Hibiscus's international call from thousands of miles away ca suddenly, but Nan Zhiyi still fulfilled the instructions and noted everything down. The two had tacit understanding without need for words.
The first gamble was mortgaging all assets to gather chips. The second gamble was judging what counted as "quality assets"—this had to be left to the future chief steward. Anyway, even if they lost everything, they could still withdraw money from casinos.
They didn't say a word of "be careful" to each other but threw themselves wholeheartedly into their respective battlefields.
This was going all in.
If they won, both would complete class advancent on the spot. If they lost, their lives would be forfeit too. As the saying goes, "alcohol emboldens cowards"—now Hibiscus placed heavy bets to rally her fighting spirit.
However, she wasn't so reckless as to lose her head. Rest was most important.
Thanks to the hotel shareholders fleeing, even the highest-grade suites were available for super-low rent. Since that was the case, the girl naturally wasn't polite about sleeping in the extra-large princess bed. Unfortunately, she couldn't enjoy it—fatigue constantly attacked, and almost the instant she decided to sleep, Hibiscus sank into consciousness.
Being in an unfamiliar environnt, she couldn't completely relax. Rather than sleep, it was more like ditation—this trick ca from magical girl exercises.
If she used a mana recovery potion, it could be done in an instant, but she should preserve special items. Who knew if she'd encounter fierce battle? How strong the Boss Disaster Beast commanding the cluster was remained unknown. Grasping herself was most important.
The situation was sowhat better than imagined. It seed that because of extre magic power extraction and Sands of Ti's extended pause duration, her basic physical attributes had improved.
The girl maintained ditation while drowsily falling asleep.
...After an unknown ti.
Sitting cross-legged on the big bed, she slowly opened her eyes. Her pupils flowed with wine-red color like burning flas, and the escaping magic power aura vanished in an instant.
Hibiscus took a deep breath and felt her condition was perfect, having replenished the magic power deficit from dealing with fire clouds on the plane. The only flaw was that her upper limit hadn't increased, still hovering around 300 points.
"Close call, almost created pressure!" After all, she didn't want to cause a hotel-wide fainting incident.
Rumble!
Thunderous sounds outside the window drove away the girl's last trace of sleepiness. Walking to the balcony and looking down from the hotel tower's high floor, she saw a burning city with billowing smoke and war fire weaving across the sky.
The sea constantly raised huge waves that swept away coastal defensive works, occasionally hurling boulders into the urban area like cannon bombardnt. Though the air force firmly suppressed flying Disaster Beasts trying to exploit gaps, they couldn't effectively damage underwater targets. The closer they got, the more severe the pressure beca, and weapons often couldn't operate without people. Even the fully ard naval port had ships lying across the waves—unimaginable what force had split warships in half...
"Did I sleep for a long ti?"
Hibiscus glanced at the perpetual calendar clock on the wall and found two days had passed. Her vision imdiately darkened—she'd missed the early suppression opportunity.
The constant busyness in Ningfeng Harbor plus the hasty travel fatigue from going abroad forced her to rest, but things had co to this point. Better gather intelligence first.
As usual, watching local morning news:
"This station's latest news: currently affected areas have spread to 4 cities, the coastline is on the verge of falling, over 1 million refugees are migrating inland. The military has abandoned 3 defensive lines and had to rely on beachhead counterattacks. We still haven't effectively struck the Boss Disaster Beast—the target codenad Abyssal White Whale remains lurking underwater."
"Three submarines responsible for assault missions have lost contact and probably t with misfortune..."
"Experts say this East Continental Sea cluster event is the largest in the past 20 years, indicating Disaster Beast attack intensity will rise another level. Please prepare."
"rcenary Alliance theater commander Pasha reiterates that Disaster Beasts will never be allowed to set foot on land. Our bodies will be the final barrier."
Not good.
Even as a layperson, Hibiscus could see the situation was quite dangerous.
She had underestimated the troubleso degree of Cluster Disaster Beasts. According to news reports, 3 Vanguard Disaster Beasts were confird. More troubleso was their massive numbers with organization, sufficient to clash with armies. Most disgusting was that they had ho field advantage in the ocean—an abyss where firepower could hardly reach.
Sitting and waiting for death wasn't Hibiscus's style of action. Certain that great enemies were before her, she quickly tidied up and went downstairs to the hotel. After a hearty al, she'd set out to test her ttle.
Suddenly the front desk called to her: "Guest in luxury suite 7, your two friends called to inquire about the situation."
"I understand."
She hadn't expected Jin Ruochu and Nan Zhiyi to track her here and call with concern. Honestly, it ward her heart. But now she had no ti for romantic feelings—only by resolving the battle here could she truly protect them.
Hibiscus ate sothing to fill her stomach then strode toward the coastline.
...
Ningfeng Harbor, Changfeng Group Hospital.
Nan Zhiyi walked out of the doctor's office after finishing her final checkup with very healthy results. Normally she might have jumped three feet high with the test report, but now she wasn't happy at all. Happiness should be shared—besides family, there was one childhood friend, and she was thousands of miles away.
A TV hung in the patient and family waiting area, broadcasting news from Edo that was obviously not optimistic, even deteriorating.
Nan Zhiyi gripped the test report with such force that it wrinkled, teeth clenched, face anxious.
How much she hoped to help, how much she hoped to share and bear burdens with Hibiscus, how much she hoped to create victory together. Unfortunately, before Three Awakenings with too many shortcomings—for instance, magical girls were fragile before having Regalia, and slightly powerful firepower could kill them. For safety, she could participate in combat after being able to summon Regalia. This reasoning didn't need explaining, just felt regrettable.
When she called earlier, she actually wanted to persuade Hibiscus to return. Even if it hurt her friend's pride, she had to say "you might be in mortal danger, don't wade into muddy waters, co back quickly."
But the other party didn't respond.
When Nan Zhiyi was worried, she saw Jin Ruochu in a black won's suit walking from the other end of the corridor with several doctors.
She was holding a docunt and giving instructions. Looking up and seeing an acquaintance, she imdiately smiled and nodded in greeting, telling her subordinates: "I've marked all the procurent priorities, especially take care of that new foreign trade company. You go get busy."
"You look good—already recovered?"
"Seems you're the sa. We don't need to be sick friends anymore, but friends." Nan Zhiyi asked: "Taking over family business?"
"Dad said I'm coming of age and should master so industries to accumulate experience. This just coincides with the surge in pharmaceutical demand from fighting Disaster Beasts over there—truly heaven-sent opportunity. I should be able to create pretty good performance."
"Congratulations in advance."
The two smiled at each other but simultaneously turned their gazes to the TV in the waiting area, where the screen showed artillery fire and Disaster Beasts advancing wave after wave.
"Actually I'm not happy about this war profit, because I have an important person risking their life in the East Continental Sea."
"A certain friend of mine would rather be deep in a dragon's den than co back."
Both girls sighed simultaneously, thinking neither had it easy, hoping her person would be safe and sound.
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