Chapter 55: You Might Not Believe This, But I Caught a Prisoner!

The school bell rang.

The students poured out of the classroom.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a lone figure lingered at the doorway.

“Are we still waiting for Luna, Xiao Xi?”

Lusina looked around, anxiety flickering in her eyes.

They stood at the entrance of the Training Building, trying to spot their younger sister among the throng.

Xiao Xi had packed her things ten minutes before school ended and rushed over right after Training to wait for her sister.

Yet, she still couldn’t find Luna among the students in front of her.

Even after Qingyan and Su Luoluo came out from the Training Building to look for her, Luna was nowhere to be seen.

The crowd gradually thinned, but her gaze kept searching.

“……Let’s go back, Xiao Xi.”

Qingyan suggested softly, resignation in her voice.

“Yeah, maybe Luna already went back to the Dormitory.”

Su Luoluo agreed as well.

Despite her friends’ urging, Xiao Xi shook her head firmly.

“……I want to wait a little longer.”

Stubbornness shone in her eyes.

She was convinced she hadn’t missed a single corner.

Even though the entrance of the Training Building was almost empty, she remained, troubled and uneasy.

Qingyan and Su Luoluo exchanged glances, unable to understand Xiao Xi’s determination.

“Sigh……Then we’ll go get food first, Xiao Xi.”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

Su Luoluo grumbled unhappily.

Hearing this, Xiao Xi felt embarrassed.

“Sorry for making you wait with me. You go ahead. No need to stay.”

She scratched the back of her head, embarrassed that her friends were still waiting.

“Oh, fine, Xiao Xi.”

Qingyan sighed softly.

“Then we’ll head off. If I see Little Lu at the Dormitory, I’ll let you know.”

“Sorry to trouble you. Thank you, really.”

Xiao Xi smiled, but her mind was still occupied with worry for her sister.

As Qingyan and Su Luoluo walked away, Xiao Xi’s gaze returned to the now-deserted Training Building entrance.

She resolved to wait here until Luna appeared.

She sat on the bench, eyes fixed on the Training Building door, her heart pounding with anxiety.

She glanced at her phone from time to time, watching the minutes tick by, but Luna’s figure never appeared.

Why isn’t she coming out……

Lusina wondered, troubled.

A comment Su Luoluo made a few days ago lingered in her mind like a curse.

“[Could it be… Little Lu got a boyfriend?]”

That sentence stirred her unease.

She couldn’t help but recall Luna’s recent odd behavior, making her even more suspicious that Luna was hiding a shocking secret.

Could Little Lu really have gotten a boyfriend!?

The thought haunted her like a ghost.

In her imagination, she saw Luna bringing a strange boy home.

The image left her flustered and suffocated.

[Sister, I’ve already given myself to him……]

She could almost hear her sister’s soft voice declaring it.

A surge of resistance and unease rose in her heart.

Absolutely not ahhh——!

Lusina screamed internally, trying to erase the scene from her mind.

She firmly believed her sister couldn’t possibly have a boyfriend.

But then, a new fear crept in.

If she really saw her sister come out of the Training Building with a guy… what would she do?

Would she greet her like before and go home together?

Or just stay silent and watch them leave?

Countless possibilities flashed through her mind, and Su Luoluo’s words struck her again.

Lusina felt a growing weight in her chest.

Anxiety surged like a tide, making it hard to focus.

She gripped her phone tightly, trying to dispel her thoughts with reason.

But the unease clung to her like a shadow.

Beep beep——!

Her phone suddenly rang, and Lusina’s heart leapt.

Was it Little Lu calling!?

But when she saw the caller ID—Father—the anticipation turned instantly to disappointment.

She answered the call.

A familiar, slightly anxious voice came through.

“Is that Xiao Xi?”

Lu Ming’s voice carried a hint of worry.

“Yes, it’s me, Dad.”

Lusina’s feelings were mixed.

But Lu Ming’s next question puzzled her.

“Where’s Little Lu?”

“Little Lu isn’t here, Dad. I’ve been waiting for her to come out of the Training Building. Did something happen?”

Nervousness tinged her voice.

On the other end, silence fell.

Lusina could feel the tension.

Then, Lu Ming spoke slowly:

“It’s just… I tried calling Little Lu, but she isn’t answering.”

“Eh……!?”

***

“All right, that’s the end of today’s Training.”

Eliza announced from her seat.

Luna collapsed to the ground, looking as if a heavy burden had finally lifted.

“Is it… finally over…”

Her voice was weary.

Looking closely, Luna was covered in bruises and dirt, utterly disheveled.

And the culprit stood across from her—Number Two.

Once Luna was ready, Number Two had attacked mercilessly.

Eliza had told him to use S-Rank strength only, but for Luna, who had just reached S-Rank, it felt like an A-Rank fighting an S-Rank—a one-sided slaughter.

Against Number Two’s overwhelming attacks, Luna could barely resist.

She was either sent flying by his fan or kicked several meters away.

The blood at the corner of her mouth showed her frailty.

Eliza, meanwhile, had kept her distance—only approaching to hand over a Healing Potion when Luna was seriously injured.

And so, as the “Training” continued, time slipped by, and Luna was clearly pushed to her limits.

She lay exhausted on the floor, mumbling.

“I’m sorry… I’m too weak… I’m sorry… Please don’t hit me anymore…”

Her low apologies sounded like the despair and frustration deep in her heart.

Then, a sudden sense of relaxation washed over her, and her eyelids closed as she slipped into a brief sleep.

At that moment, Number Two had already left at Eliza’s command.

Eliza walked over and gently shook Luna.

“Time to get up, kid.”

Her voice was gentle.

“Nngh…”

Luna was awakened by the shaking.

Seeing Eliza made her feel relieved and safe.

“You’re awake…”

Eliza smiled slightly, concern in her eyes.

“How did today’s Training feel?”

She knelt down, letting Luna rest her head on her lap as a reward for her hard work.

“It hurts…”

Luna replied.

All she felt was pain and exhaustion from the Training.

“Do I really… have to keep doing this?”

She asked uncertainly.

It was not just a lack of confidence in herself, but doubt about whether this Training was really making her stronger.

“Yes, you need exactly this kind of Training.”

Eliza answered firmly, wiping the sweat from Luna’s forehead.

“Drink this.”

She took out a Healing Potion and handed it to Luna.

After she drank it, the pain in her body began to fade.

“But… is this kind of Training really useful?”

After finishing the potion, Luna was still doubtful.

She didn’t know if this Training would really help.

Eliza spoke to ease her worries.

“That’s the meaning of Training, kid. Number Two is also S-Rank. That’s a level attained through rigorous Training.”

Eliza encouraged her:

“Don’t be discouraged by failure. Only by constant Training can you grow. No one can perform at their best right after ascending to a new level.”

Luna listened.

Though her unease lingered, she could feel Eliza’s trust and support.

“If you keep at it, you’ll gain something, kid.”

“…Okay…”

Luna nodded slightly.

Her doubts seemed to ease a little.

“Rest for a bit. Then let’s head back.”

Eliza said, letting Luna relax for a while.

Luna took her advice and rested on her lap……

A moment later, she suddenly remembered something.

“Oh right… Dai Lina asked us to come to her house. She said it was important.”

She recalled the message Dai Lina had given her before they came here, telling her to visit after school as there was something urgent.

Luna checked her watch, surprised to see it was already 6 o’clock.

Her phone had died long ago, so messages and calls were impossible.

Besides, there was no signal here anyway……

“What should we do, Eliza? My sisters are probably already at the Dormitory.”

Luna felt a pang of worry.

It was already an hour after school—if she showed up at the Dormitory now, her sisters would be suspicious and bombard her with questions.

But Eliza didn’t seem concerned.

She already had a plan.

“Don’t worry. We can teleport straight to Dai Lina’s house.”

“Eh!? We can really do that?”

Luna was surprised.

“Of course. I set a Transmission Anchor at Dai Lina’s house when we arrived. It’s no problem for me.”

Eliza answered confidently.

Everything was under her control.

“Then let’s go right now!”

At her words, Luna immediately got up from Eliza’s lap and prepared to leave, still wondering what Dai Lina needed her for.

***

At this moment, inside Dai Lina’s house.

“Why is Little Lu so slow…”

Nearly an hour had passed since school ended, and Dai Lina had been waiting at home for Luna, who still hadn’t shown up.

She’d tried calling and messaging Luna, but either there was no reply, or the call went straight to voicemail.

What on earth is going on…

Dai Lina was frantic.

She couldn’t wait to tell Luna what she needed to say.

“Sigh… I’ll go get another pack of blood to drink…”

She muttered, planning to grab another bag.

But just as she moved, Dai Lina sensed something wrong.

“Who’s there!”

A Portal suddenly appeared at her door, putting her instantly on guard.

She pulled out her gun and aimed it at the Portal.

“Who are you!”

She shouted, but there was no response.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll shoot!”

She skillfully cocked the rifle, the living room now thick with tension.

“It’s me! Don’t shoot!”

Luna’s voice came from inside the Portal.

Only when Luna stepped out did Dai Lina finally relax.

“You’re so late…”

She put away her gun and glared at Luna.

“Sorry, something came up and I was delayed. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Luna apologized sincerely for her lateness.

“Did I scare you?”

Seeing Dai Lina lower her rifle, Luna wondered if her use of the Portal had startled her.

“……You did scare me. I thought that person had reported to the Empire Secret Guard.”

Dai Lina replied.

Luna frowned slightly, confused.

“That person?”

“Yes, that’s why I called you over.”

Dai Lina’s tone turned serious.

She gestured for Luna to follow and led her to a closed door.

Through the crack, Luna could faintly hear weak cries for help.

Mmm——!

“What is that…?”

Luna asked in confusion, unsure what was inside.

“See for yourself.”

Dai Lina didn’t explain.

She wanted Luna to see with her own eyes.

She opened the door slowly.

Luna’s gaze was drawn to the scene within.

A young girl, hands bound, eyes covered, mouth gagged, lay inside, whimpering weakly.

“This is……!”

Luna gasped, heart pounding.

She recognized immediately who the girl was……