Captivated by the Ruler of the Underworld
Chapter105 The Hunt (3)

Originally, a host of powerful beasts were grazing comfortably on the prairie, savoring the flesh of cattle and sheep, blissfully unaware that they had become the next targets in a high-stakes game designed for thrill-seeking tycoons, oblivious to the impending danger.

Then, from the woods emerged a lion, striding leisurely. Its coat was not like that of a typical lion but extraordinarily soft and lustrous. The lion's fur shone like spun gold under the sun, its alabaster shade a stark contrast against the greens of the grassland. Larger than the average lion, it made its way towards the open field with a majestic and solitary gait, its piercing blue eyes radiating a wild, unyielding spirit, as if it were born to reign and command the respect of all creatures. And indeed, as the scent of this regal predator wafted closer, the other carnivores-who had been busily devouring their meal-slowly began to take smaller bites, eventually bowing their heads in submission.

Everyone expected the white lion to join in the feast, but it seemed to disdain the meat of lesser grazers, surveying the other predators with a discerning gaze, casually sauntering to and fro as if contemplating which beast would be its choice morsel.

A woman in the crowd gasped, "Heavens, look! No other beasts dare to move now that it's here so fascinating."

"Wow, check out that fierce look in its eyes," another admirer swooned. "I think I'm falling for it."

A man, puzzled, asked, "Why isn't it eating the cattle like the others? Are you telling me it's not hungry?"

"No, wait. What's that white lion doing? It's like it's choosing from a menu," another onlooker observed.

Burl Cain watched the scene unfold in awe before turning to Josh Fudge, whose eyes were shining with excitement. "Mr. Fudge, this isn't that special something you were talking about, is it?"

Burl's voice carried, turning all heads toward Josh Fudge, who everyone then expected to chime in.

Clutching his rifle, Josh let out a hearty laugh, pointing to the dominant white lion on the prairie. "You got it, Mr. Cain."

"This white lion is no ordinary beast. I don't know much about its origins, but I have heard from a previous zookeep in F-state that it doesn't touch poultry or livestock-the lion favors the flesh of only its kin and other mighty predators. There's even been talk that it eats humans and has a particular disdain for us."

"It's been known to kill multiple zookeepers. It was set to be put down, but considering its ancient and pure lineage, and that it lives twice as long as a regular lion, I went through significant channels to acquire it-and saved it from being executed by humans."

"When I bought it, I tried to tame it myself. Starved it for ten days, and then offered it cattle and sheep, but it wouldn't even glance at the meat. With no other choice, I let it roam the forest. None of the bears, tigers, or leopards here could stand against it. It's already taken some of them down."

"Its adaptability and aggressiveness are formidable. Had I not had a team of bodyguards and a tranquilizer gun with me, I would have been history," he said with a shudder at the memory.

"But as the top of the food chain," he continued with a smirk, "no matter how strong these lesser beasts are, they're ultimately just toys for us. Today, whoever bags the most game, if they snag that white lion first, strikes gold at the Purple Mountain mine. How's that for motivation?"

The mention of the fearsome white lion ignited the competitive and domineering spirit within the men, earning nods of agreement all around.

However, skepticism was in the air, as one man challenged, "Mr. Fudge, if it's as formidable as you say, why don't you show us?"

This would serve a dual purpose: not only would it reveal the true ferocity of the white lion, but it would also offer a chance to prepare, to know the enemy before the impending hunt. It's always wise to be aware, lest complacency lead to an ambush.

Josh Fudge raised an eyebrow, his gaze intense as he watched the white lion and replied, "Just watch, it'll show you soon enough."