<h4>Chapter 508: Chapter 508 Trust</h4>


    "That way, we won’t have to wait for them to strike at the worst possible moment, like during the transportation of evacuees and supplies. Instead, we can draw them out on our own terms."


    A faint, knowing smile appeared on her lips. "In short, I’m just acting as bait. Once the fish takes the bait, we can reel them in and catch them red-handed."


    She exhaled softly, clearly hoping that this exnation would stop them from fussing over her as if she were truly frail.


    Hearing her exnation, Levi and Maxwell exchanged a nce.


    Earlier, after listening to the elders who had seen Addison wandering weakly around the camp, the two of them had been worried sick. If they could have, they would have treated her like a fragile child, spoon-feeding her, fussing over her, and perhaps even cradling her just to make sure she was truly alright.


    But now, hearing that her frailty had all been part of a calcted scheme, the tension in their chests finally eased. Instead of appearing delicate and pitiful, she now seemed oddly cute and a little silly in their eyes for deliberately acting so weak just to lure out potential spies.


    Unable to hold it in, the two of them let out a quiet chuckle, their earlier anxiety melting into helpless amusement.


    "Hm. Alright, I’ll trust your judgment," Maxwell said with a soft chuckle.


    Even so, he still urged Addison to eat more, his actions betraying his lingering concern. For him, it was already a relief just to hear that she was actually fine.


    Levi felt the same. Although he was well aware of how cunning Addison could be, he had still beenpletely caught off guard. Earlier, he had genuinely believed she was truly weak and had worried endlessly over her condition.


    After all, the three of them knew exactly how much energy she had expended before passing out, and how many healers had exhausted themselves just to stabilize her. Compared to that memory, seeing her act a little mischievous now while calmly exining her scheme was strangely reassuring.


    At the very least, it meant she still had the strength and rity to n ahead.


    What Addison did not tell them, however, was that although she was no longer as weak as when she had copsed, another problem had begun to gnaw at her from within.


    The entity inside her was stirring again.


    It craved vitality, <i>their</i> vitality. The moment she caught even the faintest trace of their scent in the air, an instinctive urge surged through her, whispering for her to pounce, to draw closer, to take.


    Even as she ate, the hunger remained. It was as if a hollow void had opened inside her chest, a bottomless ck hole that food alone could not fill.


    <i>’I just need to hold out a little longer... and not let it affect me,’</i> Addison told herself, tightening her grip on the bowl.


    She knew all too well what would happen if her guard slipped. If she lost control, the entity might seize the opportunity to take over her body again, just as it had before. And if that happened...


    Her gaze flickered briefly toward Levi and Maxwell.


    Who knew what it would do to them? Especially now, when the hunger inside her felt sharper than ever, as though it would not stop until it drained them dry, leaving behind nothing but empty shells.


    "I trust that you’ll seed, no matter what you choose to do," Levi said quietly, his gaze steady and filled with unwavering faith. "So I can work without worry, knowing I can leave my back to you."


    He understood her well enough to know that Addison despised being treated as fragile or incapable. Rather than fuss over her or restrain her, the best support he could offer was simple trust, allowing her to act as she saw fit while he protected her in his own way, silently and without making a show of it.


    Sure enough, the moment Addison heard his words, something warm stirred in her chest. More than anyone else, Levi seemed to understand her intentions without needing an exnation.


    A faint flutter rose in her heart, and she returned his gaze with a small smile, giving him a gentle nod in acknowledgment.


    After settling on their simple n, the three of them continued their meal, casually discussing the small details they had noticed while carrying out their respective tasks. They exchanged ideas and observations freely, and no one dismissed another’s opinion. Instead, each perspective opened up new angles to problems they had once thought could only be approached in a single way, revealing more efficient and practical solutions.


    By the end of the discussion, all three felt that the conversation had been genuinely productive, a quiet reminder that three heads were indeed better than one.


    The meal itself, though filled with conversation, was warm and satisfying.


    At least, for Levi and Maxwell.


    Addison finished everything that had been given to her, and the portion had by no means been small. Yet the gnawing hunger within her remained. Her stomach felt tight and full, but her mind and body still felt as though they were starving, as if the void inside her had yet to be filled.


    Even so, she showed none of it on her face.


    To keep them from noticing anything amiss, Addison simply maintained a gentle smile and continued chatting with them as usual, stretching the conversation for nearly half an hour as if nothing were wrong at all.


    After the meal, a wave of drowsiness washed over Addison, and she soon drifted into a light nap. Meanwhile, Maxwell and Levi stepped out to inspect the camp’s perimeter.


    When they arrived, they found Mary already hard at work alongside several warriors, overseeing the reinforcement of the camp’s defenses. Rows of sharpened spikes were being installed outside the wooden walls, meant to injure any wild beasts or monsters that attempted to ram into the barrier before they could even reach it. In addition to that, shallow pits lined with upward-facing stakes were being dug as an extrayer of protection.


    Fortunately, with warriors from numerous packs gathered in one ce, manpower was not an issue. The additional defenses were progressing at an impressive pace.


    Seeing that Mary had the defensive measures well in hand, Levi shifted his focus back to the supply area. He personally oversaw the storage and handling of provisions, ensuring that no one could tamper with them, whether through poisoning, sabotage, or even arson.


    With little else to attend to, and unwilling to disturb Addison’s rest, Maxwell decided to head toward the river to try his luck at catching more fish.


    Standing by the riverbank, he rolled his pants up to his knees and pushed his sleeves to his elbows before stepping into the shallow water. The nearby warriors quickly understood his intention. Without needing any orders, a few of them hurried back to the camp to fetchrger baskets for the catch, while the rest quietly rolled up their pants and joined him in the water to help.


    Working in silence and with steady patience, they moved carefully through the shallows. One by one, they managed to catch a fish or two.