Chapter 131 --131.
She raised an eyebrow, then looked back at Abaya.
"Wow," she said flatly. "I didn’t realize I left such a strong impression. Guess I’m more popular than I thought."
She let out a short, humorless laugh and added under her breath, "Should’ve started charging for gossip."
Kaya was no fool.
Since early morning, ever since she had stepped out for shopping, she could feel the eyes on her—constantly, persistently. No matter where she went, someone was always watching. And not just her—Rin too.
Just one look at Rin, and anyone with even a fragment of awareness could guess. He was a Nikala Beastman.
Kaya didn’t understand the full extent of it, but Cutie had once explained it to her: beastmen could sense each other. Whether it was pheromones, hormones, or something else entirely—there was something in their blood that made them instinctively aware. Like a silent warning bell that told them whether the person standing before them was friend or threat.
So how could anyone claim not to recognize Rin?
The whole market likely knew who he was. Which meant Abaya... she knew too.
And that smile of hers—too friendly, too warm—it only made Kaya more cautious.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, then spoke, her voice calm but firm.
"Anyway," she said, cutting through the tension, "let’s get back to our deal."