Chapter 170

No, he didn't say that. He hadn't even figured out what to say to Skadi yet...

Laurentina

Zuo Jian was taken aback, realizing that after Laurentina returned to her body, she didn't choose to change her face back, but instead continued to use Zuo Jian's female version of the face and speak in his tone... with Skadi?

[Um... Laurentina?]

'I'm here.'

Laurentina waved with a gentle smile, watching Skadi jog back to her original swing position, retrieve a new ball, and prepare to continue practicing...

Why did you...?

'I just wanted to experience what it's like to face everyone every day as Zuo Jian man.'

As she spoke, she sat down on the grass, bowed her head slightly, and gently touched the brooch on her chest.

[Laurentina... you...] Zuo Jian was speechless for a moment, seemingly surprised by her actions.

"What's wrong? Are you angry? Or do you not like me the way I am?"

Noticing something amiss in the Zuo Jian, Laurentina gently inquired.

[No, why would I be angry? I'm just surprised, Laurentina... you... seem to have changed somewhat since the beginning, though... I don't think this change is a bad thing.]

[But why don't you use your own face?]

'My own face? It's not impossible, but if it were my own face, the Orca wouldn't act like a child towards me, would she?'

'But maybe it would work if we were dealing with that girl Xiu Tina? Ah~ But wouldn't that create a sense of family?'

'Like... that child's parents?'

[Cough cough cough, parents... what you said is too much...]

Sure enough, trying to avoid this kind of question was a bit foolish. Zuo Jian couldn't possibly avoid the topic of Xiu Tina, but if he did, he would feel ashamed. However, he didn't expect Laurentina to bring up the topic in this way.

Damn it, what am I supposed to do...?

Should she let Laurentina accept this extra child, who shares her bloodline, almost without any reason? Or should she pretend nothing happened and play dumb? But would that be fair to Xiu Tina?

She clearly has her own consciousness, so why is she trying to suppress it like this?

Damn it, what should I do?

"Just kidding, after all, isn't Xiu Tina my sister in the strict sense?"

She sat on the grass, propped her cheeks up with her hands, and spoke in a casual manner.

[Sister? Is... that so?]

"After all, they share the same bloodline. This situation is common among Abyssal Hunters."

Actually, it's not uncommon. Aren't Orca and I, strictly speaking, sisters? Sigh... but why did Zuo Jian react so strongly? Could it be that he really took my words seriously?

[Wha... what?! I just... just!]

"That's not impossible, you know. In that case, before I become Xiu Tina, I'd have to become your..."

[No, no, no! I didn't have any strange thoughts! You're right! If we're related by blood, we should treat each other as sisters! Why would I think of her as a daughter first? I'm such a weirdo, my head is full of strange thoughts! Laurentina, you don't think I'm disgusting, do you?]

"I do."

However, the girl sitting on the grass spoke in a seemingly casual, soft voice, as if describing a trivial matter.

[What?!]

Zuo Jian hearing this, Zuo Jian became somewhat anxious and focused his pupils on the brooch. He then began to speak to Laurentina in an extremely serious tone.

[Listen up, Laurentina! You can't just say things like that! You need to understand that some things should only be said to someone you truly like, not just casually agree to something...]

"Yes, yes, I know, I know."

The girl stood up and patted the weeds off her clothes, looking as if she already knew.

However...

Laurentina recalled Zuo Jian's appearance just now. Was it really too early to say all this now? She didn't want Zuo Jian to be in a bad state because of herself or Xiu Tina. If that happened, she would feel guilty, and she was sure Xiu Tina would feel the same way.

But... this should only be temporary, right?

Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a slight smile, her mind filled with the image of Zuo Jian's panicked state just now.

Even if the status quo is maintained, it will likely only be temporary, right?

After all... Zuo Jian should never have shown such a posture, such a... flustered posture in this regard, to anyone else.

Constantly pressuring and being willful will only deplete the other person's feelings for you. If you truly want to change your relationship, you should show him how different you are, how you are different from those he sees as children.

That's why Laurentina never considered the guys Zuo Jian picked up as "competitors." To put it bluntly, would you worry about a bunch of kids becoming your rivals? Of course not.

In her mind, at most all those guys would sit at Skadi's table.

However, if I had to pinpoint the biggest obstacle right now, it would definitely be...

Laurentina recalled the Doctor's earlier actions in trying to get her attention... Zuo Jian wouldn't let someone he considered a "child" help him out of a predicament, especially not in this way.

He wouldn't agree.

In addition

In the beginning, he even conspired with the woman, the Doctor, to do something in Victoria, while keeping it a secret from them, claiming he didn't want to involve his "child" in the so-called conflict.

In other words... in Zuo Jian's eyes, the Doctor is not a child, but he has enough weight to earn Zuo Jian's trust.

Whatever the reason for this trust—whether it's her strategic abilities or the strange, inexplicable interest Zuo Jian sometimes shows her—it doesn't matter.

None of these processes matter; the only important thing is that a "trust" has been established, and that woman, from a situational perspective, is now Laurentina's biggest threat.

At this moment, his brain was not affected by any negative emotions arising from Zuo Jian's connection with that woman; it was focused entirely on analyzing the current situation and making a more appropriate judgment.

It seems that her hunter instincts haven't completely atrophied or disappeared.

Her own captain once commented on her, saying that although her behavior was sometimes too ferocious, especially when hunting Seaborn, she was actually always incredibly clear-headed and rational in her judgment of the situation.

This is a quality that every hunter should possess, but when Laurentina displays it, it can still be considered an advantage.

"Let's go, Zuo Jian. Now that you've finished your work, shouldn't we go home?"

"Or do you have something else you need to take care of?"

She sensed Zuo Jian's emotions, as if she had already anticipated that he must still have something to deal with, and showed an understanding expression.

[Laurentina... there are indeed some things that haven't been fully resolved, but...]

"Take me with you, or I won't agree."

Well, despite all the analysis and judgment she had made, she still couldn't resist indulging in a little bit of capriciousness in front of Zuo Jian under these circumstances.

Zuo Jian was taken aback, then spoke in a tone that was both helpless and indulgent.

[No problem, Laurentina.]

Just like before.

Chapter Five, Happy May Day

Laurentina lowered her head slightly, feeling the warmth on her chest, specifically the area around her Zuo Jian side.

"Yes, just like before."

"But what about the Orca? Should we temporarily house her?"

?"

[No, let's keep it with us. We'll probably be moving our base a bit later.]

"Stronghold?"

Listening to Zuo Jian's words, Laurentina seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment, she waved her hand, signaling Skadi to come over.

The latter immediately understood what she meant by her gesture, and then quickly put down his cue and ran over.

"Shark, Shark, when did you get back?"

Skadi looked at Laurentina with some confusion.

She still can't quite understand how the Shark suddenly turned into Zuo Jian, just as she can't understand how Zuo Jian suddenly turned back into the Shark.

However, no matter what, Shark is still Shark, Zuo Jian is still Zuo Jian; they are both her companions, so this kind of thing doesn't matter.

"What, you don't like me coming back?"

Laurentina reached out and pinched Skadi's cheek, teasingly using a deliberately "threatening" tone.

"Ugh, no... no..."

"That's good. Alright, Orca, we should go now. Remember to change your clothes. You should have brought the hunter's attire, right?"

"The hunter's attire... I understand."

Upon hearing this, Skadi immediately realized what the other person meant. Clearly, although her daily life had been peaceful and comfortable enough, it was not enough to make her forget everything about hunters that she had developed over a long period of time.

Her movements were almost instantaneous; after listening to Laurentina's words, she picked up the box she was carrying and walked into the stadium's locker room.

When she opened the door again, Zuo Jian felt as if only about a minute had passed.

A minute is enough for a hunter to change out of his everyday clothes and into an armed stance.

This skill wasn't developed under the Ulpian, but rather it's an essential quality for every Abyssal Hunters.

Laurentina could certainly do that too.

Only...

"Shark, why don't you change it?"

Skadi, carrying the black box containing weapons and some clothing in one hand, walked up to Laurentina. Seeing that Laurentina was still dressed in her casual women's clothing, she couldn't help but ask.

"Because it's not necessary."

Laurentina glanced around and, after confirming that there was no one else in the surroundings besides them, she raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

"Zuo Jian."

Which set do you want?

His voice rang out; the last time he interacted with Laurentina like this seemed to be back in Saltwind City.

"The one we first met."

[Minor issue.]

Skadi was taken aback, then watched as Laurentina walked ahead of her, her "skirt" billowing around her as she walked, wrapping around her body and then transforming into the hunter's outfit that Shark often wore, which Skadi was familiar with.

The whole process took only a few seconds, and Laurentina even did it while walking!

"What's wrong? Skadi, aren't you coming?"

Laurentina turned around and saw Skadi looking at her with an unconscious expression of envy. Then she beckoned with her finger, signaling Skadi to follow.

"Oh, come on, coming."

Skadi was envious, but she quickly adjusted her mindset.

... Should we tell Zuo Jian that she wants this too?

He can change his clothes anytime, anywhere, and it seems he can also create weapons...

It's so convenient!

The two quickly left the stadium and then found their land vehicle parked by the roadside.

Skadi shoved the case containing the weapons into the back seat and then opened the driver's side door.

Laurentina then sat in the passenger seat on the other side.

The former skillfully started the engine of the land vehicle and reversed out of the parking space; his movements were even smoother than those of the Gray Hat who was leading the Eblana sisters back to Londinium on the other side.

This is probably due to the special training of Abyssal Hunters.

"Where to? Zuo Jian, Shark."

Skadi turned her head and glanced at the two people in the passenger seat... no, it should be said that there was only one person Zuo Jian and Laurentina.

"Go here."