Shortly after the first four left the docks, another spacecraft landed. Four brown-skinned passengers stepped out, speaking the same dialect. They had already changed into local Hualan clothing, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
“Remember, the Madam wants us to find her before the royal guard does.”
“The moment we locate her, kill her.”
“If she lives, we are the ones who die.”
“Understood.”
Just as these eight foreigners set foot in Hualan, a message flashed on the phone Jing Pei reserved for her broker persona.
“They’re here,” Jing Pei murmured, resting her chin in her hand. On the screen, her phone displayed the update. Beside her, Tao Ying fought a losing battle against her heavy eyelids, trying to pay attention to the lecture.
Jing Pei glanced at the whiteboard. The teacher’s explanation was trivial, but to keep her cover intact as a good student who had no time for trouble, attending class was necessary.
Fortunately, her network of capable hands had grown. She rarely had to lift a finger herself anymore. Aside from major plot points, she only needed to act as the mastermind behind the scenes, giving commands and coordinating the grand scheme.
She tapped her keyboard, sending a message to Isaac.
“Ugh! This is torture!” In a distant hideout, Lolita, clad in a gorgeous red dress, threw her head back and groaned. “I’m dying of boredom!”
Isaac emerged from the kitchen, holding two plates of noodles. “Lunch is ready.”
“We’ve been cooped up here for a month! A whole month!” Lolita slammed her fork and knife onto the table. “I need fresh air! I want to work! I’m losing my mind! When is that damn broker going to let us out?”
“Hualan issued a nationwide warrant. They published photos of us at different ages. It’s too hot out there right now,” Isaac said calmly, adjusting his glasses. “Be patient.”
Their encounter with Qiu Fa had been their worst defeat. Normally, they never left a face behind, or they silenced everyone who saw them. But Qiu Fa was different. Instead of killing him, they had nearly ended up dead themselves.
“Bored!”
“That hurts, sweetheart. Is being with me really that dull?”
Lolita immediately stopped her tantrum. She cupped his face with both hands. “Oh, Isaac, my love, you know that’s not what I meant. I can’t live without you.”
“I can’t live without you either.”
They kissed, squeezing onto a single chair, lost in each other. Soon, high heels flew off, skirts and trousers were cast aside, and the table began to shake.
Amidst the heat, Isaac’s phone buzzed. It was their new Hualan SIM card, a number known only to their temporary boss.
They ignored it. They held no real respect for their savior. The rescue alone wasn’t enough to secure their loyalty. If a chance to slip out of Hualan appeared, they would abandon the broker’s tasks without a second thought.
Besides, if it were an actual emergency, she would call instead of texting.
They only opened the message two hours later.
[Take Lolita and move to this location. Do not leave under any circumstances until further notice. Food and supplies will be delivered to you. [Address]]
Isaac stared at the screen, stunned. Lolita leaned over his shoulder, her chin resting on his collarbone. “What is it? Ask him what he wants.”
Isaac typed a quick reply.
The broker, not bothered by their late reply, answered almost right away.
[A group from the Kingdom of Pymeshire just arrived in Hualan.]
Lolita’s face turned white.
Isaac remained composed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He pocketed the phone, draped a coat over Lolita’s bare shoulders, and began packing. “Let’s move to the broker’s location first. He went through the trouble of stealing us from Qiu Fa and warned us about the Pymeshiren group. He must have a specific use for us, which means he won’t hand us over. The hideout should be safe.”
Lolita dressed in a rush, her playful demeanor completely gone. “Is the broker sure they are hunting us?”
“It’s the warrant. They saw our photos on the Hualan database.” Isaac felt a pang of regret. He had overlooked that possibility.
“Damn it. We never should have taken Tang Woxue’s contract. The payoff wasn’t worth the trouble.”
Having packed their belongings, they met Jin Ji, whom Jing Pei had sent to escort them.
Hiding one’s scent and voice completely in this world was nearly impossible unless one stepped into another dimension. Yet, unregistered spatial bubbles were rare, as the Hualan government controlled almost every single one.
To solve this, Jing Pei picked a very unusual hiding spot: the abandoned bubble of the Atavist Genetics Control Organization, which used to be run by Miss Hong.
The government had already cleared the facility, leaving it empty. The Tribunal Division had changed the locks, meaning no one could enter without the key.
And that key was currently in the hands of Mei Yanlan, the second-strongest fighter in the Tribunal Division.
As the massive gate of the bubble sealed shut, the connection between the two worlds severed. Even the wind could not pierce that invisible barrier of spacetime.
Time slipped away like a horse galloping through a narrow crevice.
On the international stage, the Kingdom of Punia—a country once crippled by a genetic plague engineered by the shadow organization—had risen. With the sparks of hope preserved, a fire of rebellion swept through the nation, surrounding the royal palace.
Normally, if the royal guards hadn’t turned their backs on the monarchy, the conflict would have dragged on for a year. But foreign powers intervened. Highly pure atavists were priceless assets, and no government wanted to miss a chance to recruit them.
With their defenses chipped away, the royal family and nobles were captured or forced to flee. The people of Punia triumphed.
The country was renamed the Republic of Punia, with the revolutionary leader, Musani, sworn in as its first president.
The world applauded.
Meanwhile, in Hualan, after a month of fierce political battles, the results for the head of the Nevergone District local government were finalized. Min Jing won the election by a landslide, becoming the first district head.
She wasn’t as aggressive as other gang leaders, and her mutual aid association was smaller, but her integrity was undeniable.
Unlike the Qianlong Gang, who fed only the young and strong while ignoring the elderly and children, her victory surprised no one. Besides, the public whispered that the Min family had a powerful atavist clan backing them from the shadows.
Over the following month, the foundations of the district government were quickly established, and the reconstruction of Nevergone District began in earnest.
Only then did the Hualan government release official updates. Having kept the “man-eating” nature of the district a secret, they chose not to mention the Spacetime Worm. However, certain insiders broke into a cold sweat upon hearing the news.
“They’re redeveloping Nevergone District? Why weren’t we informed? If they’re building there, does it mean the Spacetime Worm is dead?”
“It has been too long. Our moles in the government either didn’t know the secret or failed to realize how the worm’s presence affected our plans.”
“Don’t panic. Even if they know about the worm, they won’t link it to us. The damage is minimal.”
“Who killed the creature?”
“Long Jin.”
“The Azure Dragon of the Long family?”
“I heard she is close friends with the daughter of the district head. She bought the intel from the broker.”
“That broker again? How does that bastard have everything? Can we buy the name of the traitor who leaked the password to the membrane-breaking machine? We’ve peeled the skin off several suspects, and still, no one has confessed!”
“Do you think I haven’t tried? Do you know his asking price? Do you know how little funding we have left?”
“Nothing has gone right lately.”
The war in Punia didn’t directly involve them, but the events leading up to it did. Their main way of making money was by draining wealth through poisoning other countries. Punia used to be a very profitable source of income.
But Miss Hong’s exposure had ruined several wealthy shareholders and their conglomerates. Furthermore, the failure of the Bubble 109 crisis and the success of the 8.20 Conference made the remaining backers hesitant. Their research required massive capital, and headquarters was struggling to pay salaries.
“Twelve Zodiac Academy has resumed classes, but the Feng, Chen, and Tang families are still keeping their children grounded. They won’t accept this defeat quietly. We still have a chance.”
“Our immediate priority is cash! Our capital chain is snapping. The research on the Atavist Serum is showing promise, and the membrane-breaking machine is progressing. We cannot afford a halt in funding.”
While they scrambled for money, Miss Hong, having finished her disciplinary punishment, returned with a proposal.
“Someone wants us to find a person. They are offering this much.”
“Director,” Qiu Fa said, stepping into the President’s office.
“You’re here. Take a seat.” She offered a warm, maternal smile. “I have something for you to see.”
She played a video from Nevergone District. It wasn’t just the fight between Jing Pei and the Spacetime Worm, but also earlier clips showing Jing Pei and Min Yue buying gasoline and blocking roads step by step before entering the district.
Qiu Fa kept his eyes on Jing Pei’s movements. Once the recording finished, he rewound it to watch her actions again.
“What do you think?”
Qiu Fa grunted. “Her combat skills are lacking. Full of holes. If she hadn’t known the enemy’s attack patterns and weaknesses beforehand, she would have died several times over.”
The President bypassed his critique. “Exactly. A truth we couldn’t uncover in five hundred years was known to two young girls hours in advance. Their intelligence was so precise, it was as if they had fought the beast before.”
A slender, elegant silhouette flashed in Qiu Fa’s mind. A strong premonition gripped him.
Sure enough, the President continued, “We asked Long Jin. She claimed she bought the details from the broker.”
That made sense. This was the same broker who had predicted an earthquake three days in advance. Her precognitive ability was no longer in doubt.
“Before the 8.20 Conference, you rushed back from out of state to stop the Bubble 109 crisis. You claimed an anonymous tip warned you, but it was the broker, wasn’t it? And the woman you took away that day—was it her?”
Qiu Fa frowned, remaining silent.
“I know you,” the President said, observing him. “Since that day, you haven’t uttered a single complaint about the broker.” She smiled. “It seems she is indeed a decent person, or at least, not a criminal. Looking at her actions, she has saved countless lives in Mingbo, Nevergone District, and Punia.”
“What is your point?”
“Since she’s willing to show herself to you, she must trust you. I want you to introduce us. We might need her help.” The President’s expression turned grave. “Though we lack concrete proof, I feel a massive conspiracy is brewing, especially after the worm’s appearance. We are fighting in the dark.”
They had missed their window. All information regarding the shadow organization had been bought out by the organization itself. The broker maintained strict professional ethics, meaning no amount of money would persuade her to sell their roster. Their only hope was to earn her cooperation through other means.
“Fine. I’ll ask,” Qiu Fa said, pulling out his phone and turning toward the exit.
“No need to rush. I’m not finished,” the President called out, amused by his sudden haste. It looked as though he had been waiting for an excuse to contact her.
Qiu Fa turned back.
“Is she beautiful?” the President asked suddenly.
Qiu Fa felt a sudden itch in his throat. He cleared it, maintaining a rigid expression. “Average. But she’s pleasant/charming.”
The President nodded. “So, she’s very much your type.”
“I mean she has the kind of charm that anyone would like,” Qiu Fa corrected.
President: “…” What are you defending?
“More pleasant than Qin Qin?” she teased.
“Who?”
President: “…” That was General Qin’s beautiful daughter whom she had introduced to him for a blind date less than two months ago.
She shook her head, used to him being stubborn.
Qiu Fa pocketed his phone. “You didn’t call me here just for this, did you?”
The President nodded. “A few months ago, four royal guards from the Kingdom of Pymeshire entered Hualan.”
Pymeshire was an exotic nation, ruled by a primitive, feudal tribal system. Its people were fierce fighters, boasting one of the highest densities of pure atavists in the world.
Bound by extreme religious devotion, they were a pack of loyal, dangerous hounds that other nations avoided provoking.
“Yesterday, they approached our embassy requesting assistance.”
“For what?”
“Do you remember the rumors of the Pymeshiren Queen’s disappearance five years ago?”
Qiu Fa thought for a moment. “Kind of. Is she somewhere in Hualan?”
“Yes. And you’ve met her.” The President slid a warrant across the desk.
Qiu Fa looked at the paper, raising an eyebrow. “Lolita?”
“Indeed. Who would have thought that the beloved Queen of Pymeshire had become a mercenary and an international fugitive?”
The royal palace of Pymeshire stood atop a flat-topped mountain, which looked as though it had been sliced clean by a blade. From above, the plateau resembled a giant hand cradling the palace, symbolizing divine right—the Pymeshiren royal family were the chosen of the gods.
Below the mountain, the city sprawled in a unique blend of dense jungle and modern structures. Fluffy crown monkeys sat on the branches of century-old banyan trees, their round eyes watching as maglev trains zipped by below.
Inside the gilded halls of the palace, Emperor Orpheus sat on his throne. He was a handsome man of forty, but his face remained untouched by age. He stared at his wedding ring, the very band his Queen had placed on his finger.
She had been a flawless woman—exquisite, kind, and full of life. She had performed her royal duties with devotion, earning the love of the entire nation. Most importantly, she had loved him, and they had once been happy.
“Father!” A boy clad in light armor burst into the chamber. At thirteen, his blue eyes shone like polished sapphires, bright and fierce. “Is there any word of Mother?”
“Not yet, but we’ve contacted the Hualan authorities. It shouldn’t take long,” Emperor Orpheus said.
“We know she is in Hualan. Why is it taking so long? Has the Wind Rider’s power failed?”
They had dispatched their four elite guardians: the Wind Rider, the Thunder Bringer, the Flame Bearer, and the Dark Cloud. The Wind Rider’s atavist ability allowed her to gather secrets from the wind. Had Emperor Orpheus acted sooner, Lolita and Isaac would never have escaped the country.
“The Wind Rider says her scent vanished from the currents. That lowborn thief must have hidden her,” Emperor Orpheus said, his voice darkening.
The young prince’s expression turned resentful, his youthful face clouded with anger. “She is still with that man? What a disgrace! Father, we must execute him! No, we must rip him to pieces! If not for his trickery, Mother would never have abandoned us.”
“The thief who steals another’s treasure will face divine retribution.”
That evening, Jing Pei’s personal broker phone rang. Seeing Qiu Fa’s caller ID, her lips curved into a smirk.
She answered. “Hello.”
“Information broker,” Qiu Fa’s deep voice came through.
Jing Pei hung up.
A few seconds later, the phone rang again.
She answered.
“In-for-ma-tion bro-ker!”
Jing Pei hung up again.
On the third try, the line remained silent for several seconds before a voice grumbled, “…Jing Pei!”
Jing Pei chuckled. “See? My name isn’t that hard to say, is it?”
“…”
“Director Qiu, have you eaten?”
“…Do you know what time it is?”
Jing Pei glanced at her wall clock. Right, past nine in the evening.
“Director Qiu, calling me at this hour. Are you still trying to get your gloves back?”
“You can keep them,” Qiu Fa said coldly. Asking once was fine, but demanding them again made him feel petty. He had let the matter rest, though the wait had made him irritable.
“Don’t be sour. I’ve been busy. I’ll return them once I’m done.”
“Are Lolita and Isaac with you?”
“No,” Jing Pei replied, looking at her empty palms. Technically, she wasn’t holding anyone.
She was never one to let honesty get in the way of a good cover.
“You’d better be telling the truth.” Qiu Fa knew she was likely lying. If not for her, how could those two mercenaries evade the four royal guardians? “Interfering in their affairs will only get you killed.”
The Ring of Truthful Tongues had judged her as neither good nor bad. By its logic, if she had taken an innocent life, she would have been labeled bad.
Therefore, the mercenary couple might not be as vile as the reports claimed, or the people they killed deserved their fate.
But the situation had changed.
Lolita was the runaway Queen of Pymeshire, and Emperor Orpheus had offered Hualan terms that no government could ignore. Since she was an international fugitive and not a Hualan citizen, Hualan had no reason to protect her.
“Are you worried about me?”
“…Don’t flatter yourself.”
Qiu Fa brought up the President’s request for a meeting, which Jing Pei declined immediately.
Qiu Fa wasn’t surprised. Before he could speak, Jing Pei said, “I’m a very cautious person. In the Hualan government, you are the only one I trust. I won’t meet anyone else, so don’t waste your breath.”
Silence stretched over the line.
“Hello? Dear Director Qiu?” Jing Pei called out.
She heard a faint, stifled cough before Qiu Fa spoke in his usual cool tone. “Don’t think sweet-talking me will work. I won’t hesitate to arrest anyone who breaks the law.”
Before she could reply, he muttered that he had work and hung up.
His assistant, An Yan, who was also working late, compiled the files and brought them into the office, only to find his boss staring at him with a blank expression.
“D-Director?”
“Good work. Let’s grab some supper. My treat,” Qiu Fa said, rising from his chair.
An Yan blinked. “Director, the cafeteria is already closed.”
“Not the cafeteria. How about tuna?”
An Yan’s eyes widened in sheer panic. Was this… the final dinner? What did he do wrong? Why was his stingy boss suddenly offering to buy tuna? He needed answers, fast!
The following day.
Not long after Jing Pei arrived at school, the homeroom teacher called her name. “Long Jin, Tao Ying, and Liu Yin, report to the Principal’s office.”
The three went to the office and found Wu Ying, Jiang Qing, and Chu Xusheng already waiting.
Chu Xusheng’s gloomy gaze instantly brightened. “Young heir.”
Jing Pei nodded, also greeting Wu Ying.
The Principal spoke. “The Tribunal Division has assigned a mission to you. This is an S-rank classified operation. You are not to speak of this to anyone, including your families. I trust you will succeed.”
This meant they were forming a team, a common practice at Twelve Zodiac Academy. Since Feng Yilian and the other heirs were still grounded, Wu Ying and Jiang Qing were brought in to fill the roster.
Looking at the lineup, except for Jiang Qing, they were all high-purity atavists, the elite of their generation. The difficulty of this mission was bound to be immense.
Jing Pei took the document, her eyes scanning the details. She wasn’t surprised.
“Locate and capture the Queen of Pymeshire?” Wu Ying looked up, astonished.
“Who?”
In all her years at the academy, she had taken on many missions, but never one involving someone of this caliber.
Jiang Qing pushed his glasses up, his sharp eyes gleaming. “It must be Queen Cecilia, the most beloved Queen in Pymeshiren history. She was adored even before she ascended the throne, but she vanished five years ago. Rumor has it the royal family drove her to her death.”
“And five years later, she’s here?” Wu Ying flipped through the pages, her shock growing.
“The mercenary Lolita?!”
The file contains several of Lolita’s warrants from different ages, but even the oldest photo of the blonde, blue-eyed girl made her look nineteen or twenty at most. Yet Queen Cecilia was thirty-five, with a thirteen-year-old son.
But considering Isaac’s Lighthouse Jellyfish ability to revert age, it made sense.
Wait… did this woman abandon her family and run off with her lover?
Jiang Qing remarked, “No wonder it’s S-rank.”
Lolita’s status as both an international fugitive and a foreign queen made the situation highly sensitive. The public could not know.
The Hualan government had likely reached a quiet agreement with Pymeshire, choosing to deploy students from Twelve Zodiac Academy instead of the Tribunal Division to avoid raising suspicions.
