QT: Against My Will-Chapter 522 - 8.39- New Living Quarters - Monster Heist

Bertha watched with growing concern as Laura’s and Aria’s behavior became more and more reckless. Did they forget how Silvia always ended up in the hospital after crossing paths with Victor?

"Sir Egerton," Bertha said, her voice low and urgent, "I urge you find another berth to spend the rest of the trip in."

Victor’s expression changed, and Elera could feel him tense up. "Were you speaking to me?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. He looked up at the nerdy goody two shoes, not expecting her to stand up to him.

Bertha stood her ground, unfazed by his hostility, "Y...mmpf!"

Bing Shi covered Bertha’s mouth with her left palm while counting her fingers on her right hand. One. Two...Three....Four. There were exactly four pretty young girls, who could all be considered Victor’s type. Their allure was not just a product of their fearlessness and pride, but also their unshakable self-worth.

Elera knew that Victor was not to be taken lightly and didn’t want to cause a scene. "Victor, why can’t we catch up somewhere else?" she asked, trying to placate him by standing up and leaving.

Victor grabbed her wrist, pulling her back down onto his lap. "I don’t think you understand, Elera. I want to catch up now and here," he said, his grip tightening, "Which division were you accepted into?"

Elera gritted her teeth, trying to keep her composure when she felt her body reacting to him, "I don’t want to disclose that information."

Victor’s grip only tightened further, and he leaned in closer to her. "I have a few connections in the military. If you tell me which division you’re in, I could make things easier for you," he said, a sly smirk on his face.

Elera’s eyes narrowed as she looked up at Victor, "I appreciate the offer, but I’ll manage just fine on my own," she replied, sounding firm and resolute.

Upon Victor’s inquiry, the girls revealed that Elera had been accepted into WDD (the Wolf Den Defenders), a division dedicated to neutralizing threats near the borders.

"Here," Victor said with a chuckle as he handed her a space ring. "There are some magical books inside. Take some time to study them when you have the chance."

Elera felt a growing sense of irritation as Victor handed her the space ring before the girls. It felt like a calculated move to showcase how dependent she was on him. She knew that the other girls would be envious of her and would try to suck up to Victor in the hopes of receiving similar treatment or even try to snatch the ring from her later on. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

It was all a game to Victor, but who was Elera? Despite her growing frustration, she accepted the ring with a forced smile, "That’s all?" she asked, appearing unimpressed, "I was expecting something more substantial from someone as influential as you."

"It’s not just any space ring," Victor said as he took the ring away from her, "You can use it to hide or escape from harm...but if you don’t want it... I can give it to one of the ladies here."

Aria and Laura would both sell a kidney for a space ring! Just a kidney thought. Would they sell away their Lady? Never! They followed Shina outside of the berth while pointing their dainty middle fingers at Victor.

"Thanks, but no thanks," said Laura.

"I will pass as well," said Aria.

Bertha was silent as she rolled her eyes while Bing Shi led them away with laughter, "Backing away from a deal we made is just not cool, Victor."

As the girls turned away from Victor’s offer, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of embarrassment, hiding it behind an unfazed expression.

"Well, since nobody else seems to want it," Elera said with a shrug, "I guess I’ll take it out of pity."

Victor watched as Elera slipped the ring onto her finger casually, enjoying the moment of victory. It was clear that she took pleasure in seeing him humbled.

His mind drifted back to a similar instance with Olivia - she had a knack for making him feel awkward like no tomorrow, and her technique seemed to have gotten more effective over time. Yet, he was willing to endure this mild humiliation in order to uncover the information he sought.

He wanted to see if she was going to continue her act as Silvia or embrace her new identity as Shina. From what he saw, she had fully transformed into Shina Night. And the way she had shown it was nothing short of dramatic.

· · ────────── · ⊱❈⊰· ────────── · ·

The girls headed to the train canteen to grab breakfast, joining other members of their group. The sky outside began to transform into a majestic canvas of pink and orange, illuminated by the first rays of the sun. A warm glow was cast over the train, filling the scene with an ethereal aura.

Bing Shi wasted no time in flying to the front of the train, eager to catch the best view of the scenery from all sides as they approached their destination.

Climbing up the stairs, she saw a group of thirty people standing atop the train, some holding onto the rails for support as they waited for her arrival, "Good morning!"

The group greeted her with a united half-bow.

As the train drew closer to their destination, they came upon a massive protective barrier that stretched as far as the eye could see. The intricate runes etched into its surface filled the air with an air of mystique.

Beyond the wall, the thick trees towered towards the sky, their branches covering the sun, casting a dim light over the forest floor. Despite the eerie sight, the group couldn’t help but marvel at the majesty of it all.

"Behold the magnificence of nature," Shina spoke, her voice ringing in their ears, "It truly knows how to put on a show," she continued, her tone easygoing but filled with respect for the natural world.

Her words struck a chord with everyone, infusing them with renewed enthusiasm and zeal.

· · ────────── · ⊱❈⊰· ────────── · ·

After completing the initial paperwork and medical examination, Bing Shi went to find her living quarters. Due to security reasons, she could no longer cover her face with the mask, and could only wear it at the side as an accessory.

Bing Shi found her upper arm equipped with an embedded chip. The sensors inside the chip periodically measured her vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, oxygen levels, and also her location.

The chip served as a tool to ensure her health and safety within the military environment.

"I’ve never seen such a malnourished alpha before," the medical examiner remarked when Shina Night left, sounding a bit shocked.

Shina was smaller than a regular beta and she would have mistaken her constitution for an omega if not for the alpha blood in her veins.

· · ────────── · ⊱❈⊰· ────────── · ·

Bing Shi found out that their living quarters were designed for six recruits. The room with three bunk beds was spacious and had plenty of lockers, and storage units for all their gear and personal belongings. There was a small common area with a few couches and chairs where the recruits could relax and socialize during their free time.

’Why did I sign myself into this?’

While Bing Shi was a bit disappointed at not receiving a private room, she understood the reasoning behind the decision.

The military held a strong commitment to minimizing the risk of sexual relationships forming between soldiers. While the rules were strict, they also acknowledged the necessity for soldiers (Alphas) to fulfill their physical and emotional needs within approved parameters.

In response to the declining population, the authorities made the decision to designate specific areas for soldiers’ partners or other ’comfort people’ to reside outside of the barracks.

Women beta soldiers, including Elera, encountered the most disadvantages.

They were equipped with a chip that provided protection, but in the case of pregnancy, they were required to give up their children to the state as tube babies and continue their military duties.

Despite this great seatback, completing two years of basic recruit training would offer them a chance to return to civilian life. However, it also meant that they would be unable to regain custody of their children.

Male betas also had to undergo two years of rigorous training before they were granted the opportunity to return to civilian life. In contrast, they were expected to return for two months each year for the remainder of their lives, to maintain their skills and readiness, even in civilian life.

Bing Shi started unpacking her belongings and getting her space organized when she heard the sound of footsteps outside. She placed down her new silk pillow and climbed down the bunk bed to investigate.