Under the dim moonlight, the riverbank appeared serene, with towering trees casting dark shadows onto the water. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying the cool mist of the water and the soft sound of lapping waves. Stanley hid in a dense thicket, his machine gun cocked and ready, awaiting the intruders. His heart pounded, a thrill surging through him. Eager to welcome them with enthusiasm, he held his breath in anticipation.
Suddenly, a loud noise erupted, shattering the stillness of the night. Countless broken branches fell to the ground. Startled, Stanley quickly slung the machine gun over his back and cautiously moved towards the source of the sound. Upon reaching the spot, he saw a pack of wolves surrounding a girl dressed in black, lying motionless on the ground, covered in scratches. Blood trickled from a wound on her forehead, likely from a fall from above. Could this girl be part of the intruders attempting to sneak in? Stanley couldn't be sure, but he recognized that she was on the verge of life and death.
Without hesitation, Stanley drew the large knife from his side and charged into the pack of wolves. He moved swiftly, dodging their lunges, then unexpectedly swung his knife, felling them one by one. Wolf blood splattered everywhere like raindrops, staining the ground crimson. Afterward, he approached the girl. He removed one glove and checked her pulse, which was weak but still present. With the large wound on her forehead, she would surely bleed to death if not treated promptly, and he would lose the opportunity to extract information from the enemy. Fortunately, Xeno always insisted he carry bandages and disinfectant when going out, so he could provide first aid.
The distant sound of a boat engine reached Stanley's ears. The intruders were about to pass by, and he needed to return to his position quickly to avoid missing the opportunity. But there was a problem: he couldn't leave her here alone, nor could he take her back to the castle and return in time. So, there was only one option – to take her with him, though it was inconvenient, he always knew how to handle difficult situations.
He used rope to tie the girl's hands and feet, then hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack. Surprisingly, she was lighter than he expected. He could still move quickly without any hindrance.
He climbed a tall tree with a clear view of the river. Once settled on a sturdy branch, he carefully placed the girl between his legs, one arm holding her body against his, the other holding the machine gun, adjusting the angle.
Here they come, finally. The sound of the boat engine grew louder, and Stanley could see the lights reflecting on the river. He pressed the girl's head against his chest, covering her other ear, the last thing he wanted was for the sound of the gun to startle her awake, causing her to scream or struggle and make them both fall from the tree.
A small boat appeared in his sights. His finger tightened on the trigger. The machine gun fired, unleashing a deafening barrage.
The boat rocked violently, nearly throwing some of the passengers into the river from the intense gunfire. However, somehow, they quickly located his position, creating a water shield to block the bullets and obscure his vision, then sped away. He muttered with amusement.
"How did they know?"
Just then, he felt the girl's body trembling. She snuggled closer to him for warmth. He realized that it was night, colder up here, and her clothes were quite thin. He quickly extinguished his half-smoked cigarette and climbed down the tree, carrying the girl back to the castle.
In a large room filled with modern scientific equipment and glass containers of strange liquids, Xeno was meticulously calculating complex equations on paper. The sudden knock on the door interrupted his concentration, cutting his train of thought.
"Who is it?"
"It's me." Stanley's voice echoed in, his tone deep and familiar.
Xeno put down his pen and turned his chair to face the closed wooden door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Stanley entered. He closed the door, casually leaning against it, lighting a cigarette.
"Those intruders are sharp. I just sent them a 'welcome gift,' and they already found my position and escaped."
Xeno frowned in confusion. If the intruders had escaped, why was Stanley reporting so casually?
"Has that toxic smoke overloaded your brain?"
Stanley smirked, mocking his friend's elegant joke.
"I came to report that we have an interesting surprise."
"What is it?"
"You can check it out in the cell."
The platinum-haired man replied with a mysterious smile and quickly left to finish his work.
Xeno had a rough idea of Stanley's surprise. He stood up, left the lab, and headed towards the cell. The guard saw the leader approaching and quickly opened the door. He was about to enter to ensure safety, but Xeno raised his hand to stop him.
"Wait outside, I'll call you if anything happens."
The guard nodded, reluctantly closing the door, leaving Xeno alone in the quiet cell. The room was small, just enough for a single, hard bed. On the bed, a girl was sleeping soundly under a thin blanket. Her long, indigo hair spread out, almost covering the entire bed. Xeno gently brushed away some hair, revealing her face. Her features were distinctly Japanese: a round face, not overly sharp but harmonious, creating a gentle beauty. Despite the white bandage on her forehead and the small scratches and bruises on her porcelain skin, they couldn't conceal the noble aura emanating from her.
Xeno was deeply impressed by this elegant girl. If she belonged to the enemy, he would surely turn her into a powerful pawn, with well-calculated moves. Not wanting to disturb her sleep, he quietly left the cell, leaving the girl to her peaceful dreams.