Half an hour later, Kelly and Qin Lun met at the entrance of the Golden Crown Cup.
“You look pretty well?” Kelly looked the young man up and down and gave a bright grin.
Qin Lun watched Kelly’s face seriously. It wasn’t that he’d never seen her real features. In the Toril World, without Elf Bloodline, she always appeared in her true form. But before, not planning to join Lost, he hadn’t paid attention to this powerful woman. Only now was he truly noticing her.
Kelly was very beautiful, oval-faced with willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes, a petite nose and mouth. Perhaps because she practiced martial arts, her style was neat and practical. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, she wore loose Martial Artist robes, and wooden clogs on her feet, leaving a sunny, straightforward, heroic impression. Her companions, including Qin Lun, always found it hard to see her purely as a woman. This wasn’t about her straightforward personality, but the unique personal charm of the Female Martial Artist herself.
In the Toril World, Kelly had basically never interfered with Robin’s command, but the final decisions on major tasks for the two large teams were always made by her. Concerning this point, not only Lost Team’s Apostles, but even Stark and others had seemed to have no objections.
In Ironstar Fortress, in the Valley of the Undead, every time the team faced danger, the Female Martial Artist would stand tall like a mountain before everyone, shielding the entire group behind her.
Sometimes, Qin Lun had to admit, even if he were a little stronger, even if he used every trick to fight for leadership of the two big teams, with Kelly there, he couldn’t succeed.
Realizing this, Qin Lun couldn’t help feeling more curious about Kelly. What supported this woman, giving her the courage and willpower many men lacked, allowing her to face all hardships and formidable enemies with utter fearlessness?
“What? What’s wrong?” Kelly was confused by Qin Lun’s stare. She touched her chin nervously, frowning slightly. “I wiped my mouth after eating!”
“Haha, nothing!” Qin Lun was amused. He chuckled, shaking his head. “Let’s go.”
Kelly had already handled the trouble for Qin Lun before she came. The Chaos members in the Villa had reluctantly left. Still, worried there might be further complications, the Female Martial Artist decided to accompany Qin Lun back. When Chaos Team’s hidden observers saw Lost’s deputy leader by his side, they should believe the young man had truly joined Lost.
Silently, the two made their way back. Arriving at Qin Lun’s residence, they found two men still standing before the Villa. The man on the left was thin, with a hawk-like nose and arms so long they hung past his knees. His gaze was as sinister as an eagle’s. The man on the right wore a black veil over his face, with two distinctly different daggers at his waist: one like forks gleaming with bloody light, the other a bizarre saw-toothed knife.
Seeing him, Qin Lun’s memory instantly clicked. This was the most powerful Assassin in the novice tier during the Metropolis Domination War, Chaos’s star rookie – Black.
“Well, well. Didn’t expect it to be you, Kelly. Your taste remains uniquely weird as ever!”
Seeing Kelly accompany Qin Lun, a flicker of surprise crossed the hawkish eyes of the man on the left. He hadn’t quite believed this new recruit they wanted had actually joined Lost, suspecting instead that Qin Lun had merely found a temporary shield.
During the Metropolis Domination War, Qin Lun had trapped the Novice Apostles in his area in a deadly conflict. Ultimately, the survivors, including those who surrendered their Invitation Letters numbered fewer than fifty, far below the survival rates of other novice zones.
After receiving Black’s report, Chaos Team had taken note of Qin Lun. Subsequent covert investigation led them to suspect the young man might also be a Golden Apostle who’d earned a Gold Evaluation. Finally, they had dispatched a deputy leader to recruit him into their team.
Also a High-Rank Apostle, this man understood Lost’s style well. He found it hard to imagine them recruiting someone like Qin Lun. Therefore, despite withdrawing from the villa, he still felt somewhat unwilling.
“Well, well. Skinny Bear – Gan Luo!” Seeing this man, Kelly’s eyes flashed intensely. She gave a coquettish laugh, throwing him a suggestive glance. “What? Still not happy? How about a one-on-one? If you win, I’ll hand this guy over to your Chaos!”
The meeting of these two created almost sparks between them, their intensity making them seem oblivious to anyone else present.
Hearing Kelly’s words, Qin Lun blinked slightly in surprise and turned to look at the Female Martial Artist. However, he found Kelly’s expression entirely serious, not joking at all. Instantly, his eyes gleamed, and he waited quietly to see what would unfold.
“…” To Qin Lun’s surprise, faced with Kelly’s challenge, Gan Luo opposite him fell silent. After a long pause, he finally looked up, his expression dark. “No rush. That chance will come. Black, let’s leave.”
“Tch, coward!” Kelly licked her lips with regret, her bloodthirsty look making Qin Lun feel a faint surprise.
Watching the retreating backs of Gan Luo and Black, Kelly suddenly turned her head. “Qin Lun, don’t go near Chaos’s area in the future. If you see that guy in Devil’s Horn, remember to stay in public places. Before reaching the third rank, escaping him wouldn’t be easy.”
Qin Lun raised an eyebrow slightly. He didn’t believe even facing a High-Rank Apostle he’d be unable to escape. But seeing Kelly’s grave expression, he finally agreed with a smile. “I understand.”
His eyes darted. He tried asking, “Do you and this Gan Luo have some old grudge?”
“No. It’s just Chaos and Lost have never seen eye to eye. Gan Luo is a Martial Artist like me, so…” Kelly shrugged, not finishing her sentence. Qin Lun understood perfectly – like repels like… oh, no, birds of a feather flock together!
Meanwhile, Black was also confused. He turned his head, asking curiously, “Lord Gan Luo, is that Kelly very strong?”
Gan Luo paused in his step. He understood Black’s question. He, too, was known as a battle maniac within Chaos. Under normal circumstances, he would never refuse a challenge from someone at his level.
Gan Luo remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, “Kelly is indeed strong, no more than a match for me. But that woman is crazy, hard to reason with. Besides members of the Lost Team, no other High-Rank Apostle chooses to fight her outside a Quest World, especially not one-on-one.”
“Why?” Black asked, surprised. “Afraid of stirring up a war between major teams?”
“No, not that.” Gan Luo’s gaze darkened. “Because her one-on-one ‘spars’ are never practice fights. They are fights to the death! Looks like this new guy, Qin Lun, is highly valued by her. Mark my words: don’t approach him again unless you’re in an empty zone.”
…
“Master!” As soon as he stepped through the Villa gate, Didi rushed at Qin Lun, his large emerald-green eyes brimming with tears.
“Wow, so adorable!” Before Qin Lun could react, Kelly’s eyes lit up. She took a step forward, wrapped her arms around the little Goblin, and pressed its small head into her bosom, giving it a vigorous rub.
“Young Master!” Seeing Qin Lun safe, a flicker of relief appeared in Frank’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t protect them.”
“It’s not your fault. Those people weren’t ones you could handle.” Qin Lun smiled and shook his head. “Let’s go to the living room. Tell me exactly what happened.”
…
“So, Sif had warned you before Chaos’s people arrived, then?” Qin Lun frowned slightly. Frank’s account aligned mostly with his own guess.
The only difference was that Little Mute Sif had been even more alert than he anticipated; she had spotted the Chaos members the moment they neared the gate. Frank, however, had refused to abandon the Villa, leading to his capture. Fortunately, the prior cancellation of the Servant Contract had alerted Qin Lun to the trouble.
“Well, since you’re safe, I need to head back to the team’s base!” Kelly, having played enough, finally released Didi.
“Wait, Kelly, stay and have a simple meal. Didi’s cooking is quite good. And I have a few other things I’d like to ask.” Qin Lun’s eyes flashed. He gave a meaningful look to Didi.
The little Goblin was still sharp as ever. Getting Qin Lun’s hint, it immediately tightened its grip on the sleeve of Kelly’s Martial Artist robe, its wide eyes leaving her no choice but to stay.
…
“Qin Lun, I advise caution lately. Most members of Chaos Team are far from kind-hearted. Apart from truly outrageous principles, they don’t really fear Devil’s Horn’s rules much.” Kelly mumbled through a mouth full of food. “The members of that team mostly love killing. Even within Devil’s Horn, they hunt and kill Apostles from other teams in secret.”
Qin Lun smiled faintly. That wasn’t something he worried much about. If every Quest World weren’t so profitable, he might have joined Hill and the others taking freelance jobs himself. None of the Serial Killers—himself included—would feel burdened. They’d dared without a team; how much easier with Chaos as a powerful backing.
“About Lost’s way of doing things, Kelly, I have some understanding now. Undeniably, it ensures high survival rates in suitable worlds and makes absorbing new blood quite easy.” Qin Lun ignored Kelly’s messy eating manners, choosing his words carefully. “However, I don’t quite understand. Why can Chaos Team, operating with such a style, still rank first in Devil’s Horn?”
Kelly paused. She put down her bowl, her delicate brows drawing together in a frown. After a long silence, she finally sighed. “Actually, you’re mistaken. What do you think an Apostle’s greatest backing really is?”
“Backing?” Qin Lun thought for a moment. “If comparing things within the Apostles themselves, then it should be… the Star Void? The Shattered Starry Sky is our greatest backing.”
“You’re right!” Kelly gave Qin Lun a deep, somewhat complicated look. “Chaos Team’s ability to reach their current position means their approach fits the Shattered Starry Sky’s standards better in certain ways.”
“Wild and unrestrained, even hunting other Apostles… that better fits the Shattered Starry Sky’s criteria? Isn’t the relationship between the Star Void and Apostles employer-employee? Doesn’t it need more Apostles to carry out its will? Shouldn’t Apostles cooperate to fulfill their missions?”
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Qin Lun realized he’d brushed against another secret of the Star Void – perhaps one only High-Rank Apostles understood.
