Facing Amber’s doubts, Brady Beck calmly stated his principles.
“Even if the attack happened in the city, I’d retreat if we were outmatched. Besides, Card Court Society’s operation this time isn’t a terrorist attack on civilians. The Tribunal’s assigned points multiplier is low. Even if we resolve it, we won’t get many points, and compensating for battle losses would be an issue…”
Amber’s mouth fell open in shock.
“That’s reality, Agent Amber.”
Another senior cadre, Gloria Murray, shrugged and sighed.
“We’re sorry about Chief Inspector Ashley’s plight, but we can’t risk our subordinates’ lives.”
Amber was stunned by this exquisitely self-serving calculus. She’d always thought the Tribunal would help anyone in trouble without hesitation, especially when rescuing a colleague—they should act without a second thought.
“How can you be like this…”
Amber’s lips trembled like leaves in the wind, her little face paling. After holding back for a long time, she broke down and shouted,
“Once you put on the Tribunal uniform, you should desperately uphold that glory!”
The atmosphere turned eerily quiet. No one responded.
After a moment, Gloria smiled and asked,
“If—and I’m just saying if—Chief Inspector Ashley unfortunately dies, would you be interested in joining my team?”
“Hey! Your captain isn’t dead yet, and you’re already poaching? That’s too rude!” Brady said displeased.
“No choice. Last month in Dance Snake City, tracking a tobacco smuggling case, we lost six people—two dead, four permanently disabled. We need to replenish manpower.”
The woman smoothed a strand of curly green hair from her forehead. Her deep indigo eye makeup looked weary and lifeless, her tone filled with helplessness.
“That’s a heavy loss.”
“Isn’t it? But in that incident, I got a batch of good stuff—smuggled from the Fog People. After deducting pensions, there’s still plenty left. They say the right dosage can evolve the body toward a gaseous lifeform.”
…
Their casual conversation infuriated Amber. She finally saw how vastly different her worldview was from theirs.
Roy, more experienced, got straight to the point once back on shore.
“Tell me, what’s the price to get you to act.”
At the mention of price, their attitudes shifted immediately, though they doubted Ashley’s wealth.
After all, Ashley’s involvement in the Rift City incident wasn’t public knowledge—only Tribunal higher-ups and the Hundred People Assembly captains who voted on loot distribution plans had heard whispers.
Thus, they insisted on spot transactions.
Amber quickly pulled out the Roaming Fish Metal Lifeform.
Gloria’s eyes lit up; she recognized it as a treasure and wanted to haggle.
“Hmm… Well, this thing is valuable, but I don’t lack Metal Lifeforms. Do you have anything else?”
Amber took out her little coin purse and offered it with both hands.
“Ha? Just this little money? Is the wallet itself made of extraordinary material?”
Gloria flipped through it, dumping the contents of the pink piggy wallet onto the ground. She carefully kneaded the fabric, puzzled.
“Feels like ordinary faux leather…”
“I… I have a Little Flower… If it can save Ashley… please take it!”
The Little Doctor sidled over, lifting her clothes to reveal her soft, pale belly.
After temporarily reconciling with the Blood Nobles, Ashley had returned the Fig to her to prevent hormone deficiencies needed for growth.
“Ha?”
Gloria couldn’t understand what she was saying and pointed at the silver Metal Lifeform.
“If you have another treasure of this level, we’ll make our move… You okay with that, Brady?”
“No objections.” The young search officer shook his head.
“Greedy bastards…” Amber realized they were taking advantage of her desperation.
“But you don’t want your captain to die on that ship, do you?”
“…”
Just as Amber was about to agree, suddenly, a black shadow tore through the sky, streaking against the morning light blooming in the east like a dark arrow aimed straight at the sun!
“Yay! It’s the Great Raven!” The Little Doctor bounced in place, cheering.
Then, a small dot cast from the shadow followed a parabolic arc toward the ground. It grew larger in the crowd’s shocked eyes before crashing down with a deafening explosion! The shockwave kicked up a fierce cloud of dust!
The two search officers shouted enemy attack. Chaos ensued as tactical team members scrambled for cover, some deploying portable barriers to form shield walls, bracing for combat.
From the swirling dust emerged a slender, snow-white leg, its heel a elongated purple crystal that made her already lithe, elongated figure stand even more solitary and striking.
The Bug Lolita’s form gradually came into focus. She stepped gracefully with pursed thin lips, treading over the spiderweb cracks in the pavement as she approached the group.
Except for the Little Doctor who rushed forward, everyone stared dumbfounded at this breathtakingly beautiful existence.
“Mingyue!”
The Little Doctor was so excited she nearly cried, dodging the sharp thorn-legs extending along the Bug Lolita’s contours while hugging her icy, hard body.
Mingyue’s upper face was covered in purple insect shell, her lower face like flawless jade, expression unreadable.
Her antennae twitched in confusion, unable to comprehend the human loli’s intentions.
She touched Yinsu Helin’s forehead with an antenna but gained no information.
It seemed she needed to learn human language quickly…
Meanwhile, the two search officers behind cover were drenched in cold sweat.
Human? Or bug?
Every component of the Bug Lolita’s body gleamed like polished gems—pure, perfect, radiant—instilling a sense of inferiority…
They felt relieved it wasn’t an enemy. The mere unconscious pressure of her life level was nearly suffocating. The impact from crashing from the sky was like taking a cannon shell head-on. If she attacked, they’d likely be wiped out swiftly…
–
On the cruise ship.
Ashley turned the corner and saw a woman in a dress running toward her, shouting, “Help!”
Who asks a loli for help? Her acting was too fake. A new Night Devil?
Ashley turned and ran.
All of Card Court Society’s abilities were known; the biggest threats were the Night Devil’s Hand Shadow and Tixiang’s assassinations.
As long as she kept moving, Tixiang couldn’t get close.
The only trouble was not knowing who the new Night Devil was, meaning she had to suspect every unfamiliar face.
Ashley resolved: Next suspicious person she met, no chit-chat—just a shot to the head. Ordinary people weren’t allowed on this ship anyway.
Taking another route, she gripped her Pocket Revolver tightly. Rounding the bend, she suddenly collided with a little loli wiping tears with chubby hands, whimpering and sobbing.
Her finger hesitated on the trigger for a split second, but the loli’s hand had already risen, her small scissors snapping shut.
Ashley’s heart throbbed in pain. Her pupils dilated as she collapsed uncontrollably, her small body twitching faintly.
“Hehehe!”
A woman’s laughter echoed in the air. Tixiang hadn’t shown herself but was speaking.
“Good job, my little Shirley. I took you out of the orphanage and gave you a life without worries just for this moment!”
Though praised by “Mommy,” the little loli with sheep-horn braids had wide pupils and trembled all over, too guilty to look at Ashley on the ground.
“Come, my baby, pick up the gun and shoot the big sister in the head—keep shooting!”
Sherry covered her face with both hands and burst into tears.
“Useless! I’ll punish you when we get back!”
Seeing she wouldn’t shoot, Tixiang cursed, lifted her veil, picked up Ashley’s revolver from nearby, and pulled the trigger at her head repeatedly!
Bang bang bang bang!
With each shot, Ashley’s little body jerked, blood flowing from the bullet wounds.
