With Zeke defeated, the situation in Frost Hollow quickly came under control.
The self-proclaimed ruler of the north, along with his followers, had been humbled by a single woman. Now they gathered before Ashies, kneeling meekly.
There were injuries but no deaths.
A few were frozen, a few were cut, but none were killedâall thanks to Ashiesâ strict adherence to Karamiâs order not to take any lives.
âWhat kind of person is she?â
From a corner, Bipen watched the unfolding scene in disbelief.@@novelbin@@
To his knowledge, there was no one as strong as Zeke. Yet the so-called strongest man had been utterly defeated.
All his boasts about being unbeatable had amounted to nothing. Bipen silently cursed himself for trusting a savage.
âMy business is ruined.â
He was already planning his escape, intending to return and shut everything down. With Zeke gone, the people heâd cheated would undoubtedly come for his head.
It was frustrating to leave Karami without exacting revenge, but opportunities always came around in business.
âJust you wait. Iâll make sure you canât set foot in this world again,â he muttered, a standard line from a defeated man. Bipen turned to slip away unnoticed.
Thwack!
âAhhh!â
An arrow whizzed past Bipenâs nose and embedded itself in the wall. Pain shot through him as a bead of blood appeared on the bridge of his nose.
If the arrow had been just a little to the sideâor if Bipen had taken another step forwardâit wouldâve pierced his cheek clean through.
âWho did that?! Whoâs firing dangerous arrows like that?!â
Outraged, Bipen turned toward the direction the arrow had come from.
âItâs me, you swindling bastard.â