Another cool morning. Tang Coco opened her eyes to a sugar-white ceiling. She wanted to sit up and taste the crisp air, but couldn’t. Two beautiful silhouettes held her arms, left and right, like ivy clasping a pillar.

Yeah. Our Tang Coco had herself another romantic night.

After she brought Meng Yuting home, Meng Yuting and her sister talked quietly in the bedroom. The two finally made peace. Tang Coco couldn’t share the joy. The sisters’ last glance at her was a hunter’s gaze on prey. A chill rippled through her heart. Those two “demons” meant trouble for her.

Later, the three girls ate something delicious, then roughhoused like sparrows in sunlight. Tang Coco got hauled off as a “doll” to Ye Yiyi’s bedroom. She couldn’t move all night, pinned like a silk ribbon under a stone, yet her heart stayed warm.

Warm or not, she still had important work today.

System, is Skyeye repaired?

Yes. And its defense suite is reinforced.

Good. Within the hour, pick a time and place. Get Skyeye in position.

Understood.

She let out a slow breath, like mist leaving a pond. Then she summoned her Anomaly Power, calling a micro recon robot—a little mechanical spider. She guided the spider up Ye Yiyi’s arm. It brushed her skin like a feather.

Ye Yiyi scratched in her sleep, as if a breeze tickled her. Her other hand never left Tang Coco’s arm. After two lazy scratches, she hugged Tang Coco tighter, like a cat curling deeper into warmth.

Uh…

This wasn’t how Tang Coco had scripted it.

Pfft.

A soft laugh came from the other side. Tang Coco looked over. Li Muyan was smiling at her, eyes bright as morning dew. Tang’s Anomalous Energy had stirred, and Li woke fast.

You’re hopeless.

Tang Coco stared, speechless, a black line of annoyance drawn across her face.

Li Muyan chuckled, then slipped free and sat up. She smoothed her rumpled pajamas, like a breeze swaying grass. She padded over to Ye Yiyi’s side and gently lifted Ye’s arm off Tang’s.

Tang Coco slipped out of bed.

Don’t you think Yiyi’s been a little off lately?

In the washroom, Li Muyan rinsed her face, water glittering like fish scales. She spoke to Tang Coco at her side.

Hm? Off how?

Yiyi’s sleeping in more and more. She used to rise early and run at dawn, like a bird chasing the sun. She hasn’t gone in a long while.

Maybe… she was too tired last night.

Tang Coco ventured, voice cautious as a cloud.

Too tired last night? We didn’t do anything last night.

True. Although three squeezed into one bed, Li Muyan and Ye Yiyi only wanted to cuddle Tang Coco like holding a hot-water bottle.

Then… maybe she slept too comfortably? When sleep is good, you get addicted, right?

Tang guessed again, and earned Li Muyan’s eye-roll, sharp as a swallows’ flick.

…

Then we can’t let Yiyi hug you anymore. Or there’ll be no one making breakfast at sunrise.

Li Muyan laughed, light as wind.

…

So I’m the problem, huh.

Tang Coco kept it to herself. The two finished washing quickly. Tang went to the kitchen and started breakfast. Li Muyan drifted over and asked:

What’re you doing later?

I’ll go to Mom’s and hammer out our plan. They came knocking. I need to answer.

Want me there?

No. You just keep Yiyi safe.

Got it. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to Yiyi.

Mm.

Tang Coco nodded. She trusted Li Muyan’s strength like a tree trusts its roots.

Breakfast came together fast. Tang took two quick bites and headed out.

Skyeye is in position in near-Earth orbit.

The system chimed in, voice cold as steel.

Good. Keep it on standby.

Tang Coco said, and pressed her mom’s doorbell, a silver note ringing in the noon light.

Noon, G City in southern Huaguo. In a suburban private villa, the four Shadow Division members who had retreated sat in the living room, faces set like stone.

Number Ten, are we really not going to save Four and Five?

Eight looked at Ten, eyes burning like coals.

Save? Useless. You think after this long they kept their mouths shut? They probably sold us out already.

Ten dragged on a cigarette, the ember a cruel star.

How can you say that? They’re our teammates.

Eight’s face tightened, anger rising like a summer storm.

Teammates? Sure, teammates. Too bad they fell into her hands. I doubt they could hold. Besides… they’re probably dead by now. That man is there.

That man?

Shadow Division’s Asura.

!!!!

At that name, Seven and Eight flinched, shock like lightning. Nine sat still as a mountain.

Asura’s alive!? In Ninghai!?

Yeah. We pulled out fast that day. A little slower and we’d have run into him.

…

Seven and Eight felt fear creep in, cold as water on the back.

Heh. So now the job isn’t rescue. It’s making you stronger.

Ten’s gaze cut at them, a blade with a dry smile.

Eight, Hongcheng sent word this morning. Go back to base for secret training.

…

Eight wanted to refuse. A bad feeling crawled over her skin like ants. Training meant something ugly.

Fine… when?

She had no power to resist the organization’s orders. She could only nod like grass in the wind.

Tonight. Nine o’clock. One and Three will rendezvous here. They’ll carry HQ marks. Then Nine will teleport you back.

Oh… got it…

Eight’s voice dipped, a fallen leaf. Ten glanced at her once and looked away, face unreadable.

At Su Xinhua’s villa, Su Xinhua, Tang Coco, Tiantian, Marilyn, Gu Xin, Meng Yuting, and Hawkeye spent the morning shaping a counterattack plan, lines like a net drawn tight.

Alright. That’s the plan. The rest, we play it by ear.

Tang Coco spoke, steady as a drumbeat.

Mm.

Su nodded.

Su-jie, I’ll head to the company and prep.

Tiantian turned, quick as a sparrow.

Go.

Hawkeye, I need a word.

After Tiantian left, Tang Coco called to Hawkeye.

They stepped onto the second-floor balcony. The sky spread blue as silk.

Well? Anything you want to tell me…

Tang leaned on the railing, facing Hawkeye. Her hands braced at either side. The breeze lifted her hair like a black ribbon. Her white short skirt rippled like foam on porcelain skin. From the front, the sight was almost unreal.

…

Hawkeye was stunned, eyes caught like fish in a net.

Puhahaha—

Tang Coco saw his dazed look and burst laughing, bright as bells. She’d done it on purpose.

Uh…

Her smile made her even more beautiful. Hawkeye came back to himself, scratching his head like a guilty boy.

Boss… seducing your underling—doesn’t that count as a crime?

What? Can’t handle temptation?

No way. In my heart, you’ll always be that mighty Asura.

Hawkeye grinned, a sunlit grin.

Tang Coco only shook her head, a willow in wind. She stepped to his side and slung an arm over his shoulder, like two guys on a street corner. She wanted to find the old brotherhood. Hawkeye felt the soft warmth at his side, ripples spreading, but his mind stayed steady.

Arm on his shoulder, they stood by the rail and looked out at the blue sky, wide as the sea.

I’m sorry… I didn’t save Wildcat. And… I think the rebellion will—

Bitterness filled her eyes, the taste of smoke after fire.

Boss, it’s not on you. You did everything you could. With something this big, we get it.

Hawkeye’s voice was a hand on a shoulder.

If I could, I wish I’d died right then. None of this would have happened.

Wrong. If you had died, it would be worse. Now we still have a strong leader to lead us into the fight.

Tang Coco turned and studied him. Clean features. A steady light behind them, like a lantern in fog.

Thank you. For trusting me all this time.

She spoke seriously, each word a stone.

If we can’t trust brothers who bled with us, what else on earth can we trust?

Hawkeye answered with the same weight.

…

Ha. Talking with a brother is easier.

Tang Coco smiled, bright as morning.

Yeah. We’re brothers.

Hawkeye smiled back. He faced Tang and offered his right hand, palm open like a pledge.

Then please take care of us, beauty-captain.

Tang Coco’s mouth twitched, a cat ready to pounce.

You looking for a beating?!

Ahahahaha!

After a bit of teasing, Tang Coco went down to Su Xinhua’s basement to get to work.

Click.

The lights came on. Number Four and Number Five were still tied there. Four’s torn clothes, spring light spilling, dried stains on the floor like old shadows.

Here’s a choice.

Tang Coco stepped forward, voice cold as a winter stream.

One: work with me. Remove the mole among you. Save your teammates.

…

Four and Five exchanged a look, confusion like mist.

Tonight, I’ll strike your hideout. You help me stage a play. If it works, you can save several of yours.

And if we refuse?

Four asked, eyes narrow as knives.

Then you get option two. You two stay here. We move without you. Without your help, your teammates will all die.

Tang’s voice went colder, her presence turning brutal, like a blade catching frostlight.

…

You have one minute.

She said it and dragged over a chair. She sat and closed her eyes, still as a stone in a stream.

A minute slid past like a shadow. Tang opened her eyes, stood, and faced them.

Tell me your choice.

…

They stayed silent.

I see.

She turned to leave, steps firm as iron.

Wait!

Suddenly, Number Four called after her from behind, a sharp note slicing the air like a pebble breaking a pond’s skin.

Tang Coco kept her back to their faces, the corner of her mouth lifting—a thin crescent at dusk.

“We... agree...”