Chapter 114

In this situation, when she called him "little brother" in a tone that was a mixture of tenderness, teasing, and a hint of secret intimacy, Han Fei felt a strange, indescribable awkwardness creep up his spine.

He liked mature and reliable older sisters, and had fantasized about being called "brother" by an older sister in a dependent tone. But to be so clearly defined as "younger brother" by an older sister in person, especially in this ambiguous atmosphere, was unacceptable.

This feeling...

Tsk, this is a bit tough.

I like mature, older women.

Being called "brother" by an older sister!

Being called "little brother" by an older sister!

Volume 1: Chapter 146 The Oath

Lemuen didn't give Han Fei a chance to react. Like a gust of wind, she took two steps back in front of him, creating distance between them.

Then, she casually concealed the playful and cunning look in her eyes, reverting to her gentle demeanor, and said softly, "Shall we go down? They should still be waiting for us; we can't keep them waiting too long."

After saying that, she started walking down the hillside.

Han Fei raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "They flirted and then ran away? Don't they have any chance of survival?"

Ironically, what she said made perfect sense. Texas and Lemuen were indeed waiting downstairs, and if things dragged on any longer, those two might come up to check on the situation themselves.

Then it won't be a private interaction anymore, but rather public flirting.

Han Fei wasn't too concerned about Texas being the only one mentioned.

But Lemuen was not an option.

It's not for any other reason than that Lemuen is actually quite young at this age.

If Han Fei remembers correctly, she's only 17 years old right now?

What kind of good brother-in-law would flirt with his older sister in front of her younger sister?

Han Fei himself felt something was off, let alone Lemuen, who certainly wouldn't be happy to see this situation.

While Han Fei was lost in thought, Lemuen had already walked several meters away.

Seeing this, Han Fei no longer hesitated, turned to Ines, and said, "Get moving, don't be a puppet. I have no time to take care of a puppet."

Ines silently stood up and followed Han Fei down the hillside.

Not long after they left, she suddenly asked, "You can save him, right?"

Han Fei continued moving without even turning his head, saying, "Indeed, but there's no need."

"Miss Ines, I did give you a chance, didn't I?"

"Is there an opportunity?"

Ines stared intently at Han Fei's retreating figure and said softly, "Well, your chance was quite merciful."

"Am I being kind, or have you gone too far?"

Han Fei finally turned around and glanced at Ines. "Your current predicament is indeed related to me. It was me and my team that defeated you and your team. But have you ever thought about why?"

"Isn't it because you ordered your men to launch a sneak attack first?"

No matter how you look at it, Han Fei doesn't think he has any problems.

He was initially inclined to talk things over, thinking he could have Ines keep his quest items until he collected some loot before exchanging them.

Before he could even see the person or say a word, his helmet exploded. Luckily, Han Fei reacted quickly, otherwise the arrow would have Lemuen instead.

Who could resist retaliating?

Han Fei, in any case, couldn't resist.

Since they've already been shot in the head, what's the point of talking? Let's fight first.

You've already blown my Shut-in Helmet, so it's not unreasonable for me to just retaliate, right?

As for seizing the spoils, that happened after he was attacked, not because he immediately started to grab them and then incidentally crushed Ines's army.

Reversing cause and effect is not a good habit.

Ines was silent for a long while, then she changed the subject and asked, "So, what exactly do you want from me to be willing to save him?"

Why should I save him?

Han Fei retorted, "Don't you think I'm causing enough trouble already? I can't find any reason to save him, nor any corresponding benefits, but on the contrary, I can foresee how much trouble saving him will bring me."

"A mercenary group leader, and one filled with hatred. Even if I temporarily defeat his group, I think with his abilities, he can quickly gather a new mercenary group, can't he?"

You're absolutely right.

Surprisingly, Ines didn't refute him; instead, she agreed with Han Fei's words, saying, "With his abilities, he can indeed quickly assemble a new team."

"So why should I create trouble for myself?" Han Fei raised an eyebrow.

"Because of me, my existence is for profit."

Ines lowered her head and whispered, "I swear to the Lord of the Court that I will be loyal to you, and if I break this oath, may my soul never find peace and may I never enter that tranquil Nation of death."

Han Fei raised an eyebrow, seemingly skeptical, and said, "Miss Ines, your credit score with me is already very low."

Terra isn't some cultivation world, and Han Fei doesn't believe that swearing an oath to a royal ruler has a binding effect similar to "the Way of Heaven."

In cultivation novels, swearing an oath to the Heavenly Dao is indeed subject to severe backlash if the oath is broken.

But what about Terra?

If the Banshee possessed the power of "Heavenly Dao," how could Kazdel have fallen to its current state?

"Since you are so familiar with Kazdel, you should know that the Banshee Queen is also the Sarkaz's undertaker," Ines said softly. "Her Bone Whistle play mournful music, guiding the souls of the fallen back to Kazdel."

"The soul is the core of the Banshee's witchcraft."

At this point, Ines paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"I don't know if she can do it, but if she can, I am willing to use my soul as paper and the sorcery of the Banshee Queen as pen to write an eternal vow on my soul."

She lowered her head, seemingly not wanting Han Fei to notice the complex emotions in her eyes. "I am willing to serve you as my master, until the end of my life."

Han Fei continued walking, his voice drifting back. "I will never believe in empty promises."

Ines paused involuntarily, instinctively clenching her fists, but quickly relaxed them.

She didn't mention it again and silently followed Han Fei.

When Han Fei arrived at the meeting point, the three girls were already gathered together. Lemuen, like a lark returning to its nest, buried her head in her older sister Lemuen's arms, nuzzling her affectionately, and chattering excitedly about the "spoils of war" she had just plundered:

"Sis! You have no idea, those bags were like a junk shop, full of all sorts of random things! But... but there weren't many decent, valuable items..."

Her voice carried a hint of disappointment after the initial excitement.

Lemuen was like the gentlest harbor, gently embracing her sister with one arm and rhythmically patting her back with the other, a serene smile playing on her lips. She didn't interrupt her sister's chatter, but listened patiently, only occasionally letting out a soft "hmm" or "oh, I see" in response.

The warm whispers between the sisters gradually ceased only as Han Fei's footsteps drew closer.

"Oh, boss, you're here!"

Lemuen lifted her head from her sister's arms, her face instantly lighting up with a bright, energetic smile. She waved vigorously at Han Fei, "We've been waiting for you for ages!"

"Your sister walked faster,"

Han Fei walked to Lemuen's side and explained naturally, "I haven't stopped for a moment."

"Now that everything's settled, shouldn't we leave?"

Lemuen spoke, she suddenly lowered her voice and subconsciously leaned closer to Han Fei and her sister, as if to avoid unseen gazes. "This place gives me a terrible feeling... I always feel like there are eyes watching us from the shadows, it's so creepy."

It must be said that Lemuen's perception was indeed sharp; in fact, Han Fei had noticed those gazes long ago.

The Banshee Court did not exterminate her entire clan.

In the great war of 898, the Banshee race stood at the forefront to defend their homeland, and the Great Banshee Lamat became one of the "Six Heroes" of the Sarkaz during that battle.

However, despite their victory in the war, the Banshee Court suffered heavy casualties, and they soon left Kazdel to recuperate in the River Valley.

To this day.

Those Banshee who returned to the River Valley were the source of the spying gazes that Exusiai sensed.

"Theoretically, traveling at night is indeed not the best option."

Lemuen echoed softly, glancing around the River Valley gradually shrouded in twilight, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. "But this time, I also feel that Xiao Le's feelings are not without merit."

Instead of making a decision immediately, she turned her gaze to Han Fei, her voice gentle yet questioning:

What do you think, boss?

I don't know if it was just my imagination, or if the ripples in my heart from hearing "boss's brother" earlier hadn't subsided yet.

Hearing Lemuen utter the word "boss" in her gentle voice again, Han Fei's heart skipped a beat.

Her tone and manner were perfectly normal, calm and without a trace of emotion. Yet, Han Fei felt that this simple form of address seemed to carry some indescribable, hidden meaning.

It was as if those two words, lightly pressed between her lips, carried a subtle, almost imperceptible teasing tone that only the two of them understood.

Unexpectedly, Ines, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, "Well then, Mr. Han Fei, I shall begin."

Without waiting for Han Fei's reaction, she called out loudly, "Your Excellency Lamat, please answer my call. I have a small request, and I hope Your Lamat will grant it."

Upon hearing this, almost instantly, Han Fei and his teammates drew their weapons.

Texas's figure approached like a ghost, the hum of the longsword drawn from its sheath still lingering, the cold blade already pressed precisely and undeniably against Ines's throat, just one more step and blood would be drawn!

Lemuen reacted with lightning speed; her heavy AWM was raised almost the instant Ines uttered her first honorific, the rough muzzle of which, filled with chilling killing intent, was firmly and immovably locked onto Ines's forehead.

Lemuen's movements were equally impressive. Victor and K416 appeared in her hands in an instant, and she fired with both hands. The dark muzzles of the guns were like the eyes of a viper, locking onto Ines's temple and heart respectively!

Han Fei raised his M250, pressing the barrel directly against Ines's chest, and said, "I didn't agree to that."

The cold metallic touch pressed against her skin's vital points, and the chilling killing intent, like a tangible cold wave, instantly enveloped Ines completely.

The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the slight tremor of the sword's edge and the silent pressure of the gun muzzle, a deathly silence brewing a thunderous strike that could erupt at any moment.

However, Ines, firmly locked in the grip of death, remained as calm as a deep pool. The cold longsword at her neck, capable of easily severing her throat, seemed to her as nothing more than an insignificant withered branch.

"Indeed," she said, her voice completely flat and frighteningly calm, "But I want to try."

She didn't even glance at the weapon pressed against her vitals, her gaze drifting aimlessly into the void. "How will I know the outcome if I don't try? If it really succeeds..."

Her gaze finally turned to Han Fei, with a calm that suggested she was making a desperate gamble, "Then you'll gain an excellent intelligence officer."

Her voice was slightly low, but each word was clear, as if etched on a stone slab. "More importantly, she will be a follower who will never betray you and is absolutely loyal."

Having said that, she ignored the deadly threat that was right in front of her and turned her gaze back to the deep River Valley, quietly waiting for the legendary queen of the Banshee, Lamat, to appear.

Texas's voice was chillingly cold. "What are you planning to do now?"

Ines then calmly swept her gaze over everyone, and said softly, "If Lamat would really make an enemy of you all for the sake of a mere mercenary like me, then I think the conflict would have already occurred from the very beginning, wouldn't it?"

"I am just an ordinary Sarkaz mercenary. I have no authority to command Lady Lamat, nor do I expect her to help me. I simply want to perform a sacrifice under her watchful eye, offering myself as a sacrifice to your captain."

"Sacrifice?"

A voice, ethereal yet majestic, seemingly resounding directly into the depths of the soul, unexpectedly pierced through the tense, deathly silence.

Unbeknownst to them, the mysterious and powerful figure— Lamat, the Queen of the Banshee —had silently appeared near them, as if she had always been there.

Even the moonlight seemed to become hazy with her arrival.

Her eyes, which seemed to pierce through time, swept across the room, her voice calm yet containing undeniable power. "Please don't worry, young visitors, I mean you no harm."

Her gaze fell on Ines, with a detached air that seemed to look down upon the world. "If this 'Sarkaz' child were to seek my help, I think my answer would be no."

Lamat paused, her gaze slowly sweeping over every inch of the River Valley, like a monarch surveying her domain.

When she spoke again, that gentle "please" contained the will of the ruler of the royal court, nurtured over a century; it was less a request and more an inviolable declaration.

"However, please remember this as well."

Her voice was soft, yet the authority of a royal ruler in her words was enough to freeze the air. "This River Valley has enjoyed a century of pristine tranquility; please do not let bloodshed taint its purity."

Just as Han Fei's gaze was fixed on the Banshee Queen, Ines suddenly moved.

She knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Lady Lamat, I want to beg you, I beg you to use the witchcraft of the Queen of the Banshee to witness my vow."

"I, Ines, hereby swear an oath in your presence: if Han Fei is willing to help me rescue Hedley, I will offer him my utmost loyalty and never betray him."

"If I break my oath, may my soul be tormented by the Banshee's Wail for eternity, never to be freed."

Volume One: Chapter 147 Before Departure