New law of Beast Taming

"Bambi, are you alright? Your wrists have been chipped raw. I am sorry if I was too harsh on you."

Bambi looked at her wrists which had burn marks on them. To be honest, she had not even felt when this happened so she was not angry or disappointed.

And even if she was, Bambi was sure that she would not mind having these marks at all. She would gladly show all these marks if it meant that she got to be with Yoko more.

"Ah, don't worry about these. I'm not as naïve as I look and I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to your terms."

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Bambi spoke up with a reassuring voice. But then, she continued in a more subdued voice.

"Yoko, there was something I wanted to tell you. You see, I am in low-"

Poor Bambi never got the chance to finish her confession. Their room door was knocked on and interrupted Bambi and Yoko's time.

"Yoko, are you in there? I want to tell you that the preparations for our operation are over. Can I come in now?"

Sakura Tsurugi interrupted their alone time by knocking on the door. And somehow, Bambi could not help but feel as if this interruption was deliberate. She had no grounds to think of this, but this was just how Bambi felt.

Sakura entered the room with a mysterious and closed-off expression. She spared Bambi one acidic glare that made Bambi freeze in her place.

She did not know why, but Bambi had a feeling that Sakura did not like her. But she was willing to overlook this feeling because Sakura was Yoko's cousin and likely important to Yoko.

Bambi did not want to make Yoko choose between her family and her.

"Sakura, how is our rumor mill going? Do the people around us aware and cautious of what is being said?"

Amane asked and Sakura quickly nodded.

"Of course. Everyone is talking about your engagement and marriage plans. They have already cornered Elder Clent to ask for more details and congrats him. We will have only this chance to make a run for the Siren. Everyone is distracted right now."

Sakura seemed to have done a good job of scouting all the information out. Bambi could not help but feel jealous.

Bambi felt more help than she felt jealous.

She had been given one task by Yoko and that had been to investigate the person who tried to sabotage her invitation. But Bambi had not even started on her investigation.

On the other hand, Sakura seemed to have laid down the whole groundwork for the task she had been given. And Bambi could not help but feel jealous of her.

"Hmm, that takes care of one thing for us. Let's head out now. Everyone else seems busy so we will be able to get around without being noticed. Bambi, I need you to do a favor for me."

Bambi looked up sharply as soon as her name was called. She was ready to do anything to impress Yoko Tsurugi.

"Yes, what do you want me to do? I will help you with anything."

Yoko's smile was reassuring and it made Bambi feel warm on the inside. It was also that smile that kept Bambi going despite the type of favor she had been asked.

"Go and distract Chairman Frank for us. I know you want to help us out, but you have never been close to a beast before and I am worried for your safety."

Those words made Bambi feel good and bad at the same time. She wanted to help Yoko and she was glad to be relied upon. But she also wanted to be close to Yoko while helping.

But in the end, this was a favor asked by Yoko and Bambi was not able to refute her.

"Alright, I understand. I will go and keep the chairman distracted for us. So, you both better come back soon."

Bambi watched as Yoko left the room. But before Sakura went out, she gave Bambi a look of superiority and mouthed some words that were difficult to understand at first.

But Bambi was not as ignorant as people thought her to be. She could tell that that Sakura did not like her and the reason for this seemed to be somewhat personal. And it was finally confirmed when Sakura mouthed the next few words.

'Yoko is mine. Don't you dare think otherwise?'

That was what Sakura had said to Bambi. And those words made Bambi twitch in her place.

"No way. Don't tell that Sakura liked Yoko romantically as well. Wait, now that I think about it, it makes sense."

Bambi suddenly had a realization that she had a tough rival in front of her. But she was not going to give up on her love.

......

"Sakura, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your emotions in check? Was it necessary to gloat in front of Bambi like that?"

Of course, that small interaction had not gotten past Yoko's eyes.

She might not have been in the room, but Yoko seemed to know everything about everyone. And she seemed to know things when Sakura or herself were concerned.

"Hmm, you tell me to not gloat in front of Bambi but I don't see you punishing me for it. So, I don't think you mean your words, master."

Sakura teased Amane with a grin on her face.

"Knowing you, you would just find your punishment pleasurable. I would rather not have you distracted right now, Sakura."

Amane quickly walked faster and Sakura followed her with hesitant footsteps. She knew she had to keep with Amane if she wanted to be useful.

They both quickly walked out and headed toward the section that took them below the council house.

Amane led the way and it was familiar to her after going through it once already.

The Siren was not out of the pool this time. But it was clutching its hands and waiting for Amane to return. It seemed to be ready to leave this place.

"You sure cleared up after yourself. I wonder how long you wanted to leave that place for."

Amane looked at the determined face in front of her. The Siren seemed to have understood her words and it dragged itself out of the water.

Thanks to Amane's aura surrounding the Siren, it did not dry out as soon as it came out. It could even walk well.

"So, this is a Siren? It looks…. quite human. Is it liking the phoenix from before?"

Sakura asked this while looking at Amane's stomach. But Amane shook her head.

"A phoenix and a Siren are too far apart to be compared. A phoenix has human intelligence as well as emotions. It is one of the closest beings to humans in terms of genetic makeup as well. On the other hand, a Siren is a true beat which can only copy human appearance."

Now that Amane had explained it, Sakura thought she understood the difference. She tried to approach the Siren but it took a few steps back from Sakura and growled at her in warning.

"Looks like the Siren doesn't like me that much."

Sakura commented as she stepped back. She did not want to agitate the Siren any more than she already had.

"I won't say that it's agitated by you. It is just not used to human presence. Your perfume is also a little…unnatural. Next time, try not to wear perfume when you come with me."

Sakura did not appreciate being told that she stank. But there was nothing she could say against Amane.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Fine, I get it. So, how are we going to get out of here?"

Sakura asked as she looked around. The only way out seemed to be the one they had entered from. But that would be dangerous.

"Well, we don't have a choice now. We will head out the way we came in from. Hopefully, the Siren would be able to hold on."

The Siren would need a water source even if Amane used her aura on it. But that was a problem they would take care of later.

They quietly walked out of the underground and the Siren hissed as soon as its skin touched the moon's ray. It was beginning to dehydrate now.

"Oh no, we need to find a source of water soon."

Sakura panicked and started to look around. Unfortunately, she did not get to do much before her path was blocked.

"You are not going to do anything, Sakura Tsurugi. How dare you take the Chairman's precious son out of his comfort zone? You should be punished for this."

Elder Clent blocked the path Amane and Sakura were about to take. Chairman Frank was with him as well and there was also Bambi there, with a guilty expression on her face.

It seemed as if she had not been able to stop the Chairman and her grandfather after all.