The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154 Snowfang Shows Up

Chapter 154 Snowfang Shows Up

Somewhere in the world, in a shadowy, hidden place, a rectangular table stood with five chairs around it. Five figures sat together, their faces obscured by the dim light.

Among them was a middle-aged man-a white guy with sharp cheekbones, a narrow, high-bridged nose, and short, wavy tawny hair.

He was Kendivin Jay.

At that moment, everything went still.

Then, a familiar female voice came crackling through his walkie-talkie:

“This is Bloodforge. Your lapdog Monde? His life belongs to me now.

“You old bastards, better start giving out your necks and wait for the end-I’ll use your blood to mark the rebirth of the Bloodblade!”

As soon as her words dropped, the atmosphere froze.

She cut them off before anyone could say a word.

“Beep beep beep-”

The line went dead in an instant, leaving only the harsh beeps echoing in the darkness.

Obviously, with Bloodforge, this wasn’t a warning-it was a death sentence she was handing down, telling them straight up to give out their necks and wait for the end.

This wasn’t up for discussion.

Everyone here knew Bloodforge-she always followed through on her threats.

Kendivin felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

He forced himself to stay calm.

Kendivin glanced at the other four and declared, “Monde is dead.”

He didn’t wait for a response.

If Bloodforge got to you, you were as good as dead.

“Thud-”

Across from Kendivin, an old fox-so sharp and seasoned-suddenly lost it. He slid right off his chair, hitting the floor like a sack of bricks, too stunned to even move.

The old man was Maibom, a mercenary psychologist with a rep for brainwashing and keeping his soldiers in line.

Even when everyone knew they were marching to their deaths, Maibom had a way of firing up his men, making them charge into hell without blinking.

But with Bloodforge’s message ringing in his ears, even Maibom, master of nerves, turned ghostly pale-he couldn’t hide the panic etched across his face.

Realizing he’d just lost it, Maibom sprang back up off the floor, feeling extremely anxious as he stared at Kendivin.

“She… tell me her coming back is not real, Kendivin.

“This can’t be for real, right? Bloodforge is back?

“You know what she’s like-if she says it, she means it. What the hell are we supposed to do?”

Kendivin forced a calm look, but the way his lips quivered couldn’t hide the fear gnawing at him.

He said, “Don’t lose it. Ever since Bloodforge vanished over half a year ago, we’ve cleaned house in the Corps

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Chapter 154 Snowfang Shows Up

“She’s got almost no one left to boss around. And Bloodforge never rushes into a fight-there’s no way she just shows up out of the blue.

“Trust me, we’ve still got breathing room. We have time on our side.”

Kendivin said.

Kendivin spoke, then turned his gaze to the young man sitting in the main seat at the head of the table-the one who hadn’t uttered a single word since the start.

Careful not to offend, Kendivin lowered his voice slightly and asked with a respectful tone, “Snowfang, it looks like Bloodforge really did save Ghost-Hammer.

“What do we do now?”

For a long moment, there was no response at all.

Sitting at the head of the table was Snowfang himself-living up to his codename, silent and imposing.

He had the focused intensity of a wolf, but instead of Ghost-Hammer’s brute edge, Snowfang exuded a sharp, almost aristocratic charisma-his features were handsome, composed, with a wild undertone that made him unforgettable.

Ever since the very beginning, he’d been Bloodforge’s loyal shadow, and you could feel the authority in every breath he took.

With him saying nothing, all the old hands down the table kept their mouths shut, not daring to break the silence.

Snowfang lifted his gaze-those keen eyes seemed to pierce straight through the gloom. Both his looks and the way he held himself radiated a kind of refined wildness-a wolf’s focus wrapped in aristocratic cool. He caught the news that Ghost-Hammer had been rescued, and for just a split-second, a hint of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

But he masked it so perfectly, no one noticed. His lips parted for the briefest moment, as he let out a near- silent sigh of relief.

With all those old-timers watching him, Snowfang simply replied with one word:

“Wait.”

*****

Meanwhile, at the summit of Kate Deathly Canyon, a deafening explosion shook the land, and a beam of dazzling light shot straight into the sky, rocking the whole area to its core.

Down in the canyon, the five guild mercs, the caravan crew, and the group of college students-including Jake and Maria-were all held up, unable to go anywhere.

They were still waiting.

But they weren’t waiting for Nova. What they wanted was for this blocked road to be clear.

“What was that noise on the summit?” The rookie mercenaries on guard jolted in fright.

“Can’t get anyone on the walkie-talkie… Did something happen up there?” one of them asked nervously.

After some hurried whispering, the mercs decided to leave their post and rushed up the canyon to check it out.

“The road’s clear! Let’s get out of here!” Maria exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

“She still hasn’t come down…” Jake said quietly, staring up at the summit.

“Come down? Are you expecting her ghost or just a box of ashes to roll down here?

“With those two explosions up there, I’m betting there’s nothing left of her-not even bones,” Maria sneered Maria had never liked Nova, so she said it without a shred of guilt.

She was dead sure in her mind-Nova wasn’t coming back from up there.

Maria had only just learned they, the people at the top, were literally the craziest, most legendary mercenary

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Chapter 154 Snowfang Shows Up

squad on the planet.

Nova was just a college girl, just another Zoriaien like the rest of them. No way could she survive a betrayal purge inside that mercenary crew. Not a chance.

Just as Maria finished trash-talking, Jake, standing right beside her, couldn’t hold it in-his voice shot up shrill and booming through the canyon as he shouted, “It’s her! It’s her! She’s back!”

“It’s her! It’s her! She’s back!” Jake shouted, nearly jumping out of his skin.

“No way-she’s actually alive!” he blurted.

Maria felt like her skull had just been walloped twice-her mind was reeling from the impact.

Her face froze, like she’d just been smacked upside the head, staring blankly into the distance.

In the darkness, a slender girl was charging toward them at full speed, hauling someone easily twice her weight on her back.

She was almost upon them.

Closer-close enough they could make out the details.

Only now did Maria truly see what was happening. Nova was hauling someone on her back-a blood-soaked figure, crimson from head to toe. ‘Is that… Is that really a person? How is Nova still walking?’ Maria stared, shell-shocked.

“Ahh!”

Maria was just an average girl-she’d never confronted with something this bloody in her life.

She let out a hysterical scream that tore from her throat.

Nova Blake carried Ghost-Hammer down the mountainside, her eyes immediately scanning him for injuries the moment she saw his battered form.

Blood was pouring out, some wounds were nearly fatal-if not for Ghost-Hammer’s own rough field dressing, he’d have bled out already.

He’d bought himself a little time, for now.

But time was running out fast-if they waited too long, he wouldn’t survive.

Nova Blake wasn’t familiar with this area at all. She shot a glance at the group of guild mercenaries.

“Take me to the nearest clinic. Name your price-I’ll pay whatever you want,” Nova Blake ordered, her voice cool and unwavering.

The other four guild mercenaries looked at her like wolves spotting fresh meat-their eyes gleamed with greed. Before any of them could open their mouths, Madan jumped in first.

He said, “I know where the nearest clinic is. If we run, it’s only about ten minutes away.

“I’ll take you there-no charge. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ve got this.”

‘Honestly, you carry the same fierce aura as my hero, Bloodforge. That’s probably why I just can’t bring myself

to charge you,’ Madan admitted to himself.

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Chapter 155 Bloodred Task Force

Chapter 155 Bloodred Task Force

As soon as Madan said, “No charge, the other four mercenaries from the guild glared at him as if he’d just betrayed them.

No wonder, really.

After all, it was such an easy chance to make some dirty money-yet Madan went and declared he’d work for free!

Madan ignored his teammates; he was mostly worried Nova Blake might get the wrong idea and think he had some ulterior motive for helping her.

So Madan deliberately added, “But you have to tell us what happened up there.”

Who doesn’t love a bit of gossip about the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps?

Everyone turned to Nova Blake-including the other four mercenaries, the caravan crew, and the college students with Maria and Jake leading the pack.

Nova Blake didn’t even blink. “They’re all dead. Now hurry up and show us the way.”

Nova could afford to waste time, but Ghost-Hammer could not. He was bleeding out.

Nova didn’t bother with extra words.

The truth was simple: Nova had snapped Monde’s neck herself.

Then, using the stash of explosives Monde and his crew had hauled up to ambush Ghost-Hammer, she blew every last body sky-high-leaving nothing but ashes behind.

“That’s not really answering anything,” Maria complained under her breath.

“Honestly, how did you even manage to get back here after seeing the whole squad wiped out?”

Maria muttered her snark quietly to herself.

She just assumed Nova must’ve found someplace to hide and watched the whole mess play out.

After the chaos died down, Nova just went up and hauled Ghost-Hammer’s half-dead body from the carnage like she was picking up a lost item.

‘Man, that’s some insane luck, Maria thought.

Nova didn’t hear a word of Maria’s snarking.

With Madan leading the way, he shot Nova a look and yelled, “Hurry up, follow me!”

The two of them bolted out of sight like a flash of lightning-gone in the blink of an eye.

*****

They were skirting the outskirts of Kate Canyon, opting for a different path instead of retracing their steps-a detour that would have them reaching the clinic in about ten minutes.

Their timing couldn’t have been better.

After Nova brought Ghost-Hammer to the clinic, he underwent seven long hours of surgery.

The doctor came out and reported, “He’s out of immediate danger for now, at least for the next 24 hours.

“But he lost so much blood, and our blood bank is nearly empty. All we could give him was a minimal transfusion.

“If we can’t get more blood within 24 hours, he’ll be in critical danger.”

The clinic doctor stood at the door of the operating room and broke the news to Nova.

The real problem was that Kata City was dirt poor-even the clinics here were seriously under-equipped.

In just 24 hours, it is impossible to find anyone with the right blood type willing to donate.

‘I’m O positive just take my blood,’ Nova

vithout hesitation.

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Chapter 155 Bloodred Task Force

The doctor frowned, with obvious concern on his face.

“O positive is universal, yeah, but he’ll need a massive amount for this transfusion.

“If I take that much from you, it’s going to put your own health at serious risk…”

Before the doctor could finish, Nova snapped, “Just do it. I’ve said draw my blood, so do it!”

Just a little while after Nova finished giving blood, the doctor rushed over to tell her that Ghost-Hammer was completely out of danger.

He was still knocked out, but now he might wake up at any moment over the next 24 hours.

On her way to the hospital room, Nova ran into Madan, the guild mercenary, along with Maria, Jake, and the rest of the college students.

Nova paused, her brow twitching in mild surprise.

“You guys still hanging around?” Nova asked.

Madan stepped forward and said, “Ferdinand and his crew took the caravan and pushed on ahead. I decided to stick around and see what happens next.”

Ferdinand was one of the four guild mercs-the old guy with the yellow beard and those sharp, scheming eyes. Madan looked over at Jake and the others. “They’re done traveling and want me to get them back to downtown Kata City.”

“Hey, hey, don’t tell me you think we’re tailing after you like lost puppies?” Maria shot back.

“And seriously, don’t you think we’re all chicken-like we’re too scared to keep going into the Kate Deathly Canyon?

“We just figured this whole thing got boring, that’s all. That’s why we’re turning back!”

Even with her legs wobbling like jelly, Maria still didn’t want to admit that she was afraid.

“Maria, just zip it!” Jake clapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.

Madan caught every word of the conversation between the doctor and Nova.

Just for Ghost-Hammer, she gave every drop of blood she safely could-pushing herself right up to her limit. Nova stood quiet for a moment before Madan finally broke the silence. “That guy… You didn’t just save him because you felt like it, did you?”

“Is he-like-a really important teammate to you?” Madan pressed, watching Nova closely.

When Ghost-Hammer was mentioned, Nova didn’t skip a beat.

Her eyes flashed, sharp like starlight.

“Yeah, he’s super important to me…

“He’s family.”

He was irreplaceable-someone Nova couldn’t imagine her world without.

“It must be nice…” Madan murmured, with a wistful smile.

He lowered his gaze and sighed, “It must be nice for you to have a family.”

Everyone’s got their own history, their own scars from the past.

Madan was just one of those small-time guild mercs trying to get by; life hadn’t exactly cut him any slack either.

One could see a trace of sorrow flicker in his eyes.

“I’ve got nobody left-no family,” Madan said softly. “Honestly, the only thing keeping me here in Kata City is my belief.

“My idol is Bloodforge, the legendary Mercenary King.

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Chapter 155 Bloodred Task Force

“This place carries my dreams. Every day this place makes me brave enough to keep chasing them.

“And you know what? Being in this city… sometimes it feels like Bloodforge isn’t just some distant legend-like my idol’s actually within reach.

“Kinda weird, huh?” Madan chuckled, shaking his head. “But yeah, I can’t help thinking like that sometimes. “Seriously, it pops into my head a lot-’cause this is where Bloodforge and her toughest four subordinates first teamed up, you know?”

What Madan just said made a subtle shift flicker across Nova’s gaze.

Maybe it was the mad rush to save Ghost-Hammer, or maybe it was just the weight of ten years’ worth of memories as a mercenary-all of it blurring together.

She was their boss, after all-the one who always had to step up and take responsibility.

To her crew, she’d always been the ice-cold, emotionless boss they followed without question.

She’d almost forgotten-Kata City was the place where she, Ghost-Hammer, Marlie, Falcony, and Snowfang first came together nine years ago. That was where their crew really started. That was where it all began.

So that was it.

Ghost-Hammer was being hunted down, but even then, he made his way to Kata City…

He knew he might not survive, but if he had to die, he wanted it to be here with his crew, in the place it all began.

Even after watching Marlie and Falcony go down in the worst ways, or getting betrayed by Snowfang, Ghost- Hammer never wished things were different. He never regretted having those guys in his life-not for a single second.

Nova’s gaze dropped, her eyes shadowed with thoughts she refused to show.

She’d always been a master at bottling up her feelings-never a flicker of emotion on her face, not even when Marlie and Falcony died. She sent them off like it was just business, calm as ice, not a single tear escaped. She knew, as their leader, even showing a hint of grief wasn’t an option. She didn’t have the luxury of falling

ard.

she lost her grip, what would her crew do then?

ed Madan for a moment, then said softly, “You’re lucky to have that.”

him a faint, encouraging smile. “Don’t let it go.”

turned and walked away, calm and composed, Madan just stood there, blinking-caught completely

heartbeat, it felt like he’d gotten a nod of approval straight from his idol, Bloodforge herself. The rush of Made his chest tighten.

Man, am I really so obsessed with meeting Bloodforge that I’m starting to imagine things?’ Madan thought, almost laughing at himself.

When Nova returned to Ghost-Hammer’s hospital room, she wasn’t just there to check in-she had unfinished business to settle.

But with Ghost-Hammer still knocked out, if anyone tried to make another move, it’d be a risk she absolutely couldn’t take.

There was no way she could just march into Bloodblade headquarters and start hacking off those traitors’ heads-not right now.

That would basically be asking to get herself killed.

Nova wasn’t the type to go off half-cocked and dive into a fight without a plan.

But…

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Chapter 155 Bloodred Task Forme

It looks like those old bastards are in for a letdown.

Nova pulled out her phone, logged into the Crimson Web, and opened up the “Bloodred Task Force gro

Four people were in the chat

Nova was one of them, the other three were all women

She sent a message in the Bloodred Task Force group

[I am in Kata City, Borig, Palion. If you’re seeing this, get here, fast]

The Bloodred Task Force? They were legendary-the absolute queens of the underworld. No one knew their real faces; all anyone knew was, if a job was too messed up for even the craziest crews, these ladies could pull it off.

No matter how insane or downright twisted the assignment, they always delivered 100% success-every single time, no exceptions.

The squad has four women. Each of them is an expert in her own wicked specialty

And each of them ruled her own world like a boss, sitting on top of power that went way beyond anyone else’s reach.

The rumors on the street about them were off-the-charts bizarre-nobody really knew the truth behind the Bloodred Task Force…

The Bloodred Task Force was Nova Blake’s own secret network, assembled outside the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps. The other three were all her handpicked operatives-her personal crew, answering only to her

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