The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Damien’s touch was blunt and unfiltered, neither gentle nor practiced.

Clearly, he had no experience with this kind of intimacy. His iron–hard hands clumsily landed on her body.

The pressure left mottled red marks blooming across her skin.

He realized just how rough he’d been–he really didn’t know what he was doing.

Seeing those marks, Damien pulled back. He couldn’t bring himself to go further, not here, not now.

Even though they didn’t go all the way, he still kept his word.

He still worked her over through the night, leaving her body aching and numb by morning–her body was so sore, and it felt like getting out of bed was an Olympic event.

Nova spent about four days holed up at the Shadow Sanctum before heading out with Blood Orange and Blood Chime in

Tow.

During the next five days, she tracked down a few promising factions and quickly reached partnership agreements with all of them.

Someone like Nova couldn’t just hang overseas for long; it was way too risky to linger in the international scene.

Not to mention, Ghost–Hammer and Yellowcat were both waiting for her to return to Zoria.

Yellowcat had been hunted down and driven out of Bloodblade Mercenary Corps by her own crew–no doubt she had some fresh inside intel tucked away.

Before returning home, Nova paid a visit to the weapons research lab where she’d worked before landing in prison.

She packed up the secret blueprints for her AK–series explosive weapons, plus research reports on guns and gear, and took everything with her back to Zoria.

With all that data, it was practically like she’d transplanted the whole weapons research lab to Zoria.

But legally speaking, she didn’t have the qualifications to manufacture weapons in Zoria.

Thus, when Andrew Timothy heard Nova was back, he practically sprinted to the airport to pick her up the moment the news dropped.

On the ride home, Nova asked, “If I want to research and build weapons here, how can I score an official license?”

Nova knew it was only a matter of time before she’d have to face off against the traitors from the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps.

But before that war ever kicked off,

if she could push her weapons research to a whole new level,

her rebuilt crew would be armed to the teeth, every member wielding high–grade firepower.

Even if those seasoned old–timers outnumbered her crew, superior weaponry would let her wipe the floor with them.

That was why Nova was dead set on bringing her weapons research lab back to Zoria.

Andrew Timothy was just a low–ranking special operation soldier.

When he heard Nova’s question, his heart did a double take. “Damn, for real?”

“Nova, you actually know how to build weapons?” Andrew said with surprise.

Andrew could be a bit flaky at times, but when push came to shove, he was one of the most reliable

He quickly sifted through everything he knew and finally said,

“Setting up a weapons research lab isn’t something just anyone can pull off.

“But for those of us in the special operation unit, we might actually get a shot at it.”

guys around.

“Out with it,” Nova pressed, with impatience clear in her voice. Andrew took a breath, piecing his answers together before he

went on,

“First thing’s first, you gotta transfer to Suntry Military Academy, right there in the heart of Suntry City.

“To outsiders, it looks just like a regular military college.

“But the truth is, tons of young recruits from top–tier units all over the country end up there–it’s where they funnel the best.

of the best.

“Basically, it’s a breeding ground for future warriors.

“As long as you don’t cause any major casualties, the school basically lets you go wild with whatever special combat training you want.

“You can even set up your own battle labs if that’s your thing.

“If you want to pull this off here, Suntry Military Academy is where you go.”

Put simply, every student at Suntry Military Academy was on par with the top hidden aces you’d find at Saint Laurel Royal Academy.

That place was an absolute powerhouse–a school crawling with experts and prodigies.

“Check with your commanding officer about the transfer. I’m leaving it in your hands,” Nova said.

The car happened to pull up outside Ravenport General Hospital at that moment. Nova opened the door and addressed Andrew, her tone cool and casual.

“Uh–wait, wait, what?” Andrew blurted out, caught off guard.

“Hey, Nova! Aren’t you even going to ask your brother, your sister, or your parents?

“Can you really just decide to transfer all on your own like that?”

Andrew was still sitting in the driver’s seat, mouth half–open, when Nova was already striding away.

He scratched his nearly bald crew cut and muttered to himself,

“Whatever, I’ll just go ahead and fill the application for you.

“Whether you actually go or not, that’s something you can figure out with your family later…”

Before Nova even set foot in Ravenport General Hospital, Blood Lychee had already messaged her.

Ghost–Hammer and Yellowcat had been put in the same hospital room.

When Nova stepped into Yellowcat and Ghost–Hammer’s hospital room,

she was met with a scene totally at odds with the usual quiet of the wards–no patients lounging in bed here.

Both Yellowcat and Ghost–Hammer looked every bit as tough and solid as ever, not at all like people who should be resting

1. 1. up.

Like Nova, they were hardened elites forged by years on the battlefield.

The instant she walked in, she caught Yellowcat and Ghost–Hammer mid–workout, going through a series of agile combat drills right there in the hospital room.

Looking at them, you’d never believe these two had just come out of critical care–they didn’t have a scratch or hint of injury left.

“Are you their family? Come on, get these two to chill out! Patients shouldn’t be jumping around like they’re auditioning for an action flick!”

“I’ll head out now. If anything happens, just slam the call button!”

The nurse’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw Yellowcat and Ghost–Hammer bouncing around.

After failing to get through to them, she just stared like she’d stumbled into a room full of mutants instead of patients.

As she rushed out, she spotted Nova and hurried over to talk to her.

“Boss!”

As soon as Nova stepped through the door, Yellowcat and Ghost–Hammer instantly halted their workout and called out to her in excited relief.

Nova gave a quick nod, her eyes scanning the room–no sign of Blood Lychee anywhere. She figured Blood Lychee must be

out.

Nova walked right up to Yellowcat, and asked flat out.

“Before they came after you–what was really going on inside Bloodblade?”

Yellowcat frowned, glanced down, and muttered, “Honestly… things were kind of strange.”

“Strange in what way?” Nova pressed.

Her perfect porcelain doll face flickered with something you couldn’t quite read as she spoke.

“Boss, honestly, I should’ve been dead meat this time–there was no way I was getting out alive.

“But the day before the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps turned on me…

“Snowfang gave me a subtle heads up, so I got extra careful. That’s why I managed to dodge their setup…”