Everyone outside looked half-starved—except for Cash. He might've been thin, but that glow in his cheeks wasn't something hunger could fake. Clearly, he was the kind of lean that came from good genes, not from skipping meals. When his gaze met Natalie's—sharp, all-seeing, impossible to read—he flinched before hardening his face again. He said coldly, "This is our territory. Outsiders aren't welcome. Leave immediately." Natalie let out a short laugh. "Your territory? You sure about that?" A flicker of guilt passed through Cash's eyes, but he quickly straightened his back. "Whatever the case, this is our camp now. You barged in and bullied my people—shouldn't I drive you out?" Then, puffing up with moral righteousness, he added, "Is this what passes for Drakorian manners?" Natalie wagged a finger. "First of all, my bad manners have nothing to do with my country. That's just me being rude—don't make it political. "Second, I didn't ‘barge in and bully' anyone." Cash scowled. "You showed up without a word and knocked out my tiger! How's that not bullying?" His Tigeria was still lying face down on the ground. Natalie raised a brow. "Your tiger started it." Cash looked ready to explode. "When did it ever say anything to you?" Natalie shot back, "It opened its mouth and roared. Was that a greeting or was it planning to eat me?" Silence.No matter how he answered, he'd lose—whether it was roaring insults or threatening to bite, her retaliation made perfect sense. Seeing him tongue-tied, Natalie snorted. "Since it acted first, my dog losing her temper was perfectly reasonable." "Fine, forget the tiger," Cash snapped, pointing at the Genoshan man. "You punched this guy. You can't deny that, right?" Natalie nodded. "Right." Cash's nostrils flared—just as he was about to press further, Natalie added sweetly, "But he insulted me first." Cash stiffened, ready to argue, You don't even understand his language, how could you know that?—but the Genoshan man tugged at his sleeve. "Boss ... I really did curse her." Natalie's lips curved in satisfaction. Good boy. Didn't beat you for nothing. Cash glared back at his lackey. Spineless idiot! Then, he jabbed a finger toward the pockmarked man. "Fine! But he didn't insult you. He didn't even talk! You still went and decked him!" Natalie stayed serene. "That's because we have history." The pockmarked man puffed up beside his leader. "That's nonsense! I've never even seen yew before!" Natalie corrected, rolling her eyes, "It's you, not yew. Try straightening your tongue when you speak." The man nearly jumped out of his skin. "You dumbass! Dumbass!" Cash flinched at the sudden yelling, motioning him to calm down, then turned back to Natalie. "He said he's never seen you. What ‘history' could you possibly have?" Natalie, dead serious, said, "Our ancestors had a bit of a feud."Ancestors? The foreigners mentally translated the word a few times before getting it—then their mouths twitched. This woman was unbelievable. Before Cash could speak, Natalie doubled down. "What can I say? I'm a dutiful descendant. Had to pay my respects properly." As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the pockmarked man. "And you—enough with the ‘dumbass, dumbass.' I hate that word. Say it one more time and I'll hit you again." The man's nose practically twisted from fury. Arrogant. Too arrogant. Cash gave a sharp snort, clearly done arguing. "Whatever your excuses, you hurt my people. You're not welcome here. Leave. Now." Natalie looked at him. "No." He blinked. "What?" She repeated slowly, "No. N-O. Did you get that?" Cash stood there, dumbstruck. In all his life, he'd never met someone so impossible to reason with. At that moment, the white tiger, which Lucky had flattened earlier, finally stirred, shaking itself awake. Cash's shoulders eased, a smirk creeping back. "I'm guessing your arrogance comes from that gun in your hand—and the beast behind you."He looked down at his tiger. "Earlier, your dog ambushed him and stole the upper hand. But if they go head-to-head now, she might not win again." Then, ignoring Lucky's growling and bared fangs, he added coolly, "And as for your gun ... do you know why I'm the one leading this group?" Before anyone could answer, he suddenly yanked a pistol from beneath his chair. Natalie and Cassian moved in the same instant—guns up, bodies angling sideways for cover.