Chapter 12 – Perfidy opens with a shift in pace as Bulan, now commanding the respect of his strange companions, moves quietly through a forest path near the long-deserted long-house. His thoughts remain fixed on Virginia, whose safety is uncertain, and whose presence he is determined to locate. At the same time, the rescue party—led by Professor Maxon and Von Horn—receives a vague report that someone resembling Virginia was seen being carried off by a white giant. Von Horn, ever calculating, warps the account to align with his strategy, subtly implying that Bulan is the kidnapper. With this manipulation, he gains leverage, pushing forward a plan that leaves no room for trust or transparency. The professor, although frail from fatigue and a sudden fever, agrees to pause and rest, unaware of Von Horn’s ulterior motives. What unfolds next is a sequence of decisions rooted in manipulation and the selfish pursuit of gain.

In the heart of the jungle, Sing Lee, driven by his mistrust of Von Horn, takes it upon himself to trail the party unnoticed. The trail leads him to a fierce conflict—a scene chaotic and layered with danger. Bulan, ever brave, is seen defending Virginia from monstrous foes, fighting with a raw blend of desperation and valor. Yet Von Horn arrives only in time to seize credit, whisking Virginia away while abandoning Bulan to the savagery of the moment. Sing Lee, ever the watchful guardian, reacts in horror as the truth becomes apparent. He fires at a threatening creature to protect himself, but by then, the landscape has already shifted. Bulan, though wounded and alone, is left in the wilderness, his bravery ignored and his part erased. The jungle swallows the rest of the scene, leaving only the truth with Sing.

The reunion at the long-house carries an air of manufactured triumph. Von Horn boasts of a daring rescue, constructing a tale that removes Bulan’s heroism entirely. Virginia, shaken and confused, has no chance to correct the record. Sing Lee, sensing the injustice, bites his tongue, aware that timing matters more than truth in this moment. Maxon, visibly relieved, receives his daughter with gratitude, but questions linger behind his eyes. Von Horn seizes the opportunity to draw closer to Virginia, pressing for a renewed engagement based on what he describes as shared danger. Maxon, uncertain but tired, gives his consent quietly, more out of pressure than conviction. The long-house becomes a resting place for wounded truths and half-believed stories.

Virginia, though safe, remains emotionally adrift. She cannot ignore the image of the man who fought so fiercely for her—whose name she may not know, but whose heart she felt in every action. Von Horn’s presence feels heavier now, like a cloak placed upon her shoulders that doesn’t belong. Though grateful for the supposed rescue, she senses a gap in his story, a missing detail her soul refuses to forget. Her emotions pull her toward the unknown savior—the one with no name but an unmistakable presence. Von Horn, noticing her hesitation, masks his frustration with charm, vowing to wait for her answer. Yet even he knows the foundation of his proposal is built not on truth, but on borrowed valor.

As the chapter concludes, threads of deceit, longing, and inner conflict begin to form a more intricate pattern. Each character finds themselves caught in a moment of personal reckoning. Von Horn clings to his version of events, seeking reward without merit. Maxon, reeling from his own decisions and the burden of guilt, quietly questions whether he truly understands the people around him. Sing Lee, holding the truth close, prepares to act, knowing justice may still have its moment. And Virginia, haunted by a voice and gaze that stirred her soul, begins to understand that gratitude and love are not always the same. In the shadows of lies and half-truths, the stage is set for the battle not just for survival—but for truth, identity, and the heart’s most sincere intentions.