Charlie, being rational, held him back. “Let’s observe a bit more.”
“But these wolves are massacring their own kind. They’re like uncivilized beasts!” Marvin was deeply pained.
His words hadn’t even landed when he was suddenly kicked from behind. He cursed loudly, “Aldrich! You heartless wolf!”
Charlie watched this scene in shock. Was this his calm and cold-blooded boss?
How could he kick Marvin into the wolf pack without a word?
“Boss, nothing’s going to happen, right?” Charlie was anxious.
Aldrich’s voice remained calm. “Don’t worry, he won’t die.”
Amidst the cries and curses, Marvin fell from the high tree branch, landing directly on an aggressive rogue wolf attacking its own kind.
A massive roar, like an intense shockwave, hit Marvin’s head, causing him to become disoriented.
“Marvin, get out of there!” Charlie urgently warned Marvin.
Aldrich used his eyes to stop Charlie from rushing down to help. “Our delicate young master needs some toughening up. The responsibility on his shoulders isn’t going to be easy.”
In the forest, Marvin dodged the deadly attacks of the rogue wolves while cursing Aldrich with a barrage of obscenities that added no value to the situation.
Charlie stared in astonishment. “Is this the same Marvin, quiet and refined?”
Aldrich’s lips curled slightly. “Neither of our parents was a tame wolf. How could Marvin be anything but this?”
Marvin, fleeing from the pursuers, grew faster and his dodges became more agile. He connected with Aldrich mentally, “Have you observed anything?”
Aldrich remained silent.
“We can’t sell out our brother like this! Take action!” Marvin urged.
Aldrich replied calmly, “Let’s take these wolf people for another run.”
“You’re treating them like dogs!” Marvin directly shouted.
He ran from under the tree where Aldrich and Charlie stood, with two rogue wolves closely chasing him, raising a cloud of dust that even reached the air.
Another lap was quickly completed.
Marvin leaped onto a tree trunk, causing Charlie to almost lose his balance, and he had to grasp a small branch.
“I think you’re treating me like a dog!” Marvin yelled at Aldrich in frustration.
Aldrich looked at the area below the tree and commented, “Very good. This ship is about to collapse.”
Just then, the two rogue wolves underneath lunged toward the slender tree trunk. The three men exchanged glances and quickly jumped down from the branches.
When Marvin stood up from the ground, he realized that he was the only one running for his life, while Aldrich and Charlie had each knocked out a rogue wolf.
The unconscious rogue hit the ground with a resounding thud.
Aldrich and Charlie approached Marvin, and Aldrich questioned him, “You’re not going to attack?”
“They’re not even worth my time. It’s not worth me getting involved,” Marvin replied.
Charlie reminded the two brothers, “Other rogue wolves are coming over.”
Marvin immediately turned defensively to face the other side. “Is it daytime, or has their control over their bodies completely disappeared?”
Aldrich spoke coldly, “Once they’ve taken the drug, their bodies can’t resist the bone-chilling allure. They descend into depravity, indulging in the pleasure of slaughter once again. These wolves don’t want to control themselves anymore and gradually degenerate into primitive beasts.”
“Boss, what should we do?” Charlie was worried.
Marvin added, “It’s impossible to knock them all out one by one. Our fists will eventually break.”
Aldrich nodded with approval. “That’s the plan, but we won’t be knocking them out.”
“Then what will we use?”
“Medication.”
Aldrich’s words had just fallen when a group of werewolves arrived at the edge of the forest. Marvin was shocked, “You called them?”
“While taking you for a walk,” Aldrich replied.
Aldrich grabbed Marvin, who had been a step behind in reacting, and leaped out of the forest. Charlie followed automatically.
The approaching werewolves quickly followed Aldrich’s previous instructions, spraying a sedative at the aggressive wolf pack. Marvin was about to speak but had a breathing mask placed over his face.
Watching the rogues fall into a deep sleep, ending their rampage, the forest returned to calm. Complex emotions crossed Marvin’s heart.
He mentally connected with Aldrich, “Did you think of this method in advance?”
“No, this is the worst kind of injustice.”
“What do you mean?”
“It treats the symptoms but doesn’t cure the root cause.”
“So, can you solve the Blood Moon issue?”
“No, but we can approach it from another direction and enhance the wolves’ self-control.”
“What’s the method?”
“In the eastern suburbs, there’s an ancient group known as the Iron Pack, with fewer than thirty werewolves. They have unwavering willpower and have never lost control.”
“Why don’t we go there right away?”
The spraying of the sedative had ended. Aldrich directed the werewolves to stay here to watch over the rogues, just in case. The three of them rushed back to Barrett Manor.
Marvin couldn’t help but ask, “Why not go to the eastern suburbs immediately to find a solution? The sooner we act, the fewer rogues will be harmed, right?”
Aldrich shook his head, “Maggie’s induction into the Elder Council is happening soon. She needs me.”
As the day turned into evening, Aldrich received a mental message from Thomas, learning that Maggie had prepared a surprise for him and hoped he would return as soon as possible.
Aldrich’s cold demeanor finally softened, like a rare and beautiful snow lotus blooming on an iceberg. He teleported quickly back.
“So, he’s in love, huh?” Marvin asked Charlie, sounding a bit annoyed.
“It’s just the sense of home that every married man feels…” Charlie said but lowered his voice. “Maggie is better suited for Aldrich.”
Marvin refrained from making any judgment. He tilted his head. “But it’s not like he’s joining the Elder Council, so why all the fuss?”
“Even if we visit the Iron Pack in the eastern suburbs, it takes time to prepare an introductory gift.”
Marvin understood now. Aldrich must have delegated this task to Charlie. He lowered his head. “Do you think Aldrich’s head might explode?”
“Our boss has impressive self-control. He won’t be affected by the Blood Moon. Even if he is, it won’t be to this extent.”
“What I mean is, in such a short time, he’s communicated with me, arranged for the werewolf army to come for support, and instructed you to find the introductory gift for the Iron Pack. How can he do so much and come up with corresponding strategies?”
Charlie smiled. “Working alongside the boss makes me feel as slow and stupid as a sheep sometimes. Take it slow and get used to it, and you’ll become numb and indifferent.”
Marvin growled in frustration.
Not far ahead was Jolie, who had come to pick up Charlie. Charlie waved at Marvin. “Goodbye. I wish you a wonderful night.”
Charlie immediately transformed into a wolf, and after a quick greeting with Jolie and Marvin, they both shifted into wolf form and ran off together.
Now, only Marvin remained, and he could finally shed all the hard shells and reveal his tired and fragile self.
The sunlight cast a long and fading shadow as Marvin lightly gestured to the empty space beside him, as if there was something there.
“Grace, during the time you’re not with me, I’ll enrich myself, train, and someday become a partner you can entrust without a worry.”