The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 536: Chapter 536 Siege 3

Because of that, the veterinarians quickly set aside their earlier assumptions and began examining the situation from this new perspective.

Thanks to the new perspective Addison had provided, the veterinarians quickly called in several doctors to assist them.

After all, veterinarians specialized in animal health, but they didn’t possess extensive knowledge about toxins and poisons. To properly investigate the situation, they needed the doctors’ expertise.

Working together, the two groups began examining the sick livestock more carefully.

Before long, they made a breakthrough.

It was indeed poisoning.

But the method used was far more insidious than they had initially imagined.

The poison slowly broke down the internal organs of the livestock, causing severe internal bleeding until the animals eventually died. Worse still, even after death, the meat of the poisoned animals would remain contaminated.

Anyone who consumed it would suffer the same fate.

In other words, the livestock would not only die, but they would also become completely unusable, turning their meat into nothing more than wasted resources.

This discovery also answered one of the questions forming in Addison’s mind.

The poison used was fast-acting.

That realization made the situation even more urgent. The doctors and veterinarians simply didn’t have enough time to conduct lengthy experiments.

Instead, they immediately began organizing the animals into different groups.

The first group consisted of livestock already showing clear symptoms of poisoning.

The second group included animals that had been kept closest to the infected ones, meaning they were highly likely to have been exposed as well.

The third group contained livestock that still looked healthy and energetic, especially those kept farthest away from the affected animals.

These animals had the highest chance of survival.

However, since the illness was caused by poison rather than an infectious disease, there was also the possibility that it wouldn’t spread naturally between animals.

The reason for separating them into groups was simple, and that is to determine which livestock needed immediate treatment and which ones had the best chance of being saved.

After all, since poisoning had already been confirmed, they had to assume that every animal might have been exposed.

The difference was simply how each animal’s body reacted to the toxin.

Some showed symptoms quickly, while others seemed far less affected.

Because of this, the doctors and veterinarians decided to work together to identify the healthiest livestock among the remaining animals. If some of them were resisting the poison better than the others, there had to be a reason.

Perhaps their bodies had already begun producing natural antibodies that could resist the toxin.

If that were the case, those animals might provide the key to saving the rest.

By studying their blood, the doctors hoped they could develop some form of treatment, maybe even a crude antidote. In the best-case scenario, those healthier animals might even be naturally immune to the poison.

Seeing that everyone had thrown themselves into the investigation, Addison quietly stepped away from the animal pens.

Mary followed closely behind her.

Although Mary’s face looked pale.

After hearing the discussion between the doctors and veterinarians, she had already understood why Addison had suddenly brought up the possibility of poisoning earlier.

She didn’t even need to ask for confirmation.

Just looking at the grave expression on Addison’s face was enough to tell her that the situation was far more serious than it had first appeared.

Addison then began walking around the camp’s perimeter, carefully observing the surroundings.

She was convinced that the spy was using a diversion tactic. If the livestock had been poisoned, then there was a strong possibility that the animals weren’t the only targets.

Luckily, Levi was already keeping a close watch over the crates of grains and vegetables, ensuring that the food supplies remained secure.

Even so, Addison knew she still needed to inform him about the poisoning.

At the same time, she continued scanning the camp.

Something about the situation felt wrong.

Her instincts told her that the enemy might be after something far more important than just the livestock or food supplies.

And that unsettling thought made her even more alert.

Then—

Clang!

Clang!

The sudden metallic sound echoed through the camp, sharp enough to catch everyone’s attention.

"We are under attack! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

Addison didn’t even have time to fully understand what was happening before the alarm rang out.

Warriors stationed along the walls began shouting warnings from different directions, their voices echoing across the temporary camp.

Moments later, the loud metallic clanging of trip wires echoed through the surrounding forest. These were the warning traps Zion and the others had set earlier.

The sound meant only one thing.

Enemies were approaching.

And not just from one direction.

The constant clanging of metal, trip wires pulling against suspended plates and chains, rang out again and again. It meant multiple traps had been triggered simultaneously.

The attackers were closing in fast.

Then another sound followed.

Boom!

Boom!

Explosions reverberated through the forest as the magical traps Archmage Elric had placed around the perimeter were triggered one after another.

The ground trembled faintly from the blasts.

Panic immediately spread through the camp.

Many of the packs present were not experienced fighters. Being suddenly surrounded like this made them feel trapped and overwhelmed.

But Addison reacted quickly.

Raising her voice, she issued clear and firm commands, forcing everyone to calm down. Fortunately, she had already anticipated the possibility of an attack and had arranged defensive formations ahead of time.

Once the initial panic subsided, the warriors quickly moved to their assigned positions.

Within moments, the camp began transforming from a chaotic gathering into a prepared defensive line ready to face the incoming enemy.

"Everyone, calm down and follow your assignments!" Addison shouted at the top of her lungs, forcing the crowd’s attention back to her. "Leave the rest to the other packs, focus only on your own responsibilities!"

Her voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

"Those in charge of the livestock, continue your work. Stay focused, your task is just as important. Leave the fighting to the warriors!"

She quickly turned toward another group.

"Mages, continue working on the Teleportation Portal. Do not stop the construction under any circumstances!"

Then her gaze shifted toward the warriors.

"Warriors, return to your posts! Divide yourselves into three groups at each post. The first group will hold the defensive line, while the other two remain on standby."

Her tone remained steady and firm.

"From the sounds of it, the enemy numbers are large, and we still don’t know how many there are. Our priority is to defend the temporary shelter while conserving our strength."

She raised her voice again to make sure everyone heard clearly.

"The first group fights. When they become exhausted or wounded, the second group will take over. Then the third group after them. Rotate your shifts and conserve your energy!"

Despite the explosions and alarms echoing through the forest, everyone present possessed sharp hearing, so Addison’s commands still reached them, even if her voice sounded faint to those farther away.

Finally, she looked across the crowd.

"Do you understand?!" Addison demanded loudly.

If anyone showed confusion, she was ready to repeat the orders as she continued moving through the camp, making sure every group knew exactly what they needed to do.