Chapter 1 Zoe's Mission

Two major events shook the whole country when they happened in Jelonsburg.

First, the world's top mercenary, Firefox, took on a mission to assassinate Shawn Ludwig, the war legend of Clusia. Rumor had it she had already gone undercover.

Second, Zoe—the daughter of the Evans family who had been lost in a poor village for thirteen years—had finally returned home.

No one thought the two stories were connected.

At the gates of the Evans residence, Zoe stood in all black, wearing a simple tracksuit. Her long hair blew in the wind as she stared coldly at the grand house, her eyes unreadable.

"Evans family... It has been thirteen years," she muttered. "It's time you paid me back."

Just then, her phone beeped. She looked down and saw dozens of messages popping up in the Crimson Blaze group chat.

Warhammer: [@Firefox, today's the big family reunion, right? Boss, how's it going? Anyone giving you trouble?]

Kestrel: [Come on. We should be glad she didn't roll in with a rocket launcher. Who's gonna mess with her?]

Medusa: [Let's be real. Boss doesn't care about her family. She's in Clusia to kill Shawn Ludwig.]

Medusa: [Also, fun fact—his bounty's ten billion dollars. And word is, he's a total heartthrob in his early twenties. Boss, at least sleep with him before you kill him, will you?]

The messages only got worse from there. Zoe had no doubt—if someone handed Medusa a pen, she could probably write a whole smutty novel about her and Shawn in an hour.

Shawn Ludwig. Just thinking about him gave Zoe a headache. He was the only man who had ever fought her to a draw.

On the battlefield, generals fought to the death for power and glory. Zoe, queen of mercenaries, had led 89 missions—won them all, no exceptions. She left fire and victory wherever she went.

Except when it came to Shawn.

She remembered what he'd once had his men tell her before she returned home: "Swear on the battlefield—if I beat you again, you'll marry me."

Zoe, who had always stood above the world's most powerful men, had never been so insulted.

Marrying him? No way. She had sworn to kill him with her own hands.

Zoe didn't come back just for family. She planned to use her identity as the long-lost daughter of the Evans family to get close to Shawn—and finish him.

As for her past with the Evans family, she would deal with them along the way.

"Are you Zoe?" The cold voice of Alfred Grant, the butler, suddenly rang out ahead.

Alfred, who had come to greet Zoe, sized her up and down. She was stunning, but dressed in a way that screamed bargain bin—the total value of her outfit likely didn't crack 70 dollars.

Just as the files said, she looked like a country bumpkin not fit for polite society. That explained why Clara, her mother, wouldn't lift a finger to welcome her home.

Alfred's tone turned careless. "Ms. Evans is in the living room practicing piano. She's got a big competition tomorrow—can't be disturbed. Mrs. Evans said to take you in through the back door."

His words were all too familiar. Thirteen years, and the Evans family's digs at her were still the same. Whenever Eunice was involved, Zoe had to step aside.

Zoe scoffed. She and Eunice were twins, but they didn't look a thing alike. Eunice was the younger one.

Zoe had always been reserved and quiet; Eunice, on the other hand, was the crybaby. She knew just how to play the "poor me" card in front of Clara, and she was also the one who was always obedient.

The crybaby always got the candy. One tear from Eunice, and Clara melted. And since Eunice took after Clara in looks, it only fueled Clara's favoritism.

Every time they fought, Clara would smooth Eunice's hair and scold Zoe. "You're the big sister. Stop all the fuss. Can't you just let Eunice have her way?"

In the end, Zoe not only handed over her candy and pretty dresses but even lost the affection of her brothers to Eunice.

Yet, despite being the apple of everyone's eye, Eunice still feared Zoe would steal the family's love. So, when they were kids, Eunice tricked Zoe into the woods, leaving her to wander for thirteen years.

Those thirteen years were a blur of homelessness. To survive, Zoe had scavenged food from dogs, licked grease from gutters, and been chased by beggars—treated worse than an animal.

She'd settle that score someday.

A dangerous glint flashed in Zoe's eyes. She lifted her cool, menacing gaze to Alfred, as if looking at a corpse on the battlefield.

"So what?" she said icily. "I'm also Ms. Evans. Thirteen years away doesn't mean I can't use the front door, does it?"

Alfred's heart skipped a beat at her stare. "Well..."

He felt Zoe wasn't the same girl the files described—the one who'd been missing in a poor village for thirteen years.

*****

As soon as Zoe entered the living room, she heard the melodious sound of a piano.

She saw Eunice, in a princess dress, playing the grand piano in the center of the luxurious living room. Clara, dressed in luxury, sat on the sofa.

Alfred, behind Zoe, was sweating and kept whispering, "Ms. Zoe Evans, please walk quietly. Don't disturb Ms. Eunice Evans's piano practice."

Zoe ignored him and strode forward, immediately catching the attention of the two in the living room.

Clara saw Zoe, who looked stunning but nothing like her younger self. She frowned in displeasure and scolded Alfred, "What's the meaning of this? I told you not to disturb Eunice's practice."

"Tomorrow's the city-wide piano competition for Zoe. What if she makes a mistake? Can you take the responsibility?" Clara's words were a thinly veiled complaint about Zoe's return.

When she saw her mother being so mean to her, Zoe's eyes turned cold. Before she could speak, Eunice's soft, sweet voice cut in, "Mom, it's fine. I'm confident about tomorrow's competition."

"And today's Zoe's homecoming day. We should be happy, shouldn't we?" Eunice paused her playing and approached Zoe, battting her eyelashes playfully at the onlookers, embodying the perfect image of innocence.

Eunice's words put Clara at ease. If she won the competition, it'd be a huge feather in the family's cap. She gently tapped Eunice's forehead, her voice dripping with affection. "Confidence is good, but practice makes perfect."

"Don't let yourself look like you've just come from some poor village. A young lady must carry herself with grace," she added, clearly hinting at Zoe's lack of polish.

As Clara continued, her expression soured. Turning to Zoe, she coldly instructed, "You should learn from Eunice and let her teach you piano. At least when you're out in society, you can showcase a talent instead of being a laughingstock for Jelonsburg."

Clara was ashamed to have a daughter who'd returned from a poor village, as she felt it tarnished her image as a lady of society. She wanted her daughter to be as elegant and talented as Eunice.

"Alright, Mom. Though Zoe didn't have a proper upbringing, I believe she's smart and can learn anything," Eunice forced a smile. Though she was sticking up for Zoe, she clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.

Though Eunice and Zoe were twins, they didn't look alike at all. Zoe had always been the prettier one, which was why Eunice hated her.

She hated how people would always say when they saw them, "Zoe's so pretty. She got her dad's good looks. I've never seen such unalike twins. What a pity for Eunice."

Seeing that Zoe had become even more of a stunning beauty than she was in childhood, Eunice felt miserable. She didn't want Zoe home and didn't want her to steal the spotlight like before.

Fisting her hands, Eunice tried to soften her voice. "Mom, if you don't believe me, I'll teach Zoe to play the piano right now."

Without asking if Zoe was interested, she marched to the piano and started teaching like her teacher. "See? Zoe, this key's do, this is re, this is mi..." she said. "Zoe, I'll teach you a simple tune, 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.' Like this..."

Piano playing was one of Eunice's strong suits. She figured Zoe, just from a village, had never even touched a piano. She wanted Zoe to embarrass herself and realize the gap between them.

After playing quickly, Eunice raised an eyebrow at Zoe. "Zoe, got it? Now play for Mom and prove you're not the loser everyone says you are."

Eunice kept mentioning Zoe's rural background. Plus, her fast playing wasn't for a novice. She clearly wanted to see Zoe fail.

Zoe smiled. If she refused, it would admit she was a loser. If she agreed, given how fast Eunice taught, it'd be hard for a first-timer to play coherently.

Eunice waited for Zoe to fall into the trap, but she was in for a disappointment.

Zoe, a mercenary for over ten years, had learned many instruments for diverse missions and undercover work. She was good at piano, drums, guitar, and many foreign instruments.

Therefore, Zoe gladly said, "Sure."

With Eunice eagerly watching, Zoe walked to the grand piano. Seeing Zoe sit before it, Eunice was thrilled, her superiority complex showing. She imagined Zoe panicking at the keys like any country girl.

Eunice was sure the maids would compare them, praise her, and Clara would favor her more. Then Zoe would know her place. After all, a country girl couldn't match a genius.

Zoe had already placed her hands on the piano keys. As Eunice smugly anticipated, the next second, she witnessed the unexpected.

Chapter 2 Shawn Ludwig

The moment Zoe's hands landed on the piano keys, her usually indifferent aura changed completely.

She pressed the keys with her left hand and picked out notes with her right, which, in harmony with the melody of the left hand, transposed the right-hand melody up two octaves in just a few seconds.

Then, a piece every bit as impressive as what Eunice had played reached everyone's ears.

"You can actually play the piano?" Eunice's face was contorted with rage, and she all but screamed the question.

She never dreamed that Zoe, who had just returned from a poor village, could play the piano, and the piece Zoe played was one Eunice hadn't even learned.

Eunice was already at the highest level of amateur piano playing. There were only two possibilities for Zoe to play a piece she hadn't learned. Either Zoe was more advanced in piano than her, or it was just a fluke.

As Eunice, with her face ashen with anger, was trying to figure this out, the previously smooth piano music suddenly became a jumble of noise.

Zoe, sitting at the piano, smiled. She suddenly closed her eyes and began playing randomly like a novice.

Unlike Eunice, Zoe had returned to the Evans residence to conceal her presence and assassinate Shawn, so she couldn't afford to be in the spotlight.

Unaware of this, Eunice genuinely believed that Zoe couldn't play the piano. She thought happily to herself, 'I knew this bumpkin's piano skills couldn't be better than mine.'

Relieved, Eunice clapped and walked toward Zoe as everyone else was surprised. "Wow, I didn't expect the piece you just made up would be so impressive. Zoe, you're really talented."

These simple words were enough to make Clara, Alfred, and the maids realize that Zoe couldn't play the piano at all. 'After all, a girl just back from a village—what does she know about such a fancy instrument?' they thought.

Clara was immediately livid. Her expression was even more grim than before. "What talent could she possibly have? It's all just made-up music. Creating all this nonsense is truly embarrassing."

"Go to your room!" she bellowed at Zoe, feeling utterly humiliated. She had thought Zoe could really play the piano, but it turned out she was just pretending.

"Mom, you're misunderstanding. Zoe's showing off her music-composing gift," Eunice said. "That's a kind of talent too."

Then, as if remembering something, Eunice added, "By the way, Zoe, Dad's arranged for you to go to Highcrest University with me. Since you're so talented, I'll ask Ms. Lilian Joiner to take you on as her student."

Lilian Joiner was Clusia's top-notch piano master. She had participated in Eminence Nexus's training five times and won ten major national piano competitions. She was hailed as the "soul of Clusia piano education."

A master like Lilian wouldn't tolerate any nonsense. Eunice was sure that after hearing Zoe's made-up piece, Lilian would be furious and refuse to take her on as a student. Instead, she'd probably embarrass Zoe in front of everyone.

Eunice grew more excited as she thought about it. Worried that Zoe didn't know Lilian's prestige, she added, "Ms. Joiner nearly made it into the top tier of Eminence Nexus."

Eunice figured Zoe would be overwhelmed with gratitude at the possibility of being Lilian's student. But to her surprise, Zoe flatly refused.

"No need," she said carelessly. "A teacher who can't get into Eminence Nexus isn't qualified to teach me."

Zoe's words stunned Eunice, Clara, and everyone else. "What?" they exclaimed.

Eminence Nexus was an organization that brought together the world's most elite talents, including business professionals, mercenaries, medical experts, racers, hackers, painters, and geniuses from various other fields.

It was no exaggeration to say that the world's most outstanding individuals were part of Eminence Nexus, and the most brilliant young talents strived their whole lives to get in.

Ordinary people couldn't even get close to it in their lifetime. Someone like Lilian, who had almost made it into Eminence Nexus, was already a rare talent.

But Zoe said that a teacher who couldn't get into Eminence Nexus wasn't qualified to teach her, as if she were a big shot from Eminence Nexus herself.

Eunice sneered, "What? Zoe, is it that you've got the luck of knowing some big shot from Eminence Nexus?"

An air of cold arrogance emanated from Zoe. She appeared composed, indifferent, and aloof. She got up and walked toward Eunice step by step. Her aggressive footsteps and icy gaze made Eunice want to back down for a moment.

She couldn't understand how a country girl could have such an intimidating vibe.

Suddenly, Zoe said, "Actually, it's those old-timers at Eminence Nexus who should feel lucky to know me."

Her tone was cold and arrogant. After speaking, she looked up at Alfred. "Where's my room? Take me there."

Zoe ignored Eunice and Clara. As she followed Alfred upstairs, she could still faintly hear Clara's delayed roar of fury.

"How dare Zoe be so conceited?" Clara fumed. "How dare she say such things?"

"Mom, don't be angry," Eunice said, "I think Zoe's just ignorant. Once she goes to Highcrest University and sees the real world, she'll understand what Eminence Nexus truly is."

*****

At the Evans residence, Zoe got the smallest room on the second floor, right at the far end of the east wing. It was only bigger than the attic.

Before Zoe moved in, it was a storage room, not even inhabited by servants. Eunice's adjacent study was more than three times larger than Zoe's current bedroom.

Zoe didn't mind, though, as she didn't consider the Evans family her real family. She had returned to Clusia solely to use Ms. Evans' identity to assassinate Shawn and then leave.

After entering her room, Zoe drew the curtains and opened her laptop. Her slender fingers danced across the keyboard, and soon she connected to a video call.

The first face to appear was Warhammer's, a burly man with a beard who almost pressed his face against the camera. "Boss, how's it going? Fun reuniting with your family?" he asked.

Warhammer, a 6'5" giant, was one of Zoe's most trusted subordinates, known for his strength on the battlefield.

"Warhammer, move aside," said Kestrel, who looked like a gentleman but rudely pushed Warhammer out of the way. Then he elegantly adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and spoke in a refined manner.

"Boss, I've found the information you asked for," he said. "Shawn Ludwig returned to the country and went to Jelonsburg, becoming a temporary instructor at Highcrest University. I think it would be easier to assassinate Shawn if you posed as a student."

Zoe, codenamed Firefox, had fought Shawn in ten rounds of battle but had never been captured or met him face to face. Approaching Shawn as a student was indeed an unexpected and wise assassination strategy.

It seemed Zoe would have to go to Highcrest University, as Eunice had mentioned.

"Alright, I got it," Zoe said, a gleam of determination in her eyes.

Looking around the video call, she noticed Medusa's absence and asked, "Where's Medusa?"

At the mention of Medusa, Kestrel rubbed his forehead in annoyance. "Ever since they heard you're away, the guys at Eminence Nexus have been driving us crazy. They even blew off the front door with new-type bombs."

"Medusa's already on her way to deal with them," he continued. "Boss, please come back as soon as you've assassinated Shawn. Otherwise, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold down the fort at Eminence Nexus."

*****

At a top-secret Jelonsburg training base, well-dressed warriors strode in with forceful steps, fresh from the battlefield. Their tramping and laughter filled the air.

Up front stood a 6'3" man in his early twenties. He had short hair, sharp features, a tall nose bridge, and thin, straight lips. His handsome face was stern as he watched his battle-tested warriors return.

The scorching sun made his bronze skin glisten with sweat that slid down his chest.

"Mr. Ludwig." Chase Luther, his lieutenant, approached, saluted sharply, and handed him fresh files. "Firefox has taken on your assassination."

"Now she's tracked you to Clusia," Chase added. "Seems like she's really fixated on you. She's bold to chase you here alone."

Shawn waved to silence him. Chase immediately stopped talking.

Shawn tilted his chin and scanned the files. After a moment, Shawn smiled. 'Firefox, our meeting will be interesting. Once you're in my territory, you're my prey.'

Chapter 3 Brothers

On Monday, three days later, the sun shone brightly outside.

Today was the day Zoe was to register at Highcrest University. As Zoe pushed open her bedroom door, she saw a gold - framed first-prize piano certificate hanging on the wall in the second-floor hallway, right in front of her bedroom.

It seemed to show off Eunice's achievement in the piano competition she'd won two days prior, which had made Clara proud in Jelonsburg.

Clara had already headed to a Jelonsburg socialite party early in the morning to show off her daughter's accomplishment, with her newly-bought LV bag.

*****

Zoe went downstairs and was stopped at the stairway by Eunice, along with Herbert and Jacob.

Zoe and Eunice were twins, and they had five elder brothers.

The eldest, Sean Evans, was the Evans Group's imperial president; Charlie Evans, the second brother, was an international racing driver traveling the world.

Herbert Evans, the third, was learning gun skills from a master; Jacob Evans, the fourth, was a top-notch hacker; and Gerald Evans, the fifth, was skilled in all sorts of combat.

The five of them aimed to join Eminence Nexus.

Zoe looked at Herbert and Jacob, who stood in her way. It was the first time Zoe had seen them since returning home three days ago.

None of the brothers or her father had greeted her. So Zoe knew Herbert and Jacob weren't there out of sisterly care. Their intent was far from good.

Zoe crossed her arms, her tone nonchalant as usual. "What do you want?"

"Zoe, today's your first day at Highcrest University. Dad's abroad on business and asked us to look after you," Eunice explained. "He wants Herbert and Jacob to teach you some basic skills before you start school."

"Like gun-firing and computer use," she added. "He's worried you might not be used to things after being in the poor village."

Eunice's soft voice and cute dress made her seem like the Evans family's only daughter, leaving Zoe looking like some random country girl.

Zoe glanced at Herbert and Jacob and said calmly, "You two aren't good enough to teach me."

As the queen of mercenaries, Zoe was famous for her excellent gun skills and hacking abilities on battlefields. Nobody could teach her, and she didn't need anyone to.

Herbert and Jacob, meeting Zoe for the first time since she returned, were unhappy with her nonchalance and arrogance. Her cold words shocked them.

Though Herbert and Jacob weren't good enough for Eminence Nexus, they were an excellent hacker and an outstanding marksman, standing out even in talent-filled Jelonsburg. They thought they were more than capable of teaching Zoe.

Zoe had always been cold. That's how they remembered her—quiet, distant, not cute at all. Nothing like Eunice, who used to tug on their pant legs and sweet-talk them with her soft little voice.

Thirteen years later, Zoe was still the same. Herbert and Jacob just couldn't bring themselves to like her.

Especially Herbert. He still remembered wanting to be a sharpshooter when he was a kid. But their dad said no and forced him to study business instead.

When their dad found The Gun Basics Encyclopedia and 108 Rifle Moves hidden in his room, Herbert panicked and said the books were Zoe's.

But Zoe, who never knew how to lie, just pointed at him and said something that almost got him beaten half to death. "Lying is wrong. The books are Herbert's."

If Zoe hadn't cried and begged for him, his back probably would've been torn up by their dad's belt.

Thinking about it made Herbert's face even colder. He turned to Zoe and snapped, "What a joke.

"You think you're something special? You really believe two elites from Jelonsburg—me and Jacob—can't teach a country girl like you?

"All you do is talk big. No real skills. Is that what you learned out in the sticks? You'd better learn to behave and follow our lead."

Jacob, who had already heard all about Zoe's wild behavior from Eunice, chimed in, "Yeah. And don't embarrass us at school. If you can't speak properly, just shut up."

They were terrified Zoe would say or do something stupid in front of others and make the Evans family look bad in Jelonsburg.

Zoe lowered her eyes a little. She'd been away for thirteen years, and this was the welcome she got—no warmth, no kindness, just sarcasm and contempt.

Now she finally understood what Medusa meant by "strangers with the same blood."

Zoe smiled. Then she glared at them, sharp as ice, and said in a low voice, "I'll say it one last time. There's nothing in this world I can't do. No teacher can teach me—and you two? You're not even close."

Even those old-timers from Eminence Nexus didn't deserve to be her teachers.

Chapter 4 Eminence Nexus

Zoe's words dropped like a bomb. Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob all froze. For a second, their faces twisted—not in shock, but in anger.

They couldn't believe a country girl like Zoe could be this arrogant. Even the big shots at Eminence Nexus always said there was always someone better out there. None of them would dare talk like this.

Herbert felt the heat rise in his chest. He couldn't believe Zoe, after spending thirteen years in a village, had come back this full of herself and this blind.

But before he could blow up, a loud voice came from outside the Evans residence. "Young lady, that's a big mouth you've got for someone your age. You said no one in Jelonsburg can teach you? What about me?"

The voice belonged to Zack Shelton—president of the Clusia Combat Association, and vice president of Highcrest University. He was a multiple-time world champion in international fighting tournaments and had even created a new style of combat all on his own. It shocked the entire nation.

In his field, Zack stood several levels above Lilian—the expert Eunice had bragged about earlier.

Hearing Zack's voice, Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob froze again.

They turned around and saw Zack walk into the Evans residence with his hands behind his back. He looked about forty, dressed in sportswear, with a square face, slicked-back hair, and a thick beard on his chin.

All three of them gasped at once. "Mr. Shelton?"

It wasn't just his fame that shocked them. Just two months ago, Zack had submitted his application to join Eminence Nexus. He was about to become one of them.

Joining Eminence Nexus was a dream most people would never reach, not even after a lifetime of training.

Zack, however, had earned that chance by the time he was forty. That alone showed how talented he was.

And now, this living legend was walking straight through the Evans family gate, footsteps firm and powerful.

He looked down at Zoe like an eagle staring at its prey. He wanted to see for himself what kind of girl could talk so big.

"It really is you, Mr. Shelton," Herbert said quickly. "This is my sister. She just came back from a village. She didn't go to school much and sometimes says stupid stuff. Sorry you had to hear that."

Herbert was a gun fanatic. Right now, he was training under a professional marksman, hoping to one day join Eminence Nexus too.

And the man standing in front of him—Zack—was already about to get in. Herbert knew he might need Zack's help for a recommendation someday.

So the moment he realized Zoe might've just insulted Zack, he panicked. He hurried forward, trying to smooth things over, scolding Zoe while speaking to Zack.

"Zoe!" he barked. "Get over here and apologize to Mr. Shelton—right now!"

Eunice never expected that after just three days back home, Zoe would ruin all the good impressions their mom and brothers had of her—and even leave such a bad image in front of the Zack Shelton.

She thought Zoe was a total idiot. She didn't even need to do anything—Zoe was digging her own grave. Sure, Zoe was pretty, but her brain wasn't even one percent as sharp as hers.

Eunice lifted her chin with pride. She didn't want the drama to die down, so she fanned the flames.

"Zoe," she said with fake sweetness, "even if you've never seen the real world and don't know what Eminence Nexus means, you've at least heard of the Ruler, right?

"That guy controls the world's economy. One stomp of his foot could shake the globe. And Mr. Shelton here? He met one of the Ruler's top three protectors—Medusa."

Medusa was one of the most elite mercenaries in the world. Eunice was sure Zoe had never even heard of her.

Just imagining the stunned, clueless look about to show on Zoe's face made Eunice secretly thrilled.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Zoe standing at the top of the stairs, her body turned slightly. Her shoulder even seemed to twitch a little.

Eunice thought Zoe was scared. She figured that even if Zoe had talked tough before, she'd have no choice but to back down in front of someone like Zack.

But just when Eunice was sure Zoe was about to bow her head and apologize... something totally unexpected happened.

Zoe turned around, shoved one hand into her pocket, let out a low chuckle, and started walking down the stairs like nothing had happened. She didn't look at Zack. Or Eunice. Or Herbert. Or Jacob. She just walked right past them, like they were invisible.

Like even Zack Shelton wasn't worth her time.

In that moment, the faces of Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob twisted into pure disbelief.

Zack, vice president of Highcrest University and a soon-to-be member of Eminence Nexus, had never been ignored like this. Especially not by some girl fresh out of a village.

"Stop right there!" he shouted furiously. His voice cracked through the hall like a drill sergeant barking at a rookie.

But even that didn't make Zoe flinch. She didn't even blink—like he was the one who should be begging her for attention.

Zack was completely enraged. Arrogant students like this were the ones he hated most. Full of themselves. Blindly confident. Losers like that never made it anywhere near Eminence Nexus.

Zack stormed after her. "This is outrageous! I'm going to be your teacher, like it or not! You think you can just walk away from me like that? Where are your manners?"

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't accept that he, Zack Shelton, couldn't even scare a brat from the backwoods. He decided she needed a lesson—now.

He moved in, ready to use the new combat technique he'd just learned at Eminence Nexus. He was going to make sure Zoe felt it—physically and mentally.

He reached for her.

The next second—Zoe's eyes flashed cold, deadly.

She didn't even look up. Her left hand shot out faster than his, grabbed his wrist with perfect aim, and—Snap. She bent it back sharply.

The sound of bones breaking rang through the big, empty hall. Zack screamed in pain.

Chapter 5 She Was Exposed

After Zack let out a sharp cry, Zoe let go.

She looked at him coldly and said in a flat voice, "Don't touch me. You're not worthy."

Then she turned around and walked out of the Evans residence, not even glancing at the wide-eyed Eunice, Herbert, and Jacob.

They just stood there, stunned, watching her leave like statues. None of them could believe what they had just seen.

Jacob was still in shock. "Mr. Shelton's a world champion fighter..."

That move Zack used, full of killing intent—there were barely a handful of instructors at Highcrest University who could handle it.

But Zoe didn't just block it—she struck back.

"Oh my god, how could Zoe stab Mr. Shelton in the back?" Eunice suddenly crouched down and picked something up from a crack in the floor where Zoe had been standing.

She held up a small needle and gasped. "Mr. Shelton, I'm so sorry! Zoe must've used this to sneak attack you. I apologize on her behalf."

Of course, Zoe hadn't used a needle. That was something Eunice had dropped months ago during an embroidery contest—and now she was using it to twist the truth.

Still, Eunice was convinced Zoe had to have cheated somehow. There was no way a girl like her could overpower Zack otherwise.

And the moment she said it, everyone else suddenly looked like it all made sense.

Herbert nearly jumped. "I knew something was off. So that's how she did it! What a dirty trick."

Jacob's face turned dark. "She's got no real skills. All she knows is how to lie and cheat. She's hopeless."

Meanwhile, Zack coughed a few times, still holding his nearly shattered wrist, trying to bear the pain. He hadn't fully processed what had just happened either.

Unlike the others, Zack had enough experience in real combat to recognize just how skilled Zoe truly was.

That move—fast, precise, brutal—wasn't something a normal young girl should've been able to pull off.

If any student at Highcrest had that kind of talent, Zack would've made them a top-priority recruit.

But Zoe was just some girl from a poor village. And she had just broken the wrist of Zack Shelton—head of the Clusia Fighting Association and soon-to-be member of Eminence Nexus.

If word got out, he'd be humiliated. People would laugh at him in Jelonsburg, maybe even across all of Clusia. He couldn't let that happen.

Thus, for the sake of his reputation, Zack decided to take the excuse Eunice had handed him.

"What good is an apology?" he said coldly. "I won't allow someone so shameless to enter Highcrest University. She's banned."

*****

After leaving the Evans residence, Zoe didn't head straight to Highcrest University. Instead, she made her way to the underground black market of Jelonsburg.

Her purpose was simple—she needed weapons. Real weapons. Tools for killing. Tools to assassinate Shawn. Her own arsenal had been confiscated at the Clusia border.

"Oh, miss, you've got a new face. First time in the black market?" The man in charge of the market greeted her with a fake smile, his voice high and greasy.

He figured she was just another clueless girl stumbling into the wrong place.

But before he could finish talking, Zoe tossed three thick stacks of cash onto the table. Her voice was flat and cold. "Cut the crap.

"I want everything—your 1982 Desert Eagle, the Glock, Swiss knife, poison darts... all of it."

The man blinked in surprise. Not only did Zoe know the rules of the underground trade—she was a professional. One glance and she had correctly identified every model on display.

His smirk vanished. He collected the cash, wrapped the weapons in a black plastic bag, and handed it over without another word.

Transaction completed. Zoe didn't linger. She turned to leave.

But just as she reached the stairwell of the black market, she saw a familiar, handsome face.

Then came the tall, lean 6'3" frame. Bronze skin that radiated power. Masculine. Charismatic. Dangerous. Even if he were reduced to ashes, she would still recognize him.

Shawn Ludwig. Her target.

The world was really small. In a city as massive as Jelonsburg, fate had handed her this encounter on a silver platter.

Zoe had never met Shawn in person—but she had stared at his face in photos countless times. There was no mistaking the man who had humiliated her to the bone.

Just ahead, Chase said to Shawn, "Mr. Ludwig, it's all set. Please, this way."

"Alright," Shawn replied coolly.

Before Zoe could react, they disappeared down the stairwell.

She scoffed under her breath. Whatever Shawn was doing here, it didn't matter. If he was bold enough to appear in front of her—she wasn't going to waste the opportunity.

Zoe snatched a wooden mask from a nearby shelf and slipped into the shadows, following them silently.

Down the narrow stairwell, three figures moved like phantoms—Zoe trailing ten yards behind, careful to keep her distance.

Down ten floors. Around three pitch-black corners. Then suddenly—at the last bend—Shawn and Chase vanished.

Zoe's eyes narrowed. Her gut screamed danger. And then, a fist came flying out of the dark.

She twisted just in time, dodging the brutal blow by a hair. But before she could recover, Shawn's hand reached for her face, grabbing at the mask she wore.

"Why are you following me?" he asked, voice sharp. "Who are you?"

Zoe's expression darkened. She cursed silently. She hadn't expected Shawn's counter-surveillance skills to be this good.

Just like that—she was exposed.

Chapter 6 Get Lost

Zoe stayed silent. Just as Shawn had almost pulled off her mask, she moved fast and hit the back of his hand with her wrist.

Shawn grunted. He hadn't expected to meet a woman in Clusia who could actually fight him head-on.

Zoe quickly pushed the mask back onto her face and held it down.

Shawn's eyes narrowed. He struck again, wanting to see the face behind that mask.

The two moved fast, every move sharp and clean. This wasn't some street fight. It was a real battle—between the queen of mercenaries and Clusia's legend of war.

Shawn grabbed her wrist. As Zoe kicked at him, he turned his head just in time, dodged the blow, and caught her leg. In one smooth move, he threw her to the ground.

But Zoe had planned it. Right before she hit the floor, she twisted her body and kicked Shawn hard in the jaw. Then she rolled and jumped back to her feet.

In just ten seconds, they had exchanged over twenty blows.

Off to the side, Chase stood frozen, eyes wide in shock. He had never imagined a woman could go toe-to-toe with Shawn. And she had just kicked him in the face.

It was crazy. If word got out that Shawn had taken a hit like that from a woman, half the big shots in Jelonsburg would probably lose their minds.

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"Over there—go check it out!"

Voices echoed from the distance. The black market's guards were getting close.

Zoe snapped back to reality. It wasn't the right time to keep fighting. Besides, Shawn was way stronger than she'd expected. No man had ever lasted more than ten moves against her before.

Still trading blows, she slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a smoke bomb she'd just bought from the market.

It wasn't top-grade gear, but the smoke would last ten seconds—long enough to escape. When the smoke cleared, Zoe was gone.

Shawn stared into the fading fog, eyes dark, thinking hard.

"Mr. Ludwig, should we chase her?" Chase asked, stepping up.

"No need," Shawn said without hesitation.

Something about her fighting style reminded him of a mercenary he knew—code name Firefox.

Shawn narrowed his eyes. Right now, he looked like a hunter in the jungle, waiting for the right prey to walk into his trap.

If she really was Firefox, he was sure that they would meet again.

*****

On the way to the campus, Zoe took off her mask and let down her long hair from the bun.

Highcrest University sat in the most upscale part of Jelonsburg. Only the rich or powerful could afford to study there. One could tell just by looking at the designer clothes all the students wore.

After arriving, Zoe completed the registration and was quickly placed in the honors class.

Most students at Highcrest were from wealthy families, but the honors class was on another level—these were the kids of Jelonsburg's top elite.

Zoe's current identity was the daughter of the Evans family. Given their status, it made perfect sense she'd be put in the honors class.

But the moment she stepped into the room, she heard whispers full of judgment.

"Hey, who's that girl? She looks so plain. Like, seriously, did a farm girl just wander in here?"

"You don't know? That's Zoe Evans. The Evans family just brought her back from a poor village."

"A village? Ugh, gross. Bumpkins are so dirty. What if she has some disease or something?"

The room buzzed with cruel comments. Then one well-dressed girl stood up and shouted across the room, "Hey, you really think you can study with us? You don't even look like you belong here.

"Do you even know what social etiquette is? Can you dance a waltz? I bet you don't even know how to taste wine properly!"

Laughter exploded around the classroom.

At Highcrest, everyone was working to sharpen their skills and get into Eminence Nexus. To them, Zoe was just a nobody from a totally different world.

"Please... for my sake, can you all stop picking on Zoe?" Eunice stood up from the second row, her expression calm but firm. "She's been through enough just to get here."

Eunice, along with Herbert and Jacob, had joined the honors class before Zoe arrived.

The moment Eunice spoke, the students remembered—Zoe was her sister.

It was hard to believe that Zoe and Eunice were siblings at first glance. After all, at Highcrest, Eunice was like a star. She was insanely talented—in piano, embroidery, wine tasting, combat, and even shooting.

Even the teachers said, besides Philip Chapman, who almost never showed up to class, Eunice had the best shot at joining Eminence Nexus.

Compared to that, Zoe looked like a total outsider. Honestly, even the worst student at Highcrest seemed better than her.

"Eunice, sure, you two are twins, but the gap between you is just... huge. Don't be too kind to her. Country girls like her? They know how to play dirty."

"If you ask me, she doesn't belong in the honors class at all."

A girl with a streak of blue in her hair stepped forward. She crossed her arms and looked Zoe up and down with a smug grin.

"Hey, we're in the middle of wine tasting class," she said. "Every proper lady needs to master the art of wine. You think you can keep up? You wanna challenge me to a tasting?"

The girl's name was Cheryl Duncan. Everyone knew Cheryl was the best in the honors class when it came to wine. Even Eunice couldn't beat her in that area.

Therefore, the second Cheryl threw out the challenge, the rest of the class started smirking, waiting for the show.

They were sure Zoe had no idea how to taste wine—probably didn't know the difference between red and white. No way she'd walk out of this without embarrassing herself.

Zoe hadn't said a word yet, but Herbert was already rolling his eyes. He marched over to her with a look of disgust. "Seriously? Stirring up drama again? Just get out."

Jacob came up too. "If I were you, I'd quit the honors class right now. Go take some basic course for losers instead of forcing yourself into a world that clearly isn't yours."

The most expensive watch Zoe had ever worn probably cost less than seven bucks. These rich kids? They dropped hundreds of thousands on a single piece of jewelry without blinking. They lived in different worlds.

Zoe's eyes turned cold. She was supposed to lay low until her mission was complete. No attention, no spotlight. But she was the queen of mercenaries—hiding wasn't in her nature.

She wasn't about to let these spoiled brats walk all over her.

She looked at Herbert like he was already dead. Then, in a voice like ice, she said, "Get lost."

Chapter 7 Her Medals

"Oh wow, she told us to get lost. I'm so scared," Cheryl said with a dramatic eye roll. "You want to attend this class? Well, I'm not letting you."

Then she took a step forward and tried to slam her shoulder into Zoe. But Zoe simply turned to the side, dodging it with ease.

Cheryl stumbled, nearly losing her balance—she wasn't used to that. Wine tasting was her thing. Physical stuff? Not so much. She barely managed to stay on her feet.

Embarrassed and fuming, Cheryl shot Zoe a glare. Everyone had seen her almost fall. She was about to yell when her eyes caught something—just above Zoe's wrist, a faint red mark.

"Cheryl, are you okay?" Eunice rushed to steady her.

But Cheryl had that look—like she'd just uncovered some dirty secret. She lifted her chin and smirked. "Well, well, Zoe," she said loud enough for the whole class. "So this is who you really are."

Everyone looked confused.

"What do you mean?" Eunice asked, pretending to be curious.

Cheryl pointed at Zoe's left wrist. "It's almost a hundred degrees out. We're all in shorts and tees. But she's covered up head to toe. You wanna know why? Because she's hiding something—hickeys."

There was a beat of silence. Then someone gasped. The thought of Zoe coming from some poor, rural place made it worse. People started whispering, imagining the worst.

"Oh my god," Eunice suddenly shouted. "Wait... Zoe, were you, like, a prostitute?"

She slapped a hand over her mouth like it slipped out, but her voice had carried loud and clear.

Herbert didn't know what the others thought—but he and Jacob? They bought it. All of it.

They already hated Zoe because of her ice-cold character and her arrogance. If she'd just acted sweet or humble, they might've left her alone. Strong women rarely got sympathy.

And with Eunice fanning the flames, Herbert now looked at Zoe like she was something rotten. "You disgust me," he said.

"What's going on here?" A voice cut through the noise. A woman in a crisp, tailored suit walked in through the doorway. It was Lucille Woodard, the wine tasting instructor. "Why don't you let the new girl in?"

Lucille was one of the top sommeliers in Clusia—not as famous as Zack or Lilian, but still highly respected. Seeing her only made Cheryl more eager to destroy Zoe.

"Ms. Woodard," Cheryl explained, "You probably don't know, but Zoe's from some tiny village in the middle of nowhere. I heard she used to live on the streets and do... questionable things for money.

"I just saw a hickey on her wrist. We think she might've been, you know, for hire. Like, with old men. Whips. Candles. The whole thing. She could be carrying something—diseases. We can't share a classroom with someone like that."

"If you don't believe me," she added quickly, "just ask her to roll up her sleeve. Show us the mark."

The students started shouting, caught up in Cheryl's storm.

"Yeah, show us!"

"She probably has something nasty!"

"We can't study with someone like that! The school should kick her out!"

Faced with the crowd of protesting students, Lucille hesitated. She didn't know the full story, but she did know one thing—every student in Highcrest University came from wealth and power.

And in the honors class? That influence was tenfold. She couldn't afford to offend them.

Awkwardly, she glanced at Zoe. "Zoe, I want to believe you're a decent girl," she said, trying to sound gentle. "But maybe... just show them. Clear up the misunderstanding."

Herbert was livid. His voice was like ice. "Zoe, you'd better think carefully before you refuse," he said, tone sharp and threatening.

If the rumors were true, the Evans family name would be dragged through the mud. They'd become a laughingstock in Jelonsburg.

Under the weight of so many eyes and accusations, Zoe scoffed. From the crowd, she could even feel Eunice glaring at her with disdain.

When they were kids, Eunice had done everything she could to drive Zoe out of the Evans family. Now, she was doing it again—this time trying to drive her out of Highcrest University.

However, it had been thirteen years. Eunice was still the pampered princess of the household. But Zoe was no longer the helpless girl she used to be.

"Sure." Zoe flashed a cold smile. "Since you're all so desperate to see... I'll show you. I just hope none of you have nightmares afterward."

The students laughed at her inwardly. 'Nightmares? Over some hickeys and bruises? Yeah, right.'

Everyone—Cheryl, Eunice, Herbert, Jacob, even Lucille—stared at her, unblinking.

And then, without hesitation, Zoe rolled up her sleeve. Her wrist was crisscrossed with scars—some faint, some still angry and red.

But these weren't love bites or marks from some sadistic lover. They were cuts. Bullet grazes. Wounds layered over wounds, old pain and fresh pain etched into her skin like a twisted tapestry.

Together, they formed a pattern—sharp and brutal, yet oddly elegant. A deep crimson mark bloomed across her wrist like a rose in full bloom. Not ugly. No. It was hauntingly beautiful.

No one knew that Zoe, under the codename Firefox, had once walked through hell in the world's most brutal war zones. These scars weren't something to hide. They were her medals. Her legacy.

Chapter 8 I Want Zoe Dead

The most influential figures in the world knew that the rose on the wrist was the symbol of the mercenary queen, Firefox. Seeing that rose was equivalent to seeing the Ruler of Eminence Nexus.

At the sight before them, everyone gasped. No one had expected the scars on Zoe's wrist to be knife and bullet wounds rather than the kiss marks they had imagined.

Everyone was stunned. They couldn't understand how a country girl who had never been on a battlefield could have such injuries. They all wondered what Zoe had been through.

"H-How could this be?" Cheryl's face turned ashen immediately.

Eunice was also deeply shaken by the scene before her. Even Herbert and Jacob held their breath.

They had always seen Zoe as arrogant and conceited, but after all, they were siblings.

Now, seeing so many scars of varying size on Zoe's body, Herbert and Jacob felt, for the first time, a hint of remorse for how they had treated her, and a desire to understand her past.

Especially Herbert. He was proficient in firearms and instantly recognized that most of the scars on Zoe's arm were caused by bullets and blades.

Which raised a troubling question — Zoe had grown up in a small village. Knife wounds might be explainable, but bullet wounds had no place in her life. It seemed that Zoe was hiding something.

Herbert and Jacob fell silent.

Just then, Zoe walked briskly toward Cheryl.

Cheryl had already been terrified by the rose-shaped scar on Zoe's wrist, her legs almost giving out.

Seeing Zoe approaching, she gulped nervously and stretched her neck. "W-What do you want? Don't think those scars prove anything. For all we know, you might've been trafficked to some war-torn country!

"Those places are worse than small villages. Maybe you weren't just a prostitute, maybe you were a drug addict too..."

Suddenly, Zoe slapped Cheryl hard across the face — so hard her cheek was visibly distorted. The loud sound echoed through the room.

Cheryl was knocked to the floor, stunning everyone. "Zoe, how dare you?" She raised her head in pain and humiliation, glaring at Zoe.

But what she saw was Zoe's bloodshot, murderous eyes.

Zoe's voice followed, sharp as a blade through Cheryl's chest. "That's right. I've not only been to war-torn countries — I've killed people. Wanna try your luck?"

For a moment, Zoe's words silenced the entire room. Everyone was frightened by the strange gleam in her eyes.

Zoe sneered, then kicked Cheryl aside and walked straight to an empty seat in the classroom without looking back.

A while later, she heard the students' panicked chatter.

"Oh my god, she said she's killed people? That's way too much to joke about."

"No one's seriously buying Zoe's crap, right?"

"What's that smell?"

"Ew, Cheryl wet herself. She actually peed her pants from Zoe's bluff!" One student burst out laughing.

*****

Highcrest University was the gathering place for the most outstanding youths of Clusia, and also a bridge for channeling talent into Eminence Nexus.

Especially in the honors class—every student had to study business, combat, medicine, racing, programming, fine arts, firearms, chemistry, social etiquette, and every other skill imaginable.

To have talent in even one of these areas was already impressive. Geniuses like Eunice, who were well-rounded in every field, were rare even at Highcrest University.

As for Zoe, she had just returned from a small village. The school believed her goal of joining Eminence Nexus was pure fantasy, so they didn't even bother to develop a training plan for her.

Zoe herself didn't care in the slightest. During class, she lay on her desk with her eyes closed, napping leisurely.

Suddenly, the students around her began whispering gleefully.

"Oh my god, Philip came to school today."

"Well, this is gonna be good. That idiot Zoe just happened to choose the seat next to Philip. Everyone at Highcrest University knows he has a bad temper."

"Even Eunice isn't allowed to sit next to him."

*****

Amidst the murmurs, a boy with messy short hair and a jacket casually slung over his shoulders walked into the classroom. He was handsome, but he carried an unmistakable aura of "don't mess with me."

Everyone at Highcrest University knew who Philip Chapman was. He was the school's treasure, a super genius who had even been publicly praised by a big figure from Eminence Nexus.

Some had predicted that he'd be joining Eminence Nexus in less than a year.

When Philip entered the classroom, Eunice's cheeks flushed with shyness. At the same time, a hidden anticipation stirred in her heart—she hoped Zoe would get what she deserved.

Everyone at Highcrest knew Philip didn't like anyone sitting next to him. Once, a girl had accidentally sat in that seat and was mysteriously expelled the very next day.

If Zoe provoked Philip, she wouldn't last a day at Highcrest University.

Just as Eunice expected Philip to lose his temper and throw Zoe out, the entire class witnessed something strange.

The ill-tempered Philip walked to the back of the classroom, scratched his messy hair, and glanced briefly at Zoe sitting beside his seat. Without any reaction, he simply returned to his seat, lay down, and fell asleep—just like Zoe.

The whole class was stunned.

Seeing this, Eunice clenched her fists in anger. She couldn't understand why Philip hadn't gotten mad at that country girl, Zoe.

Her face turned pale as she thought, 'I knew it—Zoe came back just to take everything that belongs to me.'

'She wants to steal the identity of Ms. Evans, the love of my parents and brothers, and even Philip, whom I like the most,' she cursed inwardly, 'I want Zoe dead.'

*****

During the afternoon combat class, Zack appeared at the classroom door with a serious expression, his right wrist wrapped in bandages.

The moment he entered, he shot Zoe a fierce glare.

"It's Mr. Shelton." Eunice's heart leapt with joy when she saw Zack.

She remembered Zack once saying he would never tolerate shameless people like Zoe being admitted to Highcrest University. So she assumed he had come to kick Zoe out.

Just as she was thinking that, she heard Zack speak in a thunderous tone. "Class, I'm here to tell you two things.

"The first thing is: in ten days, every student in the honors class will take my combat skills test. Anyone who doesn't meet the passing standard will be kicked out of Highcrest University."

This announcement was aimed squarely at Zoe.

Not only did all honors class students come from wealthy families, but they were also children of the elite. To ensure their personal safety, their parents had them learn self-defense from a young age.

Meeting the standard for combat training was a piece of cake for all the honors students. Zoe was the only one who might fail.

The students chuckled quietly among themselves, certain that Zack's goal was to force Zoe out of Highcrest University.

Before they could dwell on it further, Zack went on to deliver the second piece of news.

"Also, after the school's efforts, Mr. Shawn Ludwig, who recently returned to the country, has agreed to come to Highcrest University to teach you marksmanship," he said. "So you all better take this seriously and study hard."