Volume Two: The Youth with a Thousand Faces, Truth and Illusion Chapter Seventy-Six: The Lin Siblings

Karen’s true form was slain, the space itself shattered, and with the last of his avatars obliterated, Karen was utterly and completely dead. Hoya and Kazama Ruri searched the vicinity, making certain there were no further traces of calamity. Only then did everyone fully relax.

After a moment’s thought, Hoya suggested, “Why don’t we take a group photo? This is our first time defeating an Ultimate Form—it’s worth remembering.”

Alice responded with excitement, “Yes, yes! We should get it printed and hang it on the club’s wall. Our first mission, and we perfectly took down an Ultimate Form—it’s something to be proud of!”

Everyone else nodded enthusiastically, except for Kazama Ruri, who hesitantly asked, “Um… not to be a downer, but did anyone actually bring any equipment to take a selfie?”

The group fell silent. She had a point.

Sure, the crystal-brain watches had a photo function, but their form factor was that of a wristwatch; no way to take a real group shot. There were all sorts of nifty little selfie devices on the market—cameras that could shoot from the ground, hover for eye-level shots, or even fly up and capture the whole landscape. Humanity had that technology a thousand years ago. But they were here on a mission, to fight, not to take pictures. Who would bring a camera just for fun?

So did that mean someone would have to stay out of the frame to take the picture? For some reason, everyone’s eyes settled on Jiang Feng. He couldn’t help but curse inwardly—what, do I look that easy to bully? I risked my life buying you time, and this is how you treat your hero?

Just then, the sound of an engine echoed from afar. Everyone recognized it instantly—the hum of a hovercycle.

“Is it the Hunters?” asked Lailimi.

“It should be,” said Hoya. “After all, we left almost a day ago. Before we left, we told them the disaster was likely in this area, so they’re probably here to check.”

But as the engine noise drew closer and the newcomers came into view, it became clear they weren’t the Hunters. Instead, it was a group of young people about their age—twenty in all, quite a crowd. At the head were a young man and woman, not especially attractive, but both with fine, clear features. The young man wore an arrogant smirk, while the young woman’s face lit up with delight when she saw them.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the son of the Grand Captain. What happened to you? Did a dog chew up your hair?” The leading young man clearly knew Hoya and wasted no time with his mocking insults.

Alice, Shangguan Yudie, and Lailimi exchanged looks of exasperation, as if the words “here we go again” were written across their faces.

Hoya ignored him, instead introducing the newcomers to Kazama Ruri and Jiang Feng. “That’s Lin Qijie, son of the captain of the Kamikaze Hunter Group, the second Hunter Group of the Sola Colony. His father’s group used to be first-tier, until it was overshadowed by my dad’s Reaper Hunter Group. Now, even though they’re from Sola, he has to run a group far off in another colony. So his dad resents mine, and he’s passed that on to me. He’s always imagined he’s my rival, but honestly, I’ve never really paid attention to him.”

Jiang Feng was dumbfounded—not because of Lin Qijie’s status, nor the tangled web of upper-level grudges hinted at in Hoya’s explanation, but—did you just talk smack about the guy with him standing right there? He heard every word!

Lin Qijie, who’d caught it all, ground his teeth in fury. Seated atop his hovercycle, he shouted, “Come here, you bastard! I’m going to knock your teeth out!”

The four who’d known Lin Qijie since childhood could only roll their eyes. Seeing Jiang Feng’s confusion, Lailimi explained, “Really, you don’t need to worry about him. He always talks big, but it’s all bark and no bite. Even if he tried, Big Bro would wipe the floor with him.”

“Oh, I get it,” Jiang Feng replied. So basically, just treat him like some unlucky kid.

The young woman on the other hovercycle nearly burst out laughing, clutching her aching belly and slapping Lin Qijie on the shoulder. “Big brother, just give it up! I’ve told you a hundred times—he doesn’t even see you as a rival! Hahaha!”

Hoya waved in greeting, “Hey, Jiayin, long time no see.”

Lin Jiayin jumped off her cycle and threw her arms around Hoya, pressing her cheek against his chest and pouting, “You never come to see me. I’ve been so lonely these past few years.”

Hoya wore a helpless expression, not quite sure what to do with his hands.

Alice whispered to Jiang Feng and Kazama Ruri, “That’s Lin Jiayin. She’s had a crush on my brother since she was little. Last year, she nearly had a family crisis trying to go to the same university as him, but she didn’t make it in the end. Not that she would have—my brother went to a dump in the slums.”

Jiang Feng suddenly understood. So the siblings—one treats him as a rival, the other as an idol. What a difference in one family.

With some effort, Hoya freed himself from Lin Jiayin’s embrace, only for her to tease, half-jokingly, “By the way, Hoya, where’s your little girlfriend from District C11? Did you break up? I’m always ready to step in, you know!”

The entire Star Cluster Society went rigid. Hoya hadn’t kept the events from two years ago a secret; everyone in the club knew. Of all things to bring up, did she have to mention Qingxue? Oops, bad move, girl.

Hoya didn’t get angry; he simply went silent for a moment, then replied quietly, “She’s gone. During the Sola Self-Defense Battle two years ago, I failed to protect her.”

“Oh…” Lin Jiayin was at a loss, hastily waving her hands, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know, I was just joking!” She was flustered, afraid Hoya would resent her for a slip of the tongue.

“It’s fine, I know you didn’t mean it,” Hoya replied with a smile. Glancing at the crowd behind Lin Qijie, he asked, “So, what brings you all here?”

“Hmph, we heard there was an Ultimate Form here, so we came to hunt it,” Lin Qijie replied.

The Star Cluster members looked at each other. How to put it…

Hoya paused a moment, then said, “Twenty people to kill one Ultimate Form. Should I praise you for being cautious or call you cowardly?”

“Oh yeah? What about you guys? Don’t tell me you few actually took down an Ultimate Form?”

“Why do you think we’re here? We already finished it off. You’re too late,” Hoya replied.

Lin Qijie was stunned. He didn’t think Hoya was lying—he knew Hoya wasn’t that kind of person. Which meant…

“You stole our target!” Lin Qijie accused.

“And how do you figure that?” Hoya asked. “Let me ask you—how did you find this place?”

“By asking the local Hunter Group, of course,” Lin Qijie replied, as if it was obvious.

Hoya gave a nonchalant “Oh,” then said, “We were the ones who analyzed the disaster’s likely hideout and told the local Hunter Group before we left. So actually, you’re the ones benefiting from our hard work.”

Lin Qijie sucked in a breath. Sharing intel and resources was standard practice—how was Hoya so quick to twist the situation?

Stymied, Lin Qijie could only fume as Hoya suddenly had an idea, removing his crystal-brain and handing it to Lin Jiayin. “Jiayin, could you take a group photo for us?”

“Sure,” Jiayin replied meekly, eager to please Hoya.

“And why should my sister take your picture?” Lin Qijie protested.

“It’s just a photo, don’t be childish,” Lin Jiayin shot back.

Unbelievable—his own sister taking their side!

It was eight or nine in the morning, the sunlight warm and gentle. The six who had fought side by side captured the moment—a record of the Star Cluster Society’s first glorious achievement.

The Lin siblings left empty-handed, but what could they do? They’d only arrived on a rumor. By the official chain of command, this mission should have gone from the local Hunter Group to the higher-level Reaper Hunter Group, then to their own Bancroft Star Cluster Society. It was always their mission.

Though Lin Qijie didn’t like Hoya, he was fair and honorable; he wasn’t about to play dirty over something this trivial. Still, upon hearing that Hoya was now at Bancroft, Lin Qijie’s lips curled into a strange smile.

Hoya ignored him as usual, and the Star Cluster members returned to the city for a night’s rest before setting out for Bancroft.

Six hovercycles sped across the desert, dwindling to black dots in the distance.

“I can’t believe we actually killed an Ultimate Form—and in teams of two, no less,” Jiang Feng marveled.

Lailimi shook her head. “Not quite. Remember our discussion last night? The Ultimate Forms we fought were probably just weakened avatars. Big Bro’s opponent was the real thing.”

“And our group didn’t even finish off Karen,” Kazama Ruri added.

“Don’t sweat the details,” Hoya said. “Honestly, if the circumstances had allowed, I’d have loved to get a photo of Karen. Your first Ultimate Form is something to remember, isn’t it?”

“Of course it is,” Alice replied happily. “But it was our first Ultimate Form—all of us together.”

“That’s right—it’s Star Cluster’s glory,” their president Hoya declared with pride.