Yandere Levelling in Her World-Chapter 189 - 190: Gathering of old powers

Meiling pushed open the heavy wooden door to Judith's room. The hinges creaked softly. As soon as she stepped inside, the air felt thick with memory. Flashes hit her like bullets.

The school hallway. Screams echoing off the walls. Gunfire cracking through the chaos. Traitors in black masks moving fast. And Ren. He was right there with her. His hand had found hers in the panic. "Stay behind me," he had said.

His voice steady even though his eyes were wide with fear. He had pulled her behind a row of lockers. She remembered the warmth of his palm against hers. The way he refused to let go. Those moments crashed over her now. Her knees felt weak. She gripped the doorframe to steady herself.

Judith sat in a tall chair by the far window. Ceiling lights flickered across her sharp features. She looked up and smiled like they were old friends meeting for tea.

"Welcome back, Meiling," Judith said. Her tone was warm but carried an edge.

Meiling swallowed hard. She forced the memories back down. "Judith."

Judith tilted her head. "So why are you here? Let us skip the polite talk. Where is your mother?"

Meiling kept her voice low. "She is somewhere safe. I came alone. I came with a purpose."

Judith leaned forward slightly. "And what might that purpose be? You have been running around the city, terrorizing groups left and right. That kind of noise draws attention. My attention."

Meiling met her gaze. "I am searching for a man."

Judith let out a small laugh. She sounded almost disappointed. "Just one man? After all that effort? That feels underwhelming."

Meiling took one step closer. "His name is Ren."

Judith went still. The smile faded from her lips. She whispered the name to herself. "Ren."

From the shadows near the bookcase, a figure emerged. A woman with long blondehair stepped into the light. Her movements were quiet and precise. She wore dark clothes that blended with the dim room.

Judith gestured toward her. "Meiling, this is Silver."

Silver crossed her arms. Her voice came out flat. "That man is here. I have been watching him for a while."

Meiling's pulse raced. She took another step. "Where is he?"

Silver looked at her for a long moment. Then she shook her head. No words.

Judith sighed. "If you want that information, I need a favor from you."

Meiling felt frustration rise in her throat. She clenched her fists. "What favor?"

Judith spoke slowly and clearly. "Bring your clan and your mother back to Norbata. It is not just a favor. It is the safest path for everyone involved."

Meiling narrowed her eyes. "Ren is here in this city. If you do not want me to find him, I will search forever and still come up empty. Is that your game?"

Judith nodded once. "Precisely. Swear your loyalty back to the Norbata government. Bring your family into the fold. Then Ren will be yours. Even though I know his sister is looking for him. And the Valkyrie Fang leader wants him too."

Judith leaned back in her chair. "I have learned something interesting. This man carries quite the value. Many women want to claim him for themselves. You should act quickly. Do this for me, and he will belong to you alone from now on."

Meiling glanced around the room. The walls seemed to close in. "Why? Why do you want the Lan family? We are broken. We are weak. We have nothing left to offer you. What is your real purpose in pulling all this power together in one place?"

Judith's expression hardened. "Because I am going to kill every single traitor who tore our home apart. I will bring back the old Norbata. The real Norbata. And to do that, I need every scrap of strength I can gather. Every family. Every name. Yours included."

Meiling studied her face. Suspicion burned in her chest. She thought of her scattered relatives. She thought of her mother hiding in the shadows. She thought of Ren. After a long silence, she spoke.

"Yes. I will bring the Lan family back to Norbata."

Judith's smile returned. "Smart girl."

Meiling stepped closer to the desk. "But until then, what guarantee do I have? How do I know you will keep your word? How do I know Ren will be mine when this is over?"

Judith reached into a drawer. She pulled out a folded bundle of cloth. An old butler costume. Faded black fabric with white trim. She tossed it across the desk.

Meiling caught it. She brought it to her face and inhaled. The scent hit her instantly. Ren's scent. Clean soap. A hint of sweat. Warm skin. Her eyes lit up. A real smile broke across her face for the first time in weeks.

Judith watched her closely. "He is under my watch. I am keeping an eye on him. No harm will come to him. You have my word."

Meiling clutched the costume tighter. "You have him wearing this?"

Judith gave a small shrug. "It keeps him close. Keeps him useful. And out of sight from those who would take him."

Meiling looked up. "How long have you had him?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Not long enough to grow bored of him," Judith said with a faint smirk. "But long enough to know he is safe."

Meiling nodded slowly. "I want to see him. Soon."

Judith shook her head. "Not yet. Bring your people first. Show me you mean what you say. Then we can discuss visits."

Silver spoke up from the side. "She is serious, Meiling. Judith does not waste time on empty promises. But she also does not forgive broken ones."

Meiling turned to Silver. "And if I do everything you ask? You will give me his location? You will let me take him away?"

Judith spread her hands. "You will have him. No one else will interfere. Not his sister. Not the Valkyrie Fang. No one."

Meiling exhaled. "Then we have a deal."

Judith stood up. She walked to the window and stared out at the dark city below. "Welcome home, Lan girl. It has been far too long."

Meiling turned toward the door. The butler costume stayed pressed against her chest. Her mind already spun with plans. She would find her mother. She would gather what remained of her clan. She would return to Norbata.

But above all, she would reach Ren.

At the doorway, Judith called out one last time.

"One more thing."

Meiling stopped.

Judith did not turn from the window. "Do not try to search for him behind my back. You will fail. And if you fail, I cannot hide him from the others who search him."

Meiling did not reply. She stepped into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind her.

She lifted the costume to her face once more. She breathed in deeply.

"Ren," she whispered into the empty corridor. "Hold on. I am coming for you."

Her footsteps echoed as she walked away. Determination burned brighter than ever in her heart. The path ahead would be hard. But for him, she would walk it. No matter the cost.

***

Anna sat in the corner of the small room. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor. No matter how the girls tried to catch her gaze, she refused to look up.

They had gathered around her in a loose circle. Whispers filled the air. Their leader had told them everything a few days ago. What she saw Anna doing with Ren. The details made cheeks flush and voices drop low.

The room smelled faintly of damp wood and old metal. A single bulb hung overhead. It cast weak yellow light over everyone. Anna twisted the hem of her shirt between her fingers. Her heart pounded so hard she thought the others could hear it.

Then footsteps sounded on the stairs. Heavy but steady. All heads turned at once.

A man came down. He wore a clean dark shirt tucked into neat trousers. His shoes shone even in the dim light. He carried himself with quiet confidence. Not arrogant. Just sure.

Anna's face turned bright red. Like a fresh apple pulled from the tree. She ducked her head even lower. Heat spread from her cheeks to her ears.

A short-haired woman stepped forward from the group. She moved with easy authority. Her hair was cropped close. Her jacket had many pockets. She stopped a few paces from Ren and offered a small nod.

"I am Pam," she said. "Short for Pamela. Leader of the Liberators."

Ren met her eyes. He held out his hand. "It's nice to meet you," he muttered.

Pam took his hand in a firm grip. She shook once. Her gaze traveled over him slowly. From his face down to his boots and back up again. A faint smile curved her lips. "Well," she said. "Indeed it is nice."

Anna noticed the look immediately. She hurried over. Her steps were quick and anxious. She placed herself almost between them. Close to Ren's side.

"Don't worry, Ren," she said in a rush. "She is a good woman. She helped me find you. She helps people. Both inside the walls and outside. We fight the government together. She is on our side."

Ren frowned. He glanced between Anna and Pam. "Isn't Judith's government helping people already? They say things are better now. So why have this group? What is the point?"

Pam and Anna looked at each other. A silent understanding passed between them.

Pam spoke first. "Judith is better than what came before. That much is true. But it's like we traded chili for ginger. There is not that big of a difference in how people actually live."

Anna nodded quickly. "The rich stay on top. The poor stay below. Food still runs short for some while others throw it away. Judith made promises. Some she kept. Many she did not."

Ren crossed his arms. He studied Pam's face. "So what is the purpose of the Liberators then?"

Pam straightened her shoulders. Pride lit her eyes. "We are going to break the walls that separate rich from poor. We will tear down the barriers. Create an equal society. A people-for-people society. No more classes. No more hunger in the shadows while others feast in towers. Everyone will have enough. Everyone will have a voice."

The girls around them murmured softly. A few nodded. One girl in the back clenched her fist as if the words gave her strength.

Ren listened without changing expression. Inside his thoughts moved fast. Big dreams. Very big dreams. The kind that sounded beautiful but often ended in blood. Their goals did not line up with his own. Not fully. He wanted something smaller. More personal. Survival. Answers. His family and way to defeat the goddess to claim his freedom.

But one piece matched perfectly. Finding missing people.

He looked straight at Pam. "Have you found anything about my family? A woman called Dr. Tachibana. And her daughter."

Pam paused. She rubbed her chin while she thought. "I think I have something."

Anna stepped closer to Ren. Her voice softened. "I tried to find them. After you disappeared. I hoped it would lead me to you. I learned that Dr. Tachibana is alive. She is here in this city. But we cannot locate her exact position. It looks like she is entangled in some business here. Something hidden."

Ren's eyes went wide. His breath caught in his throat. A rush of realization hit him hard. Everyone. His family. Most of the girls he had lost track of. They were all right here. In this same sprawling, divided city.

His endgame had just snapped into focus. This city. Not somewhere far away. Not a vague hope. Here. Now.

He took a slow breath. His voice stayed steady. "Tell me everything you know."