“Captain, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!”
As soon as Su Wanyue stepped into the Jianghai City Hunter Base, she was tightly embraced by a girl rushing toward her.
This girl was wrapped in bright colors like crayons, her whole body resembling a toy box that had been overturned—vibrant and colorful.
Her slightly red, glossy hair extended all the way to her waist, swaying in the wind.
But after hugging for a few seconds, she suddenly sensed something off and tilted her head, muttering: “Captain, why are you shorter… and your chest seems smaller too. I knew you were padding it!”
“Smack”
Su Wanyue raised her hand and delivered a swift chop to her forehead.
“Ow, what was that for!” The girl suddenly shrank her neck and covered her forehead aggrievedly.
Looking at the girl’s reaction, Su Wanyue thought, ‘Well, so it runs in the family, huh?’
To be honest, Su Wanyue was somewhat surprised as she looked at the girl before her.
She actually recognized Fei Yan; she had fought against her in a previous competition.
But back then, she was wearing battle gear.
Now, judging by her outfit, she had clearly dressed up for social interaction.
So she was a “gyaru” type?
This was really a headache.
It was a miracle that Jianghai City had managed to remain safe until now.
Fei Yan, dazed from the chop, opened her eyes groggily.
When she saw that the person she had embraced wasn’t the familiar Captain Chen Ye, she instantly bristled and screamed at the top of her lungs: “Waa——!! Who are you?!”
Inside the underground training room of the high-tech Hunter Base, Fei Yan stood at attention stiffly and nervously, while Su Wanyue paced back and forth in front of her.
Fei Yan had actually received the news that Chen Ye had been transferred, and she also knew that an acting captain would be arriving today.
But when she looked up to examine the petite girl before her, who appeared even shorter than herself, she couldn’t help but ask doubtfully:
“Captain, how old are you this year?”
“Uh, that’s a secret. I’m actually much older than I look,” Su Wanyue explained.
That was completely unconvincing.
In her heart, Fei Yan secretly labeled Su Wanyue as some rich young lady, or perhaps even Chen Ye’s secret illegitimate daughter.
“Fei Yan, report on the current status of the Jianghai City Hunter Association.”
“Yes! Little Captain.”
‘Why did she have to add the word “Little”? Oh well, just take it as this gyaru’s unique speech quirk.’
And so Fei Yan began to rattle on about the association’s situation.
Meanwhile, Su Wanyue’s expression grew darker as she listened.
“What the hell? Wasn’t it already on the brink of collapse?”
“Let’s put those matters aside for now. I heard from Captain Chen Ye that you’ve only been a hunter for less than two weeks. So, how far have you gotten in your hunter education?”
“Education? What education?” Fei Yan asked back, looking completely confused.
Su Wanyue helplessly pressed her forehead, ‘Sigh, just as expected.’
“Then let’s start with some basic knowledge.”
“Got it! Little Captain, I’m in your care!” Fei Yan responded full of energy.
Su Wanyue had fought Fei Yan before, so she knew that Fei Yan had considerable talent.
If given proper guidance, she could easily become a Bright Moon-level, or even a Blazing Sun-level hunter in the future.
“First, let’s start with the rank classifications. The core criterion for rank is the strength of one’s internal magical power. Besides that, there are two ways for a hunter to advance: by hunting Erosion Beasts of the corresponding rank, or by participating in the Capital City Duel Tournament and achieving a placing. Both can grant promotion qualifications.”
“Little Captain, we all have magical power inside us, so why can’t hunters use magic like witches do?” Fei Yan raised her hand and asked.
“That’s a good question. It comes down to the difference in our internal organs. Witches possess organs that absorb and convert magical power. Humans do not, so we can only rely on our contracted Soul Weapons to complete the magical power conversion. This is also why only hunters can store and use magical power inside their bodies.”
“Speaking of witches, don’t contact them lightly unless necessary,” Su Wanyue continued to add expressionlessly.
“Why?”
“Because you can never guess what they really want. The following words apply to most witches: Don’t believe witches’ words; their tongues are tongues of lies. Don’t trust witches’ hands; their hands are hands of betrayal.”
“Little Captain, how do you know that? Have you come into contact with them?” Fei Yan asked again.
And this time, Su Wanyue did not answer immediately.
She first glanced at Serafica beside her, and then answered Fei Yan’s question, “Because I’ve experienced it myself.”
Time ticked by, second by second.
“Alright, that’s enough for today.”
Su Wanyue packed up her things, ready to leave.
She still wanted to return to her long-unvisited home today, in the identity of Su Xiangyang.
During the days when Su Wanyue had infiltrated No.1 Middle School for her mission, Su Yao had mostly been staying at Zeng Yan’s house.
So there was a pile of housework waiting for Su Wanyue at home.
But Su Wanyue’s wrist was grabbed by Fei Yan.
“Little Captain, don’t rush off. I still have a lot I want to tell you. I know a super tasty family restaurant next to the base. My treat,” Fei Yan said with a smile.
Su Wanyue turned her head and met Fei Yan’s eyes.
It seemed she really didn’t know anything about the girl before her yet.
When she was still a hunter, she had understood that it was crucial to understand one’s comrades.
It seemed that today, she would just have to tell Yao Yao that she couldn’t go home for dinner.
Su Wanyue followed Fei Yan into a restaurant.
The entire storefront looked very plain.
The lettering on the signboard had long been weathered by time, and some places were illegible.
“Little Captain, don’t be fooled by how ordinary this place looks. The taste is amazing.”
Su Wanyue and Fei Yan found a seat and sat down.
This time, Su Wanyue was ready to take on the role of a listener.
The girl before her chatted animatedly about various amusing things in her recent life, clearly in a good mood.
Until she talked about her own background.
The girl’s real name was Fang Yao.
“Fei Yan” was a greatsword, the “Soul Weapon” she had contracted.
Fang Yao’s mother was also a hunter.
But when Fang Yao was very young, her mother never came back.
Having lost her mother, Fang Yao was not well-liked at school.
Thus, Fang Yao’s childhood was not a happy one.
Fang Yao looked at the cake on her plate and said softly: “Even though girls are placed there like cakes decorated with colorful fruits on whipped cream, what’s inside may not be as sweet as the cake.”
Then Fang Yao shook her head again and said: “Little Captain, I’m not deliberately trying to play the victim in front of you. It’s just that since I met you, I’ve felt the same aura from you that I felt from my mother back then.”
‘Although I’m grateful for your trust, don’t say things like “you’re like a mother” to a girl shorter than you!’
“Yao Yao, look at that person. Isn’t that Su Wanyue?”
The sudden voice instantly interrupted Su Wanyue and Fang Yao’s conversation.