The Vanquished

What right did she have to worry about those creatures? She was human, after all, and she wasn't in a position to champion their cause. Besides, not all of them were innocent. In the Regaken State operation alone, how many civilians had died at their claws? How many guards had fallen in the line of duty? Reality was harsh on both sides. If the Threshold had never appeared, the two worlds would have remained separate, and everyone might have had an easier time.

"Tomorrow at three, go to the Ansa Black Market. Someone will pick you up," Xie Xu said, rising.

"Is it for training?" Tu Ran looked up to ask.

"Yes. You need to catch up."

With that, Xie Xu left the private room.

Tu Ran sat alone, staring at the meal still spread on the table. Her appetite was gone.

But she couldn't let it go to waste.

She forced down a few more bites, then called over the waiter.

"To go, please."

...

Back home, Tu Ran stored the leftovers in the fridge and settled in to study her theory texts. She needed to improve both her practical skills and her knowledge base.

Time flew.

At ten-thirty, she went to bed promptly and fell asleep the instant her head hit the pillow.

The next morning at seven, she grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to the training grounds at the Administrative Center. After changing into her training gear, she made her way to the shooting range. Today's first session was pistol shooting.

Shooting accuracy depended heavily on practice. Though her aim had improved, her consistency was still shaky. She needed to keep at it without pause.

She put on her goggles and, using the method Xie Xu had taught her, began her session. After several magazines, the results were decent—most shots hit the bullseye, only a few straying into the nine-ring.

Satisfied, she called it quits and decided to work on long-range sniping next.

She checked out a sniper rifle and, slinging it over her shoulder, headed to the sniper range. Along the way, she ran into Zhou Ming. He was carrying a sniper rifle too, his buddies in tow, all in training gear—clearly out for their morning drills.

When he spotted Tu Ran, especially with a sniper rifle in her hands, Zhou Ming didn't hold back his sneer. "Tu Ran, with those shooting skills of yours, you still have the nerve to mess with a sniper rifle? I bet you couldn't hit an elephant at point-blank range."

His companions snickered.

Tu Ran raised an eyebrow, watching them coolly.

Zhou Ming's hostility toward her stemmed from her friendship with Xi Chunzhi. And his animosity toward Xi Chunzhi went back to when he'd been her defeated rival. Years ago, Zhou Ming had wanted to join the Pioneer Team. But during one of the team's elimination matches, he ended up as Xi Chunzhi's loser, beaten in every category—including the sniping he was so proud of. Xi Chunzhi's long-range shooting was exceptional; her farthest recorded kill was an incredible 3,460 meters, making her the current record holder in the Federal Government for the longest confirmed kill.

Ever since that defeat, his hostility toward her had been obvious. He'd constantly provoke her. And when he learned that Xi Chunzhi and Tu Ran were close friends, he extended that provocation and slander to Tu Ran as well.

The original owner of this body disdained to argue with someone like him, wouldn't even give him a glance, and simply ignored every insult he threw her way. But that dismissive attitude only made Zhou Ming bolder.

"Tu Ran, where's Xi Chunzhi? Aren't you two joined at the hip? How come I only see you, not her? Don't tell me—" He covered his mouth and made exaggerated faces at his buddies. "Don't tell me she's dead."