The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 92

Chapter 92 Her Like A Rookie?

Nova shifted to the side.

All the major underground organizations would use international platforms to scout for fresh faces with zero experience, hoping to draw them into the underworld.

That was just how things worked, especially in mercenary circles.

If you looked closely in real life, you’d find that the black market had secret pathways leading straight into the underworld.

Honestly, becoming a mercenary is actually pretty easy.

Seeing Zane, Nova couldn’t help but recall his laughable boast before leaving.

‘I’m going to a higher world. Wait for me! We’ll meet at the peak!‘

‘Peak?‘ Nova thought to herself, a hint of mockery in her mind.

‘He has no clue–this isn’t some peak, it’s hell itself, Nova mused.

“N–Nova!” Zane stammered, his voice trembling.

Nova didn’t bother to hide.

So when Zane spotted her from across the crowd, she was impossible to miss.

The moment he saw her, his first instinct was to stride right over.

But before he could move, the woman beside him hooked her arm tightly around his, holding him back.

“Zane, who’s that girl?” the woman asked, eyeing Nova with obvious interest.

She had a sultry, striking face, layered with thick foundation, and everything about her screamed she was pretty wild.

And honestly, that was spot on.

Her name was Tiana Garcia, the daughter of a rich businessman.

She’d met Zane back when they were both studying overseas.

They’d signed up for this with a bunch of classmates and friends.

All of them were looking for something way more exciting than the usual boring college life.

But for Zane, he was here for one reason only–to keep his promise and meet Nova at the peak, just like he’d said.

“It’s just a girl,” Zane replied, keeping his tone nonchalant.

He tried to shake Tiana off his arm, but she wouldn’t let go.

But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t shake her off.

Still stuck with Tiana clinging to him, Zane glanced at Nova and started walking toward her, his friends in tow. “Nova, why are you here?” Zane demanded, his voice sharp with disbelief.

Zane walked right up to Nova.

With Tiana still latched onto his arm, the two looked practically fused together, but Zane was interrogating Nova like a parent scolding their kid.

Nova just stood there, arms crossed, not bothering to respond.

The way she was now…

She felt like a total stranger…

Zane could barely recognize her–was this really the same Nova he’d met at Saint Laurel Royal Academy? Zane let out a long, heavy sigh.

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Chapter 192 Her Like A Rookie?

He didn’t toss around that dismissive “woman” like he used to back at Saint Laurel Royal Academy. Maybe he really had grown up a bit.

Before coming here, Zane had spent time further honing his self–defense and taekwondo skills.

He and his buddies had already had some real encounters with the underworld.

He considered himself fully mature now.

“I heard you left in a huff and ran away from home,” Zane said, his voice tinged with judgment.

“Ethan told me everything about your brother and sister…”

Zane still remembered all those scars on Nova’s arms and shoulders, how she’d worked as a war correspondent, and how she’d actually seen combat.

To him, she wasn’t like any other girl he’d ever met.

That was pretty much all he knew about her.

Standing beside him were Tiana, John, and Christopher–all friends he’d made while studying overseas.

Just like Zane, they’d all had their fair share of run–ins with the underworld.

They sized Nova up with the same look people gave fresh meat–like she was just another newbie stepping into the underworld for the first time.

John was on the short side, sporting loud, colorful clothes–probably trying to compensate for his height, or just flexing his family’s wealth.

He wore a chunky gold bracelet on his wrist, looking like he was all about the bling.

The moment he saw Nova, he was instantly hooked–his eyes were practically nailed to her, unable to look

away.

John jumped in before Zane could finish, snickering.

“Zane, so this is the dream girl you’ve been mooning over–Nova?”

Young guys always loved to show off in front of girls they liked, pulling out whatever cool tricks they had, just hoping the girls would be all “wow” and “amazing“.

John hadn’t dropped that show–off routine from college–he brought it right along with him into the underworld.

Honestly, he, Zane, and the rest of their crew had already gotten their hands dirty overseas–they’d handled real guns, and made their way through the underworld.

They’d even been personally trained by some of the most powerful figures in the underworld–skills that actually set them apart.

But somehow, they still thought Nova was just another rookie who’d barely set foot in the underworld. John clapped Zane on the shoulder, grinning as he started showing off in front of Nova.

“Nova, you seriously have no clue what Zane’s done for you.

“Man, the stuff he’s been through in the underworld lately? He’s been living life on a knife’s edge, almost licking blood off the blade!

“Bullets flying everywhere, whizzing right past his face–he didn’t even blink. The guy’s a total badass!

“So relax, rookie. With Zane the pro on your team, you can just kick back and let him carry you all the way to victory!”

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