Surrounded by Five Beast Lords novel Chapter 127

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8:45 Tue, Jun 30

Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Clive said “Home!”

Coming from him, that word felt unusually heavy.

It wasn’t an offhand “your place,” or a formal “our place.” It was simply “home.”

Dora paused mid-chew.

Clive’s eyes lifted, and for the first time, he formally regarded Lucian.

Their gazes locked for a brief moment.

No sparks flew, no swords were drawn.

There was only a wordless standoff, the kind that belonged solely to apex predators.

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Lucian was the first to look away, his gaze returning to Dora. “Dora, it’s been over ten years since we last saw each other.

“The last time I saw you, you were just five, with two little braids, running after me and calling out, ‘Lucian!”

Elmer nearly choked on his soup.

Lioren’s tail went stiff.

Rafe’s brow arched, a glint of interest flashing in his blue eyes.

The air around Clive seemed to drop a few more degrees.

Dora was at a loss for words.

Back when she was five, at Lucian’s victory party, she’d blurted out something only a kid would say. She never expected Lucian to actually put it on the official record.

Later, Lucian joined the military and rose through the ranks, and the two of them never saw each other again. But hearing Lucian bring it up now, it almost sounded like he was marking his territory.

The other four males at the table each had their own reactions.

Clive’s eyes were so cold and intense, it was as if they could spill over with menace.

From the moment Lucian walked in, Clive was on high alert.

His presence was so tightly controlled, it only made him seem even more dangerous.

Lioren’s cat ears pressed flat, his amber eyes narrowed, and his tail moved behind him in a slow, dangerous

arc.

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Chapter 127

It was the instinctive response of a big cat assessing a potential threat.

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Elmer’s big, round puppy eyes darted between Lucian and Clive, then he quietly edged closer to Dora, trying not to draw any attention.

Rafe kept his polite smile, but something flickered in the depths of his blue eyes.

He picked up his coffee cup and took a sip, his movements so refined it was as if he were watching a play unfold.

Dora helped herself to another bite, her expression calm. “I don’t really remember much about it.”

Something flickered in the depths of Lucian’s pale golden eyes.

He didn’t argue, just nodded. “True, it’s been more than ten years.”

Clive suddenly spoke up. “Commander Golding, is the Blackflame Trading Guild involved in the smuggling case you’re investigating?”

His question was so blunt, it felt almost abrupt.

The atmosphere at the table instantly tensed up.

Lucian turned to Clive, his pale golden eyes steady, with the cool, assessing look of a commander. “Yes.”

“Got any proof?” Clive shot back.

“Not yet,” Lucian paused. “But they’re definitely under suspicion.”

Clive’s gaze darkened. “So, are you here to investigate, or are you actually here to come home?”

He cut straight to the point.

Elmer’s fork paused in mid-air.

Lioren’s ears stood straight up.

Rafe picked up his water glass, hiding the subtle smile at the corner of his mouth.

“This is some good drama,’ Rafe thought.

Lucian didn’t answer right away.

He looked at Clive, not with hostility, but with a cool, measuring gaze, as if weighing him up.

“Clive Blackthorne, founder of the Blackflame Trading Guild, and the man who runs the underground on the dark web,” Lucian said, his tone even, like he was reading from a dossier.

“On your mission to Zone 32, you and Dora went through hell together, and you kept her safe.

“You also rescued the hunting squad that had been kidnapped by those impersonating the Blackflame

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Chapter 127

Trading Guild, clearing the suspicion of kidnapping.

“I know all of that.”

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He paused. “The forces behind this smuggling case are way more tangled than either of us thought.

“There are multiple factions in the military involved, plus some big players in politics.

“The Blackflame Trading Guild is a suspect, but so far, there’s nothing linking you to it.”

“So?” Clive’s eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint.

“I’m here because this is home,” Lucian said, making each word crystal clear. “Not for the investigation.”

Clive was silent.

Rafe set down his water glass and spoke up at just the right moment. “Dory, you said you didn’t mention the crystal ore when you turned in the mission?”

Dora shot him a grateful look and picked up the thread. “That’s right. I didn’t submit the crystal ore mission, and I didn’t reveal that we have the crystal ore.”

She gave a quick rundown of what happened at the trading hall, then summed up, “The crystal ore involves way too many parties.

“So many factions are coveting it, the Shawn family, the military, the politicians, the underground organizations…

“I think we should keep it under wraps for now and wait to see how things develop.”

“Smart move,” Rafe nodded.

“Sometimes, just having something valuable puts a target on your back.

“If word about the crystal ore gets out, everyone will be coming after us.”

Lucian’s eyes flashed with approval. “Your wisdom as the head of the family is truly impressive, Dora.

“The crystal ore is a top-tier strategic asset. If word gets out, every major player will be gunning for you.”

Clive finally shifted his gaze from Lucian to Dora. “You did the right thing.”

Lioren’s tail slowed its dangerous swing, and his cat ears went back up.

Elmer breathed a sigh of relief and muttered quietly, “That freaked me out, I really thought they were about to start a fight…”

Things finally started to calm down.

All four pairs of eyes were now fixed on Dora.

Chapter 127

“Before you

all got back, Seven gave me a tour of the place,” Lucian said.

He stood up. “There are five bedrooms on the second floor. The empty one’s mine, isn’t it? I’ve already se

in.”

He looked out the window, noticing the light drizzle already falling outside the shield.

“After the wet season, Core Planet gets slammed with three months of nonstop rain and flooding,” he said.

“The basement’s boat-like design…

He turned to Dora. “That’s clever. Who came up with it?”

“Me,” Dora replied, a bit surprised he mentioned it. “I figured if we ever get flooded, we can just sail out.”

Lucian nodded, his pale golden eyes showing a hint of contemplation.

“Now that we’ve got plenty of crystal ore, why not take this place to the next level?”

He raised his arm, revealing the Optical Brain on his wrist, and with a gesture, a holographic blueprint unfolded, hovering in the air for everyone to see.

It was the blueprint for a starship.

The hull was sleek and streamlined, built across three decks.

At the top was a retractable energy shield, while the bottom featured an anti-gravity system and a spatial jump drive.

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