Evolution of the Ruined Heir - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Grunte
Rhett gestured to the building with a smile, as though proud.

Malakai didn’t say anything. He just stared.

‘I didn’t think it was this bad.’

It was a large wooden building with about three floors. The structure could be summed up in one word: wrecked.

There were holes in the walls and roof, vines growing through cracks, and some of the support beams looked dangerously tilted. Boards stuck out from the sides, and entire chunks of the balcony railings were missing.

“Malakai,” Renlo whispered from behind. “I think we’ve been scammed.”

“I think so too.”

Rhett’s mouth twitched. He cleared his throat. “Don’t mind the current look. They’re coming to work on it tomorrow. You see, we recently came into some winnings, hehe. I—”

“We placed a bet on you during the hunt and won,” Laila cut in.

Rhett cleared his throat. “Yeah… what she said.”

He could feel Malakai’s gaze on him and quickly gestured toward the entrance. “Let’s not waste time. We can continue this talk inside.”

He turned and briskly walked into the building.

Malakai sent one last glance around the house. At the very least, the building had lights that illuminated the space well. The glowing vines and floating lights helped light up the surrounding forest as well.

Still, everything was old, including the wooden fence, which was cracked in many parts.

‘This will be a long one year.’

He shook his head and stepped into the building with the others.

It was brightly lit, and Malakai could see everything clearly. But the inside didn’t look any better.

The floors were cracked and uneven. The chairs were worn and torn, some with one leg barely hanging on. There was a counter at the end of the room, but no one manned it.

“This is your base?”

Rhett turned to look at Malakai, whose frown said everything he felt about the place.

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

Rhett scratched his head. “Well, you see… I’m not exactly well liked by the others. So, uh… see this as a sort of punishment, haha.”

“Still… each base is supposed to be given a monthly stipend, right? Why didn’t you use it to fix this place? No one can deny you that.”

Malakai wasn’t the type to pry or even talk much. But this situation was bothering him more than he liked to admit.

Malakai hated dirt. Hated germs. During battle, he could ignore the gut wrenching feeling they gave him, but when it came to where he stayed, he’d rather not.

All he could see were filth, cracks, and furniture that looked like it had survived multiple generations.

Rhett cleared his throat, but the answer came from Laila, who seemed determined to expose him.

“The captain gambles all our money away.”

“Hey, Laila.” Rhett shot her a what the hell are you doing look, but she only shrugged.

Malakai calmed down his rising nerves. ‘The way forward,’ he reminded himself, repeating it constantly.

“We have to do something about this… place.”

He couldn’t live here, not for long, anyway. Still, Malakai’s displeasure wasn’t hidden in his voice, and it didn’t go unnoticed. It reached the ears of someone who didn’t like to hear it.

“It’s very rude to insult someone’s home, little man,” a thick, gruff voice rumbled.

Malakai’s eyes narrowed as a figure stepped through the side door.

He had to slant his massive frame just to pass through.

Once he entered the reception, Malakai took full view of him.

He was large. Extremely.

About six foot five, with skin the color of tanned earth. His thick black hair and beard framed a heavy, squared face.

Every step he took caused the wooden floor to creak violently, and the group instinctively took a step back as he approached.

It looked like the floor might give way at any moment.

The man’s intense eyes were locked on Malakai.

“Em, Grunte—” Rhett began.

But before he could finish, Grunte cut in.

“You should stay out of this, Captain. It’s between me and the little man.”

He turned fully back to Malakai.

“Well, little man. What do you have to say?”

“About what?”

Grunte blinked. Slightly taken aback.

A little runt had seen him and was still this calm? ‘Nerves of steel, this kid…’

He squinted harder, but everything beyond a few feet was still blurry.

“You insulted our home. Grunte’s home. You should apologize.”

“I only stated the truth.”

“Grunte… your glasses—”

Grunte sharply raised a hand, silencing Rhett.

His stare stayed locked on Malakai.

“That doesn’t matter, little man. It might mean nothing to you, but to me, I’m proud to call this place home. You need to apologize.”

“Or what?”

The tension spiked instantly.

Grunte’s expression turned cold. He stepped forward, but paused when Nyx suddenly appeared in front of Malakai.

Through the blur, he made out the faint silhouette of a woman.

He scoffed. “You let a woman fight your battles, little kid? Where’s your pride as a man?”

Malakai’s expression didn’t shift. “She’s more capable than you and me combined.”

Nyx held back the smile that threatened to tug at her lips.

Being regarded so highly by Malakai made her happy. Her gaze turned cold as the temperature in the room dropped.

‘I’ll teach this man a lesson,’ Nyx resolved.

Grunte’s face darkened even further. He prepared to move again, but Laila’s sharp voice cut through the tension.

“Grunte, use your head for once and follow instructions. Put on your glasses.”

Then she turned to Malakai. “And Ninth Vein… this place is hanging by its last thread. A fight here would only make things worse.”

Malakai nodded toward her and signaled Nyx to stand down.

“Ninth Vein?” Grunte echoed, confused. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of glasses. As he slid them on, his eyes went wide, then nearly bulged from their sockets.

“It’s you!” he shouted, pointing at Malakai with sheer shock. “My little bro!”

Malakai’s eyes widened as the massive man barreled forward, arms spread, and pulled him into a crushing embrace.