Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Success at One’s Fingertips

She was just happy about the increase in goodwill, when a new message popped into her head, leaving her stunned.

“Ding, issuing Side Mission 2, please mate with Male Lead Number 2, Rhys Blackwood, within seven days. The reward for completing the task is a comprehensive guide to ancient ceramic production, including methods for kiln construction and brick firing~”

The system’s voice turned seductive as it spoke.

Luna Sutton nearly choked on the system’s demand. Mate? And specifically with Rhys Blackwood?

Is this system crazy?

Just a moment ago, she was feeling smug about the collective goodwill increase, only to be thrown such an absurd task the next moment.

She couldn’t help but rage internally, “You dog system, are you crazy? I just paired with Corbin Crowley, and now you want me with Rhys Blackwood? Are you trying to get me torn apart by them?”

The system chuckled mischievously, “Host, this task is for your own good~ The comprehensive guide to ancient ceramic production can elevate your status in the tribe, including methods for building kilns and firing bricks. It’s great for improving quality of life, aren’t you tempted?”

Luna rolled her eyes, “Don’t give me that. Is mating all my tasks involve? First Corbin, now Rhys, what next, Kian Sterling, Zeke Veridian, Malachi Arcanus too? And besides, Rhys, that cold block of ice, hardly speaks a word. How do you expect me to… do that?”

She blushed as she spoke, causing Corbin, Rhys, Kian, Zeke, and Malachi to give her several curious looks.

They didn’t understand why she was blushing so much.

Corbin raised an eyebrow, thinking she might be blushing about their recent mating down in the canyon. His eyes darkened with deep thoughts, and his lips curled slightly, as if pondering something.

Luna didn’t notice the looks from the Beastmen. Her mind was filled with the system’s newly assigned task.

The system laughed softly, its voice echoing in her mind, “Host, they are all your Beast Husbands. It’s only a matter of time for such things. The system is just accelerating task progress, based on the host’s situation. Besides, if you can sleep with the most domineering, cool, and arrogant Corbin, handling Rhys should be a piece of cake. Just use some tactics, and he’ll be within your grasp.”

She was beyond words, internally cursing: This dog system talks like it’s easy.

Easy? More like impossible with someone as aloof and distant as Rhys.

He talks so little that if you say ten sentences, he might not even reply one.

If he does reply, it’s just one or two words.

With Rhys’s personality, let alone mating, even getting close requires a tremendous amount of courage.

And considering his real form is a snake, what if during mating, he gets too excited and transforms back? Wouldn’t I be scared to death?

Even Seraphina Whitaker and Simon Ford, with all their love, Simon still got scared to death by Seraphina’s real form.

However, despite her complaints, she knew she had to accept this task.

She understood the process of ceramic firing, yet she didn’t know how to build a kiln, which was necessary for successful pottery firing.

Still less did she know how to fire bricks.

The importance of bricks needs no explanation.

With bricks, they could build houses and city walls, greatly enhancing both living quality and safety.

Wooden houses were livable, but couldn’t compare to the sturdiness of brick houses.

Other seasons were fine, but once winter came, a heavy snowfall could collapse them with ease.

In the Beast world, winter was not like later times; it was truly ice and snowbound, life-threatening cold.

Her gaze unintentionally swept over Rhys, standing there with his cold face, out of place amidst the lively surroundings.

Those deep eyes revealed no emotion, only occasionally glancing at Luna with a probing look.

Luna felt guilty under his gaze and quickly looked away.

Rhys seemed cold, but he wasn’t entirely impenetrable.

Though he spoke little, he had a weakness — a love for food, perhaps an angle she could exploit.

Just as she was pondering this, Kian suddenly approached, his fox-like eyes narrowing slightly, teasing, “Cynthia, what are you thinking about? Why is your face so red?”

Luna was startled, wondering how this fox noticed so easily, and awkwardly coughed, waving her hand, “Nothing… just feeling a bit hot.”

She touched her face, feeling the heat beneath her hand.

Kian took in her demeanor, watching her flushed face, clearly not believing her.

He was increasingly certain something had happened recently.

Just as he was about to speak.

Corbin suddenly stepped over, his silver eyes narrowing, laced with a thread of danger. He stood in front of Luna, his tall figure almost enveloping her completely, his voice low and magnetic, “Hot? Need me to cool you down?”

Luna felt a wave of pressure, instinctively stepping back, but slipped and almost fell.

Corbin, quick as ever, caught her waist and pulled her steadily back into his embrace.

His arms were strong and firm, and she could clearly feel the warmth of his chest and the strong beat of his heart, causing her face to redden even more.

“Tha-thanks…”

She awkwardly tried to free herself, but the dog-man showed no signs of letting go, instead leaning close to her ear, voice playful, “You’ve been quite clumsy lately, maybe… you’re too tired?”

His warm breath brushed across her face, overwhelmingly intimate.

Luna’s face burned, involuntarily recalling those few days at the canyon’s base.

Corbin’s domineering nature left her nearly no room to escape.

Every night he’d drag her to that, whether in the grove, by the river, in a cave, or amidst flowers…

The most outrageous being the night before they returned, at the very edge of a cliff.

She bit her lip, forced herself calm, and looked up with a warning gleam in her eyes, “I… I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Corbin raised an eyebrow, seemingly pleased with her reaction, stepping back but keeping a tight watch on her, as if declaring something.

Kian watched their interaction, a barely noticeable chill flashing in his fox-like eyes.

He chuckled softly, his gentle tone tinged with teasing, “Corbin, you seem a bit different with Luna these days.”

“Indeed different, you used to wear your disdain for her on your face, now you’re quite intimate. Don’t tell me, after some life-and-death trials, your affection for her improved?”

Zeke stepped forward, his emerald eyes shifting between Luna and Corbin, voice teasing, expression probing.

The more he observed, the more he felt something was up with these two.

Corbin, who once loathed plump women, couldn’t bear to see one, now seemed to have transformed.

Rhys and Malachi said nothing, but fully agreed with Zeke’s sentiments.

Mia watched it all, brimming with jealousy.

Her eyes fixed intensely on Luna’s increasingly beautiful face, and the ambiguous air between her and Corbin, her expression twisted with envy, nearly spilling over with hatred.

Why? Luna, an ugly freak, how could she deserve Corbin’s favor?

Mia’s nails dug into her palms, the pain bringing her some clarity, but unable to conceal the malice and jealousy in her eyes.

She had to find a way to ruin Luna, not letting this vile female continue feeling pleased with herself.

The other Beastmen and females present also felt Corbin was a bit different, yet considering he and Luna were bound mates, a little more intimacy and care seemed normal.

Luna felt several heated gazes fall on her, feeling utterly speechless.

Corbin, this dog man, was practically painting a target on her back.

Corbin coldly glanced at Zeke and Kian, stating indifferently, “She’s my mate. Is there a problem with that?”

Zeke and Kian were momentarily choked, a hint of displeasure flickering in their gazes.

Zeke didn’t say anything more.

But Kian suddenly shot back, “She’s your mate, true, but not yours alone.”

Still smiling, yet a chill lurked beneath his eyes.

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