Pillar of Yita

”Miya, your war gear is…?”

Miya didn’t utter a word. For a moment, Fang Hong wasn’t sure if he had seen it wrong, but he thought he saw Miya, quite rarely, looking a bit embarrassed. After a while, she explained, ”Due to my profession, my combat style might be slightly aggressive.”

Only then did Fang Hong remember that her War Blade had been nearly the same a week ago. He sneaked a glance at her, finding it hard to imagine how ’aggressive’ the fighting style of such a quiet and elegant person could be.

”A dagger can’t be properly maintained in such a short time. But after this mission, you’ll be leaving our Adventure Group, right?”

Miya replied, ”There’s no rush.”

”No rush?”

”Yes, just keep it with you for now. It’s fine.” Miya looked over the things she had organized and nodded, ”The others should be nearly ready. Let’s meet at the camp.”

Fang Hong hurriedly stopped her, ”Wait, Miya.”

Miya paused, turned around, and looked at him.

Fang Hong was just about to say something when the night sky suddenly brightened above him, interrupting what he was going to say. He looked up to see a golden streak moving across the dark expanse of the sky, its bright light reflecting in his dark pupils as it fell towards the north.

”That is…” Fang Hong was stunned.

”…Campaign Level, launched from the Holy Serpent. It looks like the battle has already begun.”

The girl, with the splendor reflected in her eyes, looked upwards and spoke. Then she turned her gaze back to Fang Hong, quietly waiting for him to continue.

”That, I…” The sudden event had made Fang Hong a bit flustered, ”Actually, it’s nothing. I just wanted to say… be… be safe.” After he finished, he wanted nothing more than to slap himself for blurting out such nonsense.

The other person watched him without a word, the bright light just then outlining the expressions of the two of them amid the interlocking shadows. Fang Hong lowered his head feeling somewhat embarrassed.

”You too.” She turned around and before leaving said indifferently, ”Ade, in this industry, talent is revered; without it, there’s ultimately no future in this circle…”

The girl’s figure gradually disappeared into the soft moonlight.

It took Fang Hong quite a while to snap back from his stupor. The direction Miya had left in was lit by moonlight that filtered through trees and drooping branches, creating a mysterious and desolate effect. Lush moss covered every protruding surface, be it stones or rotten wood.

Just like the scene he had witnessed during the day.

...

Rainbow Alliance, main camp of the Silver Forest Spear.

”Captain, the Holy Serpent continues to patrol between areas A430275 and A430289.”

”Report, two squads of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team have advanced near the southern bank of the Golgon River.”

In the not-so-spacious marching tent, the hanging lamp on the ceiling swayed with the vibrations of the ground, causing the Silver Forest Spear’s attendant staff to protect the many paper documents and maps on the table. From time to time, Messenger Officials would push the door open as they passed by colleagues who were leaving.

KUN lifted his head.

”Don’t move, it’s out of focus again,” near KUN, Black Tea pushed her glasses up, irritation apparent in her tea-colored eyes. She raised her hands, aligning an invisible window with the former, ”You’re twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, how can you still be as restless as a child?”

KUN frowned.

”Don’t frown either, it looks terrible.”

The former took a sharp intake of cold air, ”Black Tea, stop filming for a moment, the real business is over here.”

Black Tea played with the air nonchalantly—though to the others, it appeared to be merely some interweaving rays of colored light—and answered, ”That won’t do, it’s the club’s decision from above. Of course, you could try persuading the investors. As a star player of the guild, they might give you some face.”

”They only give face to money.”

”Good that you know.”

”But they’re not here right now!”

”That doesn’t mean I won’t do my duty,” Black Tea replied, ”I have professional integrity.”

”But why do I feel like you’re enjoying this?” KUN glowered at her.

Black Tea bent her eyebrows, struggling to restrain herself from laughing; she didn’t want to infuriate the other party, ”Not at all, it’s just routine. Alright, you can continue to worry about your own matters, but remember not to show any unnecessary expressions.”

KUN’s face remained tight.

The people around lowered their heads and snickered.

That’s when a messenger hurried in and said, ”Captain, the Wind Detector just detected the target at position A430275 undergoing a transformation, splitting from one into two. One is considerably smaller, preliminarily estimated to be something that separated from the Holy Serpent.”

The tent suddenly fell silent.

”Glider!”

KUN and Black Tea exchanged looks.

Black Tea also realized the gravity of the situation and put down her ’camera’, ”Should we notify headquarters?”

KUN shook his head, ”Don’t rush it, have the drop location been calculated?”

The messenger nodded, ”The landing point should be in the southeastern part of the ruins.”

”Wait, the ruins?” Black Tea was somewhat surprised, ”Isn’t that where...”

”Do you have details on the troop distribution over there?” KUN interrupted her.

Black Tea thought for a moment, ”Half a battalion; they moved into that area not long ago. Scouts sent back the message this afternoon.”

”About forty people,” KUN repeated, ”Interesting. It’s not the main force of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, is it mercenaries?”

Black Tea nodded.

”Interesting,” KUN said as he walked to the table, his hands gently flattening the edge of the parchment map and mumbled to himself, ”The Descendants of Flor should be very aware that I’m here. Is this a deliberate exposure...or is there some deeper intent?”

His fingers traced over the rough map as he raised his head, ”Get the troops ready.”

”Wait a second,” Black Tea stopped him. ”KUN, two battalions of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team are still on the south bank of the Golgon River, and that thing inside the ruins...?”

But KUN answered, ”That’s why I say it’s an open strategy. No worries, just convey the orders. I’ll take responsibility if anything goes wrong.”

Black Tea went blank for a moment, then nodded her head.

...