The Ultimate Litter: A Beast World System Tale novel Chapter 181

Chapter 1981xactly Like Claire

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Hearing that, Rufus tightened his arms around Claire afrd pulled the fur wrapped around her even more snugly Then he rubbed his cheek against hers and muttered to himself, “Claire… this is my Claire How could I ever let her fall? Just focus of walking, you oversized mount”

The silver wolf let out a dissatisfied growl, and Rufus immediately changed his tone in fear

“Big brother! You’re my big brother, okay I’ll stop calling you a mount!”

Rufus quickly gave in, afraid that Zane might actually turn around and beat him up.

The silver wolf carried both of them effortlessly through the forest. His pace was neither too fast nor too slow, carefully chosen so that the female on his back would remain comfortable.

“Hey, mutt, do you think Claire’s going to be mad at you when she wakes up?”

Rufus turned around and glanced at Grimstone, which had already shrunk into a tiny dot in the distance. A trace of guilt appeared on his face.

Zane’s cold voice sounded again.

“Why would she be mad at me? You’re the one who knocked her unconscious.”

Rufus stiffened his neck stubbornly.

“That’s because you told me to do it! It was your idea, so you’re the real mastermind!”

He definitely did not want Claire to dislike him because of this. As for that stupid dog, it would be even better if Claire hated him. Then Rufus could have Claire all to himself.

Thinking of that, the corners of Rufus’s lips curled upward. The happiness in his heart showed clearly on his face.

Zane’s next words mercilessly shattered his fantasy.

“You’re still an accomplice. You can’t escape responsibility either.”

“How is that fair? That’s not what you told me back then!”

Rufus let out a miserable wail, his voice growing weaker.

That stupid dog had tricked him again.

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Without slowing his pace, Zane narrowed his eyes slightly as his thoughts drifted back to the night before the Sky Rite.

At that time, Marcus had come to him looking deeply troubled. After Zane repeatedly questioned him, Marcus finally revealed the details of his private conversation with Finlay.

Finlay had already discovered Claire’s secret as a Level 2 female the very first time he met her, which was why he had pursued her relentlessly ever since.

At first, Finlay had wanted to keep her for himself. Later, when he realized he could not gather enough tribute for Valorhenge, he decided to kidnap her and send her there instead.

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Chapter 189 Exactly Like Glaire

Finlay’s exact words had been, “My dear nephew, you need to frederstand that there will always be other females in the future. But we anger Valorhenge, Grimstone will no longer belong to our bear clan. Your beast form may be a little strange, but you still carry the bloodline of the bear clan”

He had tried to persuade Marcus.

Unfortunately, Marcus was no longer the youngling who blindty believed everything Finlay said.

He rejected him outright.

Marcus had already made up his mind. Even if someone offered him an entire city in exchange, he would never hand Claire over.

After winter ended, he planned to leave with Claire and travel far way together. Whether Grimstone had a future or not was no longer his concern.

He had believed that he would spend the rest of his life walking that path alongside Claire.

But something Bertie left behind before his departure completely overturned that belief.

Bertie had given him a palm-sized piece of white gemstone and instructed him to give it to his mate when the time was right.

At the time, Marcus had not thought much of it and assumed it was simply a gift for Claire. However when he later showed the gemstone to Zane, both of them were stunned.

The gemstone had been carved into the likeness of a beautiful female holding a newborn youngling in her arms while gazing at it with loving affection.

That beautiful female looked exactly like Claire.

Zane examined it carefully and determined that the gemstone had been carved a very long time ago. It had also clearly been preserved with great care over the years.

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The Ulumatetiker: A Beast World System Tale

Chapter 181 The Gemstone Clue

Bertie

Both Marcus and Zame thought of Bertie at the same time.

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Marcus did not know much about. Bertie’s true background. He only knew ifrat Bertie had frequently visited his home for a very long time and had shared a close relationship with his parents.

Zane guessed that the person carved into the gemstone must have had an extraordinary connection to Claire, which was why they looked so alike.

It was even possible that she was Claire’s mother.

Zane knew that everyone in the fox clan settlement had always said that Claire and her father had been abandoned by her mother. They claimed that her mother was an ungrateful woman who had chased after wealth and status.

Claire herself had no memory of this mother, so Zane had no way of knowing the truth.

But the figure carved into the gemstone looked exactly like Claire. If it was not her mother, then who else could it be?

The two of them silently chose not to discuss it further. Their current situation was already dangerous, and Finlay was watching them closely. This was clearly not the right time that Bertie had been referring to.

Still, it seemed likely that Bertie had shared a good relationship with the person in the carving. Otherwise, he would not have treasured it for so many years.

Just as they had sent beastfolk to find Bertie and ask him more questions, Finlay presented Marcus with a deal.

Finlay would allow Claire and her younglings to leave Grimstone, but the condition was that Marcus had to offer his own life as the blood sacrifice.

Marcus’s heart stirred.

At present, he and Claire remained safe in Grimstone for two reasons. On one hand, Finlay did not dare openly attack him because of his status as the young lord.

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On the other hand, Finlay practically controlled everything in Grimstone. Every beastfolk obeyed him. and followed his orders. He had absolute confidence in his ability to detain anyone he wished.

Claire had once told him that after winter ended, she wanted to take him to the eagle clan settlement.

Although he had agreed at the time, he had always known that Finlay would never let them leave so easily. That was why he had secretly worked out a plan with Zane.

After learning about Finlay’s proposed deal, Zane had also thought about it for a long time.

Marcus’s Level 3 strength placed him among the strongest fighters in Grimstone, but even the strongest warrior could not fight endless numbers alone. Finlay had too many people under his command. Every time one fell, more would take their place. Sooner or later, Marcus would be worn down.

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Chapter 121 The Gemstone Che

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Es with Zane and Rufus helping, safely gening Claire out of Grimstone would not have been easy.

Now Finlay was promising to release Claire, stop offering her to Valorhenge, and even allow Marcus to personally escort her out of the city before the blood sacrifice took place.

“Since you’re my nephew, I’m not completely unreasonable. I’ll even give you one final secret. It’s abour. the whereabouts of Claire’s mother.”

The moment those words were spoken, Marcus stopped hesitating and immediately agreed to Finlay’s conditions.

Trading his own life for the safe escape of Claire and their younglings was worth it.

Besides, there was also that secret.

Claire had told him in detail about her life in the fox clan settlement. She had grown up without a mother and had suffered greatly. She must have desperately wanted to meet her mother.

Marcus thought that his life should have ended long ago alongside his father, mother, and older sister in Valorhenge.

When Zane learned about the arrangement, he could not help feeling saddened and sympathetic toward Marcus. However, for Claire’s safety and the safety of the younglings, he had no choice but to agree.

As for Rufus, he had never cared much about these kinds of matters. Whatever Zane decided, Rufus followed.

So during the blood sacrifice, Zane had Rufus knock Claire unconscious and take her directly out of Grimstone, leaving Marcus behind alone.

Before they left, Marcus had watched the three of them from a distance. His eyes had been filled with loneliness. His reluctant gaze remained fixed on Claire for a long time before finally fading into silence.

Thinking back to that moment, Zane spoke up to remind Rufus.

“Did you put the gemstone carving away safely? Don’t lose it.”

That was the information Marcus had exchanged his life for. It could help Claire find her mother.

Hearing that, Rufus lifted a corner of the hide wrapped around Claire and checked that the gemstone carving was still there. Then he casually replied, “Relax. It’s not going anywhere.”

The two men and the wolf continued making their way through the forest. Dappled sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell across Claire’s closed eyes.

Claire felt the light shifting between bright and dark in front of her. Confused, she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a forest full of green trees. She was sitting on the silver wolf’s back while being held in the arms of a beastfolk behind her.

Having only just woken up, her mind was still foggy. She felt a sharp ache at the back of her neck and instinctively raised a hand to rub it.

“Claire, you’re awake!” Rufus shouted excitedly.

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Chapter 11 The Gemstone Chie

Finished,

Claire turned her head and finally realized it was Refus.

Immediately, she cried out happily, “Rufust Why are you fiere?”

Her long arms wrapped around Rufus’s neck, and she affectionately rubbed her cheek against him.

The silver wolf beneath them came to a stop and turned back to look at the intimate pair riding on his back. His eyes were also filled with happiness.

“Zane, you’re here too. How did you two suddenly show up? I missed you so much!”

Their sudden appearance filled Claire with overwhelming joy. For a moment, she completely forgot where

she was.

Taking advantage of the fact that he was already holding Claire, Rufus eagerly claimed tre opportunity before anyone else could. He hugged her tightly and showered her with affection, completely ignoring Zane’s presence.

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The Umpeteer. A Beast World System Tale