Chapter 98
“Hey—hey! Don’t cry!” Aviel hurriedly withdrew his domain, the oppressive air instantly loosening. “Father just wanted to chat with you and give you some gifts. I wasn’t going to hit you p>
The moment the pressure disappeared, Linny felt his body regain its agility. With a sharp whoosh, he bolted away, racing straight toward Nina.
Aviel let out a long sigh, hesitating over whether to chase him.
Back at the campsite, Nina had already noticed something was wrong.
The egg babies had been rolling around and playing, but after a while they realized Linny hadn’t interacted with them at all. Stranger still, they couldn’t even sense his presence nearby.
They quickly rolled toward Yinny and Didi: Brother Yinny, Brother Didi, Brother Linny is gone!
The two cubs immediately looked around. Sure enough—no golden blur, no fluttering wings.
They dashed over to Nina, who was busy rolling dumpling wrappers, tugging at her clothes anxiously.
“Mother! Mother! Brother Linny is missing p>
Nina understood at once. Her face drained of color.
She sprang to her feet, scanning the surroundings frantically.
It had only been a moment—just a moment when she hadn’t been watching. How could he vanish like that? If strangers had approached, surely someone would have noticed. Had he wandered off on his own?
“Linny! Where are you? Come out!” she shouted, panic rising in her voice.
Before her words fully faded, a streak of gold shot out from the bushes.
Linny crashed into her arms, eyes brimming with tears.
“Waaah—Mother! Linny met a cub trafficker! Linny was so scared p>
Nina’s heart clenched painfully. She wiped his tears with trembling fingers. “What happened? Where did you run off to p>
Linny lifted his little head, sniffling, babbling tearfully while gesturing wildly with his tiny claws.
Nina pieced together the story from his broken explanations.
Her eyes flashed with fury.
“You’re saying someone tried to lure you away? Someone tried to kidnap you p>
Odian, Kith, Finch, and the phoenix warriors all froze mid-motion. Their expressions darkened instantly.
Dare to abduct Linny? They were courting death.
Linny nodded vigorously, pointing one chubby claw toward a direction beyond the trees. They’re over there.
Nina’s anger flared like wildfire. “Take Mother to them. I’ll avenge you p>
Cradling the cubs, she strode forward with blazing fury. Odian and the others followed closely behind, while Ridan remained behind to guard their supplies.
Aviel and his dragon warriors hadn’t left yet.
He was still brooding over how to win Linny over when he suddenly saw Nina marching toward them—Linny in her arms, eyes blazing.
His heart skipped.
Why was she here p>
Should he run?
Before he could decide, Nina was already standing before him.
Linny pointed an accusing claw. “Mother! It was him! He tried to take me p>
Nina’s gaze turned icy. “So you’re the band of traffickers trying to abduct my cub p>
The dragon warriors panicked instantly.
They scattered to the sides, shaking their heads frantically, and collectively pointed at Aviel.
“Not us! It was him p>
Aviel stared at them in disbelief.
You traitors. Are you rebelling? You’re pushing everything onto me p>
The dragons silently retorted: It was your idea.
Nina frowned.
Weren’t they together?
Her eyes locked onto Aviel, sharp as blades. “You tried to steal my child p>
Aviel flustered, waving his hands. “No—no! Little female, you misunderstand. I’m not a trafficker p>
“You still deny it? Linny identified you p>
“I’m not a trafficker!” Aviel insisted. “I’m Linny’s biological father. Truly! Ask him p>
Nina looked down. “Linny, is he your father p>
Linny shook his head firmly. No. He’s a trafficker.
Aviel nearly exploded.
You ungrateful brat!
In desperation, he transformed into a majestic golden dragon before shifting back into human form.
“See? I’m a dragon. Now you believe me, right p>
Wasn’t that fox able to convince her this way?
Nina only grew more annoyed.
Another one?
And this one had the audacity to try stealing Linny.
Unforgivable.
“I don’t believe you.” She raised her wrist. “Ghost-Crying Vine—lash him p>
The green bracelet flashed. Instantly, it detached, swelling into a thick, powerful vine that whipped toward Aviel with explosive force.
He barely dodged in time.
“I truly am Linny’s father!” he protested.
Why did she believe that fox but not him?
The vine moved like lightning.
It struck him several times in rapid succession.
Pain seared through him.
Aviel’s heart jolted in shock.
Dragon scales were notoriously hard—virtually impenetrable. Ordinary weapons couldn’t scratch them.
Yet this vine tore through his defenses as if they were nothing.
He seized an opening and grabbed the vine, but it writhed violently in his grasp.
Nina shot him a cold glare. His heart trembled.
He released it immediately.
Freed, the vine lashed even harder, chasing him mercilessly.
The dragon warriors covered their eyes.
The queen is terrifying… His Majesty is doomed.
Linny watched with shining eyes.
Bad dragon! Serves you right for grabbing Linny!
While dodging, Aviel called out pitifully, “Little female, believe me! I really am Linny’s father. I didn’t try to abduct him. I just wanted to acknowledge him and give him gifts p>
He hurriedly produced a pile of glittering dragon crystals, several luminous fruits, and fine animal pelts.
“These are dragon crystals—our clan’s favorite treasure. And these are Dragon-Saliva Fruits; they’re beneficial for dragon hatchlings p>
His expression grew slightly awkward.
“As for these pelts… I—I don’t need them. They’re for you p>
Enduring the vine’s relentless strikes, he held everything out toward her.
“I won’t take Linny from you. I just wanted to bring gifts. And… and I also hoped… to stay with you p>
He had planned to win Linny over first and let the cub help him remain. Instead, the little brat not only refused to acknowledge him but ruined his plan entirely.
Nina studied him suspiciously.
His tone seemed sincere.
After a moment, she recalled the vine.
“If you truly meant to steal him, Linny wouldn’t have made it back p>
Still, her voice remained cold. “Take your things. I won’t let you stay. Leave. And don’t appear before Linny or me again p>
Aviel felt stifled. “Why can they stay, but I can’t? Aren’t we all fathers p>
Nina’s gaze turned glacial. “Do you still not get it p>
You made my baby cry—and you still dare to ask to stay p>
Without another word, she turned and walked away with the cubs.
Aviel watched her retreating figure, regret creeping into his chest. He had clearly made things worse.
Pado sighed. “Your Majesty, we told you not to do this p>
“You could’ve stopped me,” Aviel muttered gloomily.
If only he’d tried another method.
Now what? How was he supposed to make her stop being angry?
Did he really have to imitate that shameless tiger and fox?
Pado thought dryly: You brought this on yourself.
From that day on, several pitiful dragons began lingering outside Nina’s cave.