Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 150: Suspicious

"Yes, I promised I would spend tonight with Yuel." Rory nodded seriously, then turned to Aren. "You’re still not fully recovered. I don’t need you to keep me company for now. Go and get some rest."

Vincent had already summoned attendants. "Don’t worry, Rory. I’ll arrange for someone to look after Aren."

Then he instructed the servants who had just entered.

"Help Aren to the second room on the first floor. He’ll rest there."

"Yes, Your Highness." The attendants stepped respectfully to Aren’s side. "Mr. Aren, this way, please."

Aris knew Vincent didn’t trust him. Still, he inclined his head gratefully. "Female Master, I’ll go rest first. I’ll accompany you tomorrow."

Rory nodded. "Get some proper sleep."

Supported by the attendants, Aris left the room.

Inside, however, resentment churned darkly.

Just wait.

Before he officially formed a bond with her, he would deal with these men one by one.

Yuel turned to Rory. "Rory, are you going to train now?"

She nodded. "Give me two hours. After that, I’ll come find you."

Yuel smiled, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "Then tonight... do we still get to hide together?"

Rory’s face flushed instantly. He had worked all day—didn’t he know how to get tired?

"Why are you blushing so much?" Yuel teased softly. "I only meant sleeping in the little house. I didn’t say—"

"Shut up." Rory clapped a hand over his mouth. She had always thought that if anyone here was truly a succubus, it was Yuel.

"I’m going to the training room. You all should rest too."

Too embarrassed to meet Vincent’s gaze—or anyone else’s—she shot Yuel a glare and left.

Xarion watched her retreating figure, then turned to Yuel.

Yuel lifted a brow. "What? Want to learn to flirt like this? Help me with something, and I’ll teach you a trick."

Xarion lowered his head slightly. After a moment, he muttered, "I want to learn."

Before Yuel could respond, Nix stepped forward, excitement flaring in his eyes. "I want to learn too. Yuel, teach me. I have an Eleventh-Rank mech—I can help you with things."

Yuel stared him down for a moment. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to agree.

It was just that this one might not be capable of learning to begin with.

Seeing him hesitate, Nix added quickly, "I’ll give you another Tenth-Rank mech. Just teach me."

"Fine. Deal." Yuel agreed without hesitation and leaned in to whisper something in Nix’s ear.

Vincent, Jasper, and Xarion all subtly perked up their hearing, but Yuel’s voice was too low. None of them caught a word.

Only Nix reacted, looking uncertain. "Will that really work?"

Yuel clapped him on the shoulder. "Trust me. It’ll work."

Vincent finally spoke. "Clean up here, then come to my study."

He glanced at Nix. "You go upstairs and stay near Rory."

Nix narrowed his eyes suspiciously. A rare spark of clarity flashed through his mind.

"Why do they go to your study, and I have to guard the Female Master? Vincent, are you planning something without me?"

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to guard Rory.

But this felt like exclusion.

That was unacceptable. They were all bonded to the same Female Master—family. No isolating anyone.

Vincent rubbed his temple. "It has nothing to do with Rory. It’s Firebird Clan business. I need Yuel and the others."

Nix remembered what had happened earlier with Wen, the Mermaid King.

"Do you need my help?"

"For now, no," Vincent said. "If I do, I’ll come to you."

Nix nodded. "Then go ahead. I’ll guard her."

Once Nix headed to the third floor, Vincent led the others into his study.

He extended his spiritual energy to seal the room, ensuring no one could overhear. Seated behind his desk, Vincent looked at Jasper.

"Jasper, go over what happened when Rory was attacked. In detail."

Yuel leaned casually against the desk, idly playing with a small model, his gaze fixed on Jasper.

Jasper nodded and carefully recounted the entire incident.

When he finished, he looked at them. "You suspect Aren?"

Yuel spoke first. "His timing was too perfect. As if he’d expected this."

Vincent added, "Before I returned, I received reports that several females in the Central District were attacked today. The attackers were the same kind of rogue beasts who went after Rory."

Jasper frowned. "Aren’t rogue beasts usually in the Outer Regions? Why are there so many in the Central District today? Were any of those females harmed?"

Vincent shook his head. "No. The attackers weren’t high-ranked. They were either killed or captured and self-detonated. Only Rory’s situation involved a Tenth-Rank."

Yuel tossed the model back onto the desk. "On the surface, it looks like a coordinated attempt to abduct females. But none succeeded. If that was a plan, it’s a strange one. Almost as if there was no real plan at all. More like... a distraction."

Xarion, leaning against a bookshelf, spoke quietly. "That Tenth-Rank... it felt controlled. When he fought me, he suffered backlash and clearly didn’t want to continue. But it was as if he couldn’t stop himself."

Jasper frowned. "What exactly are you implying?"

Yuel patted his shoulder. "We’re saying Aren’s arrival is suspicious."

Understanding dawned on Jasper. "You think he orchestrated the rogue beast attack?"

Vincent nodded slowly. "He may have arranged attacks on other females to divert suspicion. But his appearance was too coincidental."

Yuel’s expression grew serious. "I’m not worried about him manipulating Rory into letting him stay. I’m worried he has other intentions. That he might hurt her. He’s too strange. It’s hard not to suspect him. Only someone as straightforward as Nix would fall for it."

Vincent concluded, "I’m telling you this so you’ll be cautious around Aren. I’ll have someone investigate further."

"Jasper is about to advance in Rank. Yuel has work to handle. Nix..." He paused. "Is unreliable."

"So Xarion, this falls to you. When Rory is alone, you don’t leave her side. Not even for a moment. Don’t give Aren any chance to be alone with her."

Xarion had no objection. "When she’s sleeping, too?"

Vincent nodded. "When we can’t be with her, you guard her."

Xarion nodded his head. "Understood."

Jasper hesitated. "Shouldn’t we tell Rory?"

Vincent looked to Yuel. Yuel almost rolled his eyes. "We will. I’ll tell her tonight."

***

Two hours later, Rory stepped out of her room.

Yuel was already waiting outside her door.

"Why aren’t you waiting in your room?"

"I missed you. I wanted to see you sooner." He swept her up into his arms and carried her to his room.

Inside the illusionary valley, a new structure had appeared—a small wooden house woven from deep-blue vines.

Yuel carried her inside and laid her gently on the soft bed.

"What do you think? Do you like it?"

White carpeting covered the floor. Above them, translucent flowers bloomed, scattering prismatic light like fragments of a dream.

Rory nodded. "I love it."

Yuel kissed her, easing her back against the bed, his voice low.

"What do you think about Aren?"

Her fingers moved to unfasten his uniform jacket, tracing lightly over the firm lines of his abdomen.

"There’s something strange about him," she murmured. "He appeared at just the right moment. It felt... arranged."