Suddenly, heavy rain poured from the sky.

Deep in the forest, a golden-haired figure fled at breakneck speed.

Her boots sank into the muddy earth, leaving a trail of clear footprints behind.

"Hah… hah…"

The girl panted heavily, desperately evading her pursuers.

Behind her, dozens of fully armed soldiers combed through the woods, hunting her trail.

Shilufei couldn’t understand it. She’d accepted a monster-hunting mission—so why was *she* now the prey?

These sudden soldiers could only be York Family’s hunters.

But only the Veneto Family’s head knew her identity… Why would the York Family target her?

Confusion churned deep within her.

Thankfully, before entering the forest, she’d been cautious—bringing her close friend Loko along. Now, she raced toward their rendezvous point. Together, they might escape.

Sure enough, ahead in the forest’s depths, she spotted their makeshift camp. Inside the tent, the green-haired girl huddled close.

Seeing Shilufei drenched and disheveled, Loko’s eyes widened in shock before she rushed out.

"Shilufei!? What happened? Why so frantic?"

No time to explain. Shilufei grabbed her hand.

"Loko, we have to run—*now*. They’re chasing us."

"Chasing *us*?"

"Yes!"

Shilufei nodded sharply and pulled Loko away.

They ran until the forest’s edge. Only then did Shilufei stop.

The rain had softened to a drizzle; the sky cleared to azure, a rainbow arching gently above.

"We… should be safe now…" she murmured, glancing back.

Loko leaned against a tree, breath ragged, hands braced on her knees.

"Shilufei… you still haven’t told me what happened…"

"The York Family’s men were hunting me."

Shilufei kept her gaze locked behind them.

"The York Family?" Loko’s face paled.

She stepped closer. Shilufei, unaware, nodded.

"Yes. Definitely York Family. But how did they find me…?"

Then, Loko’s voice drifted softly from behind:

"Maybe… they knew all along."

Shilufei turned—astonished.

A sharp stab pierced her abdomen.

Her body slumped forward, caught by Loko’s arms.

Disbelief flooded her eyes.

Loko whispered into her ear, voice glacial:

"Before you even enrolled in Rickrode, Teresa came to me."

*Teresa.*

Shilufei’s pupils contracted. She knew exactly who that was.

"So… you’ve been lying this whole time? You never hated the York Family… You were Teresa’s agent all along?"

"Yes."

Blood seeped slowly from the corner of Shilufei’s mouth as her wound worsened. She didn’t fight back. She just needed clarity.

"All those days as roommates… fighting side by side in the finals… even when you took that monster’s blow for me—was *any* of it real?"

"Yes. All tactics. To break your guard."

"Did you… feel *nothing*? Not even a trace of friendship?"

Clutching Loko tightly, Shilufei’s voice trembled with pain.

Silence.

Her vision blurred. Loko’s profile faded.

"Answer… me…"

Her grip weakened. Loko withdrew the dagger, then held her close.

"I don’t want to forget… but I had my reasons…"

"I’m sorry, Shilufei…"

The last words Shilufei heard.

Moments later, watching the river carry Shilufei away, Loko shook her head. That hasty bandage would only delay the inevitable. Without help, she’d still die.

Staring at her bloodstained hands, Loko’s eyes dimmed.

She collapsed to her knees, sobbing brokenly.

She had killed one dear friend… on another’s orders.

When Shilufei awoke, she lay on the riverbank downstream.

Too weak to rise, she stared at the crude bandage on her abdomen.

*Who did this?*

*Loko? But her orders were to kill me…*

Then she remembered Loko’s final whisper.

Her heart twisted—aching, hollow.

But she had survived.

And now… revenge awaited.

…

Time blurred. In a basement beneath Rickrode, Loko sat bound, blindfolded.

Footsteps approached. She lifted her head.

"Shilufei?"

Warm, damp lips pressed fiercely against hers.

Only after the kiss did the blindfold fall away.

Golden hair. Sky-blue eyes. Shilufei.

But the innocence was gone. Only vengeance burned in her gaze.

"Don’t call me that."

Straddling Loko, Shilufei pressed close. Her finger traced slowly down Loko’s chest, stopping at her abdomen.

"I still remember that stab…"

Loko’s eyes dimmed further.

"Just kill me. I meant to kill you then. Now it’s your turn."

"I know." Shilufei nodded.

As Loko braced for a blade, Shilufei gripped her chin instead.

"When I woke downstream… my wound was bandaged."

"Heh… Lucky you," Loko scoffed, feigning indifference.

"Was it you?"

Loko’s breath hitched. She shook her head.

"My orders were to kill you. Why spare you?"

"Then why not bring my corpse to report?"

Silence.

Shilufei brushed Loko’s hair aside, leaning in until their foreheads touched.

"Admit it, and I might spare you."

"Even if you don’t… I won’t kill you."

"Just like you didn’t kill me."

"We have plenty of time ahead…"

"I won’t let you go that easily, Loko…"

Their bodies drew closer…