Chapter 41

The pungent smell of blood that was hard to conceal filled the corridors of the Eleventh Division's barracks.

Blood?!

Whose blood? The captain...... Is he dead?

As the skull of a member of the 'Star Cross Knights' fell to the ground like a rubber ball!

The remaining Exterminators' pupils all contracted; they only saw a flash of bright silver light pass before their eyes, and immediately their leader died before them.

How is that possible? That was a member of the Star Cross Knights! One of our best!

How could he just die like that?!

The Exterminators seemed somewhat unable to imagine that a powerful member of the Star Cross Knights would meet such a hasty end, falling before them in a way that looked slightly 'slapstick' and 'ridiculous'!

Even now, the knight's face still beamed with a bright smile, clearly indicating that even in death he remained immersed in the joy of having successfully found the Death Gods' 'hospital for treating the wounded', about to go on a killing spree to earn merit for You Haba He!

What on earth happened?

Why did the Death God not die, but rather a knight of the Star Cross Knights?

All of this happened too fast, leaving the Exterminators' brains momentarily stunned; they had no time to prepare, and this worst-case scenario was already before them.

Drip, drip, drip...

Until a rhythmic 'dripping sound' reached the Exterminators' ears, they suddenly realized that the beautiful older sister who had long hair coiled up and always wore a gentle smile had, at some point, risen from her seat and was now standing not far away, gripping a long Soul-Cutting Sword, and the dripping sound came from the blood staining her blade—a red, sticky patch that looked especially… fresh!

Not good!

At a mere glance, the Exterminators all changed color, hastily drawing their bows to shoot the woman wielding a blade before them!

When the Exterminators saw fresh blood dripping from the woman's blade, they finally understood: their leader, who was also a member of the Star Cross Knights, had not died from some unknown attack, but was slain by this woman's sword!

That bright silver flash was merely the reflection of the room's light off the woman's blade; her swing was so fast that all they saw was the glint of the blade.

Pfft...

As the Exterminators reacted and drew their bows, blood once again filled the Eleventh Division's barracks—this time it was their bow-drawing hands that flew into the air.

Ah! My hand!!

Piercing screams erupted one after another from the Exterminators' mouths; in just a single exchange with the woman, they couldn't even see how she attacked, as the flesh and bone of their wrists, along with their bows, were hacked to pieces. The gruesome sight stimulated their sensitive nerves, causing them extreme pain.

This is a hospital; please keep quiet!

But fortunately, the next moment they were no longer in pain! Another silver flash streaked by—this time it was their heads that flew into the air!

As their heads shot upward, they could faintly hear the woman's voice all around, for her blade was so swift that their brains and ears mistakenly thought they were still alive.

Pa~

Mao Zhi Hua Lie, after cutting down the few lackeys before her, shook the blood from her blade and then slipped it back into its sheath.

Thud, thud, thud...

Accompanied by the clack of Mao Zhi Hua Lie's sheath and blade, the headless Exterminator corpses could no longer hold their form, falling to the ground with each 'thud' as the soaring heads also dropped, leaving deep pools of blood.

Great~ This way all the talking trash inside the room will be cleaned up~

Everyone, do you think what I'm saying is correct?

After finishing all this, Mao Zhi Hua Lie's cold aura vanished; she forced herself to put on the 'gentle smile' she had practiced in front of the mirror, smiling at the surrounding Eleventh Division troops and at the other division soldiers who had just undergone amputations by the Eleventh Division and survived.

Um...

Yes, you're absolutely right!

The troops dared not contradict Mao Zhi Hua Lie; although her smile now was nothing like when she wielded her blade, they knew her true nature—she was a 'living Yama'. Faced with her decisive, no-quarter-given killings, they could only nod repeatedly in agreement.

So you need to clean this place up~

Mao Zhi Hua Lie said, then sat back down in her seat.

Though her posture was dignified and her appearance beautiful, the corpses beneath her seat were rather grim, prompting everyone to think of a painting—the Asura Picture!

Um...

The Eleventh Division troops, seeing the headless Exterminators strewn about Mao Zhi Hua Lie, first shook their heads, then began their cleanup work.

Fighting Exterminators might not be their forte, but when it comes to mopping floors, they're professionals—more professional than the 'police' in the movie Kung Fu……

After all, although they are a combat division, their main duty is to assist Captain Mao Zhi Hua Lie; they have been washing and scrubbing the Eleventh Division's floor for decades.

Work, work!

In an instant, the Eleventh Division troops brought out 'mops', 'rags', and 'buckets', along with medicines to eliminate the blood smell, ready to launch a massive cleaning effort in the barracks.

Huh?!

However, just as everyone was busy, Mao Zhi Hua Lie's expression suddenly shifted; she seemed to have sensed something, her body tensing as she rose from her seat, her snow-white slender hands gripping the Soul-Cutting Sword at her side.

Enemy attack?!

This sight terrified the Eleventh Division troops, for when those few Exterminators had invaded earlier, Captain Mao Zhi Hua Lie had not been this tense, this 'on high alert' demeanor; now, her attitude tugged at their previously relaxed nerves, and each drew the Soul-Cutting Sword at their waist, pushing their senses to the max.

The Commander-General is summoning us……

Sorry, everyone, I'll temporarily leave this place in your hands!

Without giving the Eleventh Division troops time to think, after Mao Zhi Hua Lie left that one sentence, her figure vanished from the barracks, evidently using flash step to depart.

Eh?!

Not an enemy attack?

So it was the Commander-General who issued the order to summon Captain Mao Zhi Hua Lie?

Upon seeing this, the Eleventh Division troops immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But as they watched Mao Zhi Hua Lie leave, their hearts, which had just been set down, tightened again……

Ishikawa, Tanaka, Tsuchida……

You three, go on patrol right away—make sure no enemy gets in here, understood?!

After Mao Zhi Hua Lie departed, the Eleventh Division was formally taken over by the highest-ranking seated officer, namely the Eleventh Division's third seat, who immediately devised the best plan based on the current situation and issued orders.

If Mao Zhi Hua Lie were still here, they wouldn't need to patrol or guard anything, for she herself was the ultimate defense; no matter what enemy came, they had full confidence in their former captain's strength, but now they could only change their approach.

We obey your orders!

The soldiers who received the Third Seat's order immediately readied their weapons and headed outside.

Hope everything goes smoothly!

No matter if it's us, Maozhihua and Captain Huangmu, or even the Chief Captain Sir, we must not let any more accidents happen! Because in this war, there are already enough soldiers who are wounded or dead.

The Third Seat looked at the soldiers in the distance, thinking silently.

(End of chapter)