Chapter 159: [158] Lack
Ren sprinted through the cave corridor, his steps swift and steady. It didn’t take long for him to reach the mouth of the base—and what he saw instantly put him on alert.
Bella, the female Penal Tiger, stood tense, her fur bristling with unease. Around her, her three cubs looked anxious. Their ears were folded back, and their tails curled forward—a sign of emotional distress. Their breaths were heavy, as if they had run a great distance.
"Hey... what’s going on?" Ren asked, his voice calm, trying to stabilize the atmosphere even though a knot of worry had begun to form in his chest. He stepped closer to Bella and placed a hand on her large head, gently stroking her fur.
Bella let out a low grunt, then turned her gaze toward the forest. She began walking, her tail swaying occasionally, as if signaling Ren to follow her.
Ren glanced back for a moment—toward the three Kitsune children standing at the cave entrance, their faces filled with worry.
"Stay here, okay? Don’t go anywhere," he said softly.
They nodded obediently, though their unease was still clear in their eyes.
Ren quickly followed Bella into the damp forest. Morning light had yet to fully pierce through the canopy, and the lingering chill of night still clung to the air of the Penal woods. Their steps were fast, but deliberate, until Bella finally stopped beside a large tree with thick roots crawling over the forest floor.
Ren narrowed his eyes, focusing on the tree’s bark, which had been scratched in a rough pattern. At first, it looked like claw marks. But as he looked closer, he realized the marks formed letters. Crude writing—handwritten, but not by any ordinary human. He had to squint and piece the message together carefully:
"If you want the striped one alive, come to the arena. Bring the Miko. On the night of the full moon. – T."
Ren exhaled deeply, his expression hardening.
"So he really did capture Alfred..."