After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back

Chapter 190: Fox’s schemes

"What is that smell?"

"It seems like... the thing those males are kneeling on."

"That thing can be eaten? Look—Nina and the children are eating it."

"I didn’t expect that... and it looks delicious. Just look at how happily they’re eating!"

The lion clan males couldn’t stop whispering among themselves, their curiosity growing by the second.

Setan watched as Nina and the children ate with such delight, and even he couldn’t help but grow curious.

Something that smells this strange... is actually good?

After finishing, the children ran back out again—enthusiastically collecting more "cracked" durians.

Mino and the others used them to prepare all sorts of desserts.

Aron and the rest were full of praise after tasting them, immediately heading back to Aviel and the others to wait for the next batch.

Seeing this, Nina had Ridan send some over to Setan and his group as well.

Setan took a bite. His eyes widened slightly.

...It really was delicious.

Before he realized it, he had finished the entire durian pudding in just a few bites—yet still felt unsatisfied.

He looked at the empty dish, then asked curiously, "Who taught you to make this? I’ve never had anything like it before."

He had traveled widely and seen much—yet this was completely new to him.

"Lady Nina taught us," Ridan said proudly. "Everything we know how to cook, she taught us. Lady Nina knows so much. We’ve learned a lot just by staying with her."

Setan couldn’t help but glance toward Nina again.

This little female... is that capable?

The certainty and pride in Ridan’s voice made it hard not to believe.

After delivering the food, Ridan returned to help Mino.

Meanwhile, after finishing their pudding, Hilan and the others quietly pulled Taru aside to a more secluded spot.

"City Lord," Hilan asked in a low voice, "what about the spirit pearl?"

Taru paused slightly.

"The spirit pearl... hasn’t been found yet."

He believed that sooner or later, it would appear alongside Nina. Unlike Finch, he hadn’t claimed it was destroyed.

"Have you had no leads at all?" Hilan pressed.

Taru considered his words carefully. "It disappeared on the same day you arrived."

He suspected that Hilan’s group had sensed the pearl’s power—that was why they had come.

"Then... do you know where it might be now?" Hilan frowned.

By the time they had arrived, the spirit pearl’s aura had already vanished.

"I don’t know," Taru said after a brief pause. "It was likely taken by the Black Crow clan. They were using dark witchcraft."

He deliberately shifted Hilan’s attention toward the Black Crow clan.

He knew Hilan wasn’t easy to deceive—but if he could buy Nina more time, let her grow stronger, it would be worth it.

"The Black Crow clan?" Hilan narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within. "They dare steal our spirit pearl?"

"I’ve had the feeling they’ve been planning something lately," Taru added. "It would be best to investigate."

Hilan nodded slowly. "I’ve sensed something off as well. Those mutated beasts from that day... they seemed connected to them. We do need to look into this properly."

His tone turned decisive.

"I’ll send people to the Black Crow clan—find out where the spirit pearl is, and what they’re plotting."

"Be careful," Taru warned. "Most of them wield dark witchcraft."

"I understand." Hilan inclined his head.

Then, without warning, he shifted the topic. "City Lord... about the Young lord."

His gaze flicked toward Finch. "He has lost three tails. That means he has lost the right to inherit the title. You should choose a new successor soon."

To Hilan, this was an unexpected stroke of fortune.

Finch had once outclassed Ilan, Hilan’s son, in both strength and talent—and as Taru’s son, his position had been unassailable.

But now?

With three tails severed, he was nothing more than a crippled male, unfit to inherit anything.

Hilan glanced meaningfully at Ilan.

"My son is among the finest of the younger generation. I hope the City Lord will give him proper consideration."

Taru’s expression darkened slightly. "I will handle Finch’s matter myself. As for a successor, there is no rush anyway."

He let out a cold laugh. "I can remain City Lord for another hundred years without issue."

His gaze sharpened.

So... this old fox had already begun coveting the position.

Even setting Finch aside, his first choice would still be to wait for Didi to grow up.

Since when was it Hilan’s son’s turn?

Ilan’s strength was decent, yes—but far inferior to Finch’s former peak.

And Didi?

He was even more gifted.

With Nina—and the Scarlet Flame Beast to assist—his future achievements would be extraordinary.

No matter how he looked at it, waiting for Didi was the best option.

As for Finch... Taru had already lost hope. That foolish son had become utterly devoted to Nina. There was no way he would return to Jade Fox City.

Still... if there was even a chance, Taru would find a way to restore his tails.

Hilan, however, wasn’t giving up.

"Even so, the successor concerns the future of the fox clan. I still hope the City Lord will decide soon."

A shadow flickered in his eyes.

So Taru still intended to support his own bloodline.

How naive.

Once a tail was severed, it could never grow back. That old man’s plans were doomed to fail.

He could start by informing the clan elders—strengthen his connections, apply pressure––and push them to support Ilan instead.

Taru’s voice turned cool. "My affairs... are not for Elder Hilan to worry about."

"It seems I’ve spoken out of turn," Hilan said, suppressing his displeasure as he bowed respectfully.

Taru gave him a long, meaningful look—then turned and left without another word.

After he was gone, Ilan stepped closer.

"Father... it seems taru has no intention of stepping down."

Hilan nodded. "Yes. He’s probably still hoping to support Finch."

Ilan let out a cold snort, disdain flickering in his eyes.

"Finch? He’s finished. A cripple with broken tails—what could he possibly use to compete with me? The position of City Lord will be mine."

Hilan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your father will help you."

Ilan nodded, confidence settling in. Then his thoughts shifted.

"Father... about the spirit pearl. Do you think Taru was telling the truth?"

"His words had no obvious flaws," Hilan said slowly, his gaze turning thoughtful. "But... his attitude was off."

He glanced toward the cave where Nina and the others were resting.

"For something as important as the spirit pearl... he didn’t seem particularly concerned."

Ilan nodded. "I noticed that too. And there’s something else. That day, I happened to see it. When that female and a male disappeared... it was at the exact moment the spirit pearl’s aura vanished."

Hilan’s eyes narrowed as he followed his son’s gaze toward Nina.

"You mean... The whereabouts of the spirit pearl may be connected to that sudden disappearance—Nina... and that male."

"Very likely," Ilan said. "And when we found her, she claimed she had killed that male."

He let out a faint, skeptical laugh. "Do you really think a female could kill a male?"

"Indeed..." Hilan’s eyes darkened. "Ilan, starting today, you will try to get close to Nina. Find out whether the spirit pearl is with her. And while you’re at it... investigate whether that nine-tailed fox cub is related to Finch."

Ilan raised a brow. "You think that cub might be his?"

"Possibly," Hilan said. "Taru’s gaze toward that child was... unusually affectionate. And they may have stayed here because of that cub. It’s better to be cautious."

"I understand. I’ll find out everything." Ilan’s gaze shifted back toward Nina, a confident smile curling on his lips.

This was his specialty. There hadn’t been a single female in the city who could resist him.

Winning over Nina would be no different.

Females were always the same—foolish, naive, easy to deceive.

Still... he had to admit, Nina was exceptionally beautiful. Even more so than the females of the fox clan.

What a pity... she already had several mates. Otherwise, he might have been genuinely interested in making her his.