She could not afford to wait for something to happen before taking action. If there was a threat lurking in the shadows, she needed to find it before it had the chance to reveal itself on its own.
But that was far easier said than done. Even if she stayed here, watching every passerby until her eyes burned from the strain, there was no guarantee she could truly distinguish who was a spy and who was not.
No matter how much she wanted to uncover the truth immediately, she could do little beyond searching for subtle clues.
Suppressing a quiet sigh, Addison forced herself to calm down. Rushing things out of unease would only make matters worse. If she acted too obviously or showed that she was already suspicious, any hidden enemy would become more cautious and conceal themselves even more deeply.
That would only put her and her people at a greater disadvantage.
In the end, despite the lingering sense of unease in her chest, she chose to proceed carefully, taking things one step at a time instead of forcing results that might expose her intentions.
The unease in her chest slowly sank deeper, settling like a heavy weight in the pit of her stomach. It felt as though time was slipping away, yet she had not found a single useful lead to follow. The sense of helplessness pressed in on her, urging her to rush, but she knew she couldn’t afford to act recklessly.
Forcing herself to stop, Addison took a few slow, steady breaths, calming her racing thoughts. Only then did she begin observing her surroundings again, this time with greater composure, careful not to overlook even the smallest detail.
She resumed walking around the camp, deliberately acting nonchalant, but slightly frail. To others, she appeared just as weak and unwell as they already believed her to be. It was a calculated choice; the more harmless she seemed, the more likely others would lower their guard.
Whenever someone glanced at her with concern and offered a smile, Addison returned it with a faint, fragile one of her own, as if a mere gust of wind could knock her over. The worried looks she received only deepened her quiet guilt.
In her heart, she could only apologize to them for the deception, even as she continued her careful watch.
After all, only by appearing weak would others assume she was merely out for some light movement or fresh air. At the same time, as shifters with naturally strong bodies and robust immune systems, they rarely fell ill.
Thus, Addison’s frail state only reinforced the severity of what had happened earlier that morning, which resulted in her current state. And it would show them that her collapse had clearly not been minor; to them, it was proof that she was still suffering lingering aftereffects even now.
As she walked unsteadily around the camp, Addison did not notice anything particularly unusual. It was only around noon, when Maxwell and Levi woke up and came to check on her, that the situation changed.
The moment they saw her still outside, both of them were visibly surprised. Without wasting any time, they gently but firmly ushered her back to her tent before heading out again to fetch food for her.
Fortunately, the elderly had already finished preparing the meal. The rabbits hunted by Maxwell’s team the previous night, while they were gathering materials for the teleportation portal, had been roasted and seasoned with spices, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma.
Despite the injuries some of the team had sustained during the hunt, they had still handed all the game to Maxwell, who stored them safely in his magic pouch. Before resting, he had entrusted the ingredients to the elderly, who handled the cooking with care.

There was also a warm pheasant soup with tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes, as well as steamed rice, an essential source of energy, especially for the warriors who were constantly on the move throughout the camp.
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