The sultry woman cast a resentful glance at the man, her crimson lips parting as she leaned in close to his ear, whispering seductively, "I wouldn't even charge you, sweetheart. If you pleasure me well enough, I might just pay you instead. Hehe…"
Without a word, a slender dagger silently appeared in the man's right hand. In the next moment, its cold blade was pressed against the woman's neck. "Bother me again, and I'll sl*t your throat. Believe me?"
Startled, the woman let out a sharp gasp and quickly backed away. Cursing under her breath, she fled the bar, terror-stricken and muttering profanities.
The man sheathed his blade and walked over to Carey. The frost in his features melted slightly, replaced by a rare, warm smile. "Sister, what are you brooding over here? Have you fallen for someone? Ah, is spring stirring your heart?"
Carey's brow twitched. The rogue image of Xiao Feng flashed across her mind. But being teased by her younger brother in such a manner sparked a flicker of irritation.
This man was none other than Carey's biological brother, Carey Jr.—no wonder he shared that same icy demeanor and bore a striking resemblance to her. Were he born a woman, he too would have possessed the kind of beauty that could topple empires.
Like Carey, Carey Jr. was also a gifted esper, though his abilities did not lie in discharging torrents of electricity at will.
"Get lost. I've just been humiliated, and here you are mocking me. Are you even my brother?" Carey snapped, downing a glass of whiskey in one fiery gulp.
"Who? Who dares lay a hand on my beautiful sister? That man must have a death wish. Tell me who he is, and I'll carve his throat open!"
Carey, still drinking, recounted the events of her mission to Sector 64. As Carey Jr. listened, fury flared in his eyes. "Do you know where they are now?"
She nodded. "Godor City. I came to find you precisely because I found out they went there."
"Well then, easy enough. Tomorrow, we'll head there and butcher those bastards together."
Carey's gaze turned colder than steel. She seized a half-empty whiskey bottle, drained the rest, and said icily, "No. We're leaving now."
Carey Jr., dressed in a sleek black suit and sporting a golden braid, blinked in surprise. "Seriously? At this hour? It's dangerous to leave the city at night."
She raised a finger—crackling sparks of electricity danced across its tip. "What's that? You're disobeying your sister now?"
"You know I've always done whatever you said, since we were kids. If it's urgent, then let's go." With that, Carey Jr. placed his glass on the bar, hands casually stuffed into his pockets, and strode out with quiet elegance.
His graceful arrogance stood in stark contrast to Carey's cold, aggressive presence.
Though bound by blood, their temperaments couldn't have been more different.
At dawn the next morning, Xiao Feng and White were already up. Today was the day they would take Alice to see a doctor in Godor City—hoping, perhaps, to restore her sight. If her vision could be healed, White might finally be freed from the heavy burden of guilt.
Rice, the leader of the X Mercenary Corps, had arranged for a member of his team to escort them to the city's finest physician.
Skipping breakfast, the four of them piled into a battered old jeep and set off toward the urban district.
Xiao Feng sat in the passenger seat, his long black case slung across his back. He wore a leather jacket over a worn grey shirt, gazing silently out the window at the desolate scenery.
The mercenary driving had already heard tales of this youth—how he'd thrashed Rice without mercy—and now regarded Xiao Feng with a newfound respect. "Hey kid, smoke?"
Xiao Feng shook his head. "I don't smoke, but thank you. What should I call you, big brother?"
"Just call me Budara. From now on, we're brothers."
Budara was a burly man, his entire body a mass of jiggling flesh that rivaled the infamous Locke from Sector 64—though he lacked Locke's shifty demeanor.
With every jolt of the jeep, his flab wobbled comically.
In the back seat sat old White and Alice. Alice remained quietly composed, while White grew increasingly anxious, uncertain about the condition of her eyes.
As they neared the city center, Xiao Feng's eyes suddenly narrowed. He'd spotted an off-road vehicle with a shattered window—odd, given the frigid weather. No one in their right mind would drive with a broken window this time of year. As the jeep passed by, Xiao Feng glanced inside. The driver's seat was empty, but in the passenger seat, a handsome young man dozed off.
It was Carey Jr. The rough journey had left him utterly exhausted, and the moment they reached the safety of Godor City, he had collapsed into a restless sleep. He hadn't even noticed when Carey had parked the car.
"We've been followed," Xiao Feng said suddenly, turning to White.
"What? How do you know?" White asked, alarmed.
"I saw her vehicle just now. Didn't see her herself, but knowing her temperament, she's definitely here."
"As long as she didn't spot us, we're fine. Let's get Alice checked, then hide in camp. That woman's a lunatic. Best not to cross her."
Xiao Feng leaned back, watching the bustling streets pass by through the window. He chuckled softly. "She's not that terrifying. If she dares come after me again, I'll beat her senseless. And if she doesn't back off... I'll end her."
"You can't! She's no ordinary alliance soldier. Killing her could bring serious consequences," White warned.
Budara glanced at Xiao Feng, curious. "What are you guys talking about?"
Xiao Feng smiled. "Just a minor issue."
"Minor? You're talking about murder. But don't worry, brother. If things get dicey, just say the word. I'll round up the boys and handle it for you." Budara's tone was sincere—his mercenary corps didn't just hunt beasts.
The jeep turned a corner and drove off. Moments later, Carey stepped out of a nearby diner, holding a paper bag of food. She climbed into her car, never realizing that Xiao Feng had passed by just seconds earlier. Had she emerged a minute sooner, she would've seen him sitting right there in the front seat.
Glancing at Carey Jr., still fast asleep, she opened the bag and pulled out a burrito.
The scent roused Carey Jr. instantly. "Mmm, what did you get, sis?"
"You never shut up, do you? Eat. As soon as we're done, I'm going to find the local corps commander and ask if he's seen those bastards from Sector 64."