The Mafia Heiress's Comeback: She's More Than You Think novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Poisonous

Mushrooms

The dense forest enveloped the training area, significantly slowing their pace.

students were spread out in a line through the forest, with some at the front pushing ahead and others trailing

far behind.

It wasn’t long before the grueling pace took its toll, leaving many too exhausted to continue.

Deprived of food and water, they had no energy left.

Eventually, the students were forced to stop and rest on the leaf–strewn ground.

“This is unbearable. I’m so thirsty. Missing a meal is one thing, but no water at all? Is the academy trying to

kill us?” one of them blurted out in frustration.

“Keep your hopes up, maybe there’s a supply crate up ahead.”

“We’ve been walking non–stop. Do you honestly think there’s a supply crate waiting for us? And even if by

some miracle there is, will it be enough for everyone?”

The truth was stark; the class was large, with fifty students. Except for Maren and Morris, who had ventured out on their own, all were suffering from hunger and thirst. It was implausible that one supply crate could satisfy everyone.

Suddenly, the loudest complainer sprang to his feet. “Hey! Look over there!” He rushed towards a large tree as

if refreshed.

The others looked on in disbelief. Hadn’t he just complained of being too weak to move?

Wilbur and Nadia led the group to where the student was now eagerly gathering small yellow mushrooms from

under the tree.

“Amazing! We’ve found mushrooms!”

The sight of the mushrooms caused drooling among the trailing students.

“Are those safe to eat?” one student/questioned.

Wild mushrooms could be fatally toxic; a single mistaken ingestion could lead to grave consequences.

This caution brought a moment of clarity to the group, prompting them to retract and reconsider.

“Why worry? This area has been evaluated by the academy,” one student said, laughing off their concerns. Confidently, he began eating the mushrooms one after another. “They’re bitter but moist. Sure, they’re not delicious, but they’re a feast given our situation.”

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His hunger was evident; he devoured the mushrooms as if he hadn’t eaten for days.

Soon, he had consumed more than half of the mushrooms found, while the sounds of grumbling stomachs filled the air.

The students were so starving they would have considered eating bark.

“Forget it. He’s got a point. If something goes wrong, it’s on the academy. They set this up, they should know what’s safe. At worst, we might just end up with stomach troubles.”

“Right. I’m about to collapse from hunger. I need to eat now and deal with the consequences later.”

“Count me in too! I’m joining in.”

Once one student started, the rest followed suit, eagerly grabbing at the mushrooms.

Eventually, even Wilbur and Nadia stopped resisting the urge.

“Are you not hungry?” Morris, his stomach painfully empty, reached for the mushrooms. He stopped when he noticed Maren leaning against a tree.

He had kept a watchful eye on Maren. Her steady demeanor had persisted unwaveringly; she seemed unaffected by the grueling conditions that had everyone else looking disheveled and desperate. Her calm in the face of exhaustion was almost eerie.

What kind of stamina did she possess?

“I’d think twice before eating those,” Maren said without moving, merely casting a glance at the wild group scavenging for mushrooms.

“Why?” Morris looked at her, his expression filled with confusion.

“Try them and see,” Maren responded coldly, clearly not inclined to offer a detailed explanation.

Morris hesitated. Despite his profound hunger, Maren’s foreboding tone resonated with him, prompting him to reconsider. He chose not to satisfy his craving just yet.

However, his restraint was not shared by all, particularly not by the first student who had eagerly started eating. He continued unabated, completely engrossed in satisfying his hunger?

“Acting like a mushroom expert! You were out lounging all day, so obviously you’re not fatigued. You just don’t want those of us who truly put in the effort today to have our share!”

As Wilbur and Nadia were about to partake in the mushrooms, they overheard Maren’s comments. They had their doubts about the mushrooms too, but upon hearing the student’s words, they relaxed.

Wilbur said, “There’s a story about a fox who couldn’t reach some grapes on a vine. Annoyed, it stated the grapes were sour, hence the term ‘sour grapes.“”

They concluded that Maren, being outnumbered, simply declared the mushrooms dangerous because she couldn’t get any herself.