As White Pearl’s thoughts turned, the three tactical teams moved to the corridor above.
They wore tight-sleeved, cinched-waist uniforms that highlighted their sleek and flexible physiques.
Dozens of joints were evenly distributed along their arms, soft and supple like long whips.
With an arm span exceeding two meters, razor-sharp feathers grew along the sides of their forearms. These could instantly pop out to form an exaggerated slashing fan, and the outer edges of the feathers could even slice through steel.
This was the third type of transcendent team in the family’s roster—the Nailspike team, under White Pearl’s command. From this, it was clear that she was even more favored by the patriarch than the first-in-line heir, Yedu.
With just a single order from her, the Nailspike team would rip open the movable floorboards and drop from above, then swing their blades mercilessly—whether the targets were little lolis or frail young girls—until everything was reduced to unrecognizable chunks of meat!
The Tribunal’s Seventh Group could only field four people: Amber on the outside, former captain Roy, Claire who had just recovered from her injuries, and even logistics staffer Avery Vogt.
White Pearl hesitated.
Jingsi Lake District was 120 kilometers from Fountain City. If she acted ruthlessly and cleaned up thoroughly, the Tribunal wouldn’t find any evidence and thus couldn’t touch her.
But that approach was too extreme; she didn’t want to antagonize the Tribunal too badly, so it could only be considered a middling plan.
The best plan was to subdue these people first, then relocate Lady Charlotte.
Without evidence, the Tribunal couldn’t convict them, even if the person was snatched right from under their noses.
At that moment, White Pearl’s gaze fell on the black-haired loli’s righteous little face, and suddenly, a bold idea struck her.
From Ashley’s relationship chart, Amber had the shortest and closest connection to her.
If she captured Amber and sent Ashley a jar with her ears, eyes, hands, or feet floating inside, Ashley would absolutely crumble. Then, she could manipulate her however she wanted.
Make your move!
A host of cruel ideas surfaced in her mind, and White Pearl subtly signaled with a tactical hand gesture!
But the anticipated scene of the Nailspike team descending from above never happened.
She looked up, puzzled at the ceiling, when suddenly her pupils contracted!
Blood oozed from the cracks in the ceiling, gradually gathering into a large droplet that trembled and fell, gleaming like polished agate.
Drip… drip…
No sounds of fighting, no screams—just a maddening silence, broken only by the blood dripping from everywhere, filling the entire long corridor. What had happened?!
A drop of blood splattered onto Amber’s fair little face, wriggling like a worm as it slowly trailed over her delicate features, but she showed no reaction. Her eyes were like a serene lake in a snowy mountain—calm and icy.
Thud, thud, thud…
Heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell, each one pounding at the foundations of White Pearl’s rationality, making her tremble all over.
After what felt like a century of waiting, a group of people in solemn white robes appeared at the end of the corridor.
Seeing the sharp buzz-cut elder at the lead, White Pearl’s heart jolted, her eyes filled with disbelief!
The Tribunal’s second-in-command, Second Trial Judge Meroi Nico!
After containing the King Insect and returning it to the research institute, Meroi had stayed in the city to hold down the fort at Whitehall in Letisia’s place.
“You despicable bastards! You’re engaging in entrapment!” White Pearl’s tone carried a sense of aggrieved fury. The moment she saw Meroi, she knew the Nailspike team had been completely wiped out. The opponents hadn’t shown themselves at first, instead dangling Amber right in front of her— what else could it be but fishing for her?
In response, the elder with the classically sculpted features raised his hand and dug at his earwax.
“No choice—failing to meet quotas means deductions from my pay! Hahaha, I’m just an old fogey who even gets his hot water from the office. How could I let them dock my salary?”
Hearing the old cadre’s hearty laugh, Amber’s eyes flickered. She hadn’t expected the Meroi who usually lounged in coral fleece pajamas in his office like a hibernating bear to look so tall and upright in formal attire, towering like a peak.
The atmosphere here was relaxed, but over there, it felt like plunging into an ice cave.
White Pearl didn’t even entertain the thought of resisting. Forget her fledgling wings—even if the whole family mobilized, they wouldn’t be Meroi’s match.
She knew exactly what to do now: surrender with hands up, obey every command, and avoid being treated as resisting arrest and getting her clip emptied.
Once she reached the police station, she’d be safe. The family would get her the best lawyer, and as for the kidnapping of Charlotte, they could just pin it on some scapegoat.
The moment the handcuffs clicked onto her wrists, White Pearl actually breathed a sigh of relief.
—
Danzhu Estate.
Lesoto’s head became the twelfth mask on the Ancestor Cassock.
Thereafter, Ashley and Xixi encountered no real resistance.
“Gugu gugu!”
The Blue-Haired Loli clucked and cooed as she dashed ahead, leading a large flock of Little Chicks down the mountain path.
They scampered like wild animals foraging in the ruins of an abandoned human city, weaving through crumbled walls, leaping over shattered marble statues, threading past rose and lavender beds crushed by falling rocks, rustling all the while.
When the faint morning light broke, rain began to fall.
The Little Chicks were heated from the exertion, their fluffy feathers steaming with warmth. The white mist from their breaths merged into a cloud, hazy and floating in the gentle drizzle.
“I never thought the day would come when I’d personally bring down an ancient family,” Ashley sighed. “It’s a shame they fell just because they crossed us, not due to any reckoning of justice.”
“As harsh as it sounds, transcendents hold privileges. In some isolated areas, the cruel rule of the strong is commonplace—oppression and enslavement are routine. The Scripps are a medical dynasty with a revered public image, essentially the Blood Nobles’ spokespeople. For them to fear dirtying their feathers already makes them relatively clean,” Xixi said.
“Where’d they hide the Primordial Blood and Crow Clan tech? Should we go back and search?”
“No time. Searching a whole mountain for hidden chambers would take forever, and the other Blood Noble families could arrive any moment.”
Though they had thoroughly crushed the enemy, Xixi’s expression wasn’t relaxed. She glanced at Ashley and continued:
“The Crow and Sheep families are lower-tier in the Twelve Branches of Blood Nobles—even their inheritances are shaky. The upper-tier families are much harder to deal with. They have minimal ties to human society, operating only in the transcendent world with top-tier decision-makers. They avoid pointless conflicts with other powers. You should understand: one wrong decision, and both sides end up walking a tightrope—like you with the Crow and Sheep families.”
Ashley nodded silently. Indeed, though they’d won this battle, it held no positive significance—filled with arrogance, prejudice, and overreactions.
She could afford to be willful alone before, but now she wasn’t alone. She had a bunch of lolis to look after, and personal emotional venting wasn’t as important as stable development.
“So what do we do next?” Ashley asked humbly.
Xixi turned to Chloe on the other side. “I know you’re angry, but please hold off on reporting this for now.”
The reporter loli nodded vigorously, her eyes wide. “As your collaborator, anything beneficial to Ashley, I’m happy to go along with.”
Back in the city, Xixi tallied the rescued: a total of 61 people. She housed them in a hotel, forbidding them from wandering, though those with family in the city could return home—but no blabbing.
Meanwhile, Meroi and Amber escorted White Pearl back.
Chloe reunited with her mother, and the two embraced in tears.
A few days later, Ashley and Xixi were invited to the reception room at the Whitehall Street Tribunal.
At the door, Ashley paused, glancing at Yedulahnada sitting on the corridor bench. His hands were clenched in front of him, head bowed low like a mourner at a funeral—utterly still.
“Why’s he here?” Ashley asked curiously.
“Just waiting for notice. Losers don’t get a seat at the negotiation table,” Xixi said coldly.
