By myself...

Ouyang’s eyes went wide. She hunched over, staring nervously at the two weapons laid on the desk.

We don’t even know what the Bloodkin Prince looks like. We don’t know which corner of the Zero District he hides in. That makes an assassination hard.

“Can I… really do this?”

A future flickered in her mind. Ouyang, in a black lace dress, eased close to the Bloodkin Prince. She nestled sweetly into his arms, then slipped out a silver dagger from behind and drove it into his heart to end it all.

If the Bloodkin Prince died, Ouyang wouldn’t have to live every day in fear in the Northern District. She wouldn’t worry about breaking rules, being dragged back to the Zero District as his spouse—a tool to bear his children.

Brother Long already had a plan for her. If they didn’t take out the Blood Clan’s boss, Ouyang’s whole life would be buried in his hands.

Ouyang reached toward the silver dagger on the desk, her gaze firm. To end this tragic, unwilling fate early, she said seriously:

“I can do it.”

“Before you do, learn to hide your emotions. You put everything on your face, and that’s a bad habit. While I waited for you, I found you a mentor. She just landed and is almost here.”

“A mentor?”

“Mm.”

Brother Long’s smile was bitter, like he really didn’t want to meet her, yet he introduced her with pride. “She loves traveling the world. She’s been in Thailand training assassins. I asked her to come back for a while to look after you.”

“Sawasdee ka~ Long-chan, long time no see.”

Noise outside swelled, like a miracle had arrived. A mature, sultry voice came from the door.

The office door eased open. A well-proportioned woman walked in. Her tanned yet refined face was brushed with foundation and sunscreen. Black sunglasses rested on her hair. Light brown shadow framed bright, dark-brown eyes.

Her thin upper lip and fuller lower lip were painted with YLS’s latest hot shade of gloss. Light silver hoops dangled from her ears. A loose black off-shoulder crew-neck tee showed off her lovely collarbones and the two ample, pillowy mounds of her chest. Below, she wore light denim shorts that hit mid-thigh and black denim boots.

Tea-colored waves swayed behind her with a tempting gait. She was a sight. No one expected Brother Long to have someone this beautiful and sexy at his side.

“Let me introduce her. Claudia—our teammate, my old war buddy.”

“Hello, I’m Ouyang Qingdan.”

Nervous but polite, Ouyang greeted the stunning big sis. The woman lit up, delighted.

“So this is the little cutie you’re handing over to me for a makeover, right?”

She saw through it in one glance and sized up the girl disguised as a boy.

“That’s right,” Brother Long said, mood complicated.

“Makeover?”

Ouyang blinked, not quite following. Confirmed, Claudia strode right up to her and, without even a hello, placed both hands on her chest. Ouyang jumped back several steps, grabbed her bandaged little chest, and yelped, blushing:

“W-what are you doing?!”

Who just lunges for someone’s chest out of nowhere? No normal greeting goes like that.

Claudia noted her reaction, shook her head helplessly, displeasure written all over her face.

“Nope. A girl’s figure is treasure all around. Hiding it at random is a total waste.”

She clapped, stern like a teacher about to start class. “First, let’s learn the theory of your own body. Take off your clothes! Now! Immediately! Right this second!”

“Wait—”

Claudia closed in with full force, clearly not stopping until Ouyang’s clothes came off. Ouyang was terrified.

She backed up fast, one hand clamped to her chest, the other gripping the zipper of her sun jacket. No way was she letting this woman win.

Stripping in front of Brother Long and a woman she’d just met was way too weird. Ouyang had no idea why Brother Long brought her back.

“Brother Long… stop her!”

“Mm-hm. I told Claudia your body was changed by a drug developed in the Zero District. You’ve got a girl’s form now. You’re about to carry out an assassination on the Zero District’s boss. She’s very willing to help us.”

“What kind of drug outclasses Thailand’s medical tech and treatments? I came back curious to explore.”

Claudia looked around with mild disdain. “Even a sky-high price wouldn’t get me back to the Northern District. You better appreciate me.”

“So she’s interested in my body?”

Ouyang stared at Brother Long. He sighed. “Claudia’s amazing. She’s done countless assassinations without a single failure. She’s elite. She understands men and women. She’s a big name in the crossdressing scene—a queen in the ladyboy world.”

“Wait… you’re saying this person is a man?!”

“Brat, call me Lady Claudia!”

In a blink, Claudia appeared right in front of Ouyang. Before Ouyang could dodge, a sharp thunk landed on her forehead. Her vision doubled—two Brother Longs, two ladyboys—then went dark. With a thud, she collapsed.

Claudia lifted Ouyang in a princess carry and shook her head, sighing:

“This kid’s talent in this area is zero. It’s going to take a long time to teach her how to be an elegant, adorable lady.”

From sitting to speaking, housekeeping to manners—there wasn’t a trace of a girl’s vibe. Just a mischievous little young master.

That kind is the hardest to reshape, in mind and form, into a girl.

Usually, people who come to Claudia share her dream: they want to become girls, they yearn to be women.

“She only changed like this not long ago. We’ll take it slow. We’ve got money and time anyway.”

Brother Long lit a cigar and finally felt relieved now that Claudia was back.

“Xinglong Xiang, I’m hearing bad wind from other districts. The Zero District posted a four-million Fire Vouchers bounty. They’re hunting a girl with a mark on her right shoulder who appeared in the Northern District.”

For years, the Northern District under Xinglong Xiang’s control never saw a hint of turmoil.

Claudia looked uneasily at the little one in her arms, as if a storm was about to break.