Meanwhile within the forest, there were still some larger groups which were still trying to complete their tasks.
Milo had many difficulties with his group as some had come to learn of his true nature.
Although there were some families which wished to establish ties with the Meridian family, they were not prepared to sacrifice their child for one simple test that did not have much importance.
The children were disgruntled about how they had been treated so those that were not so desperate to keep those ties going immediately left the group to form their own.
Others which had to follow their parents words obediently remained even after how they were treated which meant that the groups overall strength was heavily reduced.
Milo did not have long to reflect on his mistakes as he had to lead those remaining to catch some smaller and less difficult prey.
Just as his anger and frustration was reaching its peak, he stepped away from his group but he quickly sensed someone nearby. "Who?"
A cackle was heard from nearby. "Hehehe. So you noticed me. Do not worry, I am just coming to you to help you. Do you not want to become the family head? We can assist you if you are ready to accept our help. I believe your mother would know who we are and that we have the capabilities to help you just like we did for your father."
Milo grit his teeth and spoke coldly. "You can stop trying to use me for your own goals. Even if you could help my father, what a great job you have done so far as he is no longer here. Now you have to come and find me to replace him. For what exactly?"
The voice answered before the presence disappeared. "You should really find out about who your mothers family is serving first and who your fathers mother was. You are the rightful heir and it can only be you who becomes the family head. Those others within the Meridian family are just in the way so it is beneficial for you and us to work together. Hehehe. By the way, that sister of yours. You need to get her back under control."
It sounded like it was a mutually beneficial partnership between them but there was some things which were left out.
Milo did not trust in them completely but he knew that he needed more power to achieve his goals.
He knew enough about the mother of his father and of his mothers family so he could guess which family had sent someone to approach him. 'Perhaps my birth had also been their arrangement. Those hyenas have not given up on swallowing the family but this is good. I will make use of them and then turn on them when the opportunity is right.'
That family had mostly maintained their hyena bloodline similar to how the Meridian family had done so with their feline bloodline but both families were rivals in the same business area.
That family dealt with matters outside of Zou like the Meridian family and wished to take everything for themselves but they were not as honourable and law abiding as the Meridian family.
They were the ones who came forward first to suggest marriage between the two families and the daughter of the family gave birth to the previous family head and Pixel's father.
The mother was not a hyena and possessed a feline bloodline so she met the conditions for marriage but she still did possess the connection to the hyena family so she was their way to infiltrate the Meridian family.
During the succession selection, many of the mothers and children fell one after another during the power struggle which made the father of the current heirs the victor.
He achieved it with the help of the hyenas and since then, the two families had become inseparable as the two were showing signs of one swallowing the other or them merging together.
Their main obstacle was always Rufus who had started to suspect his own son and then the plan to kill Rufus came about when details about the son colluding with others outside of Zou and the crimes he committed against Zou.
Since the death of the son of Rufus, they still had two people within the family which they had connections with who carried the blood of their family which was passed down but also had a blood connection to one of their vassal families they had kept secret.
The mother of Milo and Cleo was always a member of that vassal family and they were very loyal to the hyenas so they were to be chosen from and considered before being approached to carry out the same thing as the heirs father.
While the other heirs like Pixel did possess the bloodline passed down by the hyenas of that family which came from her father, they also possessed no other connection and had their own maternal families to support them so they would be more difficult to turn to their side.
The only one that met the conditions was Pixel outside of their choices for Cleo and Milo because they needed someone without backing that would be willing to accept their aid.
However the Meridian family rules had already been very strict and could not be changed or broken so Pixel could not become the family head even if she overcame her half commoner blood and her lack of support.
She was not of the feline bloodline and that could not be changed so they had to stick with their two choices.
Cleo had the makings of a good puppet for them to use as she would be easy to manipulate just as her mother and brother had done but Milo's actions and the interference of Micah changed things.
Since Cleo was stepping out of her brothers shadow, she would not be so easy to manipulate and make use of as she did not seem to have any big desires as her brother but Milo still had ambition and greed towards the position of family head.
Milo was chosen because his greed could be used to help the hyenas manipulate him, they hoped that by doing so they would gain two pawns.
Before leaving, the hyena Mink which had hidden itself had suggested that Milo should regain control over his sister.
While the sister was not a threat to them, she would be a nuisance if she was left to do as she pleased and interfered with their and Milo's future goals.
They were not yet aware that events were slowly taking place which would impact their plans greatly and Cleo would soon be beyond their reach.
The main problem which needed to be considered was would the hyenas be satisfied by swallowing up the Meridian family but Milo was still too young and inexperienced to see beyond his own desire for the position of family head as he believed when that position was in his hands, he would hold great honour, power and wealth.