The river wind, heavy with cold, damp vapor, swept over the cliff.
Several crows stood silently on the rocks, like drops of congealed black ink.
They made no noise, merely scattering soundlessly and looking down upon the river from every angle. Their obsidian-like eyes reflected ripples of light, carrying an almost human contemplation.
The Moriah cut through the water as it sailed upstream from the Three Gorges Reservoir, carving a clear wake across the broad river.
Mai Sakatoku lay prone on an open platform atop the mountain, pulling her eye away from the sniper scope.
She frowned slightly as she watched the black birds circling overhead, then softly let out a breath.
"Caw—caw—"
Their hoarse cries rang out, as though heralding Bleach's arrival. These carrion birds could always smell the scent of death in the air before anyone else.
"Are you here for this funeral too?" Mai murmured.
The biting river wind stirred the air across the Moriah's deck. Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong stood by the rail, making their final preparations before entering the water.
They were about to dive into the depths and plant timed bombs inside the slumbering City of Bronze, drawing the Dragon King out of his nest.
This should have been the mission of Caesar, first in diving training, and Zero, second. But Zero had "happened" to get her period and could not dive, so the task had fallen to third-ranked Nono and fifth-ranked Lu Mingfei.
It was a lie. Today was not Zero's period at all. But in the script carefully woven by Lu Mingze, Lu Mingfei had to go underwater. So Zero calmly told the lie without changing expression, her exquisite doll-like face revealing not the slightest flaw.
Lu Mingfei took several deep breaths, trying to settle his racing heart. Environment really could