Chapter 386
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 386
Chapter Title: Don't Ask
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“Have you confirmed it?”
A heavy silence hung in the underground basement.
There were no phones or light switches, not even an outlet in sight.
In that space, illuminated only by the dim light of a lamp on a crude table, they held their breath, waiting for an answer.
“It’s been verified as fact.”
The air stirred noticeably.
“Finally...!”
“This time, it’s not just rumors, right?”
“If it were rumors, that’d be a relief, but what if it’s a trap?”
“I-I just can’t believe it. It’s way too suspicious no matter how you look at it.”
Some hopeful.
Some skeptical.
Some worried.
Some terrified.
Everyone from one to ten chimed in chaotically.
The basement quickly turned into a cauldron of noise and confusion as they all blurted out their thoughts.
Clap!
“Everyone, focus.”
The heavy voice quelled the chaos.
To those now looking his way, the bearded man who had asked the first question spoke with a serious expression.
“For now, we’ll proceed assuming the information is accurate.”
“Teacher, if this is another one of Okhrana’s fakes, rushing in will just lead to pointless sacrifices.”
“I know that.”
“Then...”
“But even if there’s danger, we can’t cower and stop. That’s exactly what they want.”
The bearded man called Teacher didn’t convince everyone.
A few still couldn’t hide their unease.
But at least he silenced most objections and ignited passion in some eyes.
“So what’s the plan?”
“Can’t we get help from our brothers inside?”
“It won’t be easy. So many brothers have already been caught, and both the KGB and Okhrana are on high alert.”
“I figured as much...”
The Teacher hadn’t held high hopes anyway, so he wasn’t disappointed.
He just spoke after a brief silence.
“No choice, then. We’ll have to prove our resolve with actions, not words.”
“Is that really okay?”
“We have no choice. This might be our last chance at true liberation.”
His calm words hit even harder, leaving them all somber.
They all knew it.
Time was running out.
Hiding longer wouldn’t change their fate of dying like dogs.
“Don’t lose hope, though. The fact that opportunity came in this dire moment is proof the Savior hasn’t abandoned us.”
“...You’re right.”
“The Savior will deliver us.”
“Vse vlast’ Sovetam.”
“Vse vlast’ Sovetam.”
Did they truly believe it?
Or was it just that no other hope remained?
Either way, the earlier chaos vanished as if it were a lie. They clasped hands, renewing their resolve.
That unity was the source that had kept them going through long despair.
And so, in the world’s coldest frozen land, a desire hotter than any flame quietly began to burn.
“Hmm.”
Rimon narrowed his eyes for a moment.
Then he casually asked Yuna Kyung, who was slumped dejectedly on a wooden crate.
“Bluebird.”
[...Why are you calling me?]
“Didn’t you say last time was the final trip you’d tag along for?”
[I did.]
Yuna Kyung affirmed blankly.
She’d been worked to the bone in Africa, of course.
And before and after, helping with Sir’s research had worn her out too.
She’d planned to laze around for at least a month.
Knowing that, Rimon tilted his head.
“So why volunteer to come on this trip?”
[Good question. Why do you think?]
“...Why ask me?”
[I don’t even know why I’m following you, Team Leader.]
“...”
Rimon lost his composure at the amnesiac-like response.
But Yuna Kyung was serious.
It had started innocently enough—like accepting an offer for tea and scurrying off to meet Li Chingwei.
Then, nibbling snacks while chiming agreement to her worries about Rimon, puffing up a bit at praise for her last exploits...
How?
Somehow, she’d ended up volunteering to accompany him.
Not even at Li Chingwei’s request—she’d boldly declared it herself.
‘Why did I do that...?}
For Yuna Kyung, who’d vowed never to fall for her words again, it felt like she’d been bewitched.
But what could she do?
She couldn’t back out now to Li Chingwei’s beaming smile.
So Yuna Kyung dragged her wings, joining Rimon and Aynsha on their trip to the Russiakan Nation.
Cheering up the downcast girl was Aynsha, standing expressionlessly beside her.
“Don’t worry. That’s par for the course with Li Chingwei.”
[Really?]
“Yes. I nearly lost my Tiamat shares once. Compared to that, this is nothing. Don’t sweat it.”
“...Shouldn’t you be the one sweating that, you idiot princess?”
“It’s fine. I handed over cash equal to the shares’ value.”
[Doesn’t that just mean she shook you down...?]
“Not a shakedown. A rightful investment for world peace. And I kept the shares, so I won.”
“...”
Astronomical sum extorted, yet...
Aynsha beamed triumphantly at keeping her shares against Li Chingwei, as if it were a feat.
Rimon wore a subtle expression watching her blank-faced pride, while Yuna Kyung muttered unwittingly.
[What can I say... I know I shouldn’t feel better, but it actually helps.]
“No big deal. Don’t worry about it.”
Misery loves company, or rather, others’ misfortune is one’s relief.
Yuna Kyung relaxed realizing her ordeal was minor compared to Aynsha’s.
And Aynsha preened further, taking it as pure praise, her flat chest puffing out more.
As Rimon’s bemusement grew at the worldly fledgling and the innocently naive Seven Dragons princess combo,
Yuna Kyung tilted her head.
[By the way, sis, your outfit’s extra weird today?]
“We’re heading to the Russiakan Nation. So I geared up thoroughly.”
[...That’s less gear and more disguise, isn’t it?]
Yuna Kyung scratched her head.
The White Dragon Clan’s flowing robes remained.
But the fabric wrapped around her was over ten times more.
Especially with the added veil under her headscarf covering her nose—her face was barely visible.
Rimon, meanwhile, accepted it calmly.
“Given the place, yeah.”
“Exactly. Showing my face there is a hassle. Better covered.”
[Whoa, is white sis that popular in the Russiakan Nation?]
“If you mean fans, well. Plenty, sure.”
“I hate that kind of popularity...”
[...?]
Yuna Kyung cocked her head at Aynsha’s drooping shoulders.
Of course, Aynsha was the “Singing Snow White,” a famed performer.
With fans worldwide, hiding her face wasn’t odd.
But Yuna Kyung had often seen her flaunt it openly, so the bundling up seemed strange.
As she opened her beak to ask why,
A quiet hum approached.
Weeeeeng.
“About time.”
“Too late. Should’ve used Li’s space teleport.”
“Can’t refuse official transport for an official visit.”
“Fine. We have Li here. We’d win any fight.”
“Spare me starting a full war with the Silver Dragon Clan just to skip a ride.”
Perplexed by the exchange,
Yuna Kyung nodded upon spotting the tiny flyer from the distant sky.
[That’s the Silver Dragon Clan’s welcome party?]
“Probably. They said they’d send an SDW X-21.”
[...Wasn’t your ride, princess sis, an X-17? Why’s that a 21?]
“What’s with the late surprise? You know the Seven Dragons don’t share top models even with other clans’ princesses.”
[Still, there’s a limit. Where’d 18 through 20 go?]
“Tech advances fast.”
Rimon shrugged.
The Silver Dragon Clan owned Bahamut Corp.
Humanity’s tech pinnacle, at least officially.
...Though they hoarded even more in secret.
Convinced, Yuna Kyung eyed the sleeker, smaller VTOL than Li Chingwei’s—still muttering.
[Even the latest model, one won’t fit us all. Not with this crowd.]
“If it were just one, yeah.”
[Huh?]
Aynsha and Rimon.
Tata standing behind.
And the Divine Dragon Guard holding position silently.
As Yuna Kyung pondered the over thirty heads, another dot appeared in the sky with a layered hum.
Weeeeeng.
Two, five, ten, twenty...
Dozens filled the sky, leaving Yuna Kyung’s beak agape.
Li Chingwei had said SDW X-series outmatched fighter squadrons—cutting-edge.
Even Seven Dragons princesses got outdated personal ones.
Seeing a battalion blotting the sky was mind-blowing.
Rimon furrowed his brow; Aynsha’s eyes gleamed transparently before she slyly hid behind him.
Through superhuman senses.
Or precognition.
They grasped why such air power was mobilized.
Tsssh.
As Yuna Kyung gawked, the VTOLs landed in turn on the runway.
One hatch opened.
A silver flash burst out.
“Aynsha, big sis came to greet you herself! Haven’t your boobs grown much? Lemme feel...”
Thwack, thud!
“Kweack???”
A frog-squish cry, followed by a heroic flop.
The girl who’d rocketed from the VTOL at invisible speed toward Aynsha got snagged mid-charge by Rimon’s lightning-fast arm, flipping backward.
Her skull cracked the runway, spiderwebbing it.
Yet she bounced up, complaining.
“Why interfere!? Isn’t it etiquette to step back for a touching sisterly reunion!?”
“What country greets by groping boobs right off the bat?”
“The one I’ll make law here soon! Violators get the death penalty!”
“...You know that means I could grope yours in return?”
“Fine, grope away! Then I grope Aynsha’s. Fair, right?”
“Save the sleep-talk for bed, you lunatic princess.”
“Why not!?”
After blinking endlessly at the silver-haired girl flailing arms and charging, pushed back by Rimon’s palm on her forehead with an annoyed look,
Yuna Kyung asked hesitantly.
[Who’s that sis?]
“You asking because you don’t know? Wondering that.”
[Someone I should know?]
Aynsha stared blankly at puzzled Yuna Kyung, then deadpanned.
“Yekateriche.”
[Yekateriche... Silver Dragon Princess? The Russiakan Great Khan?]
“Yes.”
Yuna Kyung’s beak flapped at the confirmation.
She’d missed the last Seven Dragons meet, and Russiakan’s isolation meant first sight.
But her shock wasn’t at the Silver Dragon Princess being that weirdo... perv... nut...
...clownish girl.
Purely her appearance.
Her face, precisely.
[Why does Silver Dragon Princess sis look exactly like white sis?]
Long-braided silver hair.
Fur cape over traditional robes.
Slightly more prominent certain assets.
And wildly expressive face aside.
The silver-haired girl, Yekateriche, was a spitting image—twins?—of the white-haired one before her.
“...Don’t ask.”
Yuna Kyung had no choice but to bemuse, glancing between Aynsha’s blank distaste despite identical faces and Yekateriche.