For some reason, Serie had always thought Chloe was human.
Even though she led a massive organization, Black Queen, where more than half of its members were Anomalies.
Perhaps it was because Chloe's appearance was no different from an ordinary person, at most just having a beautiful face, and she had never displayed any extraordinary abilities in front of Serie. Even during the perilous rescue in the ancient tomb, she used the small pistol she carried with her.
To be honest, as an Anomaly herself, Serie disdained using such human weapons most of the time.
So, even though there was a momentary doubt when she first heard Chloe was the Black Queen's leader, Serie still implicitly assumed that Chloe, this leader, was just an ordinary human with extraordinary cunning.
At this moment, Goluthos was gnawing on a twisted gun barrel, making crunching sounds, and her peripheral vision caught sight of Chloe approaching.
Serie's heart stirred slightly.
Did… Chloe let Frost go?
She hadn't heard any gunshots or fighting just now, only vaguely caught Chloe seeming to say a few words to Frost.
A hint of doubt rose in Serie's heart.
However, it was quickly diluted by a huge sense of accomplishment.
Both the [Witch Quest: Fire the First Shot!] and [Main Quest: The First Step of Revolution] were completed.
Zoya and Little Carrot had killed the remaining Soldiers, while Billie had been busy saving people, which annoyed her a bit.
She gained a total of nine Ability Points, one Revival Chance, and Goluthos's exclusive ability, "Black King's Demeanor."
Adding the rewards from [Witch Quest: Fire and Thunder].
Serie had actually gained a total of thirteen Ability Points from this venture.
It could be said she made a killing.
Plus the one Ability Point and one Revival Chance Serie had saved for emergencies.
Serie now possessed a total of fourteen Ability Points and two Revival Chances, which was completely enough for her to create another new Witch while also fully maxing out the first and second-tier abilities of each Witch.
She felt fortunate for her foresight.
She could have found Billie from the start and exposed Lucas and Boris's betrayal, but acting so rashly would not only fail to dismantle Frost's prestige but also expose her important trump card—her clone—too early.
Billie's one-sided word, as a mere stranger, could easily be twisted and denied by those two cunning traitors.
Furthermore, even if everyone believed Lucas and Boris were once traitors, with Frost's twisted logic of prioritizing profit, he might even scold others for being too soft-hearted.
According to his philosophy, it didn't matter whether the people who helped them were good or bad; the real gold and silver they brought were tangible.
Serie and Chloe certainly wouldn't be convinced by this twisted logic.
What kind of mess it would turn into in the end was unknown, but it would definitely be a complete disaster.
In short, Serie had found a very good solution.
Not only did she get revenge on Lucas and Boris in one fell swoop, but she also uprooted the cancer within the Black Queen, Frost.
There were even unexpected gains!
Colonel Domingo, the true local tyrant of this area!
Emerald Coast, Iron Rust Town, New Reclamation Area... all under his control!
He meticulously planned, using himself as bait, attempting to stage a play of catching the king to capture Chloe.
But he never dreamed that Chloe and Serie would turn the tables and use his own scheme against him!
Rather than saying they played a long game to catch a big fish, from a certain perspective, Serie and Chloe were the big fish.
These two big fish not only devoured the bait completely but also dragged the fishing rod and the fisherman into the water to swallow them whole.
Although in the eyes of Saint Martan, Domingo, a local official, was not a king at all, at most a minor king, for the struggling Black Queen, his demise meant that whether it was resources, territory, or morale, all would receive a significant boost!
Chloe walked up to Serie.
Her eyes shimmered with a fiery glow under the moonlight, a flame ignited by victory and ambition.
"Lady Goluthos," her voice carried a hint of imperceptible excitement.
"Domingo is dead, and the New Reclamation Area is leaderless. I've decided... tonight, while the enemy is still unsettled, we will immediately take down the surrounding checkpoints and government buildings! We will completely bring this land under the Black Queen! What do you think?"
Serie nodded without hesitation.
It was time for the Black Queen's influence to emerge from the island's air-raid shelters!
Moreover, the conditions on the island were truly terrible; the iron bunk bed gave her a sore back.
She needed a! Huge! Soft! Double bed she could sink into! And if someone could attend to her, that would be even better!
Ahem... as the Black King, such a request shouldn't be excessive, right?
Having helped Chloe so much, shouldn't she enjoy herself?
"Um..." Chloe's voice carried a hint of imperceptible nervousness, and her gaze drifted towards the blurry figures of Billie and Zoya in the distance, "They... are your people, right?"
Serie nodded calmly.
That was also true.
"Indeed!" Chloe's eyes instantly burst with bright light, carrying the excitement of discovering a historical secret, "There are scattered records in the ruins that say Lady Goluthos once had a mysterious personal guard... It turns out it's true!"
Ah, that wasn't the same thing.
But Serie didn't explain too much.
Chloe took a deep breath and asked with hope, "Then... will they also join the Black Queen?"
Serie hesitated for a few seconds, but in the end, she shook her head.
She also had her own small ambitions and didn't want all the Witches to be too deeply tied to the Black Queen.
Having one Goluthos was already enough.
It was more suitable for the Black Queen and the other Witches to maintain a more flexible, more equitable win-win cooperation.
You couldn't put all your trump cards on the gambling table at once.
"I see..." The light in Chloe's eyes dimmed for a moment, and a hint of unconcealed disappointment flashed through.
The Black Queen desperately needed fresh, powerful blood...
After all, the Black Queen wasn't a terrorist armed organization fighting under the banner of the people.
The entire organization was mostly composed of the old, weak, sick, and disabled who needed aid, and its combat power was severely lacking.
However, she quickly suppressed this disappointment, her gaze still filled with trust and reverence for Serie.
Lady Goluthos must have her reasons for doing this; I just need to follow her footsteps.
Chloe firmly believed this, especially after what had just happened; she had absolute trust in Serie's decisions.
"The subsequent clean-up work will be left to us, Lady Goluthos; please rest well."
Chloe's tone returned to its efficient self. She bid farewell to Serie and deftly boarded the jeep, heading straight for the New Reclamation Area's government building—tonight, gunshots would be incessant, but the Black Queen's flag would eventually be planted on this land!
She even thoughtfully left a few guard militiamen and a jeep for Serie.
Just in case Serie couldn't find her way home.
Watching Chloe's convoy disappear into the night, Serie walked towards where Frost had collapsed earlier.
She was contemplating that if Chloe had been soft-hearted, she could do it for her.
However, before she took a few steps, her pupils constricted, and her footsteps suddenly halted.
No... what was this lump on the ground?
Was it Frost?
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