Dylan Banyan did not mention a word about this conflict in his report.
The apparent restraint and poise on the surface did not contradict the dark savagery in the shadows.
Dylan knew full well the price he had paid for his current power—the full support of his family, who spared no expense to acquire rare heavy flying Cadavers for him, the vast sums spent to hire and train his retinue, and his own younger brother Dewey Banyan, who had been by his side since childhood. They were brothers who had supported each other through countless life-and-death battles, swearing never to part—until Dylan personally pushed him into the void of the Singularity…
The Singularity demanded nothing but “beautiful things.”
Dylan sincerely offered his beloved brother, and in response, the Singularity granted him a powerful extraordinary ability: “Human Nemesis.”
Yet, three generations of effort, the sacrifice of flesh-and-blood kin, and his relentless pursuit of progress all became a joke in front of that little girl.
Dylan’s long-held beliefs were utterly shattered. He had been instantly killed in a direct confrontation, and no matter how many more times he tried, the outcome would not change. He could only bow his head and play dead, while a strong sense of unreality surged in his heart.
Having fought against three factions in succession, she had held back at the end—if not, she could have slaughtered everyone present. Even so, she still seemed to have strength to spare. Her body had been repeatedly soaked and crusted with blood, forming a patina, yet the Trial Judge’s disciple turned out to be such a monster…
Ashley did not linger. She bid farewell to the Monster Lolita Delwei and followed the medical team back to Fountain City.
Nina and Claire were transferred to the hospital. Nina’s injuries were not severe, but the surgery was complicated, requiring her shattered bones to be pieced back together bit by bit. Claire needed long-term care, but fortunately, it was a work injury, so the costs were reimbursable, along with paid medical leave.
Dylan’s team had suddenly torn off their facade and resorted to robbery, which made Ashley realize one thing—the Tribunal, beyond its core structure, had many independent forces attached as affiliates under the guise of cooperation.
High-ranking cadres kept private armies under the name of retinues. They not only had licenses for private plundering but also legal rights to harm the weak.
This was normal enough. How could extraordinary individuals possibly clock in at the Tribunal for a few pounds a week?
Aside from the internal factions of “righteous partners”—like Amber, from a red-blooded background—the rest were flexible enforcers who could rip off their masks at any moment, revealing their true nature as jackals, wolves, and tigers.
However, for Ashley, compared to dogmatic justice, she preferred flexible enforcement.
At the very least, it shouldn’t be that others could kill her without regard for the law, while her fighting back made her a heinous, inhuman monster. That would be too disgusting.
Dylan’s team’s “leading by example” instead pointed Ashley in a direction—become a high-ranking cadre, form her own extraordinary team, and gain privileges.
Moreover, with her at the core, the extraordinaries in her team would all be her ammo pouches, setting out with full magazines every day.
[Saint Dormer Community – Dormitory – Bathroom]
Ashley struggled to peel off her hardened, crusted clothes. She adjusted the water temperature and let the showerhead rain down on her. Once her hair was wet, the sticky blood clots quickly dissolved, forming thick streams of dark blood.
The filthy rivulets washed over her tender, snow-white body. On the tiled floor, clear water clustered around her dainty feet, parting around her plump, cute toes before reconverging nearby and noisily draining away.
“No matter how much I wash, it doesn’t feel clean…”
Ashley gathered her silky hair and sniffed lightly at her nose. Despite using plenty of shampoo and soap, a faint bloody scent lingered.
Perhaps she should use some Family Spirit Elixir to reinforce her hair, making it as smooth as silk so that no drop of blood could cling to it.
After cleaning up, she changed into loose pure cotton clothes and headed to the hospital to visit Nina.
“Rose Blood Drain” was an ability she wanted to keep long-term, so she needed to find a way to recruit her.
At the door of the ward, Ashley pondered her words. How should she broach it…? “Would you like to become my ammo pouch?” No, that sounded too scheming.
She knocked and entered, placed the fruit basket on the bedside table, and asked about the girl’s condition.
Nina struggled to sit up and expressed her gratitude.
If not for Ashley’s unintentional help, with the Sheep-Head People’s intervention, she never could have achieved her revenge on her own.
Suddenly, Nina remembered something. She tugged open the collar of her hospital gown and pointed to her chest, now fully healed:
“Miss Ashley, look—because my vow of revenge was fulfilled, the void disappeared. If your companion’s wish is fulfilled, her void will vanish too.”
“Eh…”
Ashley guiltily averted her gaze. Damn it, they’d already broken up—how was she supposed to fulfill Amber’s wish now?
A breakup fling…?
She covered her flushed, burning little face with both hands, thinking, I’m not that kind of casual girl. Let the silly loli handle it herself, hee hee. It’s not like the void is on my body anyway.
Snapping back to reality, Ashley looked at Nina and mentioned the results of the case trial.
“The main members of the Boothslot Family were charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, cannibalism, mind control, illegal detention, and over three hundred other counts, including multiple crimes against humanity. All of them were sentenced to hanging.”
“That’s great.” The girl on the bed nodded lightly, a weight lifting from her shoulders.
“According to inheritance law, all of Bull Town’s assets now belong to you under your name. Are you going back to be the town mayor?” Ashley asked.
“No,” Nina had already decided. She shook her head. “I plan to sell off the assets and settle in Fountain City.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she bit her lip, holding back tears. “Who would want to live in a heartbreaking place where my mother suffered so much?”
Seeing the right moment, Ashley sat on the edge of the bed, took her hand in feigned comfort, and smoothly followed up:
“How about joining my team? We surprisingly get along well.”
“But…” Nina bit her lip, embarrassed. “I’ve already promised Miss Chloe to become an investigative reporter. If you’d come a bit earlier, I definitely would have said yes.”
“No problem, we’ll be friends.” Ashley said with a wry smile.
“Tch tch tch, you dense one is always a step behind~!”
The bathroom door creaked open, and Chloe poked her head out, her eyes curved into crescents.
“You little…”
“Don’t worry, we’re all your people—the whole news agency is. We’re the Ashley support squad!”
Ashley brushed back her bangs, thinking that these two shared a bond of life and death. Even if she’d come earlier, she’d still have been politely refused… Still, Chloe was a battle-tested partner, so copying Nina’s ability was a natural progression.
[Ramhorn Street – Amber’s Home]
The wind lifted the thin, gauze-like curtains, brushing over the Little Flowerure lying flat on the bed.
Her light nightgown was soaked through by the cool breeze, sending a chilling tightness across her skin.
Her budding breasts and slender waist were wrapped in the sheer silk fabric, outlining their shapes. The hem extended down her slim, straight legs.
Her little feet looked unusually petite, with delicate arches and slender ankles like carved jade, tempting one to hold them in one’s palm.
After a while, she shifted to a side-lying, curled-up position. Her little hands clutched like a cat’s paws, covering her lips and nose, with sad murmurs leaking through her fingers.
“Ashley doesn’t want Amber anymore…”
“If Amber did something wrong, then punish Amber. Amber isn’t afraid of pain…”
“Why throw her away just like that…?”
“Even an old toy deserves a moment’s hesitation before being discarded, right…?”
“Wah… Amber isn’t even as good as an old toy…”
“Amber feels so wronged…”
She covered her mouth to stifle her sobs, curling her body tighter. Her toes scrunched up, her little feet twisting back and forth as if wrestling with each other—or like two soft white Cleaning Slugs entwined together.
Her fingers touched the location of the void, from whose depths came a hungry wail, as if calling Ashley’s name.
“What am I going to do…?”
In the past, whenever she faced difficulties, she went to her teacher for help. But now, her teacher was occupied with important matters, and the office stood empty.
After thinking for a bit, Amber clenched her little fists and muttered to herself:
“Even if I’ve been abandoned, I can’t let that jerk Ashley look down on me.”
