QT: Against My Will-Chapter 535 - 8.52 - Quacks Like A Duck - Monster Heist

Bing Shi shrugged, glancing at the device in Nathaniel’s hand, "Your icy remarks are quite chilling, Nathaniel. Perhaps you should consider warming up your sense of humor next time."

"Wasn’t the warmth you shared with Victor in the bathroom sufficient?" Nathaniel quipped, his hand still tingling from the heat of the radio. With a resigned sigh, he flung it into a kitchen sink next to the entrance.

Bing Shi stood her ground, a defiant glint in her eyes as she confronted Nathaniel’s remark, "Don’t mistake temporary heat for lasting warmth."

With a subtle smile, she took a step forward, ready to back up her words with action. "If you need a demonstration to understand the difference, I’d gladly show you."

Shina and Nathaniel had been ordered by the military not to engage in any physical fights, leading them to put up a facade of camaraderie.

Compared to Nathaniel and Victor, the rest of the alphas hit it off with Shina from the very first day.

Maybe it was because Nathaniel and Victor didn’t have any offspring yet and their different values, but it was definitely one of the things which caused others to look down on them.

Shina had proudly shown the other alphas one little omega and alpha baby inside an incubator, explaining that someone from the St. Moon Academy had ruthlessly killed her omega partner. What they knew, it must have been either Ezikiel Mackmoriss or Silvia LeClere.

Tia couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the ongoing verbal sparring between Nathaniel and Shina. "Geez, you two, can’t you take a break from bickering like an old married couple?"

She quipped, before adding quickly, "On second thought, never mind, carry on. I’d rather listen to your banter than see things being destroyed around here."

Bing Shi sat behind the table, watching Josiah Tyrrel shuffle the cards, "See, even Tia thinks we sound like an old married couple. And you know what they say, if it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it must be a duck."

"..." Nathaniel struggled to stifle his own chuckle, his amusement shining through despite his attempt to conceal it.

"I don’t think your marriage would last longer than a snowflake in summer," said Mikhael, his presence commanding and his aura exuding dominance, as if he held unwavering confidence in his statement.

"..." Nathaniel turned sharply on his heel, positioning an empty chair directly across from Mikhael, "Are you looking down on my snowflakes?"

"Snowflakes are nothing but frozen water, easily crushed and forgotten," Mikhael answered, a bit taken aback by Nathaniel’s strong reaction to a seemingly trivial remark about snowflakes.

Bing Shi hit the table with a burst of laughter, her amusement echoing through the room, "Mikhael, you were given four beautiful wives, who all gave birth to healthy babies right? How do you maintain the balance? Please, enlighten me, I’m all ears."

Mikhael’s smile widened as he leaned forward, ready to impart his relationship wisdom upon Shina Night, "Confidence is key, but you also have to balance strength with some vulnerability..."

He continued, "Next, take them to places that ignite their sense of wonder. Keep them on their toes."

Bing Shi nodded together with Jo and Tia. It was one of the reasons they never attended school besides the ordeals.

"Lastly," Mikhael said, leaning back with a theatrical flair. "Remember that laughter is the key to the heart. A shared sense of humor can forge a strong connection."

"In the end," Mikhael continued, his voice carrying a note of conviction, "Success in giving birth to a strong generation lies not solely on alpha or omega genes but also their mental state. Many seem to forget this simple fact, and get confused when a neglected omega gives birth to a weak alpha or delta."

Bing Shi fanned her monkey mask with her cards. They were all alphas in their right sense, quite attractive, might she add, "You suddenly make me want to become one of your wives too." She flew into the air to avoid the black hole which sucked up her chair.

Mikhael smirked, "So you can steal all of them for yourself? Dream on."

Josiah filled in his opinion, "You forgot to mention sex. It’s a fundamental aspect in every relationship."

Not one to tiptoe around sensitive topics, Tia looked at Nathaniel, cutting straight to the chase, "Everyone thinks you are still a virgin. Is it true?"

Nathaniel, unfazed by the directness of her question, maintained a calm composure. With a serene nod, he responded, "I choose to remain celibate."

Bing Shi’s hand instinctively reached for her chest as her heart began to race. With each beat, it seemed to thud against her ribcage, its rhythm quick and erratic. Her heart, usually steady and composed, now seemed to have a mind of its own.

She sat back in her chair, which appeared back out of nowhere and lifted her eyes at Nathaniel in wonder. As she looked around at the faces of those gathered, some appeared equally stunned, while others seemed to be holding back their own reactions.

In this world, where alphas were expected to have multiple partners and procreate, Nathaniel’s revelation of celibacy caused a similar level of shock as coming out as a gay beta in the past.

"Any idea what mission would require all of us to go on a mission together?" inquired Josiah Tyrrell, changing the topic.

They had received a message from the higher-ups, telling them to rest up and report to the headquarters for a special mission. They had no idea what it was about, but they were curious and eager to find out.

They began to play the new round of card games with a mixture of laughter and strategic discussion. Chips clinked as they were pushed into the pot in the middle, their value symbolizing the stakes of the game.

However, amidst the lively atmosphere, Shina Night remained silent, her gaze focused on the cards in her hand. The once formidable player who used to dominate the game now became even more ruthless with her tricks and deadly silence.

"I’m going to sleep first," Bing Shi said and left the table after a third game. She climbed up her bunk bed and lay down, closing her eyes. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The air grew colder, and a faint, eerie breeze seeped into the room.

Bing Shi opened her eyes and saw icicles forming above her, surrounding her in a menacing manner. The icicles grew longer and sharper, their icy points glistening with a dangerous cold.