Chapter 85
Lin Lin waited cautiously outside the room for a moment. When Wakako opened the door, she discreetly glanced inside but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Relieved, she thought to herself that she hadn’t interrupted anything important.
But even if she had, it wouldn’t matter now. She had to see her senior sister and the Saint as soon as possible.
“What happened?” Wakako asked. She had heard the word “palace” earlier. Could something have happened to a high-ranking official? “Did the Queen send you?”
Lin Lin hesitated. “No.”
She had been shouting loudly just moments ago, but now her voice softened, her brows knitted with worry. “I said that to prevent the servants from stopping me. Actually… actually, it’s Senior Sister Liu Siruo who’s in trouble.”
“What happened?”
Lin Lin’s face fell. “She got into a fight with someone from another squad and injured them…”
Fighting within the ranks or clashing with civilians was strictly forbidden among mercenaries. Even during regular sparring sessions, they had to exercise restraint. Alphas, who were naturally aggressive—they had to keep their instincts in check. The Queen had issued strict orders: any confirmed internal fighting would result in one outcome—immediate expulsion!
Not to mention, Liu Siruo had fought members of other squads. An Alpha bullying the weak was dishonorable. She wouldn’t just be punished; she’d become a laughingstock.
Wakako was startled. “Who did she fight with?”
Lin Lin shook her head, indicating she wasn’t clear on the details, and pleaded. “The other squads are already making a fuss, saying they’re going to the palace to report to the Queen. Senior Sister, please come back with me to see what’s going on.”
Behind them, Miki was already dressed and had put her veil back on. Wakako turned around and said to her, “I need to go.”
The veil concealed the new bride’s expression, making it impossible to see her face.
Lin Lin’s apologetic voice rang out. “I know you just got married, and I shouldn’t be bothering you at a time like this… but all the other masters are away on missions. I had no one else to turn to but you, Senior Sister.”
Miki said softly, “Don’t worry about it. Go.”
She stood where she was, watching their backs until they left, never taking her eyes off them.
Wakako and Lin Lin left the estate together, galloping through the night. Suddenly, Wakako asked her junior sister, “You know, don’t you?”
This was already a conflict between two mercenary squads. If Lin Lin was still in the dark and still thought of Miki as Miki, she would definitely ask her to mediate. But earlier, Lin Lin hadn’t said anything, clearly indicating that she already knew the truth.
Lin Lin didn’t hide it. “…Yes.”
“Did Senior Sister tell you?”
“No, I figured it out myself.” Lin Lin lowered her head and quickly added, “On the day of the wedding, the Saint didn’t conceal herself very well. I noticed some clues… Senior Sister, what you’re doing is too risky.”
If even Lin Lin had figured it out, maintaining Miki’s identity wouldn’t last much longer. The relationship between her and the Saint needed a resolution soon.
Whenever Wakako closed her eyes, she couldn’t shake off the image of Miki’s awkward attempts to please her.
In a daze, Lin Lin said again, “But if you want to keep it a secret, I’ll do my best to help…”
At fifteen, Lin Lin’s eyes shone brightly with youthful determination. “I might not be much help, but if you need anything, just say the word.”
After a long pause, Wakako finally replied, “Hmm.”
Lin Lin didn’t know what that response meant, but they had arrived at their destination and couldn’t continue the conversation. Assessing the situation was the immediate priority.
This was a semi-public training ground outside the palace, where mercenaries and some soldiers from the army would come to train. Although it wasn’t within the palace, it was just as spacious, with a row of targets a hundred paces away, riddled with arrow holes.
There were about a dozen people standing in the open space, both Omegas and Betas, chattering excitedly about something. The petite Liu Siruo was surrounded by them, seemingly unconcerned, but her eyes were cold.
“Senior Sister!” The two of them rushed over. “What’s going on?”
Lin Lin was the youngest of the group, and everyone else was older and more experienced than her. No one would listen to her, so she had to call for reinforcements. Wakako had been in the squad for five years and had become famous for her role in the Rose War. Everyone else had to give her some respect.
Sure enough, when they saw the “Human Weapon” of the Kitagawa clan arrive, the others became more subdued, but their hostility was still evident. “Where’s Captain Hua? And the rest of Alpha Squad? Why is it just you juniors?”
Wakako said, “My Master is out on a mission. If you have anything to say, you can tell me.”
The woman in front of her was very young, but her words carried an unexpected authority.
The group looked at each other for a moment.
The captain of Omega Squad had become acquainted with Wakako on the front lines and, considering her status as Miki’s wife, was still relatively polite to her. He stepped forward and said,
“Here’s the situation: your senior sister injured two members from Omega Squad and Beta Squad without cause. They’re seriously hurt and can’t even stand. We can’t decide how to handle this on our own; we think it would be best if Captain Hua could discuss this with us.”
The captain of Beta Squad was much colder, not even bothering to look at her.
The injured parties had been at the training ground earlier but were quickly taken away by medics who had rushed over. Wakako and Lin Lin had seen the blood-soaked injuries; it was as if they’d come straight from the battlefield.
They didn’t know why Senior Sister had resorted to such violence.
Wakako looked at Liu Siruo and asked, “Senior Sister, what happened?”
Unexpectedly, Liu Siyi sneered arrogantly. “Yeah, I beat them up!”
An uproar ensued.
Lin Lin, terrified, quickly grabbed her senior sister’s sleeve, urging her to stop talking, but the members of Beta Squad and Omega Squad had already been provoked. They glared at her fiercely.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Do you really think we’re afraid of you?”
Someone with a quick temper rushed forward to shove her, but Liu Siruo pushed back with equal force. They were all hot-blooded mercenaries, and the situation was quickly spiraling out of control. Even the captains of the two squads were watching coldly without intervening, clearly allowing the escalation.
So just because she’s an Alpha, she thinks she can do whatever she wants? We’re all mercenaries here, who’s afraid of who!
Before things escalated into a brawl, a short blade flashed before everyone’s eyes, embedding itself deeply into the ground with a sharp clang, sinking several inches into the stone. The sudden display halted them, making them step back involuntarily.
Wakako withdrew her hand and said calmly, “No fighting.”
She asked Liu Siruo, “What happened? Why did you attack them?”
Her senior sister rarely interacted with other squads. Although she had a wild temper, she wasn’t the kind of person who would act recklessly without reason.
A flicker of emotion crossed Liu Siruo’s eyes, an emotion that others couldn’t understand. It was as if she had a reason that was difficult to speak of. Then, she leaned lazily against a tree, arms crossed, and said, “No reason.”
She said, “They annoyed me, so I beat them up. No big deal. If anyone’s got a problem, they can come settle it.”
The captain of Beta Squad laughed angrily. “Such arrogance! Do you really think no one can deal with you?” He drew his sword from behind, clearly intending to get serious.
Even though Wakako was trying her best to remain calm, her heart couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety. What was her senior sister thinking? She was the one who had attacked first; even if the captain of Beta Squad killed her now, it would be justified and he wouldn’t be punished.
She could only use her short blade to block the captain of Beta Squad’s sword. “Please, senior, stand down!”
Lin Lin was anxious behind her, shouting, “There must be some misunderstanding!”
The others were furious. “What misunderstanding? Even if there’s a misunderstanding, you can’t beat people up like that!”
“Damn it, she’s straight-up bullying us!”
But Liu Siruo was still stubborn. “So what? Two of them couldn’t even beat me, they’re just trash.”
Lin Lin was near tears, reaching out to cover her senior sister’s mouth. “Please, just stop talking!”
“What, are you afraid of them?”
“Aren’t you? If this gets serious, you won’t be able to stay a mercenary!”
Liu Siruo’s brow was furrowed with gloom. She looked at the dozen or so people in front of her, all of whom had drawn their usual weapons from their waists without hesitation. “I’ll take full responsibility for my actions. I won’t involve anyone else. Wakako, Lin Lin, get out of the way!”
Her tall junior sister turned back, her dimples faintly appearing.
Wakako shook her head firmly. “No.”
Liu Siruo finally lost her temper. “Enough! I’ll take responsibility for my actions, I won’t involve anyone else. Leave!”
Lin Lin quietly reached for the bow on her back, subtly putting distance between herself and the others as she moved toward the weapon rack. “Senior Sister, we’re teammates.”
Even if it was three against fifteen, they wouldn’t back down.
The long sword gleamed under the moonlight. Wakako held her short blade, without hesitation, she charged forward, the impact sending a dull thud that numbed the opponent’s hand, but she stood unwavering.
The opponent finally realized that she was using the back of the blade.
“Once my blade is drawn, it demands blood,” Wakako said in a deep voice. “Please stop.”
But Liu Siruo’s arrogant words had completely enraged them. With swords drawn, no one could hold back. Seeing their captain charge, the others followed suit. After all, they had the advantage in numbers, so they weren’t afraid of what the other side could do.
“Get her!”
Liu Siruo didn’t even bother to look at them. She caught the blade with her bare hands!
Lin Lin got her arrow, drew her bow, aimed quickly, and the arrowhead collided with the incoming sword, sending two or three people tumbling to the ground.
This was the first time Wakako had fought against her own comrades. She was used to killing, rarely holding back. Even though she could easily deflect their attacks, it was still frustrating. Perhaps the other side was counting on this, which is why they were so reckless in using all their strength.
After all, they couldn’t kill the “Human Weapon.”
Wakako took a deep breath. She had shown enough mercy.
She was about to turn her short blade around, intending to stop using the back of the blade, when she saw the opponent’s movements freeze.
A familiar figure was approaching the training ground entrance—slender yet exuding maturity.
Senryu was wearing the brown robe that only those who served the Saint could wear. Her steps were courteous, unhurried. She called out in a loud voice, her voice echoing across the entire training ground, “Masters, please stop!”
Upon seeing the scene before them, Lin Lin’s grip on her bow gradually relaxed. She bit her lip and eventually lowered her last arrow.
“Clang” several times, weapons fell to the ground one after another. The injured captain of Beta Squad didn’t say anything, remaining silent, he nodded respectfully in acknowledgment.
Wakako turned around as well.
Behind Senryu was a pure white carriage. The curtains fluttered in the breeze, offering a glimpse of the figure in white seated inside.
The Saint had arrived.
