Underground City

I found myself on the third floor of a building, and across from me was a building with seven or eight floors. Below, people had started to gather. They wore patched clothes, worn out but seemingly in better condition than the people from Campbell Russell's tribe. They had shoes, not straw sandals.

Their faces carried friendly smiles, more like aunts and uncles coming over to witness someone making a fool of themselves.

Clang, clang, clang, clang. Someone was rushing towards us, making a loud noise on the steel walkway. I looked toward the sound and saw... three women!

The leader was an exceptionally sexy and imposing redhead, a female instructor. Her features were very delicate, European in appearance. Almond-shaped, large amber eyes, and a head full of red curls that made her even more seductive. She wore a tight-fitting dark green to black military uniform, emphasizing her curves. Her chest protruded provocatively, as if every breath would burst open those precarious buttons, giving off a uniform allure and temptation.

Behind her were two young girls. The one on the left, similar in age to me, also wore a tight military uniform. She had clean, neat shoulder-length hair, colored pure white. However, her face was that of an East Asian, like me, but her eye color wasn't the typical black or brown of East Asians; instead, it was a pair of snow-colored eyes.

Her big, snow-colored eyes, like clear white cat eyes, exuded a calm and composed gaze, as if nothing could make her flustered or pique her interest. The steady gaze from her snow-colored eyes was directed straight ahead, motionless. Her slightly chubby face, however, added a touch of cute, and her lips, neither too thin nor too thick, were tightly pursed, giving her a hint of aloofness.

Beside her was another young girl who appeared to be around twenty. She had a more mature and stable facial appearance, with delicate and beautiful features, resembling a refined beauty from the southern water towns. However, she had beautiful emerald green eyes, her expression calm and gentle.

She wasn't wearing a military uniform; instead, she had on a linen-colored old robe. The robe was worn but clean, displaying an aged yellow tint. A brightly colored patch adorned the waist, a new addition that brought a bit of vibrancy to this simple and crude attire.

Around her waist was tied with a multicolored cord, and the back of the robe had a large hood. Long, brown hair was gathered up with a simple floral-patterned handkerchief. It had been a long time since I had seen someone dressed like this, reminiscent of a girl picking fruit in the countryside or a shepherdess standing next to a small lamb—simple yet charming.She was looking at us, her expression carrying a hint of nervousness, but more importantly, she seemed concerned about Emery Griffin in front of me.

"Snap!" The sound of a whip immediately triggered my highly tense nerves. I quickly looked at the female instructor, who was holding a black leather whip in her hand. The whip shone exceptionally bright, making it seem like just looking at it would cause a lingering pain on the skin.

She looked at Emery Griffin, who I was holding, and angrily cracked the whip, pointing it towards Desmond Griffin at the door. "How dare you hide this girl!"

"She's the one I picked up!" Emery Griffin suddenly emphasized loudly. He didn't seem afraid of being taken hostage by me; instead, he was more afraid of me being taken away from him by someone else.

"Hehe..." Desmond Griffin, who seemed very manly, suddenly laughed as silly as his son Emery Griffin. The face that was originally sharp and wise became cute because of this silly smile.

The female instructor was immediately furious, once again cracking her whip and glaring at Emery Griffin in front of me. She widened her almond-shaped eyes. "Even if you picked her up, it doesn't mean she belongs to you!"

"Wife, misunderstanding, misunderstanding." Wait, what? That Desmond Griffin actually called this female instructor his wife! Then, wasn't the person I took hostage her son? I became even more nervous and vigilant. I hadn't had a chance to look at Emery Griffin's appearance yet, but I remembered that Emery Griffin and the female instructor had the same amber-colored eyes.

Desmond Griffin grinned at his wife. "I just wanted Emery Griffin to make a good impression on this girl, but I didn't expect... Emery Griffin!" Desmond Griffin's face turned stern, giving Emery Griffin a significant look. "What did you do to her?! Apologize now!"

"I... I didn't do anything..." Emery Griffin spread his hands, looking particularly wronged and innocent.

The female instructor turned her gaze to me. Her eyes shone with a soldier's directness and brightness. "You, tell me. What did he do to you? Don't be afraid. Although he's my son, here, no one is allowed to bully a girl!" She spoke with a powerful and commanding tone, exuding an aura that was both intimidating and admirable.

I instinctively responded, "He was drooling over me while lying on top of me!" I couldn't believe I said that! I actually answered her! It was like the instinctive response of a soldier to an instructor's questioning! The moment she asked me a question, my tone and mannerisms were so much like my dad, who had been a soldier and an instructor.

"Disgusting!" The girl with white hair immediately scolded with disgust.

"Emery Griffin! How could you!" Another girl exclaimed in disbelief, her green eyes showing an incredulous gaze.

"I didn't do anything!" Emery Griffin protested, hopping on one foot. I immediately pressed the knife against his neck, and only then did he become obedient, looking at the girl with snow-white hair and the other sister with a pitiful expression. "Bernice, Amanda, I really didn't do anything!"I was stunned; did he call everyone "wife"?!

"Who's your wife?" The girl called Bernice by Emery Griffin gave him a cold look. "Don't insult me."

"Crack!" Emery Griffin looked disappointed, covering his face with both hands. He seemed to have completely ignored the fact that I still had a knife. "Bernice, you've disappointed me so much, I!"

"Shut up!" Suddenly, Emery Griffin was yanked away from me! I still had the knife in my hand, but my hostage was gone!

In theory, I should be considered a failure at this point because I had lost my hostage, and the other party could capture me at any moment. However, the scene in front of me was completely different!

The female instructor grabbed Emery Griffin and scolded him, pulling at his eyebrows. "You dared to harass the girl!"

"Mom! I didn't! I really didn't!" Emery Griffin hurriedly explained.

"No, he actually didn't..." I hadn't had a chance to explain, but the female instructor directly threw Emery Griffin over the railing!

"You reflect on yourself properly!" With the instructor's angry words, Emery Griffin... was actually thrown down... from the third floor...

I was completely dumbfounded.

"Ah!"

"Thump!" Immediately followed by the sound of a heavy object falling. I closed my eyes, stole a glance downstairs, and saw Emery Griffin fall straight into the crowd. Was he really the son of the female instructor in front of me?

"Hahaha—"

"Emery Griffin, you're really bold, dare to hide a girl from the princess."

"Emery Griffin, that's a girl from Silvermoon City, and you dare to hide her privately?"

"Emery Griffin, you're in big trouble this time, you're done for!"

I saw Emery Griffin raise his hand; he wasn't dead?!

"Emery Griffin!" Desmond Griffin rushed to the railing, reaching out his hand. "Are you okay—"

Emery Griffin lay on the ground, waving his raised hand.

Desmond Griffin clenched his fists painfully, with a somewhat theatrical expression. He widened his eyes and turned to glare at the female instructor. "Celeste Hughes! Emery Griffin is your biological son!"

The female instructor called Celeste raised her right eyebrow, clapping her whip in her hand. "There's an old saying: if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked too! You bear some responsibility for your son turning bad! Farley Hamilton! Drag Captain Dominic Alexander down and give him thirty lashes together with Emery Griffin!"