"Alright then." Tilan didn't hesitate. She stepped onto the footrest on the side of the motorcycle, lifted her skirt slightly, and sat behind Suoga.
"You really look like a princess. I mean, your movements and posture," Suoga glanced back casually and remarked.
"Judging from your performance tonight, you must be one of the top students at the Academy for Breeders. I've never been to college, but staying in Academy City long enough, I've got a sense of their general standard."
"Someone as agile and composed as you is pretty rare."
"Well, I attended the Academy for Breeders in high school, so I'm quite skilled at this stuff," Tilan replied, revealing a partial truth.
"Looks like I guessed right." Suoga twisted the throttle, and the hovering motorcycle rose slightly, floating just half a meter off the ground before gliding like a regular motorcycle through the night streets.
The night breeze was gentle. Under the orange glow of the streetlights, there were few people around. Despite being Academy City, not every corner was bustling with crowds. Some areas were rather deserted, either industrial parks or places still awaiting development.
Passing through long streets, the motorcycle then ascended a bridge, with the city-crossing river flowing alongside.
Sitting behind Suoga, Tilan gazed at the river's surface and the bustling bridge and towering buildings in the distance. She realized it was her first time experiencing such a view.
It seemed she hadn't explored Academy City enough; there were many places she had yet to visit.
After crossing the bridge, Suoga took Tilan down a side street, then wove through several alleys as though evading pursuers. Finally, they stopped at a quiet, abandoned warehouse.
"Let's go. This place used to store construction materials and various goods, but it's not used anymore. I rented it for cheap." Suoga parked the motorcycle and led Tilan inside.
"I've already told everyone about you. They were quite surprised, but I'm sure they'll come to like you." What she said wasn't untrue—after all, with this young woman's looks and demeanor, most people would naturally have a good impression.
"No, I should be the one thanking you—for helping me win the match, securing the prize money, and letting me vent some frustration." Suoga twirled a set of keys around her finger, pulled out a particular key, and inserted it into the warehouse door. As the door creaked open, two figures were already waiting inside.
"Gen, Shan, good evening~" Suoga greeted, waving her hand.
"Took you long enough to get back," Shan grumbled with slight annoyance.
"A lot happened on the way." Suoga walked in, found the spot where they kept bottled water, poured herself a big glass, and downed it in one gulp. Still unsatisfied, she drank several more glasses before finally feeling refreshed.
The two inside turned their gaze toward Tilan as she walked in behind Suoga. The black-haired, violet-eyed girl looked back at them without saying a word.
"This is Zi Jin, a new companion I found. She's incredibly skilled and a good person. The young lady will certainly like her," Suoga introduced her enthusiastically.
"I'm not against adding new members, but this really isn't the right time," Gen crossed his arms and shook his head. From one glance, he could tell that this Zi Jin wasn't an ordinary person. Bringing someone like her into their group might be inviting trouble.
"Now's precisely the time we're short on people. What do you mean it's not the right time? You're being overly cautious," Suoga defended Tilan.
"Remember when the young lady recruited you? Many opposed it, but in the end, thanks to her insistence, everyone accepted you. Have you forgotten that already?" Suoga's words rendered Gen speechless.
Fair enough—the reputation of the Black Mercenaries wasn't great. Compared to them, this young woman, who clearly came from a distinguished background, seemed a better addition.
"Where's the young lady?" Suoga glanced around and asked.
"She's resting right now," Shan explained briefly, seeing the puzzled looks around her.
"Alanna has always been the core of the group, as well as a key connection point in many Circles. She's extremely susceptible to mental interference from others, unlike us, who are only linked to a portion of the group."
"I suggested that she sever those connections, but she refused, saying it would render all her years of effort meaningless, and she might never be able to reconnect again afterward."
"The young lady hopes to leverage those existing links to persuade the ones who betrayed us to return," Gen elaborated on Alanna's plan.
"She's really strong… though I think the chances are slim," Suoga shrugged.
"People betrayed us for profit, not for lack of sentiment. There's no way a few words will sway them."
"In my opinion, we should be recruiting new members immediately, rebuilding our organization, and then striking back hard to make those traitors beg for forgiveness. Relying on persuasion alone won't achieve anything."
"That… would be tough," Shan, being a university student, thought things through more thoroughly. She understood their opponents weren't just some small-time group. Expanding hastily would risk exposing their location and inviting retaliation.
"Then what? Just wait endlessly? By the time we act, they'll have grown even more, and our chances will only dwindle." Suoga's words were blunt.
"Listen, even though many in the organization have betrayed us, there are still plenty of uninformed members. If we call out to them on the public channels, we could rally a fair number of supporters right away."
"That's true, but how can you guarantee there won't be undercover spies or infiltrators among them?" Gen stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"You're being too greedy, wanting this and that. There's no such thing as a perfect solution! Start with what we can do—worst-case scenario, deal with the spies when they come. If we don't take a chance now, we'll have even fewer opportunities later!" Suoga's determination and confidence today rendered the others speechless.
While they debated, Tilan took a moment to survey the spacious garage. She then found a relatively clean spot, sat down, placed her hands neatly together, and waited silently for them to finish arguing.
It sounded like a tangled mess to her. It seemed she was in for a period of exciting and eventful experiences ahead.