Chapter 113: Wreathing Smoke and Swirling Dust

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Wreathing Smoke and Swirling Dust

If he had looked closely, he definitely would have realized it was a toy gun!

But in that tense atmosphere, how could he have had the time to inspect it? Kaede Endou’s tightly strung nerves suddenly relaxed, leaving his entire body weak and limp.

Rian Sinclair watched as Zeke Sinclair and the others returned. Looking at the two men in front of her, she chuckled softly. "You two gentlemen really need to work on your courage. To think you mistook a toy for the real thing."

Leaving those words behind, Rian took Quentin Sinclair and walked in Aiden Sinclair’s direction.

After all, teasing those islanders was just an appetizer; blowing up the so-called Divine Shrine was the main course of this trip.

Seeing them approach, Aiden immediately stepped forward. "Miss, the explosives have been planted, and we’ve arranged the perfect spot."

Aiden and the rest then led Rian toward the pre-measured location. The people behind them wanted to intercept but ultimately stopped in their tracks.

Rian paid them no mind. Holding her phone, she walked toward her destination. "My darlings, let me show you the shrine getting blown to bits."

[WTF! Here comes the exciting part! This is what I’m here for!]

[My aunts have stopped arguing and are sitting quietly to watch the stream!]

[My parents even stopped tag-teaming me with beatings and are watching attentively!]

[WTF!]

[Blow up the shrine! Blow up the shrine!]

[The Innocent Heiress, you are my god!]

[Guys, my blood is boiling, what do I do?!]

[I suggest the person above me exercises for two hours.]

[If The Innocent Heiress blows up the shrine, I’ll call her Daddy right here in the chat!]

[If the person above wants to acknowledge Miss Innocent as their dad, just say it. No need to beat around the bush, because I want to too!]

The livestream was buzzing with comments, millions of eyes fixed on this glorious, ancestor-honoring moment.

Aiden stopped at a specific spot. "Miss, this is the best viewing position. The area encircled by those eight people is the blast zone."

Rian followed his gaze, and the viewers in the livestream watched as well. Once the eight mercenaries fully retreated, she handed her phone to Quentin and took the remote he offered in return.

Standing up, she walked over to the blast-proof glass and lightly pressed the red button in her hand.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A succession of deafening explosions rang out. In an instant, the once-magnificent architecture was reduced to a pile of rubble.

Dust and debris flew through the air outside. Rian stood before the glass, her eyes fixed on the spectacle unfolding before her. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. "A gift, just for you."

The viewers in the livestream witnessed a scene of a beauty amidst artillery fire...

Oh, no.

It was a scene of a general amidst artillery fire.

The continuous roar of explosions echoed in her ears, forming a beautiful, captivating symphony.

For the first time, Rian understood why so many mercenaries were unwilling to retire, completely intoxicated by the battlefield.

Suddenly, a man approached her side.

Rian merely lifted her gaze for a brief glance before looking away. It was Phoenix, the captain of The Phoenix Reborn Mercenaries.

"Sinclair, we meet again."

She gave a slight nod. She knew that this explosive feast had been arranged by the men from The Mercenary Corps.

"Sinclair, you’re way too rich. Next time there’s a good deal like this, remember to call me. I’ll give you the buddy discount."

Rian shot him a sidelong glance. "You certainly have it all figured out." She then looked back at the blast zone, her expression calm. "Why did you choose this profession?"

As she spoke, she reached a free hand into Quentin’s pocket, pulling out a pack of women’s cigarettes. She extracted one, tilted her head slightly, and lit it.

The fiery glow reflected off her face through the glass. Outside the window, dust and smoke billowed; inside, a thin wisp of smoke curled upward. This entire scene was captured by the livestream.

At this moment, Quentin was posting pinned comments in the chat one by one:

"Minors are not allowed to smoke."

"Do not imitate dangerous actions."

Quentin had manually muted the prior conversation between the two and deliberately kept the face of the man beside his Miss out of frame. However, he hadn’t intentionally hidden the man’s body, so their silhouettes appeared together on the screen.

"For the money, of course. Otherwise, who would do this deadly work?"

Rian exhaled a puff of smoke, her expression alluring. "I don’t believe you."

Quentin then turned the phone camera toward the explosions outside as Rian admired the scenery through the window. Phoenix leaned against the glass, watching the destruction, and took a drag of his cigarette.

"This kind of life on a knife’s edge is too thrilling. It brings my brain an unprecedented sense of euphoria."

Rian didn’t reply, slowly exhaling the smoke from her mouth. Phoenix continued on his own accord.

"Out there, there are fierce beasts, venomous scorpions, enemies, AK-47s, and the roar of artillery fire you’d never hear in a peaceful zone in your entire life."

Phoenix’s eyes were full of excitement. Rian looked at him, her tone steady. "But on the battlefield, there is death, gunsmoke, the flames of war, agonized wails, and fields littered with corpses—things you’d never see in a peaceful zone in your entire life."

Phoenix tossed his nearly burnt-out cigarette to the floor and lightly crushed the remaining ember beneath his boot.

"That just makes it even more thrilling. That euphoric rush of adrenaline is truly intoxicating." He turned his head to look at Rian, chuckling softly. "That’s something you’ll never experience in the peaceful zone you live in."

Rian remained silent. She could actually feel it a little; it really was exhilarating. That euphoric rush of adrenaline.

"Sinclair, has anyone ever told you that, compared to a peaceful zone, you’re much more suited for the perilous battlefield?"

Rian smiled and shook her head. "Prolonged mental tension makes a person ugly."

Phoenix froze for a moment at her words before his gaze settled on her face. "True. You’re very beautiful. It would be a loss to this planet if you got ugly."

"I know," Rian said, looking right back at him.

She wasn’t humble in the slightest. That was Phoenix’s first thought, but admittedly, her face was absolutely stunning. She had the looks, the money, the brains, and an incredibly strong heart. With someone like her, any game she played was a guaranteed win.

"Sinclair, want to be friends? I think we’re cut from the same cloth. We’d make great friends." Phoenix’s eyes gleamed as he looked at her, extending a hand.

Rian looked up at Phoenix and his outstretched hand. His gaze was burning. She reached out and grasped it. "We are kindred spirits."

The corners of her red lips lifted. Phoenix didn’t understand the nuances of the Veridian idioms, but he nodded anyway. "Alright, kindred spirits. Let’s officially meet, Sinclair. I’m Joel Smith, from Meridia."

"Rian Sinclair, Veridia."

The two of them conversed against the backdrop of the artillery fire outside, while Quentin stood off to the side, continuing to record the explosions.

A split second before the stream ended, the scene of the two talking with their backs to the camera was inadvertently captured by the livestream.

[Such a strong sense of destiny!]

[GASP! Can a literature major come drop a quote for this?!]

[That last frame literally gave me goosebumps.]

[SOB! What a god-tier frame! Just let me die from the aesthetic!]

[They are toasting each other amidst the artillery fire!]

[Screenshotting this for my wallpaper immediately!]

[SOB! Butler King! I want all of this man’s information in one minute!]

[If the person above finds it, send me a copy.]

[So beautiful, a god-tier duo in the same frame, and it’s all real! No CGI! Miss Innocent, you are the material for my dreams!]

[This scene is absolutely incredible!]

[My aunts saw the shrine get blown up and immediately dragged me up to dance? They’re even screeching like monkeys, returning to their primal roots.]