The deepest part of the circular plaza.
At the entrance to the ancient, ever-renewed gourmet hall.
"No..."
Rosa Xitugus’s single eye showed terror as she shakily moved her weak hooves.
She was frightened.
Truly terrified.
Unable to control herself, she staggered back two or three steps, frantically waving her hooves: "Please, calm your anger! It wasn’t me, truly—it wasn’t me... I know nothing, absolutely nothing."
At the same time—
Driven by immense inertia, the instant the crystalline palm seized the massive hoof, a terrifying ripple-like shockwave burst across the entire gourmet hall!
As Elder Xiturok’s most cherished descendant, and a Stellar‑Palace Primeval Quibeast skilled at reading moods and hosting Human emissaries, Rosa Xitugus was already pale and frozen in place, letting the dust-laden gale buffet her head, letting her mind tremble in utter terror.
"I know nothing!"
Her scream was piercingly sharp.
She watched as Krue Murren, gripped in Andrew Han’s palm, seemed ready to spit fire and launch a violent attack at Andrew.
"Krue Murren, are you insane?!"
She screamed on the verge of collapse, her pink body changing color on the spot.
Rosa Xitugus had always clashed with Krue Murren, sometimes even coming to blows. Now, witnessing the cruelty and savagery hidden behind his single eye, she saw the noble, unapproachable Human guest Andrew Han seize Krue Murren’s hoof, his Eternal King might making her tremble with fear, while the Stellar‑Palace Primeval Krue Murren was utterly powerless to resist.
In a flash—
Everything became clear.
Even thinking with hooves...
Who? Who could possibly have the ability to completely conceal all sources of information from the Stellar‑Palace Primeval Krue Murren?
"Krue Murren!"
"Standing before you is the great Human Eternal King, Lord Andrew Han! Kneel and admit your fault!" Rosa Xitugus was nearly in tears.
Who was trying to set me up?
Such a crude scheme, so foolish—how could it possibly deceive a Human Eternal King?
A raging cyclone whipped up dust and debris, veiling the entire scene and obscuring vision. Yet nothing could hide those sharp golden-red eyes. In this moment, the warmth Andrew Han had shown for years was replaced by cold, unapproachable majesty, as if a cosmic deity looked down upon all beings.
This was the wrath of an Eternal King!
All the realms and lands trembled in upheaval!
"What do you want to say?"
"Are you using my status to purge your enemies?"
Each word was like thunder splitting the sky. Andrew Han casually slapped Krue Murren, silencing him; all six of Krue's hooves trembled. Andrew's cold gaze then fixed on Rosa Xitugus, standing outside the door as if uninvolved.
Had a fellow Human suffered a grievous injustice...?
Why had a Human been abused in the Awakened Beasts’ core valley...?
These questions deeply enraged Andrew Han. Krue Murren was doomed—no one could save him!
But.
What truly drove Andrew to the edge of fury was the scene unfolding before his eyes—the chilling brutality happening at this exact moment, with such perfect timing. How could it be mere coincidence?
It was obviously deliberate!
Some Quibeast wanted to enrage him, to use the bloody suffering of a fellow Human to provoke this new-generation Eternal King!
Ignorant or clumsy, it didn't matter—Andrew Han's fury was absolute. By coming here, crossing the stars from the Eternal Gate and Spark-Heritage Zone, he was indirectly carrying the supreme honor of Humanity.
Such disrespect!
Utterly outrageous, utterly absurd, utterly unforgivable!!
"I must admit, I find it strange."
Andrew Han's voice was low, growing heavier and colder, a violent anger mixing absolute zero with searing heat and sweeping outward: "The Mystery-Light Baptism had just ended, and you immediately came to me, insisting I stay a while longer... Because you seemed sincere, I agreed. With nothing else pressing, I toured your Awakened Beasts’ core valley and experienced your unique culture up close."
"First was the Awakening Vault."
"Then the pet-beast market, where I saw plenty along the way. Not a single detail was missed."
Every word struck Rosa Xitugus like a bolt from the heavens, icy lightning piercing the deepest part of her soul.
She was terrified.
And panicked.
...
Rosa Xitugus forced herself to calm down, letting out a sorrowful sigh: "It really wasn’t me."
Unfortunately.