"Mm, well done, little Esdeath. You’ve improved. I didn’t expect you to learn how to set up a long ga and bait a bigger fish," ca a cool voice beside her. The next mont, a gentle pat on her head was followed by a playful ruffle, as if she were a small pet.
Esdeath sighed in resignation. "General, I’m not just a brute who only knows how to fight. I understand strategy too... And besides, I’m not that little anymore."
"True, you’re not so little anymore."
Selene couldn’t help but glance at Esdeath’s developing body. In just a few years, this small girl, who barely reached her waist now, would grow into a striking figure—a formidable dominatrix with an explosive figure. It made one think that the "shelf life" of innocence really was short.
Esdeath brushed off Selene’s hand, which was clad in a delicate, silver-white gauntlet, and asked, sowhat irritated, "General, what do we do now?"
She pointed toward the nearby Revolutionary Army base. "Do we kill them all, or should we keep them alive to bait a bigger catch?"
"No need to rush. Let them live a few more days... because we have this to guide us."
Selene pulled out a book with a cover that looked like a living danger beast’s eye. Esdeath hesitated before asking, "Is that an Imperial Arm?"
"Yes, it’s The Complete Book Of The World: Rongo Rongo." Selene opened the book, which recorded yet another incorrect location, and continued searching for suitable spots in the southern mountains where a large number of people could reside.
"While it can’t detect living beings, it can easily locate places suitable for human habitation. Let’s take it slow... Co on, let’s head to the next location."
With a gesture, Selene beckoned Esdeath to follow her as they moved toward another site indicated by the World Chronicle, one that might be hiding more of the Revolutionary Army.
...
anwhile, deep within the southern mountains of the Empire, an ancient castle lay hidden within a vast prival forest.
The sprawling mountain range and the dense forest served as the best defense for the Revolutionary Army. The forest was ho to danger beasts, with various levels of threat, along with countless poisonous creatures and miasmas. Without a guide, it was nearly impossible for an ordinary person to navigate the perilous terrain.
As night began to fall, the castle was brightly lit, and large groups of guards patrolled the surrounding area.
These Revolutionary Army soldiers wore uniform attire, moved in disciplined formations, and maintained high morale—almost on par with the Imperial Capital’s elite guards. Their only drawback was their limited numbers, far fewer than the twelve elite legions of the Imperial Capital’s guard.
Clack, clack—
Heavy footsteps echoed through the castle’s corridors as a high-ranking Revolutionary Army officer hurried along, his expression grim as he clutched a newly arrived intelligence report.
"Why have all our intelligence agents been wiped out recently? Disguising them as rchants used to work so well. What’s going on?"
"I must report this to the leader. We can’t keep sending people out like this—it’s tantamount to murder! The Empire... no, it’s Selene’s doing! She must have discovered us!" Realizing the gravity of the situation, the officer quickened his pace even more.
As he passed through one of the castle courtyards, a commotion caught his attention, particularly a flash of pink.
"You freak, get away from us!"
"You bring bad luck! Ever since you arrived, nothing good has happened!"
"Yeah, bad luck charm! You can’t stand here—get lost!"
"Hit her!"
A group of children was throwing stones at a small girl wearing a tattered white dress.
The officer was taken aback when he saw the girl. She had long pink hair, and her dirty clothes made her look like a refugee. The officer recognized her—this was the girl nad Mine.
She had been taken in by Youliang when he found her on the western frontier. He used to brag about her in front of ... But now, things have changed so much. Perhaps I should never have sent him to the capital...
And Nal... We were supposed to survive together and overthrow the Empire, but now you’re both gone...
As the children beca more aggressive, throwing stones even harder, Mine did not resist. She had grown used to the abuse.
Back when she lived within the Empire’s borders, she was always treated as an outcast, bullied every day. The only light in her life had been the scruffy man who showed her kindness. That ti had been the happiest in her life... But it didn’t last long. When he left on a mission, he never returned...
Having matured early, Mine knew that the man who had wanted her to call him "Teacher" was never coming back...
Later, Nal had taken her in, but he too eventually disappeared...
At that mont, Mine felt overwhelming hatred for the phrase "on a mission." They all said they would return, but they never did!
She also hated herself deeply. She believed she was a jinx! Her biological parents didn’t want her, and even those who adopted her were now gone...
"Enough! What are you doing?!"
The Revolutionary Army officer kicked down the courtyard fence and marched over, furious, to stand between Mine and the children. The children froze, startled, and stopped throwing stones.
The leader of the group, a chubby boy who was used to being a bully, wasn’t intimidated and yelled back, "Who do you think you are, telling us what to do? Are you on her side, freak?"
"Freak?" Hearing this, the Revolutionary Army officer fell silent, contemplating the word.
The other children, seeing the officer’s silence, were emboldened by the chubby boy’s lead and began picking up stones again, preparing to resu their attack on both the officer and Mine.
Seeing this, Mine beca anxious. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of her, as she had grown accustod to the beatings.
"Watch out..." she tried to warn.
"Sigh... The Revolutionary Army... How did it co to this?" The officer sighed deeply, then shouted, "Get lost!"
His voice reverberated like a shockwave, scattering the stones and knocking the children off their feet.
"Ow, that hurts!"
"Help...!"
"He’s hitting us..."
"What happened?" More and more Revolutionary Army soldiers rushed over, drawn by the commotion.
Ignoring the guards’ questions, the officer walked over to Mine, pulling up her sleeve. "Mine..."
What he saw next shocked even a seasoned intelligence officer—Mine’s arm was covered in countless scratches and small wounds, causing him to gasp in horror.
"How could they do this to you?!"
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