’s men. Like chickens being plucked up, each was executed in public, knives flashing as one by one they fell.
“Look closely! This is your fate if you try to open another meatfolk market!” His cold, commanding voice carried through the crowd. The residents shrank back, fear etched across their faces. Not a single one spoke. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ
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Chapter 515 The Jackal’s Den
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Theresa felt no sense of vindication, only the cold weight of truth. This was a camp ruled by the strongest jackal, and all the other jackals bowed beneath his iron grip. That was Sage’s
camp.
Behind her, Tyger and Quentin stayed silent, following without a word. Vinny hurried to keep up and clutched Theresa’s hand tightly.
“It’s fine. I’m here,” Theresa told her.
The girl dropped her head, hiding whatever thoughts she kept to herself.
“And who’s this?” Sage noticed Vinny.
“My new tagalong,” Theresa said casually.
“Is she from my camp?”
“I paid for her with food.”
Sage didn’t press further. He turned back and led them to Vehicle Seven.
Theresa inspected it inside and out, finding no signs of a struggle. Sage explained he had found the car in a canyon. There were traces of people nearby, but no people themselves, so he had driven the car back first.
Theresa had Tyger start it up, and the group climbed aboard. They picked up Kyle outside and headed toward the canyon Sage had described.
On her side, Theresa had five people. Sage brought only Drew.
She knew Drew well enough–the first time she met him, he had cut off his own finger. Now he was quieter than ever, his attitude toward her tangled and unreadable.
“This time I’m helping you,” Sage said. “That’s why I didn’t bring anyone else. If trouble comes on the road, you and your people will have to protect the two of us.”
“No problem,” Theresa answered without hesitation.
At her words, Sage lowered his gaze. His pale face carried a warm, gentle smile. Theresa returned it with one of her own, as if they really had always been friends who helped each other, and the past had never happened.
Just then, the girl at her side broke into a violent cough. “ Cough, cough … Cough, cough … ” Her small body shuddered with each rasp, blood seeping at the corner of her mouth.
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Chapter 515 The Jackal’s Den
“What’s wrong?” Theresa turned to her.
:
Vinny, pale and scared, pressed her hand to her lips, desperate to hide it. “I’m fine.”
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In the apocalypse, injury or illness was a death sentence–it meant being abandoned or eaten. The little girl kept quiet, enduring like a small, stubborn kitten, pretending to be healthy.
“Beautiful, she’s got internal injuries,” Quentin said. “Most likely from being hit by a car. Internal bleeding.”
“I’m fine. Just split my lip,” Vinny said quickly, bowing her head and covering her mouth tighter.
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Chapter 516 A Stray Kitten
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