Chapter 180: Su An’an and Seville’s Tacit Understanding
"No! This is definitely a trap!"
Ying Jiuyao’s claws shot out, glinting with a cold light.
"Anan can’t take this risk!"
Fei Zhao’s nine tails unfurled in an instant, and his ethereal blue Fox Fire formed a spherical barrier around Su An’an.
Nemo’s shark-like teeth flashed menacingly.
"If the Princess has a clear conscience, she should come with us to rescue Nicola right now!"
"That’s right!"
Yan Tian’s Dragon Scales glowed like magma. "If you want to prove your innocence, then rescue Nicola with your own hands!"
"Shut up!"
"Shut up!"
The rebukes from Seville and Su An’an exploded at the same time.
The air suddenly froze. Their gazes collided mid-air.
Su An’an looked away, rubbing her ear uncomfortably.
Seville’s handsome face was as dark as ink. His snow-white Wings trembled slightly, and a few downy feathers drifted silently to the ground.
"You..."
Humiliated and enraged, Nemo was about to continue his accusations.
SWOOSH!
A black feather from Seville shot out like lightning and pressed against his throat. The icy touch made the shark Beastman instantly go rigid.
"Let me hear those two words, ’prove yourself,’ one more time!"
His voice was so soft it was terrifying. "I’ll cut out all your tongues and pickle them in wine."
"Everyone, calm down!"
Lu Chengfeng pulled Nemo away, his wolf ears drooping as he adopted a sincere expression.
"As long as you’re willing to help rescue Nicola, we can negotiate any terms."
Nemo and Yan Tian’s faces were grim, but they ultimately said nothing more.
Seville snorted coldly and slowly folded his Wings.
"All I ask is that you watch your mouths."
"I’m not going to save Nicola just to prove my innocence."
Su An’an took a step forward. Moonlight cascaded down like water, coating her in a silvery outline.
Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable strength.
"This conspiracy is clearly aimed at me. Nicola is just a pawn."
"I will find the mastermind and put an end to this once and for all."
Night Abyss frowned, speaking in disapproval.
"It’s too dangerous to walk into a known trap."
"Wasn’t the lesson from the Rotting Nest enough?"
"That’s right!"
Ice Crystals formed in Lan Cangming’s palm, and a chill spread through the air.
"We can find another way."
His gaze swept over the beastmen. "There’s no need for a frontal assault."
"I have a premonition!"
Seville’s voice, low and hoarse, suddenly cut in.
"If Su An’an goes, she will find a certain answer."
He raised his eyes, his amber pupils staring directly at Su An’an as if to see through to her soul.
"If she doesn’t go..." His voice paused for a moment. "The most important person will disappear completely."
’The most important person?’
Su An’an’s heart jolted.
Alita’s face suddenly appeared in her mind.
The doting older sister who had taken care of her since she was little, who always called her "my little treasure" with a smile.
’If I back down this time, I might never see her again!’
Su An’an clenched her fists. "I’m going."
Lan Cangming’s brow was tightly furrowed, the Ice Crystal on his fingertip repeatedly forming and shattering.
Night Abyss patted his shoulder and said in a low voice,
"Since Anan has made up her mind, don’t try to stop her."
"Then let’s prepare for the worst."
Ying Jiuyao strode forward to stand protectively in front of Su An’an.
"I will protect you with my life."
Fei Zhao’s fox tails silently wrapped around her ankle, his nine tails fanning out like a shield. "We’re all here."
Seville watched this scene with cold eyes, his feathers twitching unnaturally.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a sarcastic smirk.
’How ridiculous!’
The four great powerhouses who had once vowed to kill Su An’an with their own hands were now circling her like loyal hounds protecting their master.
He turned to leave but was frozen in place by a voice calling out.
"Wait!"
Su An’an’s voice made Seville’s back stiffen.
She looked around at the beastmen, her gaze finally landing on that proud, solitary figure.
"Meet at the mine in one hour."
"We’ll wait for you right here."
Nemo and Yan Tian said in unison, their eyes vigilant as if they were afraid she would disappear.
With Qiuqiu on his back, Seville left without looking back.
"Do whatever you want!"
Su An’an sighed to herself and turned back to the Waste Female Safety House.
Under the bright lights of her bedroom, Su An’an deftly changed into a black combat suit.
Her thigh straps were filled with nano-daggers, and plasma grenades were clipped to her waist.
[Your Highness, all chip systems are operating normally.]
Little Pink had also completed its system scan.
[Where are the star bombs Fei Zhao made last time?]
Su An’an then stuffed a particle pistol into her shoulder holster.
[Right here!]
Little Pink operated a mechanical arm, opening the left drawer to reveal twelve brilliant silver stars.
Su An’an fashioned the small stars into a bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist.
[Your Highness, I feel so uneasy. Why do you always choose the most dangerous path?]
Little Pink asked, its tone aggrieved.
[There are two kinds of people in this world: those who wither in a greenhouse, and those who bloom in blood and fire.]
Su An’an’s fingertips traced the cold patterns on the star bombs.
[Two hundred years ago, that Divine Female chose to compromise, and in return, she was annihilated, not even her bones left behind!]
[So I choose to fight. Anyone who wants my life, I’ll send them to Hell first!]
[BZZZT!]
Sparks flew from Little Pink’s body.
[Your Highness, I will protect you to the death!]
When Su An’an stepped into the main hall, moonlight streamed through the window, draping her four Beast Husbands in iridescent Battle Armor.
Fei Zhao suddenly stepped forward, holding a Red Crystal Necklace in his slender fingers. "Anan, wear this."
He gently caressed the pigeon-blood-colored Red Flame Crystal at its center. "It can be used as a bomb, a Flame Gun, a tracker, and it can even cut through S Level Alloy."
"I love it, thank you!" Su An’an tucked the necklace under her collar and turned to look outside.
Outside in the courtyard, the moonlight was like water. Hosen’s Black Bull Guard stood imposing in their heavy armor, while the newly arrived squad under Tie Xinxian was calibrating a Quantum Cannon.
Yan Tian, Nemo, and Lu Chengfeng had also used their communicators to summon their own guards.
In a corner, Seville stood with his arms crossed, his Wings folded like blades.
The moonlight outlined him in silver but could not penetrate his cold, amber eyes.
The Gold package on his back trembled slightly as Qiuqiu turned over in its sleep.
"Move out!"
Su An’an swung her right hand down, and the star bracelet hummed in response.
As the beastmen moved out in formation, Seville remained leaning in the shadows.
Only after the last guard had stepped out of the courtyard did he silently spread his Wings.
A single downy feather drifted down to the spot where Su An’an had just been standing.
Three hundred miles to the north, an abandoned mine gaped open like the maw of a great beast under the blood-red setting sun.
The pungent smell of rust and ore hung in the air.
Remembering the setback they had suffered at the Rotting Nest, Night Abyss volunteered, "I’ll take a team in to scout ahead."
"I’ll go with you."
Lu Chengfeng said, getting to his feet.
"Stay alert!"
Night Abyss and Lu Chengfeng each led a ten-beastman squad, moving into the mine in a pincer formation.
The blue light of their scanners traced a spiderweb-like pattern in the darkness.
「Twenty minutes later.」
"No life signs." Night Abyss touched the pitch-black rock wall.
"But the temperature is abnormal. It’s eight degrees lower than the surrounding environment."
He murmured, "It’s like something sucked all the heat away!"
"What’s the situation inside?"
Su An’an’s voice came through the communicator, tinged with faint static.
Lu Chengfeng was the first to respond. "Everything is normal. You can enter."
Just as Su An’an entered the mine under the protection of Ying Jiuyao, Lan Cangming, and Fei Zhao, Nicola’s voice suddenly drifted from deep within the tunnel. It was intermittent, as if an invisible hand were squeezing her throat.
"Help... help me!"