Chapter 113
Lin Lin had something she was incredibly proud and pleased about lately.
She was finally no longer Alpha Squad’s youngest junior!
Just today, a new recruit had officially joined the squad. No one could understand why Lin Lin was so excited about this. It was just a new person, wasn’t it?
Lin Lin thought to herself, of course, it was a big deal! She could finally experience the joys of being a senior apprentice.
Actually, the new junior was someone familiar – Shen Qianmo, just ten years old, delicate as a porcelain doll, still looking like a baby.
She was their captain Hua Yumu’s daughter.
Lin Lin had always been curious. The captain had never married, so where did his daughter come from? And whose surname was “Shen”?
However, the rest of the squad seemed to have an unspoken agreement not to bring up the matter, so she also held her questions back.
Aside from the addition of the new junior, there was another change—the captain was taking a break and would be stepping down for a while, though no one knew where he was headed.
The role of squad captain was to be handed over to none other than Senior Wakako.
She remembered the day Wakako had received the news. She had been eating lunch when, in a single exclamation, she spit out her food. Despite Lin Lin’s quick reflexes, she couldn’t avoid getting her sleeve splattered.
Wakako pointed at herself in disbelief: “Me? I’m to be captain?”
“Who else but you!” Lin Lin wailed, slapping the table. “This was my brand-new clothes!”
“What about Masters Carol and Albert? They have more experience than me.”
“First compensate me for my new clothes, waaah!”
Wakako casually pulled out a small gold piece from her pouch, “Fine, fine. Take this and buy a new one.”
Lin Lin’s mood changed instantly as she happily took the coin and ran off to buy clothes, leaving Wakako in a daze, still struggling to process the news.
She’d long been accustomed to relying on her masters. But now, being the captain meant she’d be in charge of everything concerning Alpha Squad.
Could she really do it?
Regardless, the Queen’s orders couldn’t be defied, so Wakako took up her new position, though still quite nervous.
The first test for the new captain was expanding the team.
Alpha Squad had always been understaffed, and now with Hua Yumu on leave, only Wakako, Lin Lin, Liu Siruo, Albert, and Carol remained. Recruitment was essential.
Though it seemed straightforward, recruiting was difficult, especially for Wakako. Known for her natural strength and unmatched skills, her standards were naturally high, and it was hard to find recruits who met her expectations.
Nevertheless, the selection process continued through trial and error. The first successful recruit was unexpected – Shen Qianmo, Captain Hua’s daughter.
Talent knows no bias, and Momo was indeed gifted. Wakako had no reason not to accept her.
As for others, there were several promising candidates, but they couldn’t be considered official members yet and would need a training period to assess their abilities.
Since Qianmo was young and Lin Lin needed to practice writing and reading daily, she was tasked with mentoring the little junior, helping with studies as well.
One day, as Lin Lin was reviewing Qianmo’s writing, she took a sip of tea and, upon reading, promptly spat it onto the paper.
Qianmo squealed in her childish voice, protesting: “Senior Sister! My homework!”
Lin Lin froze, recalling her own freshly ruined outfit from Wakako’s mishap, but that wasn’t the main issue now.
“You saw this happen?” Lin Lin asked with a serious tone.
Qianmo nodded, “I saw it myself! Lady Kitagawa came looking for the captain, so I told her the captain wasn’t here and took her to the training grounds. But the captain happened to be there training others, so she stood and watched for a while… Did I do something wrong?”
Lin Lin thought, of course something was wrong. Very wrong.
The innocent junior didn’t know what Lady Kitagawa was like when angry.
She remembered how her own seniors used to pat her on the shoulder, saying, “You’re still young; you wouldn’t understand.”
Now, Lin Lin did the same to Qianmo, patting her on the shoulder with a weighty sigh, “You’re still young; you wouldn’t understand.”
Qianmo scratched her head, unsure if she got it or not.
“Is Lady Kitagawa still at the training grounds?”
“I think so, why?”
Lin Lin shook her head without answering, just showing a meaningful smile as she began corrupting her junior without hesitation.
“I’ll bet you a silver coin… the captain’s calling in sick tomorrow.”
“Why?” Qianmo didn’t understand.
“Are you in or out? Scared?”
What child could resist such provocation? “I’m in!”
***
Wakako was, indeed, at the training grounds, seriously instructing the trainees who had yet to become full members. Her sharp gaze could catch even the smallest flaw in their movements.
“Raise your hand a bit more here.”
“Turn your head slightly more when drawing the bow.”
“Good…”
Being captain was harder than imagined – even Wakako couldn’t help wiping away sweat. But through her efforts, she was becoming more skilled and captain-like.
The apprentices all gazed at her with admiration. Dressed in her neat black uniform, her serious demeanor was softened by the dimples that appeared when she smiled—a blend of fierceness and warmth.
Besides, this was the captain who had proven herself in the famed Rose War. How could they not look up to her?
The girl on the left called softly, “Captain, could you show me a few moves?”
After Wakako went over to instruct her, the girl on the right gently requested, “Captain, could you check my bow stance again…”
Today she was instructing alone, so it was hard to keep up, and she failed to notice the shadowy figure watching nearby.
It was the apprentices who spotted the visitor first. “Captain, who is that?”
Wakako turned to look.
Wakako turned, her gaze landing on a woman dressed in soft red with a veil covering her head. Despite her efforts to remain inconspicuous, her graceful figure was unmistakable.
No matter how many faces Wakako had seen, she knew immediately, her heart skipping a beat.
Some well-informed apprentices were already covering their mouths and giggling: “Isn’t that your wife?”
“We’ve heard Lady Kitagawa’s is a real beauty. Seeing her today, I can believe it. Though it’s a pity…” They couldn’t see her face.
The speaker was elbowed sharply by an apprentice. Insulting the captain’s wife was asking for trouble!
Wakako knew they meant no offense and didn’t blame them, but she felt inexplicably nervous.
She put down her weapon, instinctively brushed the dust from her hands, and walked towards Miki. “What are you doing here?”
The woman lifted her veil slightly, her eyes warm with affection as she threw a playful glance. “What, am I not allowed to come?”
“Of course you are…” Wakako murmured, “Is something wrong?”
It was still the middle of the day, not time to head home yet, so it was odd for Miki to be looking for her now.
She cast another quick look at Wakako, a subtle tension in her gaze. “Can’t I come if nothing’s wrong?”
Wakako was confused, but years of experience told her Miki’s mood was off, so she wisely said nothing more.
It had been a while since the Saint’s funeral… Even though the entire continent had mourned her initially, people gradually forgot about it.
Wakako didn’t know what methods had been employed, but it seemed everyone who knew Miki had forgotten her past as the Saint.
Except for Wakako.
Now Miki was a noble lady from the Jin clan, and also… her wife.
The thought of this warmed Wakako’s heart.
The names of married Omega nobles were kept private, so others only referred to her as “Lady Kitagawa.”
Miki smiled softly and lowered her veil completely, revealing her face to everyone. The apprentices, having never seen such beauty, stared openly, especially the younger ones.
Wakako quickly fell into step behind her.
Miki didn’t seem bothered by the attention. Instead, she smiled at the two girls who had been monopolizing Wakako earlier. “How was your training today? It’s nice to meet you all. I brought some snacks to share.”
The servants who had been waiting outside hurriedly entered at her command, carrying two food boxes filled with various snacks, which they distributed to everyone.
The apprentices were naturally very grateful to Lady Kitagawa, praising her kindness.
Miki smiled graciously, noticing the flicker of disappointment in the eyes of the two girls.
Wakako also caught the glint of something darker in Miki’s gaze.
After training ended, they rode home together, with Wakako sitting behind Miki. After hesitating for a while, she couldn’t help saying: “Miki…”
“Hmm?”
“Were you upset seeing me training those girls?”
“Why would I be? You’re the captain—it’s your responsibility.”
“Then why…”
“Why do you think I was upset?”
Miki turned her head, interrupting her, pressing her lips in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Wakako bit her lip.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but although she knew Miki’s personality, lately, Miki seemed to be becoming increasingly… different.
Even though she was usually stubborn, she had never been so petty about these things.
Miki continued: “Do you think I was upset because you touched that girl’s hand?” Her eyes curved with amusement. “Or perhaps because you put your arm around her?”
Wakako was speechless: “I…”
Miki’s gaze seemed to see right through her: “Oh, you’re feeling guilty, aren’t you, little Waka.”
“No. I was just teaching them martial arts. It’s nothing.”
“I don’t believe you,” Miki said. “Unless you let me see for myself.”
“Didn’t you just see? What more do you want to… mmmph!”
Wakako hadn’t expected Miki to suddenly reach inside. Her grip on the reins faltered, her breath catching in her throat.
No… not here, not while they were riding…
“Do you think I’m being unreasonable?”
The person in her arms had such a slender waist, so delicate it seemed it might break in her grip, suddenly biting her neck and pressing against her cheek: “I know I’m being selfish…”
Her voice, soft and sweet like ripe cherries, was laced with a playful whine.
“But seeing you touch their hands made my heart ache…”
“Make it up to me, Wakako.”
“You know how to make me happy.”
