A Strategic Asset’s Burden

Outside the door, upon hearing the words ‘Silver Kite,’ Jiang Chen suddenly froze, surprise flashing in his eyes as he glanced at Seti, who seemed to have overheard.

Seti shook his head, indicating he was unaware of the situation.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen nodded, remaining silent. He continued to lurk by the door, listening to the undignified cursing from within, finding it inexplicably amusing.

****

At the same time.

Ming Yu suppressed the urge to crush her earpiece. A torrent of murderous intent raged within her chest, and her gaze turned utterly glacial.

It was the first time she had ever heard such words.

After all, she was an orphan who had never married. She had always been alone, with no one to threaten.

‘It feels… strange,’ she thought.

As negative emotions crossed a certain threshold, her surging fury slowly subsided.

It gradually solidified into an extreme, chilling cold.

‘Indeed, a family should always be together,’ she mused, a dark edge to her thoughts.

****

Also perched on the edge of the balcony railing, Little Nightingale found herself sleepless.

Luna, too, was awake, keeping her company as they waited for their mistress.

Although Luna’s eyes couldn’t discern distant objects, it still nestled closer into its little mistress’s embrace.

The animal curled up comfortably into a ball.

Little Nightingale remained conflicted.

Should she tell Ming Yu that she could see again?

****

Even though her field of vision was limited, far from a normal person’s eyesight, it was still infinitely better than seeing nothing at all.

Yet, if she revealed it, would Ming Yu’s preferential treatment for her come to an end?

What if, for instance, Ming Yu no longer held her hand when they walked together?

‘Hmm…’

‘If Ming Yu asks, I’ll tell her the truth. If she doesn’t, then I’ll just pretend nothing ever happened.’

Little Nightingale would never forget the promise Ming Yu had made to her in the Void Realm.

Ming Yu had cupped her face in her hands and vowed that Little Nightingale would ‘see all the world’s splendors.’

That day would come.

She believed in Ming Yu.

The moonless night and high winds whipped through her hair, scattering her silver strands.

Ming Yu’s tone was no longer casual; it had become chillingly cold, her voice echoing faintly.

“Fujiwara Tachima, where are you? I’m coming for you now.”

“Heh heh, it would have been so much better if you’d learned to obey earlier. Proceed immediately to the alert zone. I’ll be waiting for you at the front-line command post.”

“Fine, just wait for me.”

With that, Ming Yu wasted no more words and ended the call.

Just as she was about to turn from the balcony, a ‘beep-beep’ sounded in her earpiece once more.

Her barely suppressed rage flared anew.

“Fujiwara Tachima, are you truly so eager to be chopped into pieces and fed to the sea beasts?!”

“Ah, it’s me, Jiang Chen.”

****

“Ahem, long time no see, Silver Kite, renowned throughout Pharos. Your achievements in this great hunt are evident for all to see. You’ve slain 144 S-rank sea beasts, an undeniable, monumental feat.”

****

“I actually thought you wouldn’t make it back. Who would’ve thought, ha ha ha! I knew you, you’re a tough one.”

****

“Hello? Why aren’t you speaking? Can you not hear me?”

Jiang Chen glanced at Seti beside him. The two exchanged looks, and the Chairman Seti gave him an affirmative nod, signaling him to continue the conversation.

It was crucial to understand that Ming Yu could single-handedly charge into the combat zone of two legendary behemoths.

Her true strength far exceeded their expectations, undoubtedly surpassing most, if not all, S-rank hunters.

With sea beasts pressing in and legends arriving, at such a critical juncture for their survival, such top-tier combat power should not remain in the rear.

No one knew what Ming Yu had endured during her period of disappearance.

For now, Jiang Chen could only probe cautiously, using indirect questions to uncover her true intentions.

Time was of the essence.

If Ming Yu were merely an S-rank hunter, then Pharos still had eight others who could replace her role.

However, though uncertain, they all speculated that Ming Yu might have already grazed the edge of legendary status.

She might even have crossed that threshold entirely.

A sea beast hunter of this caliber was an absolute strategic asset.

Furthermore, Ming Yu was still young, and in the future, she was highly likely to rival Seti in his prime.

She could become the third legend since Pharos’s establishment.

The first was Pharos’s inaugural leader, and the second was Chairman Seti.

At their peak, both possessed terrifying power capable of almost single-handedly annihilating a city, never falling behind even when confronting the apex sea beasts.

Jiang Chen was in no hurry. He calmly outlined Pharos’s current situation, patiently awaiting a response from the other end of the line.

Ming Yu’s eyelids were lowered, concealing the color of her eyes from view.

She opened her mouth, but the words she had prepared refused to come out.

A flurry of thoughts churned in her mind, leaving her feeling adrift and unsure of what to do.

Regarding that battle, almost everyone had paid a heavy price due to the orders issued by headquarters.

Had she not encountered White Feather, she would never have returned alive.

S-rank hunter ‘Silver Kite’ would likely have perished in that very battle.

Ming Yu clearly understood the power she wielded, and she realized this power could shatter many constraints.

Sea beast hunters were tools for continuing the flame of civilization, yet she had nearly died from a treacherous stab, almost failing to return.

Ming Yu’s emotions were exceptionally complex.

With Kraken and Leviathan approaching the alert zone, Pharos would become the next Dresa.

Countless citizens would die or be wounded, and the populace would be displaced.

She was not some righteous benefactor, nor was she a blood-soaked soldier always ready for a heroic sacrifice.

She was a sea beast hunter, one who drifted aimlessly like duckweed.

She possessed a formidable iron fist, yet was coerced by her vulnerabilities—her family and friends—and regarded by those in power as a puppet, a pawn, a tool, a weapon…

In her youth, Ming Yu had once harbored thoughts of rebelling against everything.

Before she could act on them, Qing Shui Ling Yin was brought into her life.

Thus, her will to resist had its sharp edges smoothed away by the passage of time.

Qing Shui Ling Yin, her “fiancée,” had personally placed shackles around Ming Yu’s neck.

Even if she used her iron fist to shatter the high tower, who would then deal with the resulting devastation?

Who would confront the surrounding sea beasts, and who would quell the chaotic riots?

In the end, everything always returned to square one.

This was, after all, an apocalyptic world.

If a predicament could not be shattered by violence, then it could only be resisted through order.

****

Ming Yu felt disappointment at the internal corruption of the association.

Yet, she held a glimmer of hope for the “freedom” that An Ran had once mentioned.

If she could help Pharos overcome this crisis…

Jiang Chen had also promised that if she won this final battle, she could honorably retire.

That old man always managed to present conditions she couldn’t refuse.

“Assist us in repelling the legendary behemoths, and you will earn the qualification to travel to Sky City. These aren’t my words, but the will of our Chairman, Mr. Seti.”

‘To Sky City…’

After a long moment of contemplation, Ming Yu faintly agreed.

It was as if she had used every ounce of her strength just to end the communication.

Returning to Qing Shui Ling Yin’s side, Ming Yu gazed at her peaceful sleeping face.

She couldn’t resist reaching out a finger to gently caress her smooth cheek.

The tumultuous emotions within her heart slowly calmed, and the fierce glint in her eyes was gradually replaced by a gentle warmth.

After this final battle, she would return to Little Nightingale and Qing Shui Ling Yin.

She would take them to Sky City, where they could heal their ailments and regain their health.