Chapter 30: Eve

The black-haired man’s features gradually came into focus. His facial structure was sharp and well-defined, with an expression in his eyes that stirred the soul. He resembled an ancient, compassionate deity from the West, his gaze filled with an infinite sense of solitude. Perhaps due to poor health, his complexion was deathly pale, even his lips drained of color.

As his gaze met Wen Li’s, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He seemed unable to comprehend why this girl, whom he was meeting for the first time, was shedding tears. Wen Li wiped the moisture from her eyes and hurriedly lowered her head. What was wrong with her? Was it the original soul within her crying?

Yue Li, noticing the girl’s agitation, led her away from the man.

"You..." the man finally spoke, his voice brushing against them like a gentle breeze. A faint trace of psychic energy was woven into his words, intended to soothe the girl's emotions. Wen Li knew he was a Guide.

Regaining her smile, Wen Li greeted him with poise. "Forgive my earlier lapse in composure. I am a Guide here for the competition; my name is Wen Li."

The man nodded and introduced himself in turn: "I am a Guide for this club. My name is Ethan."

They exchanged simple pleasantries, like two strangers meeting for the first time. Wen Li then took her leave naturally. As they brushed past each other, a buzzing sound echoed within Wen Li’s mental sea, and violet petals seemed to dance across her vision.

*Eve.*

A mysterious voice resonated in her mind. She kept walking, however, waiting until she was completely out of the man’s sight before crouching down to steady the storm raging within her mental sea.

Several Sentinels moved to see what was wrong, but Cyril intercepted them, saying, "The Guide is just tired and needs a moment to rest. There is no need for alarm."

Wen Li’s mental projection was frantically striking against the barriers of her mind, as if desperate to break free. Not wanting to worry the Sentinels or alert anyone suspicious to her condition, Wen Li stood up immediately and said lightly, "I’m just a little tired from spending so much time at the museum. Where are we heading next, Cyril?"

Cyril steadied her and suggested, "How about we go to the restaurant? You should enjoy the cuisine here at the club."

As Wen Li and her group departed, the eyes hidden in the shadows retreated to report the news. The black-haired man remained in his spot, his fingers still gently stroking a nameplate. Upon hearing that Wen Li was fine, he waved his hand, dismissing his subordinates. His dark eyes gazed heavily at the object inside a glass display case: the mental projection of an orca that had perished on the battlefield. The orca, shrunk to the size of a palm, lay silently on the counter.

*Eve, grow slowly. I am not yet ready... to kill you... again.*

Just as Cyril had promised, the restaurant’s menu seemed tailor-made for Wen Li. From the pre-meal snacks to the after-dinner desserts, the main courses and drinks were all exactly to her taste.

The blonde girl opened her mouth wide and bit the tip off the ice cream belonging to the Sentinel beside her. "Yue Li, I took a bite, so it’s mine now!"

The youth immediately turned away, shielding the ice cream. "Little Butterfly, you’re too much. You know I love the bamboo flavor, yet you still try to snatch it from me. Besides, your wellness assistant told me you aren't allowed to have anything cold!"

Wen Li pouted, acting shamelessly. "I don’t know what Ban said, and besides, I’ve already taken a bite—are you still going to eat it?"

Yue Li, unfazed, used his spoon to finish the rest in two or three quick bites, then pushed the empty bowl toward Wen Li. The girl pouted as she ate her own dessert, though her eyes kept drifting toward the bowl of strawberry ice cream on the next table. If she couldn't have the bamboo flavor, surely she could manage the strawberry?

The Alpha Squad was seated in a neat row at the table next to them, and the strawberry ice cream belonged to their captain, Stub. Wen Li thought it curious that such a burly, imposing Sentinel would enjoy strawberry-flavored things. She wasn't the only one; the other squad members were also questioning if their captain had done it on purpose. They hadn't known he liked strawberry; wasn't meat his favorite?

With their masks removed, none of the squad members were lacking in looks. Other patrons in the restaurant glanced curiously at the area where Wen Li was seated. Captain Stub pulled his strawberry ice cream closer to himself, blocking Wen Li’s longing gaze. The gray-haired man kept his head down, eating his ice cream bite by bite. He seemed to notice Wen Li’s gaze, which only made him eat even more slowly.

Wen Li was truly craving it. Although the temperature in this future world was artificially controlled and it wasn't actually hot in August, she just really wanted ice cream!

After finishing the last bite, Stub raised his silver-gray eyes to look at her. "Is there something you need, Guide Wen?"

His high bridge of the nose and tightly pressed lips outlined a cold, determined face. A pair of wolf-like eyes shimmered with a distinct light. Without his mask, Stub appeared even more ruthless.

Wen Li hurriedly lowered her head and shook it to indicate nothing was wrong. One of the squad members let out a stifled laugh, making Wen Li feel even more embarrassed.

What a situation—to be caught red-handed while peeking! And were all the men in the Alpha Squad this handsome?

A commotion rippled through the crowd; it seemed someone of great importance had entered the restaurant. Four Sentinels entered first, followed by a woman with black hair. Her sexy frame was wrapped in a red dress with a high slit, revealing long, fair legs as she walked. Her black, wavy hair cascaded over one shoulder, and her aura was incredibly alluring.

Wen Li looked up to admire the sophisticated beauty. Afraid of being caught staring again, she could only sneak glances while she ate. *Wen Li: The beautiful lady is so pretty, hehe!*

She didn't know if it was her imagination, but the woman seemed to be walking toward the table next to theirs. Yue Li nudged the little Guide’s arm. "It looks like the table next to us is in trouble."

Wen Li, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly realized the woman had sat down beside one of the Alpha Squad members. She extended a slender finger to tease the youngest-looking Sentinel in the squad. "Hello, my name is Bai Yan, an SS-class Guide."

The young Sentinel was not seduced by her beauty; instead, he recoiled with a look of unease, subtly distancing himself from the Guide. He stammered, "Hello. I am a medical Sentinel for the Alpha Squad, and this is my captain." He pointed toward his captain, who was sitting straight-backed, effectively shifting the target.

Bai Yan glanced at Stub, but seeing his icy demeanor, he didn't seem to suit her tastes. Her lithe body leaned back toward the young Sentinel. "I just wanted to get to know you; there's no need to be so nervous."

The young Sentinel’s face turned even redder, and he cast pleading looks toward Wen Li. She felt conflicted—her teammate was being teased; should she intervene or not?

The Sentinel’s frequent glances drew Bai Yan’s attention to the blonde girl nearby. Wen Li looked up and met her gaze. The woman’s brown eyes lit up, as if she had found something more interesting. Bai Yan let go of the Sentinel and rose to her feet.

*Click, click, click...*

The rhythmic sound of high heels approached. Wen Li felt an overwhelming presence and became somewhat restless. She glanced at Yue Li, who was watching her with a look of schadenfreude.

A scent of roses wafted over, and the woman’s sexy voice rang in her ear:

"Little... Guide?"