Limitless Evolution Through Conquering Primal Beauties-Chapter 6 - Inspection

Leonard felt deeply uncomfortable.

Not just because he was completely naked. Not just because his body was bound by vines wrapped around his wrists and neck. But because of the way the woman in front of him was staring.

Beatrice looked at him like she was inspecting merchandise. Her ice-blue eyes traced Leonard’s body from head to toe, then back again, pausing briefly at the lower area he’d been trying to hide this whole time.

Shit.

Leonard had been trying to conceal it. Angling his body, hunching as much as he could, covering with his bound hands. But his size... well, let’s just say nature had been generous.

The binding vines made it hard to move freely. And Beatrice smiled faintly, like she knew exactly what Leonard was trying to hide and why his efforts were useless.

’This is humiliating. So damn humiliating,’ Leonard thought, mortified.

But while Beatrice examined him, Leonard did the same.

The system screen appeared in his vision again, overlaying above Beatrice’s head.

[ Beatrice ]

[ Bloodline: Snow Rabbit ]

[ Stage: 5 ]

[ Evolution Progress: 843/15,000 ]

[ Affection: 0% ]

[ Lust: 0% ]

[ Trust: 1% ]

[ Status: Stranger ]

Snow Rabbit.

Not just Rabbit, like Lily, Emma, or Alice. But Snow Rabbit.

Leonard frowned internally. What did that mean? Was she a rabbit with ice powers or something?

Stage 5.

Evolution Progress 843 out of 15,000—still far from the next stage, but already way above Alice and Emma at Stage 2, let alone Lily at Stage 1.

Stage 5. Was Stage some kind of level, like in a video game? A phase of evolution among the beastkin—where the higher the stage, the stronger they were?

And suddenly, Leonard understood why he felt so suffocated. Why did his breathing feel heavy. Why did the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

It wasn’t just her sharp gaze.

It was her presence.

Like an invisible pressure weighing down on him, making him want to bow his head, to kneel, to disappear. Like a primitive instinct screaming that he was standing before a predator.

Beatrice continued to stare at him with that faint smile. But there was no warmth in her eyes. Only curiosity and calculation.

"Are you truly an intruder?" she asked, her voice deep and melodious.

Leonard shook his head as much as he could in his bound position. "No. I’m not an intruder, ma’am."

"An honest answer. Or a foolish one." Beatrice leaned slightly closer, bringing her face near his. Only a few centimeters separated them now. Leonard could smell her pleasant scent. "Which is it?"

"I’m telling the truth." Leonard’s voice trembled slightly, but he tried hard to sound calm. "I don’t know anything. I suddenly found myself there, then I was captured and brought here. I don’t know how I ended up there."

From behind him, Alice cut in. "He must be lying, Mother."

Beatrice slowly turned her head toward her daughter. "Why do you think so?"

Alice stepped forward, her eyes piercing Leonard. "I know everyone my age in this village, Mother. Everyone. There’s no one like him."

She pointed at Leonard. "Look at him. No tail. No ears. Even the Ape tribe in our village has thicker body hair than that. He’s different."

She continued, growing more animated. "Right now, all the adult men are out hunting. The young men are training in the center of the village. But he appeared at the outskirts, near the river, a quiet place. That’s suspicious, isn’t it?"

Leonard wanted to answer, but Alice wasn’t finished.

"And on top of that," she emphasized, "his ’I don’t remember anything’ excuse. That’s ridiculous. Every intruder says that when they get caught."

Beatrice listened carefully. When Alice finished, she gave a faint smile. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Alice looked pleased to see it.

Meanwhile, Leonard felt his chest tighten.

This is bad. Really bad.

How was he supposed to explain a situation he himself didn’t understand? That he didn’t come from a place like this? That two hours ago he had been in the city, sending out job applications and hugging his dog? That he was beaten by homeless men, passed out, and then woke up here?

They’d think he was insane.

Beatrice looked at him again. "Which tribe do you belong to?"

Leonard had prepared for this. "Ape. I’m from the Ape tribe."

He glanced briefly at Alice, then back at Beatrice. "I’m not anyone’s spy. I truly don’t remember anything—how I got here, what happened before, everything. I know it sounds absurd. But how can I prove that to you?"

Beatrice stared at him for a long moment. Then she replied calmly, "I don’t know how you could prove it. And how do you prove something when you are this suspicious?"

Leonard fell silent.

He squeezed his brain for a loophole. Anything that might shift the situation.

His eyes flicked toward the doorway, where Lily still stood with the enormous bundle of firewood on her back. The naïve rabbit girl kept her head lowered, not daring to interfere.

Then Leonard had an idea.

He looked at Alice. "You said all the young men are training in the center of the village, right?"

Alice nodded suspiciously. "Yes. So?"

"If I were truly an intruder from another tribe," Leonard spoke slowly, trying to sound logical, "would I be stupid enough to wander near your village and casually chat with one of you like nothing was wrong? Wouldn’t that be suicide?"

Alice opened her mouth, but Leonard wasn’t done.

He turned toward Lily. "You can ask her. She was the first to meet me. Ask her everything I said. See if there was anything suspicious in our conversation. Did I sound like a spy trying to gather information?"

All eyes shifted to Lily.

The rabbit girl startled. Her long ears stood upright, her eyes widened. She looked flustered, like a rabbit suddenly caught in a spotlight.

Beatrice looked at her. Her voice was soft but clear. "Lily, come here."

Lily hesitated. But eventually, she stepped inside, leaving the massive pile of firewood outside the door. Her hands clutched the edge of her leather skirt nervously.

"Lily," Beatrice said. "Tell me. Everything you discussed with this man. In detail. Don’t leave anything out."

Lily swallowed. Her eyes briefly glanced at Leonard, then returned to Beatrice. She began to speak, her voice soft and hesitant, recounting everything—from seeing Leonard naked in the grass talking to himself, to his strange questions about "reality show" and "cosplay," to him saying he was human, to their mutual confusion at not understanding each other.

"His words were strange," Lily concluded, still looking down. "Lily didn’t understand most of it. But he... he wasn’t aggressive. Just confused."

When she finished, the room fell silent.

[ Beatrice’s Affection: 2% ]

[ Beatrice’s Trust: 11% ]

[ Alice’s Trust: 6% ]

[ Emma’s Trust: 9% ]

Seeing the changes, Leonard felt somewhat relieved. That means they trust me more now, right?

Alice and Emma looked unconvinced. But Beatrice... Beatrice smiled faintly again. This time, it was different. More... intrigued.

Emma broke the silence. "That makes no sense." Her voice was sharp. "This foolish girl must have been tricked by him. She’s making it all up!"

Lily lowered her head. But then she looked up and gave a bitter smile.

"You know... Lily is really foolish," she said softly. "Lily isn’t clever enough to lie. Let alone make up a story that strange."

Emma fell silent.

Alice and Beatrice raised their brows. They looked at Lily with strange expressions—somewhere between pity, confusion, and perhaps slight disbelief.

Leonard stared at Lily too.

This girl...

How could she say something like that about herself?

There was something painful in it. Something that made Leonard feel... uneasy.

But this wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

Leonard took a breath and spoke again. This time his voice was calmer, more controlled.

"Listen. I know you suspect me. And I know, from your perspective, I do look suspicious. But think about it, if I were truly a spy from another tribe, I would have a purpose. I would have a mission." He looked Beatrice straight in the eyes. "Watch me. Follow me wherever I go. If I do anything suspicious, you can capture me again."

He paused. "But if I don’t... maybe you can believe that I’m just as confused as you are. Maybe you can give me a chance."

Silence.

The air in the room felt heavy. Leonard could feel his heart pounding. Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Beatrice stared at him for a long time. Her icy blue eyes seemed to be reading something inside him.

"Have you truly lost your memory?"

Leonard hesitated, just for a second.

Then he decided.

If I say no, they’ll keep interrogating me. They will ask about my origins, my family, my tribe and I can’t answer all that without raising even more suspicion.

Lie. It’s the only way.

"Yes," he answered, making his voice sound as sincere as possible. "I truly don’t remember anything about myself. Not even... not even my family."

The words came out heavier than he expected.

Beatrice looked at him. Her expression was unreadable.

Leonard thought, This might be safe. Maybe—

"But," Alice’s voice cut through his thoughts sharply, "what if he deliberately did and said all those things to Lily?"

All eyes turned to Alice.

She stepped forward, pointing at Leonard. "Think about it. He might know Lily is the most... the most..." she searched for the right word, "...the most gullible among us. He knew Lily would recount every strange conversation exactly as it happened, without suspicion. He deliberately created a ridiculous story so we’d believe he lost his memory, when in reality he’s just a skilled actor infiltrating us."

Leonard froze.

Damn it.

This woman... is unbelievably stubborn.