Chapter 3: The Lost Dogs

The harsh roar of the engine tore through the calm surrounding the outskirts of Eisberg.

A battered off-road war vehicle, like an enraged beast, burst through the gray mist, charging straight toward the distant steel metropolis.

The vehicle’s body was riddled with bullet holes and scorched marks, bearing witness to the fierce battle it had recently endured.

Lin Lan drove the war vehicle alone, flooring the accelerator, her eyes blazing with reckless madness.

The dust kicked up by the wheels drifted slowly behind her, and farther back, several other equally battered vehicles followed in a tight line.

— These were the remaining guards of [Oasis], many still bandaged and wounded, sitting in the passenger and machine gunner seats.

They refused to let their commander risk herself alone.

However, as Lin Lan’s vehicle neared the cold, heavy steel gates of [Eisberg], and even seemed about to crash into them, the expected gunfire and blockade never came…

Instead, that seemingly ancient gate slowly creaked open with a grating metallic sound, revealing a narrow slit just wide enough for one vehicle to pass—like a giant beast opening its maw to selectively devour its prey…

A cold voice echoed from the loudspeaker mounted on the wall, reverberating across the wasteland:

“The Queen’s order: Only Lin Lan is allowed entry.”

The surviving soldiers of Oasis gripped their weapons tightly, anger and helplessness mingling on their bloodied faces.

In the end, they could only watch helplessly as Lin Lan drove her vehicle alone, resolutely rushing through the seemingly bottomless gap, disappearing instantly into the shadow of the steel city walls.

Amid the palace-like complex of buildings, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Before the museum, the war vehicle was surrounded by numerous larger armored trucks.

Lin Lan had no choice but to turn off the engine, step out through the half-broken door, and was politely “escorted” by two expressionless guards leading the way.

After winding through several turns, they soon arrived at a brightly lit conference room.

Upon entering, Lin Lan immediately spotted the White Night Queen sitting quietly at the far end of the conference table, surrounded by many guards—the actual ruler of [Eisberg].

Seraphina von Carlen.

Her silver-white hair, flowing like moonlight, casually draped down to her waist.

A few strands slipped carelessly over her shoulders or hung lightly on the chairback, shining with a cold luster in the interplay of light and shadow, accentuating her immaculate, nearly translucent pale face—a transcendent cold beauty detached from the mortal world.

Her deep and delicate features lacked conventional softness; her eyes were narrow and sharp, exuding a piercing intensity that was both beautiful and intimidating, making people afraid to look too long.

Her thin lips were tightly pressed, devoid of any curve, her expression revealing a soul-piercing coldness and aloofness.

The guards were all equally well-equipped, their eyes sharp as knives, spreading out silently like a pack of ready hunting dogs, sealing off all escape routes.

But days of brutal battle and rage had long since burned away Lin Lan’s reason.

She charged recklessly at Seraphina, her voice hoarse from extreme fury:

“Seraphina! Give me back Mili! Now!!!”

The silver-haired woman sat in the soft conference chair, casually holding a clean bag of chips, not even looking up at her.

“You damn bastard! How dare you!” Lin Lan pushed past the guards flanking Seraphina, stepping up boldly and shouting curses.

Smack!

A crisp slap echoed sharply in the spacious conference room.

Seraphina’s hand moved so fast Lin Lan barely saw it, staggering from the blow, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Before she could steady herself, the nearest guards on either side attacked simultaneously.

One’s baton sliced through the air, striking her already wounded leg hard.

The other’s rifle butt smashed precisely into her left arm, crudely bandaged and soaked with blood.

“Ugh!!”

Excruciating pain spread through her limbs and bones instantly.

Lin Lan could no longer hold on and collapsed to her knees, her body convulsing uncontrollably.

Only then did Seraphina leisurely pull a pristine white silk handkerchief from her pocket, gently wiping the fingers that had just struck Lin Lan’s cheek, as if her skin had been sullied by some filthy thing…

Her heterochromatic eyes—one icy blue, one golden—were utterly calm as she spoke coldly, like ice:

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What Mili? I’ve never met this person you mentioned. Sounds like a little girl?”

She paused, curling a mocking smile:

“But you—Lin.”

“How dare you bring your people to trespass in Eisberg’s territory? Now, I have already done everything within reason.”

“Bastard…” Lin Lan forced herself to lift her head through the pain, blood dripping from her lips to the floor, her eyes bloodshot, “Those were your people… the ones who took Mili! Their insignia is yours—Eisberg’s!”

“Oh? Mine?”

Seraphina casually tossed the handkerchief, which slid across the gleaming table.

“Lin, you can check at will. None of Eisberg’s squads have left their assigned patrol areas recently…”

“If it wasn’t you, then who?!”

“You dare lay a hand on her! I want your life! I want Eisberg to bury itself with her!”

The woman seemed annoyed by Lin Lan’s desperate threats.

Suddenly, Seraphina drew an energy pistol from her waist, the muzzle abruptly thrust between Lin Lan’s lips, forcing them apart and stuffing the cold barrel inside her mouth…

The icy gun barrel immediately silenced all the accusations Lin Lan had not yet shouted.

Click…

“You’re nothing but a lost dog now.”

“Playing house with those lowly creatures, and now that your little farm’s been burned down, you come crawling to me in a rage?”

Seraphina looked down at her, eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.

“Tsk. I’m really afraid your brains will stain my floor…”

“You have no proof, just spitting accusations that dirty me…”

“I’m not interested in arguing today… but you still owe me a life.”

With that, she withdrew the pistol and signaled a nearby guard with a glance.

“Go fix up your little farm.”

“Don’t come back with garbage when I come to collect the debt…”

Lin Lan didn’t even have time to utter a single cry of resentment before a heavy blow landed on the back of her neck, and everything went black.

Seraphina settled back into her chair, watching the “dead dog” Lin Lan being dragged away with unchanging eyes.

Even she had not expected the fall of [Oasis]; something was fishy…

Lin Lan, this mad dog, still had some use—for probing the vultures lurking in the distance, coveting and waiting.

As for that girl…

“Mili, huh?”

“Hmph…”

Her so-called “miracle” was indeed something she needed to “study” carefully.