Chapter 149: Acknowledgement(3)

Felix's bright face drew a blank stare from Luke.

'He reminds me of someone...'

Luke then turned to face Liam, who was glaring at Felix while holding the hilt of his sword. Luke then thought as he stared at Liam's reaction with a blank expression.

'Ah... Is this what they meant when they said that similars do not attract?'

Luke simply sighed and focused on Felix, who continued to smile at him. He then took note of Felix's features.

Jet-black hair that is curly and shiny, and golden eyes that are bright but sharp. He also has dark tanned skin, which allows him to blend in well with the dark corners of the cell. It's no surprise Luke hadn't noticed him earlier inside.

"Felix, I heard from Jay that you and your companions were against your king's decision. Now let me get straight to the point. If I somehow gave you a chance to be free, what are going to do?"

Felix and the rest of the dungeon fell silent. They didn't seem to expect Luke to ask such a question.

"Well, this is interesting."

Lance grinned and crossed his arms as he watched the situation unfold. Lance felt like Luke was about to give them options earlier in the end but halted at the last minute. Luke isn't giving them options; he wants them to come up with their own solution.

Will they return to their king, who violated their beliefs? Will they completely break away from the pack and just wander around, hiding from humans? Or...

Find a new king.

Felix stared silently at Luke, who appeared to be patiently waiting for his response. He then looked around at the other werewolves who were staring at him from their cells. Despite the fact that they aren't the ones being questioned, they appear to be deeply considering Luke's question.

They never considered being free after being imprisoned in their cells. So receiving a question like that is quite unexpected and difficult to respond to.

"Hmmm..."

While thinking, Felix tapped into the metal bars of the cell. What are they going to do?

Felix then stopped tapping after a thought flashed through his mind. He then cast a sharp golden glance at Luke, who was staring at him blankly.

While Luke was unconscious, they overheard Jay asking Liam about Commander Luke's adventures prior to becoming a commander, which piqued the interest of the werewolves who could hear their conversation. They talked about Luke so much that the werewolves became accustomed to hearing them and were able to recognize and understand what kind of person Luke is.

As a result, the werewolves finally understood why Luke saved them and began to admire him, keeping their ears open whenever Liam and Jay mentioned him. Liam and Jay eventually noticed this and ended up talking with the werewolves about Luke.

Jay excitedly shared the stories he heard from Luke's group with the werewolves, as if he were telling a thrilling legend, while Liam talks about Luke but is still cautious about what to say to them.

And after a few days of being like that... The werewolves became his official fans.

And now, the person they admire is asking them such a question. They're not sure if Luke will really give them a chance or if he's just asking, but since they're already in prison, what else can they lose?

Luke flinched when he saw Felix suddenly smiling brightly at him. He suddenly got a bad feeling about this. Luke started to feel uneasy for some reason and he didn't like it. He then saw Felix slowly opening his mouth, it seems like he already got an answer.

"We..."

Felix came to a halt for a moment and looked around at his fellow werewolves, who were nodding at him, which made Felix smile even more. Felix then returned his gaze to Luke, who is still waiting for his response.

"We will seek out a new king—no, we will follow our new king."

Felix's response made Luke's back turn cold. Luke then locked his gaze on Felix's eyes. Felix's response would be fine for Luke if Felix wasn't staring at him with an obedient smile; it gives him the creeps.

"...Find a new king you say? "

"Pardon me, but I believe I said 'we will follow our new king.'"

Luke's eyes narrowed and he glared at Felix's innocent smile.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Felix's eyes suddenly turned serious after Luke's question. He's still smiling, but his eyes are serious.

"We pledge our allegiance and trust to you, Luke, and will follow your lead from now on."

"Ha!"

Lance looked at the situation in front of him and smiled in disbelief. He then looked at Luke, who appears to be frozen in place and unable to speak. Lance simply shakes his head and clicks his tongue. He then looked down on Nash and Snow, who were standing quietly beside him, watching what was going on. Lance simply patted each of their heads.

"Well kids, it seems like your dad has gotten himself in an unwanted situation again."

Nash and Snow agreed with a nod. Lance just let out a sigh-like laugh as he watched their reaction. This type of scenario appears to occur so frequently that even the children have grown accustomed to it.

Jay looked at this scenario with wide eyes, his eyes glistened, and he appeared to be very happy. Meanwhile, Liam regarded this with a frown, as if he were deeply dissatisfied.

Luke brushed his face with his hand after a brief period of blankness. Luke then sighed and rested his arms on his waist. He appears to be deep in thought. It's funny because previously, the werewolves were the ones who were deeply thinking because of Luke, and now Luke is the one who is deeply thinking because of the werewolves.

"Alright."

Luke's unexpected response caused Felix and the other werewolves' ears to twitch. Even Liam and Lance were taken aback and looked at Luke in disbelief. They then noticed Luke smirking at Felix, who is looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"Didn't you say you swore your allegiance to me?"

"Oh boy..."

Lance simply shook his head and looked at the werewolves with pity. They chose the wrong person to show their loyalty to, and they will come to regret it. Lance knew this from experience; he simply knows Luke too well.

Felix stared at Luke smirking at him for a while before slowly nodding.

"Yes."

"Good, you guys will be freed and will live in the Forest of Death."

"Wait a minute, what?"

Felix looked at Luke with shock. Luke simply looked at him, his head slightly tilted.

"Hmm? Is there anything wrong?"

"A-ah... We are thankful for you freeing us but... The Forest of Death? You want us to live there?"

Felix's puzzled and nervous stares elicited a smile from Luke.

"Don't worry; I'll send someone to pick you up. I am sure he will treat you guys well."

"Ah but-"

Felix stopped talking when Luke began to walk away; he completely stopped reaching for him when he saw Liam glaring at him, so all he could do was watch Luke's back walk away.

Lance caught up to him while walking and began questioning him.

"Hey, is there anything going on in the Forest of Death that I'm not aware of?"

Luke turned to face Lance and smiled innocently, sending shivers up Lance's spine.

"Do you want to know, Your Highness?"

"...Never mind, I don't want to be associated with the strange things you do as much as I can."

"As you wish, your highness."

Lance's eye twitched as he looked at Luke with an uneasy expression. He then sighed to get rid of the uneasy feeling and decided to bring in the other matter.

"Luke, the king decided to throw a banquet to celebrate our victory against Regle Alliance."

"That's funny, he didn't contribute anything at all in the war, and yet he has the face to throw such events."

Lance just sighed and nodded as if he agreed.

"He wants you to come."

"No thanks, I've got other things to do."

"You can't refuse. This will be a significant event. An awarding ceremony will be held."

"I don't want any awards."

"I know, but you needed to be there to show the public that you are fine. You also needed to bring a giant representative, Jay, Spencer, Klein, and basically your entire group for the awarding."

Luke came to a halt and looked at Lance, who was also looking at him. Lance then spoke once more.

"You know that there are still a few nobles there who are still against the fact that you have a necromancer, giant, and a Kraken at your side. And knowing you, you'll almost certainly send that little girl named Ava to the banquet as the giant's representative; she might feel pressured because of the nobles who oppose her. She needed a guardian."

Luke sighed and massaged his temples. He then began to speak.

"Will Klein be there?"

"Of course."

"Alright, I also need to talk to him about our deal anyways."

"Good. The banquet will take place tomorrow evening."

"Wait a minute, what? That fast?"

Lance stared blankly at Luke's perplexed expression.

"The banquet was not the king's idea in the first place; it was the public's demand for the heroes of the war to be rightfully awarded. The kings and queens of this continent wanted to see you as well, so the king prepared a banquet."

Luke frowned and made an unhappy face, but Lance simply shrugged his shoulders, turned his back on him, and continued walking.

"You are welcome to spend the night here if you wish. You can go and meet with the rest of your group tomorrow morning. Go get some rest."

Luke simply scratched his chin and sighed. Then he felt something tagging his clothes and noticed Snow and Nash's light blue eyes staring at him.

"Are we going to spend the night here? I'd like to sleep here; our room has a playhouse."

"Also, the clothes Uncle Lance gave us are here; it will be difficult and time-consuming for you to pack them tonight, dad."

Luke looked at the two children who appeared to be completely enthralled by Lance's VIP treatment. He then sighed; he is too tired to think right now, so he simply nodded.

"Sure, let's stay here for the night."

"Yay!"

"Hooray!"

Liam and Jay smiled at the children's enthusiastic faces and looked at Luke who looks like he is about to pass out from exhaustion at any minute and shakes their heads. They then just continued to walk out of the dungeon towards their own chambers in the royal palace.