"So, what exactly is the situation here?"
"It is a long story."
Geno put down his water cup, opening his mouth to launch into a long-winded speech.
"Then make it short."
With that single sentence, Belle abruptly choked Geno's words back down his throat.
He looked at the two sisters staring at each other like mirror images, then glanced at the onlookers beside him—who didn't understand the details but were all waiting for the drama to unfold. Geno sighed and used the briefest language possible to explain the story of these two.
After listening, everyone else let out an "Oh" of realization.
Meanwhile, the sisters, who had been staring at each other as if looking into a mirror, finally made some progress.
"Have you... been living well during this time?"
Anby spoke first. For all these years, she had carried a heavy guilt.
She hadn't been able to save them, hadn't been able to prevent them from walking down that path of no return.
The sins of those test subjects who failed to obtain a number were all counted against her own head.
Hearing Anby's question, Twiggy pursed her lips and spoke.
"I... we are all doing very well. Geno saved us and gave us a place to survive, right inside the base where we were born. We remodeled it together and turned it into a place everyone likes. And..."
Twiggy's voice paused. She thought of the nameless stele on the earthen slope, and of the sisters buried beneath the base—those who didn't even leave behind whole corpses, only an organ or two.
Sorrow suddenly rose from her heart, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing Twiggy suddenly cry, Anby became flustered. She didn't know what she had said wrong to make Twiggy so sad, so she clumsily wiped away Twiggy's tears, attempting to comfort her emotions.
However, Twiggy felt a strange sensation from this comfort. It seemed that the person who comforted her before wasn't like this.
Subconsciously, she cast her gaze toward Geno at the side. She saw that his eyes were densely packed with just one sentence:
I am waiting for you here.
Twiggy immediately felt reassured, as if she had taken a calming pill. She slowly reined in her emotions, looked at Anby, who shared her face, and spoke.
"Captain, we are living very well now. And we are already prepared... to atone for our own sins."
"Atone...?"
Anby clearly hadn't expected Twiggy to say such a thing. She didn't understand; the Twiggy who used to be so soft and weak, protected by her, had now become somewhat unfamiliar.
Unfamiliar to the point that she seemed to see her own shadow in her.
Is it because of that man?
Anby glanced at Geno, but Geno was entirely focused on Twiggy and didn't notice this subtle gaze.
Twiggy continued speaking. Today, she wanted to clarify everything with Anby thoroughly, so their hearts would no longer be distant.
"Yes, atonement. The birth of every single Silver Recruit is filled with sin. The Silver Project was a plan filled with crime and blood that trampled on human relations, morality, and the law, before burying it all."
Every member of the Silver forces had white hair, a color symbolizing purity.
But the birth of every Silver forces member was sinful; everyone's birth was built upon hundreds and thousands of corpses.
Hearing Twiggy speak the hidden truth of the Silver forces, Anby's hands trembled.
She was Number Zero, the very first individual born. She knew. She knew about the existence of those test subjects. Only the most perfect one from each batch of subjects could possess a number and become a member of the Silver Squad.
But she had subconsciously ignored them.
Because she couldn't protect that many people. All she could do was protect those beside her.
Perhaps in the end, she hadn't even been able to protect those beside her.
She hadn't protected anything at all.
"But Captain, if our origin is sinful, we shouldn't live sinfully."
"What we must do is give meaning to our birth. To be able to make those who truly deserve happiness smile. To be able to make those who should pay the price repay their karmic debt."
The more Twiggy spoke, the firmer her tone became. She was no longer afraid to bare her heart to Anby; she was no longer afraid that Anby would reject her.
"So, Anby, I hereby invite you."
Twiggy took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"Are you willing to become our sister again? To become... the Captain of the Silver Squad?"
Twiggy hoped Anby could return and lead them forward once again.
After all, this was Anby—the singular longing of all Silver Squad members.
But the result was destined to disappoint her.
"I'm sorry, Twiggy. I... don't want to go back there anymore."
Anby shook her head. Although that place was different from before, she no longer wanted to, nor could she, return to the days of the past. She already had attachments outside the Hollow; she had family.
Most importantly, she was tired. She no longer needed to scheme against researchers to protect them. She already had a life that belonged to her.
"Is that so..."
Although Twiggy had mentally prepared herself, when the moment truly came, she still felt a bit lost.
"But Twiggy."
Anby continued.
"Twiggy, although I won't go back, as long as you—as long as you all need me—I will be your support at any time. Not because of some Silver Army, but because we are sisters. We are family."
Anby's tone was light, but her words carried heavy weight. At least in the hearts of these girls who only had each other, this sentence was everything.
"Anby... thank you. You're right. You already have a life that belongs to you. But please remember, you are forever a member of the Silver Squad, our Captain, and our sister."
Twiggy smiled with relief. After talking with Anby, she wasn't depressed by Anby's rejection. Instead, her conviction became even firmer.
What she wanted to do, what she wanted to accomplish, was precisely for everyone in this world to be like Anby—to possess a life of their own and do the things they wanted to do.
To no longer be blinded by the gloom of the past, to no longer be drowned by the sorrows of yesterday.
Everyone could look forward and walk a path of their own.
At this moment, Twiggy not only accepted Anby's life but was also reconciling with the weak Twiggy of the past who could only follow behind Anby.
There was no conflict between being strong and relying on others.
Thinking of this, Twiggy threw herself directly into Anby's arms, feeling the warmth she hadn't touched in a long time.
Anby was surprised at first, then gently hugged Twiggy back.
She also cherished these sisters, especially given that she had thought they were already dead.
The scene was so beautiful, like lilies under the morning sun, dewdrops clinging to their petals, symbolizing youth and beauty.
This made the four onlookers on the side watch with great satisfaction. After all, who wouldn't like seeing pretty girls getting close?
I can't hold it in anymore. Played an Economy Strategy with 9 Nightbringers, had 200 gold and still didn't roll a 3-star 5-cost unit. My luck is truly non-existent (crying).
_____
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