Of course, the "surprises" Raven mentioned were just a few simple traps she had laid out. They were nothing extraordinary, at most causing any potential pursuers to fall into them, looking dusty and defeated as she drove off with her charge.
After all, she was just an ordinary orphanage director now, working alone. She couldn't be too ruthless, could she?
Since that S-rank Valkyrie named Rita had sounded the retreat so early, she was happy to take it easy. After all...
"I seem to have forgotten to ask Lin Wei for my mercenary fee for this outing?"
Raven thought with a look of shock, feeling like she had taken a huge loss this time.
She could have been doing anything else with this time. Why did she, on a whim, come and volunteer for him?
Do I owe him??
The more Raven thought about it, the more annoyed she became. She decided that the next time she saw him, she would settle this "bill" with him properly, and then issue the following stern warning:
"I am a mercenary, not a charity. Don't just dump all sorts of random people on me!"
Although, given that guy's thick skin, it probably wouldn't do any good, but at least it would make her feel a little better, so she wouldn't feel so ripped off...
"Forget it."
Raven shook her head. Lin Wei wasn't here, and there was no point in sulking by herself. She turned to Yuno and asked, "What are your plans now?"
"Uh... me?"
Yuno was still moping over their failure. Having just disengaged from combat, she hadn't had time to think about this simple yet complex question. Caught off guard by Raven's question, she frowned in thought for a moment before saying, "Next, I'll probably go back to the Elysian Realm and train there again."
This was both what Lin Wei had arranged for her before he left, and what she herself wanted to do right now.
The failure of their mission, Lin Wei's departure, Anna's final decision...
Now completely alone, Yuno was in a terrible mood. Her desire for battle and destruction was stronger than ever. She desperately wanted to find a battlefield to vent her frustrations.
She wasn't a mindless berserker. She knew Raven was Lin Wei's friend, a good person who had come to help her. So, she suppressed this impulse in front of her to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
"Huh?"
But that simple, understated sentence made Raven lose her composure.
"You're a World Serpent operative, right? The Elysian Realm... you can just go there?"
As a World Serpent operative—or rather, a former operative—Raven knew very well how lofty, even sacred, that place was within the organization.
Even members of World Serpent had to go through numerous difficult selections and assessments to earn the right to enter that realm. But listening to this little girl's tone, it sounded as easy as visiting a family member in the military.
What kind of nonsense have you been learning from Lin Wei?
Seeing Raven's complex expression, a mixture of disbelief and near-breakdown, Yuno felt a little uncomfortable, her large eyes blinking with even greater confusion.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No."
Raven let out a long sigh. Could I really say "yes"?
It was one thing for Lin Wei to come and go from the Elysian Realm as he pleased; after all, he had been personally granted permission by the Sovereign. But for him to be able to casually stuff his various female companions in there was a bit much.
Anyone who didn't know better would think World Serpent had a new master!
For a moment, Raven even had the self-destructive thought of, "Forget it, let it all burn. I'll just follow him from now on." What could you do?
"By the way, where's Lin Wei? How did you come back alone?"
Only now did she remember to ask about Lin Wei—or rather, only now did she feel she could ask about him.
Before, when Lin Wei had first brought Yuno to her, Raven knew he must have been in some serious trouble.
She had left World Serpent, but the organization would naturally keep her informed. Although she could easily get this information by contacting them, she didn't want to.
She wanted to return to a normal life, so she had to keep her distance from these things.
Just as she had seen the heavy, lingering cloud of darkness around Lin Wei, she had remained resistant, treating him only as an old friend who had come to "hang out."
Of course, out of concern for her friend, she had still provided the greatest help she could—for example, she had found an excuse to lend him the Third Divine Key.
And she had also secretly come here, acting as an external "backup" to at least help them retreat safely.
Even Lin Wei himself didn't know about this latter point!
Now that things were over, the ever-optimistic Miss Raven finally cast aside her self-deceiving worries and asked, "You brought back the Seven Thunders. That guy didn't fall into Schicksal's hands, did he?"
She didn't want to expose herself and hadn't gotten close to the core battlefield, only loitering on the periphery, looking for opportunities. But because of that, she had also missed the spectacular battle.
"Ah, Sir Lin went to the Sea of Quanta," Yuno said, her tone complex, relaying the news Lin Wei had told her.
"He said he was going to find the real Su and Kevin..."
Cough, cough!
The sleek sports car screeched to a halt. Raven, her head nearly hitting the steering wheel, ignored her own predicament and stared at Yuno with a look of utter disbelief, making Yuno almost bristle on the spot.
"...Is something wrong?" Yuno asked timidly. She knew Raven was someone Lin Wei had entrusted her to, so she worried she had said something wrong and upset her.
She wasn't afraid of trouble, but she didn't want to cause trouble for Lin Wei.
"...It's nothing."
Raven let out a long breath, managed to put the car in gear, and started driving again.
"Lin Wei, you really know how to cause a scene!"
Raven thought angrily. She knew that guy played for high stakes, but she never imagined he'd play this high!
Is this world really not big enough for you? Is that it?
For a moment there, she had almost been tempted to kick Yuno out of the car...
"Forget it, I was just asking..." Raven said, feeling weary.
"It just so happens, you can rest at my place for a few days. As for going to the Elysian Realm, let me be clear—if there are any accidents or setbacks, I can't help you."
Taking in this little girl is already going above and beyond. Don't even think about dragging me into anything else!
Raven thought, gritting her teeth...
"Okay, thank you," Yuno said, her heart full of gratitude. She didn't find Raven's last words to be excessive or unacceptable at all.
"You're welcome."
Raven waved her hand weakly, still looking exhausted.
"It just so happens, you can also do me a favor..."
Hearing this, Yuno straightened up and asked, "What favor? Just say the word."
She was even prepared to be given a difficult task.
"A very simple one."
Raven looked at the swirling sandstorm in the rearview mirror and said with a pained expression, "Lin Wei was right. This place isn't safe. We need to find a new place to live..."
If Lin Wei were here, he would be very surprised. I tried to persuade you so many times, and it never worked. Why the sudden change of heart?
But setting aside the earth-shattering commotion of the battle just now, there was one simple, basic fact:
Even a dangerous guy like Lin Wei thought this place was unsafe. Could it possibly be any good?
Leave, we have to leave now!
"...Okay, I understand."
Yuno didn't understand why Raven looked so pained. It was just moving. You'd think she was going bankrupt. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "So... where are we moving to?"
Cough, cough!
Another sudden brake.
This time, Raven didn't give Yuno a strange look. Instead, she repeatedly banged her forehead on the steering wheel, making a "thump, thump" sound that shook the car, moaning in agony.
"I haven't decided yet. I'll have to look around..."
---||---
Yuno's side, though her communication with Raven was a bit rocky, ultimately went smoothly.
As for Schicksal, let's not even mention it. Though they returned "victorious," everyone had their own thoughts and feelings that were hard to put into words.
Fu Hua's mission here was complete. She boarded the transport back to St. Freya Academy, where her mission would continue.
And after spending more than three years with Kiana and the others as the "Captain," she had grown somewhat attached to these innocent children.
The others returned to Schicksal headquarters, and they all went their separate ways. A grand show returned to its original state, as if nothing had ever happened...
---||---
Anna had a very, very long dream.
In her dream, she was no longer a graceful young woman, but a little girl in a floral dress, as if she had returned to her childhood, that carefree, happy time.
But on her childish face, there was not a trace of happiness. Instead, it was filled with panic and an indescribable sadness...
"Where is this?"
She stumbled through a dark space, running, exploring, crying, and screaming alone.
"Please, give it back to me!"
She felt she had lost something very, very important, something even more important than her own life.
She searched desperately, fumbled, and pounded, but she couldn't find it.
Because she couldn't even remember what she had lost, only that it was supposed to be very, very important, even more important than her own life...
"Someone, please help me..."
She cried helplessly. But in the darkness, there was no one, no voice to answer her, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world, lonely and helpless...
She curled herself into a small ball in despair, trying to give herself a little bit of support and warmth, murmuring through tear-filled eyes, "Please, don't go..."
A tear escaped from the corner of her eye, and Anna woke up. The sadness and helplessness from the dream faded quickly, leaving only an empty feeling, as if something had been dug out of her chest.
"It was a dream..."
Anna murmured, but she didn't move from the bed, letting the tears flow from the corners of her eyes, wetting her pillow, soaking her hair.
At this moment, she of course remembered what she had lost. And she understood that she could never get it back...
This was a familiar room, a familiar bed, a familiar scent, a familiar ceiling—this was Anna's home in Schicksal, the room she had lived in since she was a child, holding all her memories. But she couldn't find that familiar warmth.
An indescribable sense of loneliness washed over her. Anna helplessly wrapped the blanket tighter around herself and murmured, "It's so cold..."
Schicksal headquarters was like spring all year round, but she felt as if she were in the dead of winter.
Cough, cough...
The door slowly opened. Anna closed her eyes and lay still, pretending to be asleep.
She knew that footstep. It was Rita. She didn't want to talk to her.
"..."
Rita walked slowly to the bedside. She could tell from Anna's subtle movements that she was awake. She sighed silently and, not wanting to disturb her, slowly began to leave.
She knew Anna's attitude meant she hadn't forgiven her.
"Wait..."
Just as Rita turned, Anna suddenly struggled to sit up. Her voice was hoarse, as if she were shattered. "Lin Wei... how is he?"
She didn't know if she still had the courage to say his name, as if there were still a one-in-ten-thousand chance.
Rita's reply was gentle, but its content was incredibly cruel.
"He entered the Sea of Quanta..."
"...Is that so?"
Anna's expression calmed. She closed her eyes and slowly lay back down.
"I see. Thank you."
Anna's heart was completely dead. At this moment, she felt like a complete and utter sinner.
"He..."
Rita wanted to say more, but Anna cut her off with a weak voice.
"Get out."
The word was devoid of anger, even of life. It was a complete and utter rejection and indifference, as if speaking another word, making another sound, would make her feel sick.
"Sigh..."
Rita sighed helplessly and left the room, truthfully reporting Anna's awakening to Overseer Otto.
Inside the room, after Rita left, the overwhelmed Anna burst into tears again, crying silently.
She had rejected Lin Wei, and had personally pushed him into an abyss of despair. Now, she had rejected Rita, rejected the Schicksal she represented. Being with people like that made her sick.
And so, now she had no idea where she could go. She was even completely lost as to whether she should be called a "traitor" or could still be considered a "Valkyrie"...
"Knock, knock, knock."
A crisp knock on the door.
Cough, cough...
The door opened again. The blonde, blue-eyed Overseer Otto walked in with Durandal, Rita, Amber, and even some elders of the Schariac family.
"Rita told me, so I came to see you," Otto's smile was like a spring breeze, his tone gentle, with the kindness of an old grandfather.
"Seeing you safe and sound with my own eyes, my last worry is finally put to rest."
"..."
Anna didn't even bother to get up. She turned her delicate neck away, not wanting to look at that disgustingly hypocritical face. She said with cold sarcasm, "Are you satisfied now?"
This was not what a subordinate should say to a leader, nor the attitude a junior of the Schariac family should have toward the Overseer of Schicksal.
But this undisguised rejection, even hostility, was calmly accepted by Otto. Unacceptable, unforgivable...
"Anna, you..."
An elder of the Schariac family had just opened her mouth to reprimand her for her rudeness, but Otto raised a hand to stop her.
"Miss Anna has just made such a huge sacrifice for Schicksal. It's best not to be too harsh at this time."
"Heh!"
A sense of absurdity welled up in Anna's chest. You're putting on a show of your tolerance and magnanimity now?
A force of goodwill and that laughter surged from her chest, making Anna suddenly sit up. After a cold laugh, she said with loud sarcasm, "Respected Overseer, you can put away your hypocritical facade. Or is my remaining use to you now to be a tool for you to win over people's hearts in front of everyone?"
Her personality had always been passionate, daring to love and hate, and it was still so today.
Otto was indeed being called out in public, but his expression didn't change. He just said with some regret, "It seems some things can never be explained. So be it. Then let me make some small compensation for my presumptuousness, for Miss Anna."
"Compensation?"
Anna's sarcastic sneer grew even stronger. You have the whole world. What could you possibly offer as "compensation"?
"Hmph, don't be too greedy! Hurry up and say what you want!" the Schariac elder said anxiously.
Otto had been very deep these past five years. Even though he had treated their Schariac family and the neighboring Kaslana family like slaves and livestock, breeding them under the guise of "purifying the bloodline," they had always been fearful, daring not to speak out in anger.
They were even more afraid that Anna's arrogance and rudeness would provoke Otto, and she would end up with a tragic fate like Cecilia.
She was really afraid that the child she had watched grow up would also walk down this path of no return!
"So be it, some have already left..."
"Let me go," Anna said, looking sadly at the anxious old woman.
"Or, let me die."
"Go? You want to leave Schicksal?" Otto asked with a frown. As for the "let her die" option, he didn't even mention it.
"Yes."
Seeing Otto agree, Anna suddenly smiled.
"So, even now, you're still afraid of him!"
She wasn't stupid. She of course understood what Otto's lack of another option represented. In the past, she was just too inexperienced, too naive and simple.
During this time, after experiencing so much cruel, relentless beating, she had grown up very quickly. She showed a very gentle and quiet smile and said, "In that case, the Overseer probably won't let me leave Schicksal. Or are you planning to keep me from leaving Schicksal from now on, just like before, and 'carefully protect' me?"
Are you still going to use her as a bargaining chip against Lin Wei?
Anna's sharp heart was calm.
"Overseer," Durandal reminded him.
He was going to do it, and she really was going to show him!
Actually, she didn't need to remind him. Otto, of course, saw everything clearly.
He could see that Anna's expression was just a hair's breadth away from complete gloom. So at this moment, he really didn't dare to push her too far.
Otherwise, if something unexpected happened, when that guy Lin Wei came back, he would probably really come looking for a fight to the death!
Thinking of that guy who had even gone into the Sea of Quanta, his head ached. If he were to use the Mimicry Fenghuang Down again to modify Anna's memories, Durandal and the others would probably be the first to object!
"Tsk, caught between a rock and a hard place..."
"So be it. I was originally planning to transfer you to the Immortal Blades squad for more careful training after your injuries healed," Otto said with a look of regret.
"Now it seems Miss Anna probably won't accept this sincere invitation..."
"Heh..."
Anna saw Otto's retreat and couldn't help but laugh again. But this time, her smile was filled with an indescribable sadness.
This is the Overseer of Schicksal, the leader of humanity?
To let such a person lead the future and fate of humanity?
No... no, my captain, she fought and died for this person's orders, became forgotten stepping stones?
The one I was supposed to protect was a person like this?
God, this is so absurd!
"Anna, from beginning to end, I have been fighting for the future of the world and humanity," Otto said.
"No matter what, please remember this."
"..."
Anna looked deeply at Durandal, then after a moment, she smiled brightly.
"You're right, Durandal. Otherwise, you're always so firm, so radiant, so enviable."
"I have my own squad," Anna said, struggling to get out of bed. She stood stubbornly in front of Otto, her neck craned, meeting his gaze without backing down, and said loudly, "I, Anna Schariac, Vice-Captain of the Snow Lotus Squad, now request to lead my squad!"
We walk different paths, so we cannot make plans together. I spit on all your "blessings"!
"...Of course, you can. I approve," Otto said, looking deeply into Anna's eyes.
"In the battle of Manila, your Snow Lotus Squad performed with great merit. After your captain's sacrifice, you have been temporarily acting as captain. Now, I am officially appointing you—officially appointing you as the captain of the Snow Lotus Squad. After you take up your post, headquarters will prioritize replenishing your squad's combat losses."
At this point, as if to clarify any misunderstandings, he added, "Of course, if you don't trust anyone in it, you can send them back at any time and then personally select new members. How about that?"
The great Overseer of Schicksal, having to promise a mere A-rank Valkyrie that he wouldn't plant spies, was truly a black comedy.
Anna listened quietly, and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes. As if liberated, she said loudly, "Yes!"
I am a Valkyrie, and only a Valkyrie. Nothing else is left...
Captain, did you feel this way too? Anna thought to herself.
"In addition, there is one last problem," Otto said.
"Reforming the Snow Lotus Squad is simple, of course. But the city you were originally stationed in has been completely destroyed by the Honkai."
"..."
Anna remained silent.
"Anna! Just think of it as a small gift from me," Otto said with a long laugh.
"You can also choose which city the Snow Lotus Squad will be stationed in next. Of course, if you insist on returning to the former Manila, I will naturally allow it. After all, this is the freedom I promised you."
Otto rarely showed such a small bit of warmth.
"Okay, I want to go back to..."
Anna was about to say "Manila," but she suddenly froze. Another name sprouted in her mind like a seed breaking through the soil.
The name was quite unfamiliar, having only been there once. But it made her tear up again.
"I want to go to... Coral Island!"
Coral Island, an island city built on reclaimed land, with a large population, a developed economy, and remarkable technology.
But none of that mattered.
The most important thing was that place was where she and he had first met, where she had her first and most beautiful memories.
It was also the last peaceful sanctuary in her shattered heart...
"I will definitely protect it!"
A fighting spirit ignited in Anna's heart again, and she smiled happily, just like the day she had passed the A-rank Valkyrie exam and received her first official appointment.
Although everything was different from before, some things had never changed.
Anna suddenly realized that there was a small corner of the world worth protecting with her life. For her, wasn't this also a kind of happiness?
"Captain, I understand what Manila meant to you..."
Anna thought silently, her head bowed, her eyes closed, as if she were really talking to her.
"You were right. It's more important than our lives, a place where our souls can find rest. If we can't protect its peace, even if we die with it in the end, that is also happiness..."
It was just a pity that there would be no one to answer her now.
------
The Author is actually satan for this, we comeback to starting point now...