Chapter 239: A Messy Relationship
“Where are they?”
Lena and Snow arrived at the designated meeting point in the Fran Black Market, but found no one matching the description.
Ten minutes had passed, and Lena was starting to worry.
“Who are we waiting for?”
Snow, dressed to the nines, stood beside Lena like a cold, beautiful flower, a perfect match.
“I wanted to give you a surprise…”
Lena, seeing Snow’s confusion, explained everything.
“They’re all here…”
Snow’s expression remained unchanged, as if it were a trivial matter.
Lena continued, “From what I know, Eileen, the alchemist, couldn’t make it because of her research, so it’s just the two of them, but you should be familiar with each other, having been teammates for so long…”
Snow shook her head slightly.
Although they were teammates, they weren’t close enough to trust each other completely.
Cheryl and Nicole were close, and Vanessa and Snow were childhood sweethearts, but there was a certain distance between them, a lack of trust.
And Snow’s personality was too independent, her cold demeanor making it difficult for others to approach her, leading to a strained relationship within the team.
“If only Eileen were here.”
Snow thought of the mischievous girl, her presence a balancing act within the team. Without Eileen, how would she face her teammates…?
“You seem a little scared,” Lena asked.
“Yes, I’m not good at talking.”
Snow admitted her weakness.
This was probably the reason why the team was still in its formative stages.
“It’s okay, I’m here, let’s use this opportunity to rebuild your relationships.”
Lena comforted her, taking Snow’s hand.
Cool and smooth, like a piece of jade.
Snow felt a surge of strength, with Lena by her side, she had no more worries, no need to consider the possibility of failure.
Yes, this was wonderful…
They wandered aimlessly.
Lena took Snow to many places, asking many people, but the answer was always the same.
“If we can’t find them, we’ll have to go to the market manager, although I’d rather not.”
The Fran Black Market, although a lawless place, was secretly controlled by the empire, a money-making machine.
But the empire rarely interfered in its operations, only appointing a few managers to maintain a semblance of order, like a fish farm, where survival depended on one’s own strength.
After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a three-story apartment building.
Flowers and plants grew on the balcony, ivy creeping up the walls.
The door was open, a cobblestone path flanked by two fountains, but the water was black and smelly, the fountains clearly not maintained.
“This should be it.”
Lena had been here once before, and had even fought with the market manager. She wondered if it was still the same person.
They entered, one after the other, as if it were their own home.
With her newfound strength, the things she had once feared were no longer a threat.
As the saying went, confidence changed everything, and confidence stemmed from within, a strong mind, a strong person.
“Is anyone here?” Lena called out in the lobby.
She looked around, a sound coming from an inconspicuous room.
Snow tiptoed over, and just as she was about to approach, a voice called out, “Stop!”
Two burly men jumped down from the second floor.
They wore heavy armor, their waists wrapped in steel cables, their expressions fierce.
“Such a warm welcome?”
Lena smiled faintly. “But you don’t seem very friendly, move aside.”
She didn’t want to start a fight.
Once she found the person she was looking for, she would leave.
“The manager isn’t here,” one of the men said coldly. “There was a disturbance, he went to the northwest gate.”
“Are you his dogs? I haven’t even asked, and you’re already answering for him.”
Lena sat down on the sofa, her arms spread, her legs crossed, as if she had no intention of leaving.
Snow sat beside her, her hand always on her blade.
If anything happened, this apartment would be reduced to rubble in a flash of her blade—with her current strength, it wouldn’t be difficult.
The power of the Divine Artifact was too great.
Strong enough to ignore rank, race, even rules.
The two men’s expressions were grim, but they didn’t do anything rash.
What could they do now?
Only wait.
Wait until this troublesome star left, or until the manager returned.
After all, they were just small fries, they couldn’t afford to offend the Falmouths.
“Don’t you have anything to offer your guests? Tea or something?”
Lena’s voice made them shiver, and Snow drew her blade slightly, its cold glint terrifying.
“We have coffee…”
The man gulped, rummaging through a cabinet and taking out a bottle of beans.
Lena opened it and sniffed, frowning. “Forget it.”
The coffee beans were damp, the owner of this apartment must have no taste, a boring person.
The men stood silently by the door, their heads lowered, not daring to breathe.
“Miss…”
After a long while, a timid voice spoke.
“I’m Maria, my father will be back soon.”
A girl with short, blonde hair approached, carrying two cups of hot water.
She was plain-looking, but her blue eyes were filled with a vibrant spirit, like a fresh wildflower.
“And your father is?”
Lena sipped the water.
The tea bag inside was clearly handmade.
This gave the tea-loving Lena a good impression.
“Hollis, my father’s name.”
Maria said shyly.
“Mm, I remember.”
Lena recalled a scarred face.
The scar was real, Hollis had once been a handsome man, but after offending someone, he had been left with an permanent scar.
Yes, that person was Lena.
“So many managers, and I had to run into him again, what a coincidence.”
Lena affectionately wrapped her arm around Snow’s waist, kissing her cheek.
This scene, in the eyes of the naive Maria, made her blush.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
Lena took Snow’s hand, their fingers intertwined.
Her actions were self-evident, a public display of affection, and also a form of revenge.
When Mia had first opened her succubus brothel in the Imperial City, Lena had personally handled everything, pulling strings, overcoming obstacles.
However, some of her jealous competitors had bribed the market manager, who had then led a group of thugs to destroy Mia’s shop, even injuring Mia.
Lena had been furious.
She had found the mastermind, beheaded him, and displayed his head in the center of the Fran Black Market for seven days, then dealt with the others, one by one, leaving a permanent mark on their faces with her necromantic magic.
And Hollis was one of the bribed managers, who had almost died at Lena’s hands.
“Oh, I remember now, you were the little one who stood in my way.”
Lena narrowed her eyes, looking at the familiar girl.
Just like the pleading little girl from her memories, Lena had spared her father, Hollis, because of Maria’s cries.
And Hollis was the only surviving manager.
“Hehe, did your father ever thank you?”
“What… do you mean?”
Maria didn’t understand, the beautiful woman before her suddenly seemed terrifying.
“You saved him, and you saved this family, you’re a hero,” Lena’s voice was surprisingly gentle. “You were so brave back then, your legs trembling, your body shivering, yet you possessed the courage to face danger head-on.”
Lena admired children who could stand up in times of crisis.
This showed Maria possessed a spirit others lacked.
The more precarious the situation, the more resilience and courage were needed.
Lena had seen this quality in a child.
“Do you want to join the [Doves]?”
“The Doves, what’s that…?”
“Hehe, just a small, unknown organization, want to give it a try? You have a lot of potential.”
Lena was like a peddler at the village entrance.
A candy in one hand, a lie in the other, luring Maria in.
“But I don’t know you.”
Maria shrank back, her hands hidden in her sleeves.
“We know each other now, you’re Maria, and I’m Lena…”
“Bastard! Stay away from my daughter!”
A loud shout.
Hollis rushed in, scooping up the bewildered Maria, quickly putting some distance between them.
“Dad,” Maria hugged Hollis’s neck.
“It’s okay, Daddy’s here, she won’t get you!”
Hollis didn’t want a repeat of the past, he wouldn’t let that disaster happen again.
Lena was a complete and utter gray devil!
He would protect his family this time!!
“Don’t be like that, your daughter is lovely, I didn’t do anything…”
“Your presence here is a mistake!”
“Tsk.”
Lena clicked her tongue.
Why did she feel like she was the bad guy? The cause of all this was him, yet he could turn around and blame her…
“I’m the victim here, I hope you choose your words carefully.”
Lena sneered, her gaze contemptuous.
This world had truly changed, the good were being targeted, the wicked were free, standing on the moral high ground, pointing fingers, just because they were weaker, did that mean they didn’t have to take responsibility for their past sins?
So, after thirty years, when the time for revenge came, and the enemy was old and gray, should one simply forgive?
Ridiculous!
Lena wouldn’t spare any sinner.
Even if they didn’t remember, their sins would forever be borne by those they had harmed.
This sin, Hollis could never escape.
“You’ve branded everyone involved with an indelible scar… but the mastermind is already dead, they died eight years ago! I’m begging you, please leave my family alone…”
Hollis’s emotions were on the verge of collapse, and he was about to kneel and beg for Lena’s forgiveness.
“Having fun?”
But a playful voice from the doorway interrupted him.
A cute girl with a cowboy hat, riding a sleek black panther, slowly entered.
Under everyone’s gaze, she swayed her long, white legs, carefree and elegant.
“Yo, Boss!”
Cheryl recognized the most iconic hair color in the hall, greeting Lena. “I thought you had bailed on us, I just went out to look for you.”
She gently stroked the panther’s head, nuzzling against its smooth fur.
“Go on, go play.”
Cheryl sent the panther away, then bowed elegantly to Lena.
Her demeanor was slightly androgynous, including her short, blue hair, its ends curled, like a cute little jellyfish.
“Cheryl?”
Lena asked tentatively.
“You have a good eye, Boss, you recognized me immediately,” Cheryl grinned.
“Where’s Nicole…?”
“Her? She’s probably outside feeding Sasha, I’ll go check.”
Cheryl ran off, disappearing in a flash.
Her fiery personality was hard to grasp, but the Falmouths needed her energy, her fresh blood.
Soon, Cheryl returned.
A black-haired girl behind her, also with short hair, but with natural curls, a bob cut, her figure petite, barely 1.5 meters tall.
“Hello.”
Lena greeted them one by one.
“Boss,” Nicole nodded slightly, bowing with her shield on her back.
It was her habit, she always carried her shield, even while eating and sleeping, ready to protect her teammates at any moment.
“By the way, Boss, were you arguing just now?”
Cheryl, ever the gossip, tried to dig up some dirt, and Hollis’s face darkened.
Anyone could see that Lena was the person they were looking for, in other words, if he caused any trouble now, he would be offending three high-ranking experts.
Thinking of this, Hollis could only smile wryly. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have…”
“Uncle, why so glum? Cheer up, face life with a smile, and your days will be brighter!” Cheryl encouraged the dejected Hollis, trying to comfort him with some chicken soup for the soul.
“Boss, what’s wrong with this uncle?”
“He’s being a hypocrite, trying to guilt-trip me.”
Lena sneered, she wouldn’t give him an easy way out, even if Cheryl asked her to.
Hypocrite!
But his daughter was quite talented, if she could join the [Doves], it would be great.
Perhaps Lena would forgive him for Maria’s sake.
“I’m leaving.”
“Leaving already?”
Snow, having finished her cup, appeared before them.
She came to Lena’s side, hugging her gently, then faced her long-lost teammates, her voice cold. “You’re here too.”
“…Snow?! Y-you… what are you doing here?! Wait, Boss, Snow, what’s your relationship…?”
Cheryl’s eyes turned into spirals.
This relationship was so messy, she couldn’t make sense of it.
