The Big Yellow Dog

Upon hearing Maria's question, Texas perked up and looked around.

Just as Maria said, Lappland, who was originally here, has disappeared without anyone knowing when.

This puzzled not only Maria, but also Texas.

A moment later, she also turned around.

"Perhaps... it has something to do with her identity."

"Um?"

"Lappland... she didn't come to Lungmen through the proper channels; she's still undocumented, perhaps to avoid being questioned by the Lungmen Guard Department?"

There's also some uncertainty in Texas.

Logically speaking, Lappland isn't someone who follows rules very well; at most, she'll avoid doing certain things because they're inconvenient.

But... now that Maria has appeared, even if her identity is being checked, shouldn't she at least come over and exchange a few words with Maria?

He left without saying a word?

This is somewhat unlike her.

"Yeah..."

In response to Texas's answer, Maria casually replied with a few words, then continued to ask questions without showing any emotion.

"You two seem to have a good relationship, don't you?"

"Um?"

"Although I don't have much experience fighting alongside others, I can see that you all seem to trust each other a lot..."

Maria continued walking.

"The eye contact and hand gestures between you two never ceased..."

"On a few occasions, you would deliberately conceal her figure, preventing me from looking directly at her..."

"I don't know how long it would take for an ordinary person to train to achieve the level of teamwork you have."

"But... the fact that you two can cooperate so well suggests that you're not enemies."

"You said before that she came looking for me."

Is there something going on here?

Maria began to speak slowly, her calm and collected analysis leaving Texas speechless.

Because what Maria said was true.

Maria wasn't surprised that she could sense the special relationship between the few people.

But to her surprise, Maria noticed so quickly.

I just met Lappland today, and I just revealed something unusual. In such a short time, she already sensed something was wrong...

Was it that his acting was too bad, or was Maria's observation overly sensitive?

Texas took a deep breath.

But none of that matters anymore.

She would not go against Maria's wishes.

After hearing that Maria wanted to know something, she also looked up.

"Do you... want to know?"

Texas mustered her courage.

From the very beginning, when Maria invited her to that tavern, she had always wanted to have a face-to-face conversation with Maria.

She wanted to explain the past to Maria and express her longing for her all these years.

However, one unexpected event after another interrupted her narration... which thwarted every attempt she made to muster her courage.

She didn't know how much longer she could continue like this, but she felt it was time for her to tell Maria everything.

But her habitual tendency to avoid things prevented her from actually telling the whole story, so she asked Maria for her opinion.

If Maria is willing to speak and give her orders, then she can tell her everything without any guilt...

If only... Maria is willing to speak...

"..."

Maria didn't respond immediately; she simply stopped and turned to look at the girl.

She stood in front, her back to the sunlight, her face calm.

His silent demeanor exuded authority.

Just when Texas thought she had said something wrong, Maria gently stepped forward.

Texas instinctively tried to move aside, but her body froze the moment she took a step.

After hesitating for a moment, she withdrew her foot that was about to run away, stood straight in place, and stared at Maria.

Until...

Maria gently put one arm around her waist.

The two of them were very close...

"... Are you willing to talk?"

Maria spoke gently, her soft voice like a caress, her breath brushing against Texas's ear, stroking every nerve and skin of her body...

"You can hear my heartbeat, right? I can hear yours too... So, don't lie to me."

Maria's voice was gentle, but her words were incredibly decisive.

Texas knew that Maria was telling the truth, and that if she were lying, Maria would know.

But what are my own thoughts?

She dared not speak.

It wasn't just hesitation about the past, but also her fear of it.

The legend of the Night Watcher had lingered in Siracusa for so long, and as one of the few who had come into contact with them, I and Lappland were undoubtedly the focus of Maria's attention and training.

But...

She disappointed Maria.

As Maria's student as well, she defied many things... In this respect, Lappland, who always followed Maria's teachings, seemed so outstanding.

This is also why she hesitated to let Maria and Lappland meet.

Because she was afraid, afraid that Maria's eyes would reveal disappointment...

Therefore, she could only respond to Maria's question with silence.

"..."

"Then I don't want to know."

Maria smiled gently as she looked at the troubled Texas.

Her smile was as barely perceptible as ever; there was only a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.

Even so, she continued to look at Texas, her eyes showing no disappointment, no regret, only a calm and gentle gaze.

But Texas witnessed that moment and paid the price for it.

A price to pay for... restlessness.

"... You don't want to know?"

The girl in black hesitated for a moment, then took a small step forward, looked at Maria, and spoke somewhat incoherently.

But Maria simply released Texas quietly and continued walking.

Her elegant posture was upright and alluring.

"I have no interest in forcing anyone... Just like I said in the store before, I know you recognize me, but I can tell you, I don't remember you."

"Perhaps something happened between us that you still remember, but I don't remember... I don't remember anything that made you happy or angry."

"But I don't feel obligated to get it back."

"I don't like to dwell on the past, because every time I recall the things that made me unhappy, it only makes me unhappy, and I can never experience the happy things again."

"More important now than any of that..."

Maria turned her head and silently gazed at the girl in front of her in the darkness.

Her black hunting outfit accentuated her straight figure, and although no skin was exposed, it was as if there was gravity pulling at Texas, making her breath quicken.

She gazed upon the presence before her as if seeing a believer of the Lord...

"I don't know what our past relationship was like, but I know that you can be trusted now, Miss Texas."

"If I don't want to talk about it..."

Maria turned her head calmly, without the slightest hesitation.

"Then there's no need to say anything more."

"Just do what you believe is right, and that's enough."

Chapter 135 The Big Yellow Dog

Rhodes Island's ships have a very sleek and modern design.

If I had to describe it, it would be a big iron box with some wheels and tracks. Just looking at the outside, it probably doesn't look any different.

At this moment, its territory is connected to the bridge of the Lungmen Guard Department, and it lies here quietly.

Nearby, you could see many people wearing Rhodes Island uniforms directing the movement of various items up and down.

"Although it's a pharmaceutical company, due to space constraints, they aren't entirely self-sufficient. They also trade for things like food and medicine with other Mobile City-State."

On the way to Rhodes Island, Texas continued to explain to Maria the things that had piqued Maria curiosity.

Just now, after Maria refused to listen to Texas recount her past, Texas's condition visibly improved.

She still didn't quite understand Maria's meaning, but she knew that Maria didn't want to put her in a difficult position.

Regarding the past, she may truly be as indifferent as she says, but she still somewhat wants to know what exactly happened.

Even so, as the title suggests, she chose Texas over knowing the Texas.

This made Texas both happy and shy.

Because Maria was so considerate, yet she still couldn't satisfy Maria... Even after all these years, she still needed Maria's guidance.

It's like a child who still depends on their mother.

This made her feel extremely ashamed.

Fortunately, the main focus today isn't the still-unrevealed past; they still have things to do.

This is it.

After passing the identity verification, Texas, accompanied by Maria, officially entered the interior of Rhodes Island.

Texas was also visiting for the first time and was unfamiliar with the terrain, so she and Maria could only wait patiently for the staff to guide them.

It was here that Maria began to observe the interior of this mobile platform known as Rhodes Island.

To be fair, Rhodes Island's internal structure is quite unique...

Unlike the Lungmen that Maria saw, it was not filled with huge buildings, each with different people living in different ways... some renting out shops, others buying homes.

Everything here is managed by Rhodes Island's internal organization, and everyone has the ability to apply for the space they need to do what they like.

Maria saw with her own eyes that in the middle of the large commercial plaza, there was a barbershop right next to the noodle shop.

Although each person's space was small, they all had smiles on their faces... smiles that were even purer than the smiles Maria had seen at Lungmen.

Maria also noticed that most of the people here had that strange Originium.

This means that...