"Okay."
When Valentina spoke, her voice was calm—too calm for the situation she was in.
The little boy's mother, sitting close by, lifted her head in shock. Fear still clung to her eyes like frost that refused to melt. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, to beg, to warn—
But Valentina had already stood up.
"Let's go."
Those two words landed like a gift from heaven to the man who had been watching her from the shadows of the bus.
The vehicle was old, crowded, hot, and reeking of sweat and despair. Real wealthy people would never step foot on something like this. The women these men usually targeted came from slums—tired eyes, rough hands, lives already worn down.
But Valentina was different.
Her skin was pale and clean, almost glowing under the dim lights. She looked like someone who belonged to another world entirely.
This time, they had truly hit the jackpot.
The man swallowed hard, licking his lips as he hurriedly led Valentina off the bus. Around them, eyes lit up one by one—greedy, hungry, undisguised.
Even if he wanted her for himself, rules were rules.
The boss always went first.
"Boss," the man said eagerly, pushing Valentina forward, "found a real good one."
The man known as Boss looked up.
The moment his gaze landed on Valentina, his expression froze—then twisted into open desire.
Without hesitation, he pointed at her.
"You. Get on the bus."
"No! Don't!"
A sudden scream shattered the tense air.
The little boy's mother, who had been too afraid to even breathe moments earlier, rushed forward and threw herself in front of Valentina. Her entire body trembled violently.
"I'll go with you! Please—don't take her!"
She spread her arms wide, shielding Valentina completely, refusing to let anyone come closer.
Valentina blinked in surprise.
On the bus, this woman had been terrified—paralyzed by fear. Even now, her legs were shaking.
And yet… she did not move.
"Get lost!" the Boss snarled, his face darkening instantly. "Move, or I'll shoot you dead!"
He raised his gun and pressed it directly against the woman's head.
"Mama! Wuwuwuwu—Mama!"
The little boy scrambled off the bus and ran over, wrapping his arms tightly around his mother's leg. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out, standing between her and the gun.
"You're not allowed to hurt my Mama!"
"Doudou! Move away!" the woman cried desperately, her face turning deathly pale as she tried to push him aside.
"No! No! Please don't kill my Mama!"
The boy's sobs echoed through the cold night.
"Damn it! I'll kill all of you!"
The Boss finally snapped.
He pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The mother squeezed her eyes shut, clutching her son tightly and using her own body as a shield.
But the pain never came.
Slowly, trembling, she opened her eyes.
Valentina was no longer behind her.
She was standing in front of the Boss.
The gun that had been aimed at the mother and child was now firmly in Valentina's hand.
Her voice was cold—sharp enough to cut.
"I didn't plan to kill this soon," she said calmly. "But you're unbearable."
In the Boss's widening eyes, Valentina's fingers moved with terrifying precision. A bullet slid into place. The gun rose.
Bang!
The Boss froze.
A clean hole appeared in his temple.
Then his body collapsed, lifeless, blood pouring onto the ground.
For a heartbeat, the world went silent.
Then everything exploded.
"Ahhh!!! Murder!!!"
"Boss!!!"
"She killed the Boss!"
Before anyone could react, Valentina flung open the bus door, shoved the stunned mother and child inside, and spoke fast and firm.
"Hide. Don't come out."
Then she turned back.
Her strength in this world had not fully returned—but muscle memory did not forget.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Each shot was clean.
Each shot dropped someone.
This group wasn't an army. They were cowards with guns—criminals who relied on fear, not skill. As bodies fell, panic took over. They scattered, screaming, running without thought.
Anyone who tried to raise a weapon was shot before they could aim.
Five minutes.
That was all it took.
The gunfire stopped. Footsteps faded. Silence returned.
From inside the bus, someone dared to peek out—only to see the road littered with bodies. Terrified, they quickly pulled back, covering their mouth in fear, afraid Valentina herself might turn on them next.
She paid them no attention.
Valentina opened the car door and looked down at the little boy, who stared up at her with wide, dark eyes.
She smiled faintly.
"Not scared?"
The boy reached out and tugged on her clothes with his small, dirty hand.
"Big Sister," he said sincerely, "you're amazing."
"Doudou," his mother said quickly, embarrassed, pulling his hand back, "your hands are dirty. You've dirtied Big Sister's clothes."
She then bowed deeply, her voice trembling with gratitude.
"Thank you. I—"
Valentina suddenly looked up.
Someone was coming.
The gun was already in her hand, smoothly reloaded.
"Damn it," a loud voice rang out from nearby. "Boss, looks like we're too late. These guys are already finished."
A vehicle stopped not far away. Several people jumped out.
When Valentina saw their uniforms, she relaxed and lowered her weapon.
Northern Territory troops.
"One shot, one kill," one man muttered, nudging a corpse with his boot. "All headshots. That's insane accuracy."
"They're still warm," another added. "Just died."
Their gazes swept across the crowd, searching for the shooter.
Then—
"Papa!!!"
A clear, excited voice rang out.
The little boy burst from his mother's arms and ran straight toward one of the burly men.
"Doudou!" the man exclaimed, scooping him up instantly. "What are you doing here?!"
His eyes followed the direction the boy had come from—and landed on the woman standing beside Valentina.
"Sister-in-law!"
"Sister-in-law!"
The others greeted her warmly.
The man hurried over, concern written all over his face.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Do you know how dangerous this is?"
"I'm fine," the woman said softly. "Thanks to her. Doudou and I are safe."
The man turned to Valentina, disbelief plain on his face.
"You… killed all of them?"
Before Valentina could answer, another man stepped out of the car.
She turned—and froze.
The face was familiar.
Too familiar.
So soon?
She had just arrived… and already met her fiancé.
Marcus Holt glanced at Valentina briefly, then looked away at the bodies scattered across the road.
"Clear the area," he said calmly. "Move the bodies off the road."
Valentina exhaled slowly.
So this was how fate welcomed her.