The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89 Fierce Yellowcat Shows Up

“So, after you finish your mission, if you’ve got some free time, you should really spend it with your family,” Kevin said.

‘She probably cares too much about her work and forgets how her family might feel, Kevin thought to himself.

He just assumed Nova was the type to put her career above everything else, maybe even missing out on what mattered to her family.

After all, sometimes, those in the action team had no choice but to go missing for the mission.

Everyone got it.

“I’m too busy. I can’t go back,” Nova replied.

Nova’s gaze dropped with a cool indifference, almost as if the conversation barely mattered to her.

It was like she’d suddenly become a soulless automaton–Kevin couldn’t help but feel an icy chill from just how completely shut off and distant she seemed.

‘Maybe… Nova thought to herself.

Maybe, given enough time, they’d eventually learn to live without her.

She wouldn’t bring danger to them again just because of her own selfish reasons.

She needed to return to the darkness, to get used to it all over again–instead of longing for the light.

*****

As Nova returned to join the rest of the Blood Dolls mercenary crew.

“Go! Go!”

“Fierce Python, teach that clueless woman a lesson!

“A filthy little insect like her thinks she can take on the boss of the Grasshopper Mercs? She’s just begging for a beating!”

*****

The mercs hanging around were getting rowdy, shouting and jeering one after another.

Inside the ring, Yellowcat staggered from the force, thrown sideways and scrambling to steady herself with one hand on the ground. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her milk–white skin now damp and tense. Across from her, Fierce Python looked as if nothing had happened at all, cool and collected after their brief clash.

His bronzed skin made an even sharper contrast against Yellowcat’s pale, creamy complexion.

Fierce Python’s jaw was set, and he looked visibly annoyed when he heard the guys around him start trash- talking women.

The only reason he was fighting Yellowcat was because she kept pressing the attack.

All he’d done so far was defend himself.

“Bring it on!” Yellowcat yelled, not about to let this slide.

Her glass–fragile face was set in defiance, a stubborn glint flashing in her eyes.

Surrounded by all those jeering mercenaries, it was practically unheard of for her to lose like this–she just never backed down.

She lunged at Fierce Python, fist raised, throwing a punch straight for his chest.

Blaze snatched her fist out of midair like it was nothing.

“Knock her out! Send that shameless woman flying!”

“Hahaha…”

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Successfully unlocked!

Chapter 189 Fierce Yellowcat Shows Up

“Fierce Python, show her what a real mercenary’s made of!”

The crowd kept shouting, hyping him up.

Yellowcat wrenched her hand free from Fierce Python’s grip, her eyes blazing–she was nowhere near done and ready to jump right back into the fight.

“Boom!”

A sudden impact split the air.

Out of nowhere, a kick sliced right through the crowd.

It was so blindingly fast that even the seasoned mercenaries could barely see what happened.

It was Nova.

Nova grabbed Yellowcat, and right in full view of the crowd, blasted a ruthless kick straight at Blaze’s throat, aiming to take him down.

She moved in with brutal force, every motion razor–sharp and deadly.

The mercenaries who’d been jeering froze on the spot, dumbstruck by the sudden move.

Honestly, most of the guys around probably couldn’t handle a kick like that.

Fierce Python threw his arms up in an X to block, but even he got blasted backwards, knocked two steps away by force.

There was a sharp, collective gasp-

As the crowd witnessed this, every merc who’d been trash–talking women snapped to attention, the sound of their sharp inhalations cutting through the air.

Fierce Python was a legend among the rookie mercenary squads–hands down the toughest, no one could touch him.

But when he faced off with Nova, even he got blasted back. Nobody saw that coming.

Eder and Sham finally realized just how powerful Nova was, and both of them were absolutely floored.

The mercenaries who’d fought tooth and nail against Nova bringing them here could only stare, stunned speechless.

‘Our boss… The thought rattled around their heads, disbelief written all over their faces.

‘She’s really that badass?‘

“Pfft-”

“What, a chick takes down Fierce Python with who–knows–what tricks?”

“Show’s over, nothing to see here. Let’s move, people.”

“Talk about boring.”

With no dramatic beatdown of a female merc for them to cheer on, most of the guys instantly lost interest. Most of these mercs had that whole “look down on women” thing practically wired into their DNA.

They just couldn’t accept that a woman could ever beat a man.

So, the crowd broke up in a hurry, barely looking back as they scattered.

“Boss!”

Yellowcat was practically beaming, and there was no way to hide how thrilled she was.

She watched Fierce Python and his crew walk away, then turned to Nova, practically bouncing with excitement as she showed off what she’d learned from their sparring.

“The boss of the Grasshopper Mercs is a real catch,” Yellowcat said, her eyes shining.

What she really meant was, ‘You should totally recruit him for the Blood Dolls.

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Chapter 189 Fierce Yellowcat Shows Up

There were barely a handful of people in the whole global underground scene who could take a full–force punch from her and still be standing.

Nova lowered her eyes in a calm, approving gesture.

“Yeah,” She answered.

Nova patted Yellowcat on the shoulder and said, “Skip the dinner they’re serving at the training ground tonight. Wait for me back at our place.

“I need to handle something.”

“Huh?” Yellowcat froze, clearly confused.

She didn’t get what Nova was talking about.

Still, she was used to following Nova’s instructions, no questions asked.

She was just about to ask, but before she could even open her mouth, Nova disappeared like a ghost.

Night fell.

That afternoon was just about getting signed up for the International Mercenary Training Grounds–just registration, nothing exciting.

The actual training hadn’t even started yet.

The accommodations here were pretty sweet–everyone got their own private room.

Nova handled her business and made it back–it was already nighttime. She looked everywhere for Yellowcat but couldn’t find her, so she asked Sham and the others.

Sham, halfway drunk, waved his bottle and said, “She went off to find Fierce Python, says she’s itching for another one–on–one with him.

“And she actually thinks she can rope Fierce Python into joining the Blood Dolls. Seriously, she’s just too damn naïve sometimes!”

After hearing Sham’s words, Nova’s eyes darkened, that flicker of concern not for Yellowcat running off on her own, but for something else entirely.

*****

Fierce Python got the best room out of all the mercs–he was clearly given VIP treatment compared to the rest. Yellowcat slipped into Blaze’s room, didn’t even bother with pleasantries–she threw down the gauntlet the moment she walked in.

“Fierce Python, if I beat you, you’ve got to promise me one thing–join Nova’s crew!” she shot back, voice ringing with bold confidence.

*****

Yellowcat didn’t even bother waiting for an answer–she launched herself at him, fists flying.

Inside the room, Yellowcat threw a side kick at Fierce Python, but he blocked her easily with one hand.

“I didn’t say yes,” Fierce Python cut her off, his tone ice–cold.

His voice was deep and magnetic, with a raspy undertone that made it even more compelling.

He stood tall, close to six feet two inches, and that bronzed skin didn’t just make him look handsome–if anything, it amped up his raw masculinity, making him even harder to ignore.

Fierce Python was totally unfazed by Yellow Cat’s assault, handling her moves like it was just another day at the gym.

But mid–battle, Fierce Python suddenly felt this weird, unexplainable sensation creeping up on him, like something foreign was taking hold.

It almost felt like…

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Chapter 189 Fierce Yellowcat Shows Up

He’d eaten something that just went completely haywire inside his body.

‘Wait a sec–was there something off with tonight’s dinner?‘ Fierce Python wondered, a cold unease chilling him to the bone.

Suddenly, Fierce Python’s vision went fuzzy, as if everything was slipping out of focus.

He released her hand and jerked back instinctively, shaken and caught off guard.

“What, backing off now? Think fast!” Yellowcat taunted, eyes gleaming as she rushed in.

Seizing her opening, she brought her other leg crashing down at Fierce Python in a vicious arc, not pulling any punches.

Fierce Python’s powerful elbow shot up out of nowhere, blocking her attack before it could land.

In a flash, he spun her around and trapped her right up against his chest, locking her firmly in his arms.

Their skin tones couldn’t be more different–it was like seeing two totally opposite worlds side by side. Blaze’s bronzed skin and Yellowcat’s creamy, milk–white complexion formed a contrast as sharp as night versus day.

“Wait–what are you doing?” Yellowcat gasped, panic flickering in her eyes as it finally hit her–something about the way Fierce Python moved felt way too intense, way too close, and totally out of the ordinary.

But by then, it was too late.

Fierce Python–driven by something he couldn’t fight–had already toppled her onto the bed…